A Couture jewel of an hotel in Paris

 
by Jacqueline Swartz
 

In Paris’ Right Bank, around the corner from the high fashion Place de Vendome, is the Hotel Edouard7, a four-star “couture hotel”.  It was built in 1877 and named after Edward VII, the Prince of Wales who later ruled England. He was a francophone with huge appetites – for food, theatre, and most of all, for women.

Five years ago, the hotel, then down at the heels, was sold by a French family and bought by another.  Last year, the little-known classic was redecorated by hat designer Marina Besse, who transformed it into a chic, 70-room hotel that both honors and plays with its history.

There are boutique hotels, design hotels, and now a couture hotel. Designer Besse has “dressed” each room in lush fabrics and striking colour combinations. While everything – the furniture, the fabrics, the floors – is new, you won’t find sparseness or minimalism here. Some rooms have geometric art deco furniture, while others offer a fanciful take on the Edwardian Age.

Edward was known for his trend-setting male attire of top hats and morning suits. His many mistresses, some of the most famous actresses, singers and courtesans of their day, included Sarah Bernhardt and Nellie Melba. Their vivid, seductive qualities inspired Besse’s decor. In one of the suites, for instance, a thick velvet curtain is used instead of a door to the bath. The wc is separate, and many of the rooms have stall showers and deep tubs, high tech luxury that can still evoke a more opulent time.  Materials are velvet, silk and leather signed by Lelievre, Pierre Frey and Carlucci. Purple, red, chocolate and gold are some of the palettes.

“Each room should be read like an opera or a concert performance”, remarks general manager Laurence Guinebretiere. In the bar, she points out, the small square tables stand for Edouard’s cufflinks, while the lamps signify hats. Of course, you don’t need to know this to enjoy the artful ambiance of the hotel.

The atelier-sized lobby is dotted with chairs, from purple leather to a high, red velvet seat in oversized, Alice-in-Wonderland proportions.

In a small salon off the lobby, there are computers with free internet access; wifi in the rooms is also offered gratis.

On the top floor, the rooms have their own terraces and view of the Opera Garnier, Sacre Coeur or the Louvre. The feeling is one of a chic Paris apartment where you might want to carry out a secret assignation.
www.edouard7hotel.com

For more information contact Barbara3@rogers.com