Here's an example where home tech has been incorporated with traditional decorative elements appropriate for a Parisian destination. Included are some unique touches that make this vacation rental unique, like glow-in-the-dark striped wallpaper, a trolly cart Blu-ray home theater system, and a triple threat kitchen appliance which combines a cooker, oven and dishwasher all in one unit, combined make the Parisian rental an example of space efficiency without compromise in amenities or details.
AT Survey: The style: French 'brocante' meets John Waters at the Willy Wonka factory Inspiration The inspiration for my home theater: really wanted to hear the difference with HD sound (and it's certainly a step up). Favorite element in your space: gotta be the wallpaper. In the bedroom it's kitsch as hell, and in the living room it glows in the dark. Biggest challenge in designing my space: renovating the original stone floor in the bedroom, which was originally hidden under concrete and carpet. Had to travel to the other side of Paris to find the only supplier in the city that could replace certain pieces. Now looks like something out of a château. What friends say about my space: that it's smart, bright, clean, large and tidy... all the things my own place isn't! Area where there is room for improvement/future projects: kitchen window needs sprucing up. Extractor fan in the bathroom is from the fifties and could be quieter. A smarter home cinema stand would be good too. Proudest DIY (do it yourself) project: the image wall, proof that being random and letting yourself go can sometimes work out fine. Biggest indulgence with respect to my space: four Napoleon III chairs ink-dyed and restored by a professional using lush fabric we sourced in Paris. Best advice about organizing or incorporating tech into the home: hide those wires. Well worth it. Dream source for stuff: I think gut instinct and spontaneity are important. Try and avoid replicating common decorating fads (like a giant, old-style clock face; it's not retro, it's dull).
Home Tech Resources: Appliances:
Panasonic SC-BT200 Blu-ray system
Panasonic TXLF32S10 LCD TV
Wi-fi internet throughout
Rosières TRIPLE6G combined cooker, oven and dishwasher all in one!
Furniture:
Restored Napoleon III chairs
Ikea Månstad sofabed
Restored dinner table from country house in the south of France.
Lighting:
Original ceiling light cleaned and new lampshades added.
Cherub wall light recuperated from the Hôtel Ferrandi in Paris, which has closed for complete renovation.
'Mystère' tree lamp in bedroom from www.vente-unique.com
Organizing Tools/Accessories: cupboards and drawers from Ikea.
Additional Elements:
Glow in the dark stripey wallpaper designed by Ich&Kar (winner of the wallpaperlab prize in 2008) manufactured by Rasch.
Silver butterfly and cherry blossom wallpaper and polka dot wallpaper by Eiffinger, designed by Studio Pip, ordered 50% cheaper than in Paris through www.behangwereld.nl (really good source of amazing papers with cheap shipping).
Niko sockets and switches from Belgium.
Silentgliss 'wave' curtains with perfect folds and clever under-hanging system with no visible rail.
This is a perfect example of how having no coffee table can make a small apartment appear far more spacious.
posted by
Chidog
on November 20th 2009 at 12:31am view
Chidog's
profile
I really like the scabby blue wall to the right of the fireplace, and the tiny kitchen (even the window). But if it were mine (ha!), I would definitely want a good place to sit near the window. If I were ever home in the daytime.
posted by
biglinguist
on November 20th 2009 at 7:24am view
biglinguist's
profile
"Scabby"? What cheek, biglinguist! Please feel free to not come to Paris and see how great the place really is!
posted by
jasonfist
on November 21st 2009 at 8:24am view
jasonfist's
profile
I will never, ever complain again about the size of my kitchen. Egad, is that small.
posted by
Trish1980
on November 23rd 2009 at 5:56pm view
Trish1980's
profile
Give me a break, HD sound really? It's a Panasonic Home Theater in a BOX, not exactly cutting edge sound. Also, why give tech advice about hiding wires when you don't do it yourself. Take a look at your so called theater setup picture, Where's the wire management? Sad.
posted by
Swampfox_12
on November 25th 2009 at 1:48pm view
Swampfox_12's
profile
This is very beautiful Interior design. The people who have stayed with us have almost all been super nice, and I have really taken a liking to welcoming them to our place, and our city. Meeting and greeting has become part of the fun of running an apartment, and although the same questions inevitable come back each time (where have you come in from? have you been to Paris before? etc.) it's genuinely great to get people settled in and ready to discover this wonderful city.
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posted by
melinda001
on January 9th 2010 at 7:09pm view
melinda001's
profile
I like the Paris apartment, except i would have to have a built-in bookcase on the right, for all my magazines & books.
washington state
posted by
beachcottage
on January 17th 2010 at 5:12pm view
beachcottage's
profile
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Name: Canal Apartment Paris
This is a perfect example of how having no coffee table can make a small apartment appear far more spacious.
view Chidog's profile
I really like the scabby blue wall to the right of the fireplace, and the tiny kitchen (even the window). But if it were mine (ha!), I would definitely want a good place to sit near the window. If I were ever home in the daytime.
view biglinguist's profile
"Scabby"? What cheek, biglinguist! Please feel free to not come to Paris and see how great the place really is!
view jasonfist's profile
I will never, ever complain again about the size of my kitchen. Egad, is that small.
view Trish1980's profile
Give me a break, HD sound really? It's a Panasonic Home Theater in a BOX, not exactly cutting edge sound. Also, why give tech advice about hiding wires when you don't do it yourself. Take a look at your so called theater setup picture, Where's the wire management? Sad.
view Swampfox_12's profile
This is very beautiful Interior design. The people who have stayed with us have almost all been super nice, and I have really taken a liking to welcoming them to our place, and our city. Meeting and greeting has become part of the fun of running an apartment, and although the same questions inevitable come back each time (where have you come in from? have you been to Paris before? etc.) it's genuinely great to get people settled in and ready to discover this wonderful city.
------------------------------
Melinda Storer
"dofollow">queen victoria market
view melinda001's profile
I like the Paris apartment, except i would have to have a built-in bookcase on the right, for all my magazines & books.
washington state
view beachcottage's profile