Thursday, October 4, 2012

My Paris Apartment

I think I may have forgotten to mention that I own an apartment in Paris - nothing too fancy - but with the prices of hotels I figured I'd just as soon purchase one I could call home -

My Living Room - I tried to keep it classic and elegant - 

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My office - I have to work to be able to afford this place - picked up that armoire at a flea market

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my guest room - come visit me sometime!

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Where I kick off my Louboutin's and relax

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my kitchen - and btw I never never never paint furniture when I'm here -

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I had that wrought iron imported from Italy - isn't it perfect?

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my dining room - and yes that's the Notre Dame Cathedral -

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 another shot of my living room

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this is actually my game room,although I had company in today and so we had tea in here, excuse the mess
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my little balcony area - I sit out here often 
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my bedroom - which I just crawled out of to snap these photos for you - now I'm jumping back into it
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And then just like that I wake up from the most lovely of dreams - put on my sweats - grab my paint and start on another dresser....................

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. 
Erma Bombeck  


Now on to a bit of reality!!!  I've been extremely lucky to have been to Paris many times ( for business ) and it really is as spectacular as you think - in fact it's far more so.
This is where we stayed for many years

Hotel Relais Bosquet
this is a simple 3 star hotel - ( but it felt every bit like a 5 star to me- isn't it lovely? )  I would highly recommend it if you're ever planning a trip to Paris!  It's 5 minutes away from the Eifel Tower. You can click on the source for details

and here are a few shots of the famous Rue Cler market - at the bottom of the street - where we'd get our Tartine in the mornings (crispy baguette with cold hard butter - too die )





many many fun nights at this little bistro - basically 10 feet from the hotel

Now we stay in Montparnasse ( adjacent to Ste Germaine de Pres )
and I say NOW loosely - I haven't been in 3 years - John's been going on his own due to this
crappy economy

Here's a few shots of Montparnasse




We haven't been loyal to any hotel in Montparnasse - stayed at a different one each time - all quite lovely - but honestly you could stick me in an alley with a sleeping bag to be in Paris....................not quite but the experience of being there is so beyond a hotel room ......................

My absolute favorite restaurant


Here's an amusing story about this restaurant ( L'entrecote ) for many years John and I ( and everyone else we knew that attend the fabric shows ) used to travel well over an hour to get to the restaurant because it was so worth it - had to take the subway ( people say it's an easy subway system - please don't believe it - not for 1 second ) and the RER ( train ) and then wait in the inevitable line up - sometimes for over 30 minutes just to get inside....................I did it for at least 5 years with John - but I know many people that made this trek for 20 years.
Anyway - the first hotel we used to stay at ( the Relais Bosquet ) was about a 15 minute walk to Champ E'lysee  and we would do this walk every couple of nights ......................one night as we were on our way I noticed a big crowd of people down one of the side streets - and Lo and Behold there was another L'entrecote 10 minutes from where we'd been staying all that time - Les Touriste Stupide LOL - there's 4 or 5 of them - and there's one on Blvd Montparnasse - where we stay now - literally a 3 minute walk.
1 item on the dinner menu only - roast beef and fries - with a special highly guarded secret sauce - and a dessert menu that's out of this world!  Crowded and noisy with laughter - it's really the perfect evening out!
But we also had many perfect evenings with baguette and cheese and wine bought locally and brought back to the room.
We've had years when I shopped till I dropped and years where we were literally counting our euros to stretch them out - ( and I mean literally Counting our Euros ) but I've learned how to travel on a dime let me tell you!  And I'd rather be broke in a cafe in Paris then just about anywhere else in the world....................................anyday.
One year I went with a girlfriend - PARIS IS NOT ONLY FOR LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In fact it's the perfect city to be with a girlfriend in - we sat for hours at the world famous Cafe de Flore


where we cried and laughed and cried and fought a little bit - and cried and laughed and hugged - and where she made a life changing heart breaking decision ( sorry that's her story to tell, not mine )

A little bit of reality - a little bit of fantasy - and that's what makes my world go round :)

Paris dreams everyone
XOX

Partying with

Lines across
http://www.linesacross.com/2012/10/the-cure-for-common-monday-58-and.html
I should be mopping the floor
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2012/10/mop-it-up-mondays-37-cutting-edge.html
This Gal Cooks
http://www.thisgalcooks.com/2012/10/marvelous-mondays-link-party-15.html
Alderberry Hill
http://www.alderberryhill.com/make-the-scene-monday-43/
My 1929 Charmer
http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-features-and-linky-par-tay-51/
Homemaker on a dime
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2012/10/creative-bloggers-party-hop-80.html
Keeping it Simple
http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2012/10/motivate-me-monday-143.html
Under the table and dreaming
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2012/10/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-121.html
Making the world Cuter
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/10/making-the-world-cuter-9/
The Dedicated House
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.ca/2012/10/make-it-pretty-monday-week-18.html
Coastal Charm
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.ca/2012/10/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no134.html
Debbie Doos
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/time-to-party-again-newbie-party.html
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-106/
Kathy with an E
http://www.kathewithane.com/2012/10/youre-gonna-love-it-week-25.html
Kammy's Korner
http://www.kammyskorner.com/2012/10/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-remembering.html
Cedar Hill Ranch
http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.ca/2012/10/cowgirl-up-linky-party-week-36.html
A Diamond in the Stuff
http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.ca/2012/10/time-to-shine-party-no-89.html
Homework
http://carolynshomework.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-inspiration-board-link-party-71.html
Elizabeth & Co.
http://elizabethandco.blogspot.ca/2012/10/be-inspired-features-and-link-party-40.html
The DIY Dreamer
http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/10/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-37.html
Uncommonly Yours
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/uncommonly-yours-link-party-49/
Clean & Scentsible
http://cleanandscentsible.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-creative-spark-no-51.html
Savvy Southern Style
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/10/wow-us-wednesdays-87.html
DIY by Design
http://diybydesign.blogspot.ca/2012/10/fall-into-fall-its-party-86.html
No Minimalist Here
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.ca/2012/10/open-house-party-and-winner.html
Have a daily cup with Mrs Olson
http://jannolson.blogspot.ca/2012/10/share-your-cup-thursday-29.html
52 Mantels
http://www.52mantels.com/2012/10/thursdays-are-your-days.html
Shabby Creek Cottage
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/10/transformation-thursday-no-173.html
Catherine's Corner
http://katherinescorner.com/2012/10/11/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-57/
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/2012/10/feathered-nest-friday_11.html
Shabby Art Boutique
http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.ca/2012/10/shabbilicious-friday-link-party.html
My Romantic Home
http://romantichome.blogspot.ca/2012/10/rosemary-focaccia-show-and-tell-friday.html
The Rustic Pig
http://www.therusticpig.com/2012/10/creatively-tuesdays-5.html







Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 9

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.I live in a pretty incredible area - It's an historical neighbourhood loaded with tons and tons and tons of charm - and 20th century architecture, just steps away from the city center, it's also a pretty expensive neighbourhood ( in which I live in servants quarters basically compared to what I'm surrounded by.)

Because there's days I don't have furniture makeovers to show you - I've chosen Wednesdays to showcase and feature one home that's for sale around here.................( or apartment - or duplex - or teepee )
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Good morning one and all !- Time for another one!!!
This one tugs at my heart...................
1,289,000.00




Isn't this the cutest building ever?  Love the awnings - and the greenery on top of the portico!
Ok - come on in everyone!

Entrance way -

THE WINDOWS!
THE FIREPLACE!
THE MANTEL!

WELL THE ONE THING I'VE LEARNED SINCE I STARTED THIS SERIES IS
I WANT A HOME THAT HAS A FIREPLACE IN THE ENTRANCE WAY
AND I WANT TO PUT A XMAS TREE THERE FOR XMAS


I spy with my expert eye - the awnings through the windows - loving it - and I also love that oval shaped table beside the couch

beautiful built in on the back wall


Ok - not sure if you're ready for this one - I think I say it every week ( and if you saw my kitchen you'd know why )
but this time this is absolutely my favorite kitchen to date!!!

Ta Da



NOW. WAIT. UNTIL. YOU . SEE. THE. OTHER. SIDE.






Does anyone else love this as much as I do? - love the 2 chairs also!

Ok we may as well check out the back since it's off the kitchen  - this one is off the eating area


and this section is off the cooking area


that would be my studio directly behind the deck

and this is how the 2 areas look



Ok time to go back inside - it's 5 o'clock - grab your margarita on the way in

upstairs landing






I won't be saying too much because words simply fail me




is that a dog bed ( which matches the carpet ) at the foot of the human bed?  OMG - look at the footboard - AGGHHHH




Love love love that wicker chair to the right - does anyone stare at everything in the rooms and decide what should stay and what should go lol

basement


and that's it for today folks - off to dream about winning some money -
how many dressers would I have to sell, do you think, to buy this one?


XXX
Suzan

Sharing with!

No Minimalist Here
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.ca/2012/10/open-house-party-giveaway_3.html
Have a daily cup with Mrs. Olson
http://jannolson.blogspot.ca/2012/10/share-your-cup-thursday-28.html
2 8 0 5
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.ca/2012/10/potpourri-friday-44.html
At the Picket Fence
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/10/its-inspiration-friday-no-85-welcome.html
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/2012/10/feathered-nest-friday.html
My Turn for Us
http://myturn-evelyn.blogspot.ca/2012/10/freedom-fridays-22.html
My Turn For Us
http://myturn-evelyn.blogspot.ca/2012/10/freedom-fridays-22.html