J'adore Paris!



wikipedia.com

 I am passionate about many things.  One of those is the city of Paris.  My friends and family know that if they engage me in conversation about the city of love, they won't be able to escape my incessant raptures!  I just found out that my cousin Michelle will soon be headed over there for the first time.  She asked me what should be on her top 10 list of things to do and places to see.  One of the places I suggested was Maxim's.  My first time there I was 18 years old.  I was initially disappointed that their kitchen had closed for the obligatory 2 hour lunch break.  But they did allow me to sit for a coffee and baked goods.  As soon as I went inside, it felt dark but amazing with its enveloping Art Nouveau style.



bing.com



Although first founded as a bistro in 1893 by Maxime Gaillard, Maxim's next owner Eugene Cornuché was responsible for the beautiful interior that is still famous today.  Would you be surprised to know that its current owner is Pierre Cardin?  He apparently saved the previous owner the sadness of selling to foreign bodies who were interested at the time.



Vintage menu
worthpoint.com

Maxim's was immensely popular in the 1950's when they welcomed frequent guests such as Aristotle Onassis and Barbara Hutton.  In the 1970's Brigitte Bardot caused "une scandale" when she appeared at the restaurant in her bare feet.  Maxim's has since branched out to other countries.  But I have to admit that the original on 3 Rue Royale near Place de la Concorde will always be the one for me.

Hey, haven't I seen that house before?!

VILLA SAVOYE
wikipedia.org

I've been to Paris many times but there was never enough time to visit this famous house in Poissy, located just 30 minutes out the capital city.  It was designed by the late, great Le Corbusier.  Called the Villa Savoye, this modernist house is named after the original owners Pierre and Emilie Savoye.  They had dreamed of having a summer retreat along the Seine river, close to their city home.  However, they abandoned the house in the early 1940's, some say due to its impractical design.  After surviving Nazi occupation and many subsequent plans for demolition, the French government finally deemed it an historical monument in 1965.

I could go on extolling the virtues of the famous swiss born architect.  But I thought that it would be more fun to see images of this strange and interesting home:
 

 


    

VILLA SAVOYE, POISSY FRANCE
The Green of the ground floor is the garage
Images courtesy of bluffton.edu



It's hard to say where exactly is the front entrance







Incredibe interior staircase. Reminds me a bit
of the Guggenheim



Interior ramp.  It is said that the house is full of them
which greatly reduced the living space

Living room space.  Do you recognize the furniture?
They are the famous Le Corbusier designs used
frequently today in homes and offices



Roof top patio





Stark looking kitchen with amazing views





Exterior rams which lead to great heights





Large bedroom with built-in cabinets



Roman spa-like bath

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Villa Savoie (Villa Savoye), by Le Corbusier, Poissy-Sur-Seine, France Photographic Poster Print by Walter Rawlings, 12x16



LE CORBUSIER LC7 STYLE SWIVEL CHAIR DESIGNER MODERN





Le Corbusier Style Pony Skin Chaise Lounge FR3007P