So, you are off to Paris. And while you are there, you may visit some lovely homes -- like those of Marie Antoinette or Victor Hugo. But what about homes where "real" people are living in Paris now?
In my last post you saw lots of doors -- and they have to go somewhere! So today we are going behind one of them.
Even the courtyards have lovelies!
Climb up five flights of steps and note a welcoming arrangement in the hall.
Jiggle the key in the lock (because it is an old lock, after all!) and turn the handle just right! You are home!
Kick off your shoes, take a nap on the couch!
Or better still -- look around! This apartment belongs to my friend Jerry, who is an avid antique collector.
He also is a remarkable designer by avocation with an eye for arrangements. His vignettes are perfect.
You may just want to look out the window at the rooftops on the other side of the courtyard.
The large windows in the living and bedroom make the small space seem much larger.
But I'm hungry. So I'll step into the kitchen. It's a tight fit.
One of the things I love about Paris is that people seem to shop for fresh things regularly -- daily bread, whatever one feels like for dinner. I know now why: the fridge is very small. Everything is smaller.
Jerry is a fan of the frozen market, Picard, which Paris Breakfasts described so well HERE. There is one a few blocks away and he'll pick up just the right thing for dinner. Tonight, chicken, veggies and pasta.
We sit at the table by the window. It's rather perfect.
Jerry's collections run the gamut from interesting art...
...to books...
...to keys...
...to bottles...
...and silver pieces.
All found at brocantes and vides greniers.
The thing that gets me is that he knows just how to put them together!
The bedroom has lots of light. Jerry was kind enough to give up his room to Rick and me during our visit. To awaken and look out these windows was such a joy.
Paris apartments are small by American standards. So Jerry is not only a fine designer and decorator, but a spatial engineer! Every single one of these suitcases on the shelf is completely organized.
Even the bathroom decor is carefully thought out to best use the perfect treasures for that spot. 
I can't choose a favorite.
Is it this?
Or this?
I can't decide.
What about you?
This post is part of the Paris in July blog traveling party hosted by Thyme for Tea and Bookbath!
Please visit them for links to other blogs featuring terrific posts related to France.
This post is part of the Paris in July blog traveling party hosted by Thyme for Tea and Bookbath!
30 comments:
Hi,
The rooms you are showing remind me of our friend's Latin Quarter apartment where we ate dinner last night -- all kinds of little collections from a lifetime of looking around Paris and France. But being engaged in dinner and conversation you can't really walk around and look carefully at things. For that you have to go to a museum!
My favorite photo is the one of the view out the window, across the rooftops and the other buildings. It's the clean, spare lines tht are so beautiful and refreshing.
Even looking at the photos I began to feel claustrophobic, almost as though I was suffocating. Too much stuff, even though it certainly is beautiful stuff. It was wonderful of your friend to share his apartment with you, but to paraphrase an old saying, "It's a great apartment to visit, but I surely couldn't live there." Over the past three years, as I've begun dispersing some of the ridiculous amounts of china that were living around here, I've begun to feel so much better. Different strokes, different folks and all that, I suppose.
I did like the keys.
I love to see behind the doors and windows of people who live in a place I travel to, so this post was very fun for me. I love the court yard, but I think the picture of Rick on the couch is my favorite.
The old keys caught my eye immediately. I am searching for an old key as a gift for someone and obviously there is nothing like that around here!
The apartment may be small but it's big on style. It looks beautiful.
I love your pictorial journey to an area and an apartment inhabited by residents, not tourists, to see and understand how people live in Paris. What a delightful post -- with wonderful pictures!
OH MY what a delight from beginning to end...
first off I just looked at photos and then came back and looked at your lovely photos again while reading...
Just splendidly done dear Jeanie and your friend Jerry is a Prince and an artist and a genius and ... I could go on!
After returning from the UK recently I have thought more than once that not everything is better in BIG size!!!
you've proven it again here...especially wonderful post!
oxo
I love what Jerry did with the suitcases.
Hi Jeanie,
Thank you for the tour of the apartment.. It was wonderful!
I would love to sit at the table and enjoy the lovely dinner.
fondly,
Penny
Sometimes you are lucky to be invited to one of these places, the hidden courtyards... Sometimes you must try to push the doors for some good surprises. Unfortunately not all of them open so easily, but one must keep trying. :-)
Jerry sounds fun and well organized .
His petite Paris apartment and views ~quite charming.
The courtyard photos are fantastic. I'd love to go back to Paris sometime - SOON!
Hi Jeanie,
How sweet of you to leave such kind words for Harold! I am so happy you enjoyed him. I am trying my best to get a more realistic look with my little creatures.. Thank you so much!
Yes, little Zoe is a sweetheart, thank you for visiting her.
blessings,
Penny
I love all the photos but the one of your hubby passed out on the couch is priceless!
Oo, I love the use of suitcases for storage! So pretty, and so functional!! The French are so smart when it comes to effectively using their small living spaces. The apt I rented last time had a small kitchenette that included a small washer/dryer combo. Kind of unconventional, but cool IMO.
What a beautiful apartment! Do I remember correctly that you said he's leaving Paris?
This may be my favorite post yet. It's fascinating to get a peek inside someone's home, especially such a beautiful one. I love Jerry's vignettes. The entire apartment is so charming and it's obvious that it was done with such care and attention to detail. Thanks for the tour. Wow.
Lucky you to be able to stay in a real apartment in Paris! We've been there a few times but always stayed in a hotel. I know this was so special and your friends' apartment is amazing!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Oh my Jeanie, this post and the previous one are pure delight! Thank you so much for sharing all the vignettes and antique treasures in your friend Jerry's Paris apartment,
LoVed it!
I love it all! What a treat to the eyes this apartment must be in person. For those of us visiting via the blog, it was a really amazing treat to see such treasures put together so tastefully. Thanks for giving us a view of a real Paris apartment. Wow.
What a gorgeous apartment. American accommodation is generally huge by European standards, so I thought New York apartments would seem huge by London standards, but they actually don't, surprisingly to me :)
You can be my travel guide to the secret places in Paris any day! You gave a beautiful tour of this lovely apartment. I particularly love the "nap on the couch" shot - hah!
Jerry's collections and eye for detail are a delight!
Bises,
Genie
What a clever collector! I loved going along for a peek inside but I adore the nap on the couch image the best.
What a treat to stay in this authentic space - I love the vignettes. I see Rick didn't have to take off his shoes - looks like he collapsed! Are you watching the Tour? I love seeing the countryside more than the bike action!
I loved your photos and this apartment. It is lovely! I love all of the collections he has - they are amazing! I think the bottles are my favorite :) I just loved getting to see a Parisian apartment - makes me want one of my own. Thank you so much for sharing this inside look ;)
I thought I'd left a comment here before but just found it's not here. Here's what I wanted to say... your photos are exquisite! Yes of course, the home is beautiful, but it takes a fine photographer to bring out the art in every corner. Thanks for sharing something that I'd never see otherwise.
It's definitely cool to have a look inside a Parisian apartment! I live in a one-bedroom apartment in the suburbs, which is fairly spacious for one person. A smaller space would force me to be a lot more organized and get rid of more things, which would be good. I would love to be in the habit of buying fresh food everyday, but that would be much more pleasant a process if the food was within walking distance of my home.
I am swooning over this little apartment filled with treasures. I could spend hours just looking at every little thing. Lucky you! I think I loved the kitchen best of all.
I've always wondered what lies behind those interesting doors... Sometimes, if you pass one that's open, you catch a glimpse of the courtyard beyond... Thanks for the peek at a hidden home!
Lovely memories of your trip! Is J still in Paris?
Fun post! Great to see a home from the inside. I didn't get that opportunity in Paris.
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