Feel like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in your perfect summer residence in Paris

The French have this natural flair for taste and refinement which often endows their homes with an unmatchable European grace. Blending the warmth of traditional design with a clean, more daring contemporary silhouette, Eden is one such example whose appeal lies in getting the best of both worlds. Its sophisticated look strikes the balance between traditional style and contemporary buzz coexisting peacefully under the same roof. The result? A gracious, ingenious space which gives you the permission to time travel in a sea of harmony.

Eden’s living room

Elegantly furnished with a stylish mix of modern and antique pieces of furniture and refreshing in its simplicity, Eden showcases natural beauty in a rugged and unpretentious manner. Thanks to its organic textures and shapes and the natural atmosphere of its rustic décor, it takes you closer to France’s beautiful countryside and promotes this special relationship with the past which is so hard to achieve in today’s world where so much is virtual.

Eden’s garden

Located in the 5th district of Paris, a few meters away from the charming Luxembourg Gardens, this luxury apartment with a private garden offers a spacious and stylish living space on the ground floor of an elegant Parisian building.

Dimming the boundaries between inside and out is a trademark characteristic of France’s rural regions where no country interior is considered absolute without a bunch of flowers present somewhere around the house -  or even better – sprouting fresh in the garden outside the door, as it the case with Eden’s marvelous green courtyard. This amazing summer retreat is a cozy and almost improbable alcove of peace in the heart of Paris. With direct access to an intimate and relaxing landscaped garden from the apartment, you receive the right to enter your private little summer Heaven where you could enjoy a refreshing aperitif, a romantic dinner or a late night talk about the universe while searching for the perfect fig leaf to match your heavenly outfit.

The living room

Leading directly to the garden and furnished with a fire place, a piano, a large library and a spacious angle sofa which invites conversation, Eden’s living room is a bright space with a lot of character. The stored logs lend the space some cabin charm and match perfectly the rough-hewn beams standing out against the smooth white walls. Not only do these define the place architecturally, but they also make it simple and genuine yet naturally elegant, a look that contents the soul and the eye alike…

Exotic rugs never going out of style, the zebra carpet is cast as that perfect mismatch which nevertheless blends well into the background, anchoring the room with its noticeable presence.

The “double games” of Eden’s kitchen

Fully equipped with an oven, dishwasher, washer/dryer and wall-mounted TV, the kitchen strikes this old-world sensibility with an edge of sophistication which keeps its look smart and fresh.

Finding its center between modern and traditional, its bar-like partition with high stools and a slick black wall jazzed up by random verses instantly transports you into the trendy ambiance of a hip bar or a café, whilst the laid-back, down-to-earth charm of the dining room emits the cozy and regional glow of a home in the country. The dining room has access to the patio where long happy meals can also be taken.

The cozy and elegant bedroom

The traditionally-styled bedroom takes its inspiration from the past. With its pale beige stone walls interlaced with wooden beams, the pretty princess-like bed with its beautiful pastel green wooden frame and the room’s laid-back soft and creamy colours, the space promises coziness and comfort and delivers them with style.

The master bedroom is connected to a large and luxurious bathroom with a walk-in shower, a large bathtub and a double wash basin.

There is a separate walk-in dressing room with ample space for clothes and storage.

The Media room, with TV, music and video library and a Hi-Fi desk could easily be converted into a second bedroom if necessary.

The garden with an oval playground for a cozy outdoor table

There is an air of dreaminess around this fairytale of an apartment which embraces you like a warm soft blanket.

And remember that should you ever want to swap your intimate “Garden of Eden” with the royal Luxembourg gardens for a while, for your convenience, they are located just around the corner.

The courtyard

To hire Eden, please contact bookings@studiosparis.net

Organizing your wedding proposal, honeymoon or anniversary in Paris from A to Z

From selecting the most romantic luxury apartment to organizing an aesthetic and exclusive photo shoot for you with our star photographer, Studios Paris will do what it takes to make your special moment perfect.

Wedding Proposal Package

What could be more romantic than asking for your darling’s pretty little hand in Paris, the epitome of Romance itself? If you have always dreamed of popping the question here in the City of Lights, Studios Paris can work it all out for you and take care of every aspect of the ‘proposal night’! From choosing the most romantic apartment on the banks of the Seine or high above the rooftops of Paris, to providing exciting ideas of the proposal scenario and suggesting the best hidden romantic spots Paris has to offer, we will be privileged to become part of your special moment. We are delighted to confess that so far all of Studios Paris’ proposal nights have ended with a ‘Yes!’

Honeymoon Package

“Paris is always a good idea”, Audrey Hepburn said but when you’re planning to spend your honeymoon here, it’s even better! The city encouraging all those who dream big is the perfect choice for Romeos and Juliettes who adore gourmet food, dreamy landscapes and long kisses on the bridges over the Seine. Let us open you the door to The City of Love and organize your stay with our Honeymoon Package – a romantic breakfast in bed, the best dinner in your life and myriads of other romantic surprises in store. Frankly, we can’t think of a better honeymoon destination than Paris and we will be proud to help you create your honeymoon experience as unique as you are!

Anniversary Package

Everybody says “I love you” in Paris! That’s what it was made for in the first place, non? And what better way to say “I love you” than celebrating your wedding anniversary in the city of Romance? Let us help you organize it all – from choosing the most poetic apartment and booking your tickets to the theatre or opera to enlisting you in the must-do dinner cruise on the Seine and more. This real-life fairytale should be the best anniversary gift ever. You can imagine it as fancy as it gets, Studios Paris would be happy to help your romantic dreams come to life!

Sara’s photography

Exclusive photo-shoot

If you want to document these magical moments, we offer you the services of our privileged partner in photography – star photographer Sara Niedzwecka – who can organize a high-class photo session just for you and capture in exclusivity your full wedding story professionally. Sara’s wedding and portrait photography speaks to the heart. Laced with emotion, happiness, tenderness and creative impact, her images capture a unique moment in your life and she is well aware of that. To create pictures that are both intimate and original, she will relate to you and your personal inclination of how you want to see yourself during this special day. “What’s the most important thing to you on your wedding day? What image of yourself do you want to convey? Intimate? Artistic? Romantic? Surely the best one! So do I”, she says.

Sara’s photography

Art has always been a constant in Sara’s life. While studying music, visual art and architecture, she spent a lot of time working between New York, Paris, and Poznan in Poland. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Commercial Photography, she decided to settle in Paris and embrace her career in beauty and fashion photography, influenced by the style and ‘art de vivre’ so specific to the City of Lights. Experienced in the fields of reportage, portraits, still life and design and artwork photography, she works with greatest care to propose a vision for a unique series of images, direct the styling, execute a successful photo session and present her models in the best manner possible. Today she works with architects, designers, magazines and advertising agencies, while sharing her time mostly between her beloved city of Paris and Warsaw – “the roots of her origins and a bridge towards the East.”

Daring or gentle, Sara’s shots always manage to impress

We asked Sara what it’s like to create emotion for others in her pictures while shooting weddings and here’s what she shared.

Not all clients are natural born artists who know how to perform in front of a camera. How do you encourage them to relax and work with you?

I love working with people and capturing their best moments. I know how important it is to seize their best in a picture because this is their life, so it is really exciting. I usually work with a small team of professionals which creates a really cool and friendly atmosphere “on set”. During the whole project I am attentive to what our clients like and how they feel. In the beginning I try to approach them by easing the atmosphere – we play the right music, discuss and laugh while little by little we move into the real photo session. As people become more open and confident, they give their best naturally.

Flowers of beauty; Sara’s photography

As a director of photography, how do you manage to create emotion for others in your pictures?

There is no trick, the emotion is real and comes from within people themselves. I just try to shape it up a bit and give it some direction through our friendly exchange, it is like a game!

How do you succeed to create a different image for the wedding couple, individual for each client?

In fact, what I really care about is capturing and presenting people as they really are – through their own expressions, emotions and intimate stories. As each person is unique, the individual image of any couple just couldn’t be otherwise.

Sara’s photography adapts to the way you want to see yourselves, be it classical or avantgarde

Your idea of the perfect shot?

I am not a ‘sniper’!  (laughs) I prefer to talk of the perfect session, because usually for couples or individuals, the whole period of the session is important, it’s like a revelation. This is why I am not concentrated on getting this ‘one best shot’, but rather on capturing the soul of the moment in a unique sequence of shots where people feel and look happy, confident, beautiful, emotional… The perfect session for me means sharing an intimate moment under the best possible conditions, having everyone be and look happy here and now.

Rebel Rebel; Sara’s photography

Besides romantic related photo sessions, what other services could you propose to Studios Paris’ clients coming to or living in Paris?

I also make portraits of people (personalities, actors, board members, kids) who need someone to capture their distinctiveness and translate it to a visionary language.  Practically anyone interested in seizing a singular moment of time (a birthday, an anniversary, a family get together, a graduation or just your favourite Sunday walk in the park with your beloved ones) in order to make it exceptional and special is welcome to contact us for a photo shoot.  Alternatively, people who would fancy completely reinventing themselves and seeing themselves in a whole new light could also be interested in a personalized photo session which would provide them with an inspiring brand new image of themselves which they could cherish.

A simple everyday ritual suddenly glows with a moment of intimacy; Sara’s photography

I recently worked for a family, who had their first photo session during which I was to take a series of portraits of the young couple.  Initially they were not at ease because the young lady was too shy, so we started with some casual everyday photos in the living room, with them sitting on a comfy sofa, in the daylight and so. After a while we made a little break and shortly the lady let go and finally opened up to a session which turned to be extremely intimate and funny! In the end, their kids who were curiously observing us during the whole time did come to take part in the pictures as well. My clients had a wonderful time they will not forget and some very nice memories for all their lives. We are now very good friends…

 Sharing one of the most precious moments in people’s lives, how does it feel like?

Unique each time!

If you’re interested in our Romantic services in general or our Exclusive photo shoot in particular, please contact services@studiosparis.net

10 things to do during your Parisian summer

Being in Paris in August is like having Disneyland all to yourself: you get maximum fun for minimum fuss! Most locals having deserted the city for their August vacations, the City of Light feels, well, lighter. Relaxed, slow and weirdly stripped of its regular cosmopolitan stress levels, it has but one disadvantage – many places might actually be closed! The upside, however, is that you’ll have an uncrowded version of Paris much to yourself, which basically is all you need in order to relax, make discoveries and have fun in this magical city. Here is our top 10 list of the best summer activities in and around Paris. Enjoy!

Summer in the city!

Rise over Paris in a hot-air balloon

You want to rise above Paris in a less conventional manner? Then your direction should be the Parc André Citroën where a tethered sightseeing helium balloon takes savvy travelers up in the air for inspiring panoramic views of Paris from above. The Ballon Air de Paris offers 10-minute rides to a height of 150 meters to all enthusiasts who want to capture a snapshot of Paris as seen by the birds.

(Parc André Citroën, from 9am to 30 minutes before the park’s closing time; Metro: Javel; Ticket price: 12€ (adults); 6€ (kids from 3 to 11)

Swim in the “cabrio” pool over the Seine   

Launched in 2002 – the year that saw the inauguration of Paris Plage – the floating swimming pool Josephine Baker is the superstar of all Parisian pools. This extraordinary glass and steel structure is equipped with a sliding glass roof transforming the floating pool into a cabrio version of itself which opens to the skies. With the river below you and the skies above, a swim here is as exciting as it can get! Bordered by the Seine, overlooking Bercy, facing the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand and next to the cult night joint Batofar (a boat with a lighthouse), the swimming pool hosts a trendy aquatic center with a 25m pool, a jacuzzi, a hammam, a sauna and a solarium plus a 50m2 paddling pool for kids. In a nutshell – it just couldn’t be better!

(Hours, address and fees here: http://equipement.paris.fr/piscine-josephine-baker-2930)

Have a cocktail on the Seychelles beach  

Sick of the dreary urban cityscape? Then Coco de Mer is your place! This replica of the Seychelles in the city of Paris is the best place to experience a round of mental teleportation just for the fun of it! A native Seychellois, the restaurant’s owner created this Seychelles’ culinary embassy in Paris over twenty years ago. The restaurant’s name, Coco de Mer, stands for the largest nut in the world – an endemic species found in the Garden of Eden, on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles. Their ‘ti-punch’ (a rum-based mixed drink that is especially popular in the French-speaking Caribbean) is great but the best is yet to come – you can drink it in a perfect setting, on a sandy beach under the shadow of palm trees while sinking your toes into the soft sand coating the veranda while having dinner – for, yes, here the city really gives way to the beach!

(Coco de mer, 34 boulevard Saint Marcel,  Contact +33 6 20 26 77 67 ; Closed on Sundays and Monday noon)

Hire a boat in the Bois de Boulogne    

An ex-hunting ground for the French royalty, the Bois de Boulogne has now grown into the largest relaxation spot in the West of Paris. With its surface of 850 hectares, one of Paris’ ‘lungs’ offers plentiful walkways, horse-riding trails, sports fields and touristic cycle routes. Designed to please everyone, it has playgrounds for children, theatres, restaurants, picnic areas and bicycles for hire. Enjoy strolling past the long tree-lined alleys or – for the more romantically-inclined – hire a boat and row on the quiet waters of the Lac Inférieur just like the ladies and gentlemen from the past used to during their calm and peaceful weekend afternoons.

(Bois de Boulogne is at metro stop Porte d’Auteuil ; boats for hire by the Lac Inférieur)

Pick your own veggies fresh from the farm

A real adventure in itself, picking your own fruits and vegetables straight from Mother Nature instead of buying them wrapped in nylon in the Parisian supermarkets is a lovely and atavistic escapade you don’t get to experience every day. Happily, if you have a car while in Paris, the region of Île de France has a good number of farms where you could pick your own rustic delights yourself, like a good ol’ farmer. The Vergers de Champlain farm in La Queue-en-Brie (23km south-east of Paris) offers over 40 different types of produce in season. Seek out the best apples and fresh peas, pick some crunchy cucumbers and lettuce for your evening salad or eat a mouthful of strawberries right out of your hand. Finally, treat yourself to some hand-picked flowers – choose between lilies, gladioli or a blend of wild flora – all pretty and colorful…

(For more information: www.vergersdechamplain.com

Watch a movie under the stars in Parc de la Villette

The Parc de la Villette is a good place to get lost. With its ten curiously-themed gardens (named Garden of Mirrors, Garden of Mists, Garden of Childhood Frights, etc.) and its lawns hosting the international open-air film festival, it offers free alfresco movie going at its best. People gather at sundown and snuggle up on the grass to watch movies under the stars on a big inflatable screen. You could hire a deck chair or pack your own picnic kit and blanket and come enjoy both classics and latest hits in the company of laid-back local cinephiles. Expect a new movie every night of the festival.

(To check the festival program, go to http://www.villette.com/fr/agenda/Cinema-en-plein-air-2012.htm)

Hide from the heat in Maison de l’Air

A great place to hide from the summer heat and to reflect on the future of mankind (or admire the panoramic views over Paris), the Maison de l’Air is like an open book of ecology and the environment. With its permanent exhibition on the air in Paris and its vital role in our environment, it offers the remarkable experience of touching, feeling and hearing the air that surrounds us. Exploring the complexity of the relationships between all living things and the air of the city, the role of the atmosphere and the importance of its protection, a visit to this animated and interactive museum where children and adults learn to be more responsible towards the air we breathe, will help you understand a bit better what is going on around us.

(Maison de l’Air is at 27, rue Piat ; Métro: Pyrénées; Working hours (April till September) – Tuesday 13:30 to 17:30; Saturday: 13:30 to 18:30; free of charge)

Dance the night away by the Seine   

One of Paris’ wildest party scenes is located by the river! Steps away from the National library François Mitterrand and the floating swimming pool Josephine Baker, some gorgeous party options promise a great summer night out! You can dance the night away in the magnificent La Dame de Canton, a former Chinese junk made from exotic wood, which “sailed the seven seas” before retiring on the banks of the Seine. With its avant-garde live concerts, the captain’s room and its old library or its romantic restaurant, there’s always something new and exciting going on about this floating maze. The other must-visit joint, the Batofar, attracts music lovers with its varied beats and bohemians with its temporary beach and ice cold beers and tapas. Even if you don’t feel like wild partying, do come sit on the pier and admire the sunset over the river, you won’t regret it.

(Both venues are located at Quai François Mauriac)

Jump around in the open-air public parks 

Trying its best to reach as many people as possible, Le Gym Suédois promotes free open-air aerobics classes in a number of Parisian parks during the summer (ending August 25th). A new arrival in France and practically a way of life in Sweden where it comes from, the concept has taken major cities by storm due to its pure and simple philosophy. Lasting about an hour, each session includes a warm-up, stretching, muscle-building, cardio, running and finishes with a minute of zen relaxation.  Conceived by physiotherapists, the program makes sure you spend the maximum amount of energy, while having fun and getting the most out of each exercise session. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s in the open-air – what better way to do sports in Paris!

For more information on the open-air classes, please visit : http://www.gymsuedoise.com/index?a=cours&s=list&pa=1&u=209dea422cadc9b65654769969f44a1a

And all that jazz!

From raw debuts and experimental music styles to proven classics of iconic jazz performers, Paris has always had a thing for a good jazz gig. One of the most eagerly anticipated events for music lovers during this summer in Paris, the Jazz à la Villette festival boasts unique concerts blending different styles and featuring artists singing jazz, blues, hip-hop, funk and world music. Some of this year’s names feature Jamie Cullum, Bryan Ferry, Sean Kuti and Egypt 80 and many more.

(For more information on the festival’s program, visit http://www.jazzalavillette.com/programme.aspx)

The Dream of Waterfront Living now possible with Studios Paris’ houseboats for rent and for sale

Most real estate homes usually thrive on firm ground. But there will always be those who would opt for a choice less conventional when setting up a household.

If you have the water gene in you, Studios Paris can propose several waterfront living suggestions which just shouldn’t be missed.

Waterfront living – a summer favourite!

With Léonide and Saint Laurent, two of our lovely houseboats available for rent, and the Péniche Orphée, our newest waterborne gem on the market for sale, Studios Paris’ flotilla is ready to storm summertime Paris!

Leonide houseboat

Located inside the exclusive harbor of “L’Arsenal”, right by the Place de la Bastille, our cozy and authentic boat Léonide is an extraordinary place to stay. Moored by the Seine where you could enjoy the quietness of the canal Saint-Martin, Léonide is comfortable as much as adventurously decorated. This genuine captain’s deck permits you to enjoy your warm summer nights on the open deck above the Seine under golden shadow of the July column right in the heart of Paris. A stay in Léonide would render your sojourn a real bohemian’s corsair journey through the City of Lights!

If you are looking for a more secluded version of houseboat deluxe, our “Le Saint Laurent” is the perfect place to be. Floating on the Seine in the elegant Neuilly neighbourhood, you can enjoy its sunlit terrace or the private rose garden on the quay for barbecue.  Located steps away from Paris’ biggest natural park, the Bois de Boulogne, its other advantage would be your neighbours – some ducks, swans and birds troubling the heavenly calm of your Parisian paradise. The best place to combine a holiday of fishing and tanning on the beach with Parisian sightseeing, Le Saint Laurent is recruiting for a new captain, which could be you.

Le Saint Laurent Houseboat in Neuilly

Nowadays an increasing number of people are abandoning the notion of living on dry land to pursue a simpler and more environmentally friendly lifestyle, closer to nature. Many forward-thinking individuals have started seeing the opportunity of owning a boat not only as something romantic and trendy, but also as a profitable prospect. With the relaxing atmosphere linked to living on the water, there are plenty of other motives why owning a floating home is a tempting option. One particular advantage – its affordability – as buying a houseboat is a much cheaper alternative to purchasing any bricks-and-mortar home.  A moving home also presents the opportunity of nomad living or travelling wherever you want thanks to your boat. The freedom of relocating anytime, along with the joy of welcoming the sun with your morning coffee, sitting on your sunlit deck reading a book or watching the sunset above the water makes this a particularly enticing lifestyle especially during the summer.

The garden on the quay of Le Saint Laurent houseboat

Houseboat living is an exotic choice for those who have a thing for water…

If you consider yourself one of them, then you could just fall in love with the Péniche Orphée, our latest houseboat for sale. Floating on the Oise river in the city center of Creil in a quiet street 10 minutes away from the railway station and the city’s commercial area, Péniche Orphée is moored just 25 minutes away from Paris’ Gare du Nord.

The Orphée houseboat

Bigger than most people’s “normal” homes, this 200 m² houseboat is fully furnished and features two independent levels, which could be used together or separately. Consisting of a bathroom with shower and a toilet, 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room, the first unit could easily become an office or an apartment for rent. The second one features a beautiful 60m2 living room, a kitchen, a bathroom with shower and WC, three bedrooms and another room which could be transformed into a lounge room or a study. Free parking is available in front of the houseboat and a secure access is provided through a fence and a doorway. Electric heating and wood stove are also available.

Orphée’s living room

Madame Bourgain, Péniche Orphée’s owner shares her experience of the positive thrills of living on a boat as well as her motivation to approach Studios Paris regarding the boat sale.

How did you choose working with Studios Paris? What do you appreciate in particular about the agency?

I know Mme Léandre (Studios Paris’ CEO) and the company’s team of professional realtors and have total confidence in them which is why I wholeheartedly recommend selling your property with them. Studios Paris sets high standards for itself, knows how to render a property stand out from the crowd and market it well. With their professional approach, they have established a connection with a good number of potential buyers throughout time and as a result they always manage to sell their top-quality properties successfully.

Orphée’s living room

What are the advantages of owning a houseboat? 

On the Orphée houseboat, the situation was perfect! At Creil, you are only 25 minutes away from Paris. In the end, taking the train to the Gare du Nord is much quicker than using the metro, the RER or going by car. Another great thing about it would be owning a large space for a small fee and enjoying the benefits of living in the countryside while taking full advantage of residing in the city. The boat is three minutes away from the woods and every summer our children used to swim in the Oise river.

Orphée’s garden on the quay with glycinias

Who is the Orphée houseboat suitable for?

It could meet the requirements of a large public – from families and freelancers doing remote work to investors looking for an independent studio to rent.

Your favourite pastime on the boat is…?

I love its spaciousness which permits you to have huge jolly parties on the deck with family and friends.

Orphée

What is the most incredible / precious thing about living on a boat?

The sensation of inner liberty you feel once you start living there.

During the warm summer months plenty of people sit on the banks of the Seine watching the boats go by and dream how nice it would be to be actually living on one.  With Studios Paris’ boats for rent and for sale, we welcome you aboard! Yet once you become part of the crew, you won’t be much keen to go back to dry land!

To rent the Léonide or Le Saint Laurent houseboats, please contact bookings@studiosparis.net

Interested in starting your waterborne life on the Péniche Orphée? Please contact sales@studiosparis.net

Paris is a city that inspires. Constantly. Instantly. Incessantly.

This is why at Studios Paris we love seizing the moment, trying to capture the ephemeral as we go, on the way.

Inspiring nooks? Hidden gems? Ephemeral pleasures? Itchy to explore all Parisian curiosities, the Studios Paris blog will find them for you & guide you through them!

If you want to support our quest in discovering the fascinating maze of Paris, please vote for our blog nominated in the category Voyage/Tourisme in the Paris’ Golden Blog Awards Contest!

Please follow this link to vote – it’s really quick and easy, just a one-click step process:

http://www.golden-blog-awards.fr/blogs/les-studios-de-paris-news-from-your-home-in-paris.html

Thanks for sharing our passion!

The Studios Paris Team

Une nuit dans la Maison d’accueil Ephrem

Plus réputée pour son patrimoine artistique, ses cabarets et sa vie nocturne effrénée, la colline de Montmartre, véritable terre de contrastes, réserve pourtant bien des surprises au visiteur en quête de spiritualité…

Tels Docteur Jekyll et Mister Hyde, la butte Montmartre se garde de dévoiler une facette insoupçonnée : derrière ses habits de fête, au-delà de son folklore, vibre son anima sancta illuminée de prières d’éternité.

La basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Depuis la nuit des temps, Montmartre a toujours été un lieu de culte : des druides gaulois aux Romains qui ont bâti des temples à la gloire de Mars et de Mercure, en passant par l’église Saint-Pierre, la plus ancienne église de Paris, et enfin la basilique du Sacré-Cœur, érigée au XIX^e siècle.

Pour découvrir cette facette méconnue de la colline, rien de tel qu’une halte dans la Maison d’accueil Ephrem, l’hôtellerie de la célèbre basilique du Sacré-Cœur, qui vous permet de passer la nuit au cœur de Montmartre pour la modique somme de 15 euros, « prières pour votre âme immortelle incluses ».

Chaque année, des millions de personnes visitent la basilique du Sacré-Cœur, mais très peu d’entre elles savent que son hôtellerie, Ephrem, peut les accueillir le temps d’une nuit.

La Maison d’accueil Ephrem vue du dessus

Attenante à la basilique, l’hôtellerie offre une capacité d’accueil de 53 chambres aux personnes qui effectuent une démarche de prière ou de pèlerinage et à celles qui veulent se joindre à l’adoration eucharistique de jour et de nuit, prendre part aux célébrations liturgiques ou mener une réflexion spirituelle.

« La basilique du Sacré-Cœur est un lieu de pèlerinage où les chapelains et les sœurs bénédictines du Sacré-Cœur accueillent les pèlerins, les fidèles adorateurs et tous ceux qui cherchent Dieu. Depuis 1885, la prière d’adoration perpétuelle a été la part la plus importante de la vie et des activités de ce sanctuaire mondialement connu. »

Un petit-déjeuner avec les sœurs

Ouverte aux pèlerins qui ont réservé une chambre, dans le cadre d’un voyage organisé ou en solo, la retraite permet aux fidèles comme à ceux qui s’intéressent à la spiritualité de se ressourcer.

Plus qu’une occasion d’échanger avec des compagnons de contemplation venus de l’étranger, une nuit dans l’hôtellerie Ephrem lève le voile sur une tradition inchangée depuis des siècles. En franchissant les portes de la Maison d’accueil, vous décrochez un passeport pour un autre temps aux valeurs si rares dans le monde moderne.

Une chambre avec un crucifix sur le mur

Partie intégrante de l’épopée des communautés locales depuis le Moyen Âge, la retraite est une expérience culturelle incomparable en soi. Passer une nuit dans l’hôtellerie Ephrem, c’est également l’occasion idéale de s’oublier, de laisser derrière soi les tracas du quotidien, de libérer son esprit et de purger son âme dans l’austérité d’une chambre qui compte pour seuls ornements une image pieuse de la Vierge et un crucifix accroché au-dessus du lit.

Le jardin cosy

Quelle que soit votre confession, vous pouvez également séjourner dans la Maison d’accueil pour le simple fait de vivre une expérience culturelle. Vous n’aurez pas à faire vœu de chasteté et personne n’observera vos allées et venues : assister à la messe ou méditer sereinement en arpentant les rues pavées et pentues de Montmartre, c’est à vous de choisir. La seule contrainte de votre bref séjour est peut-être le couvre-feu fixé à 21 heures , mais c’est un prix à payer bien modeste pour l’éveil spirituel, l’hospitalité religieuse et l’hébergement bon marché que vous obtenez en retour.

Pour toute réservation, contactez la Maison d’accueil Ephrem à l’adresse  adoremus@sacre-coeur-montmartre.com  - Réponse sous une semaine environ.

Coordonnées de la Maison d’accueil Ephrem :

MAISON D’ACCUEIL EPHREM
33, RUE DU CHEVALIER-DE-LA-BARRE
75018 PARIS

+33 1 53 41 89 09

adoremus@sacre-coeur-montmartre.com

Le service client de Studios Paris se plie en quatre (pattes) pour vous

Rentrer chez soi. Peu de choses décrivent cette sensation de plénitude retrouvée aussi bien qu’un petit compagnon à quatre pattes qui vous accueille, la queue frétillante, sur le pas de la porte.

Pourtant, et c’est ce qui fait le charme de cette histoire, c’est en réalité l’inverse qui s’est produit cette fois.

La présence d’un chien peut-elle transformer la location d’un appartement dans une ville étrangère en joie de vivre votre vie dans votre nouveau chez-vous ? Bien sûr !

Cédant à l’enthousiasme de recréer un vrai « foyer loin de chez eux » pour nos derniers clients, le personnel des Studios de Paris a pratiquement fait l’impossible en acceptant une périlleuse mission, nom de code « Quatre pattes ». La mission en question ? Répondre à la demande très curieuse, touchante et pour le moins inhabituelle de nos clients, une fratrie de quatre enfants des Émirats, qui avaient choisi de résider dans notre appartement Starway to Heaven : « Avoir un chien. À Paris. Point final.»

Bien loin du classique « Pourriez-vous nous réserver deux places pour l’opéra ? », mais rien ne nous effraie quand c’est pour une bonne cause !

En intégrant une assistance aux animaux de compagnie professionnelle et de qualité dans nos services de conciergerie 5 étoiles, nous avons relevé le défi et acheté un adorable caniche royal dans le sud de la France, géré le transport de l’animal et sa mise en chenil, rempli toutes les exigences vétérinaires, notamment en matière de vaccination. Nous gardons actuellement le chiot, car nos clients ont dû quitter Paris pour quelques semaines. Notre directrice d’hôtel, Barbara, véritable professionnelle en matière d’éducation du caniche royal, a été plus que ravie d’accueillir la petite Isalys, pour la plus grande joie de ses deux enfants.

Notre objectif était d’offrir à nos clients l’assurance que leur nouveau compagnon serait heureux, en sécurité et bien traité. Nous sommes bien conscients qu’un animal est un membre à part entière de la famille et que pour les amis des bêtes, « être chez soi, c’est être là où se trouve son animal. »

Après tous ces préparatifs, assister à la rencontre entre la petite Isalys et sa nouvelle famille aimante fut une expérience épanouissante, unique et chargée d’émotion à laquelle nous avons été très heureux de contribuer.

Après deux semaines passées dans l’appartement, à admirer la vue dégagée sur Paris et à profiter du home cinéma, Isalys confortablement installée à leurs pieds, nos clients ne songent pas un instant à quitter Starway to Heaven. Qui pourrait les en blâmer ?

Toujours heureux d’en faire plus pour le plaisir de nos clients, en particulier quand cela implique un adorable chiot, nous avons pris à cœur cette tâche amusante et prouvé, une fois encore, que louer un bien auprès des Studios de Paris ne se limite pas à trouver un hébergement, mais s’envisage plutôt comme un voyage au-delà de la simple expérience touristique pour se redécouvrir dans l’ambiance feutrée de son chez-soi parisien.

Your grimly exciting guide to a chilling Halloween in Paris

If you are tempted by the macabre and happen to be in Paris around Halloween you will positively have a blast exploring our All Saints’-inspired Parisian attractions. Happy haunting!

“Stop! Here lies the Empire of Death”: A Dark Stroll in The Catacombs

This grim underground ossuary, stretching for a couple of kilometers under Paris, holds the remains of 6 million people in what were once Paris’ ex-stone mines. Formed by a series of long, winding tunnels, crammed with bones and skulls excavated from different Paris cemeteries, the catacombs surely are a sight to see! The biggest portion of skulls come from Le Cimetière des Innocents (The Cemetery of the Innocents), which had by the 18^th century become extremely overcrowded. With open graves left rotting and corpses sticking out of the ground, it posed a serious health threat for regular citizens and was subsequently closed, all the bones being excavated and transported to the underground sepulture of the catacombs’ tunnels. The exhumation and transfer began in 1786 and finished 2 years later. “Behind a procession of chanting priests, began a parade of black-covered bone-laden horse-drawn wagons that continued for years.” Today, a visit to the catacombs will certainly provide an exciting chill to remember, but whatever you do, don’t get lost there unless you want to share the fate of Philibert Aspairt. The Val-de-Grace hospital doorkeeper vanished in the catacombs in 1793 only to be discovered 11 years later, his tomb still located on the spot where his body was found…

The grim underworld of the Catacombs

Heads Will Roll: The Gory History of the Guillotine

The National Razor, The Regretful Climb, The Widow, Wooden Justice or The Goncourt Prize for Murderers are just some of the nicknames of one of mankind’s most “humane” killing devices: the guillotine. Created in 1789, this instrument of death had many heads rolling, two of its most famous victims being King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette in 1793. A fixture on the Place de la Concorde during the Revolution, it was later erected at today’s Place de la Nation where more than 30 grisly public executions took place per day.  Until 1899, convicts condemned to death were kept in the former Grand Roquette prison, outside which a guillotine was set up. As the street surface was unlevelled, five stone blocks were fixed into the pavement to make an even foundation for the scaffold. Still visible on Rue de la Croix-Faubin at the corner of Rue de la Roquette, these granite blocks depict the gory stigmata of violent times. Anecdotal or not, some medics claim it takes 15 minutes before a chopped head loses completely its eye and hearing senses. As scary as it might sound, guillotine executions in France were public until 1939 and the last person to be guillotined in the country met his gruesome faith as late as 1977.

The Guillotine: Downright uncompromising

Rats: Paris’ favourite pets

With four times as many rats as humans in Paris (more than 8 million in total), Paris has become a Rat Heaven of a kind – with the subway, the Seine and the restaurants facilitating the well-being of those furry cosmopolitans. Rats! Paris has always had a love-hate liaison with them. Locals have been loving them, killing them and even eating them! During the siege in the Franco-Prussian War, brown and roof rats were willingly and vastly consumed in Paris. Fortunately, today the Rats à la bordelaise recipe is no longer among the must-try French delicacies. Although after the famous French movie “Ratatouille” rats became popular pets in many Parisian households, the Julien Arouze and Co., a rare pest control shop, has a rather different policy towards those poor vermins. The shop’s storefront gets some customers’ attention by banking on a rather bizarre visual approach: exposing stuffed dead rats hanging in the shop’s store window since 1925. Now this is some daring marketing you don’t see every day! Dealing with pest extermination since 1872, this eccentric shop provides many a gadget for doing away with the furry rodents. They even have a menacing slogan – the line “destruction of harmful animals” marks the entrance of this rare “pet cemetery” of sorts.

Not your typical “Paris fashion” shop window

3 good plans for a grim Halloween 2013 in Paris 

In homage to Halloween, a special themed evening honoring the great gothic legend of Bram Stoker’s Dracula will be held in one of our favourite bookshops, Shakespeare and Co. Monsieur Jacques Sirgent, the creator of Paris’ Vampire Museum, will give a lecture on the grim Romanian count, exploring “contemporary reaction, historical context, modern interpretation and many film adaptations”.

If you feel like a walking tour through the macabre maze of Paris, The Mysteries of Paris Ghost Tour will initiate you to another side of the city which comes to life after dark.  This 90-minute English language stroll through the dark heart of the City of Light will take you along old streets and winding lanes to explore the Vampires, Ghosts, Haunted Stories, Mysteries and Legends of Paris, all part of the lesser-known history of this bewitching city. Witchcraft, sorcery and necromancy, the ghost of Marie Antoinette, the mysteries of the Notre Dame and the story of the tragic lovers of the Eiffel Tower will keep you entertained and slightly anxious during the tour.

Paris Ghost Tour

Explore the creepy hideout of the phantom of the Opera. Be tempted by the delicacies of the actual bloody baker. Escape the knife of Catherine de Medici’s hired assassin. Enter “Le Manoir de Paris” to discover Paris in a whole new light. In this creepy yet unique mansion, the history, mysteries and legends of Paris come to life. A new concept in France, Le Manoir de Paris unlocks the mysteries of the capital through 13 chilling legends, among which The Crocodile in the Paris sewers, the Vampire’s Wine Cellar, the Ghost of the Tuileries Garden and many more…

Le Manoir de Paris is waiting for you…

For more on the grim face of Paris, please read our stories “The Street of the Fishing Cat” and “You Can Keep your Head on Or The Astonishing Story of Saint Denis”

Studios Paris’ Client Services Now Going the Cute Extra Mile

Few things spell “home” more persuasively than a cute little fellow cheerfully wagging his fluffy tail upon perceiving your silhouette arrive at the doorstep.

Yet what makes this story even more interesting is that in reality this time it was the other way around.

Could the presence of one dog transform the act of renting an apartment in a foreign city into the joy of living your life in your new home? You bet!

Looks homey enough, doesn’t it?

But let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

Enthused by the idea to create a real “home away from home” experience for our latest guests’ wellbeing, this time Studios Paris nearly did the impossible while embarking on a truly rare mission with the code name “Four Paws”. The assignment? Helping our clients, four siblings from the Emirates who selected our apartment “Starway to Heaven” as their second home, with the very curious, endearing and unusual demand of “Getting a dog. In Paris. Period”.

Isalys taking a royal walk at the Champs Elysees

Not your typical “Could you book us two tickets for the opera?” demand, but nothing would scare us when it’s for a good cause!

In integrating professional, experienced and quality pet care into our 5-star concierge services, we entered the challenge and bought a cute Caniche Royal in the South of France, managed the pet’s transportation and kenneling, reached out to handle all the veterinary and vaccine requirements, and are currently dog sitting as our client had to leave Paris for a few weeks. Our hotel manager Barbara who is a professional in Caniche Royal education has been more than happy to accommodate Isalys as a new family member much to the joy of her two excited kids.

- Our booking manager Vincent and Isalys

Our goal was to give our clients the peace of mind that their newly acquired family member is happy, secure and well taken care of. Because we know that a pet completes a family and for animal lovers “home is where your pet is”.

Following all these arrangements, seeing the reunion between cute little Isalys and his loving new family was an emotional, fulfilling and unique experience which we were so happy to have been part of.

With Isalys in front of our office

After two weeks in Starway to Heaven, sinking in the views and enjoying the home cinema, with Paris at their feet and Isalys’ protective muzzle by their side, our guests wouldn’t even dream of leaving the apartment anyway. And who could blame them?

Always happy to go the extra mile if it would make our clients happy (especially when there’s a cute little pup involved), we took this amusing task to heart and once again proved that renting with Studios Paris has never been just about finding a lodging, but more about embarking on an intimate journey beyond the touristic to rediscover yourself in the intimate atmosphere of your private and personal Parisian home.

A real Parisienne: Isalys posing with the Eiffel tower

In line with our tradition to present a new artist every three months, the Studios Paris Art Gallery has invited you on an exciting artistic journey last September 19^th when we celebrated the opening of “Croco fashion / textures” with a lively reception attended by a crowd of a hundred people – some local celebrities, writers, painters, clients, owners and friends of Studios Paris.

Thank you all for being there to share our passion!

 Enthusiastic about contemporary expression and inspired by Cubism, Dadaism, action painting and minimal art, Catherine Cazau, our ultimate abstract artist on show, exhibited her artworks – creative explosions in slow motion –  in front of an animated audience coming between the display’s opening hour and well after midnight when the last visitors left.

Housing 25 major works of art, the exhibition was a chance to literally walk through abstraction and experience it first-hand.

Received with great enthusiasm by the public present, the exhibition itself, very contemporary and “oh so Studios’ style”, was in complete harmony with our company philosophy (honoring aesthetics as a way of life) and very much in tune with the radically modern design of our apartments.

Montmartre celebrities Dominique Pinon (best known for his work in the films of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, namely “Amelie Poulain”) and celebrity model and dancer Willy Cartier (famous, among others, for his recent appearance in Guerlain’s short movie spot “The Legend of Shalimar”) also swung by to check out the festivities themselves.

If you missed out on the show and couldn’t come to the inauguration, we’d be happy to welcome you at our gallery whenever you have a moment to drop by.

Open to the public all seven days of the week, the exhibition is on show until November 19^th.

Catherine among her works

Enjoy the photos of the festivities on the opening night!

Spending a Night in Sacré Coeur’s Ephrem guesthouse

More famous for its artistic history and wild nightlife cabaret culture, Montmartre is a hill of contrasts who has yet many unexpected secrets to unveil to the spiritually tempted visitor…

What few people suspect about the Butte however, is that, like Jekyll and Hyde, Montmartre too has a set of faces – a big difference lying between the “Montmartre of feasts and wine” and the hill’s anima sancta illuminated by its eternal prayers.

Since the dawn of time Montmartre has always been a place of worship: from the Gallic Druids and the Romans with their temples honoring Mars and Mercury, to the oldest church in Paris, L’Eglise Saint-Pierre, and finally, the Sacré Coeur Basilica which was built during the 19^th century.

An inspiring and rare way to discover this lesser known facet of the hill’s soul would be spending a night in the Maison d’accueil d’Ephrem, the guesthouse of the famous Basilica of Sacré Coeur, which offers you the chance to stay in the heart of Montmartre for as little as 15 euro per night, “prayers for your immortal soul included.”

Annually hordes of visitors tour the Sacré Coeur Basilica, but what most of them don’t have a clue about is that the public can stay overnight at its guesthouse, Ephrem.

The Ephrem Guesthouse as seen from above

Adjacent to the Basilica, the guesthouse is a 53-room dormitory with rooms available to those who wish to pray or come for a pilgrimage, join in the Eucharistic adoration during the day or at night, take part in the liturgical celebrations or reflect spiritually.

 “The Sacré Coeur Basilica is a place of pilgrimage where the chaplains and the Benedictine nuns of the Sacred Heart welcome pilgrims, faithful worshippers and all those who seek God. Since 1885, the prayer of perpetual worship has been the most important part of the life and activities of this worldwide famous sanctuary.”

A breakfast with the sisters

Open to pilgrims who have previously booked a room – from organized church trips to Enlightenment seekers performing solo – a convent stay holds many rewards for the faithful and spiritually curious alike.

Other than a chance to converse with spiritual siblings from foreign lands, a night in the Ephrem guesthouse opens a window towards a tradition which has remained unchanged for centuries. Stepping through that window grants you a passport to another era, with values and stories so rare to find in the modern world.

One of the rooms with a crucifix on the wall

As part of the epic history of local communities since the Middle Ages, convent stays offer an incomparable cultural experience in itself. A night spent in the Ephrem guesthouse also gives you the perfect chance to forget yourself and overlook your daily worries, free your mind and purge your soul, whilst residing in the frugal surroundings of a room whose only decorations would be an image of the Virgin and a crucifix nailed above your bed.

The cozy garden

Regardless of your strict religious beliefs, you could also stay in the guesthouse for the cultural experience of it. You won’t need to take vows of chastity and no one would be observing your movements – it’s entirely up to you whether to attend mass or meditate serenely while ambling Montmartre’s steep cobblestoned streets. The only drawback to your stay would be the relatively early curfew (9pm), but that would be a small price to pay for the spiritual journey, religious hospitality and cheap lodging you would be getting in return.

A booking to the Ephrem guesthouse can be made at adoremus@sacre-coeur-montmartre.com  – email replies take about a week.

The Ephrem guesthouse’s address is:

MAISON D’ACCUEIL EPHREM
33, RUE DU CHEVALIER-DE-LA-BARRE
75018 PARIS

+33 1 53 41 89 09

adoremus@sacre-coeur-montmartre.com

A Guide to Paris’ Hauntingly Beautiful “Final Destinations”

The meaning:   cimetière = cemetery

The history:       Paris is one of the few places in the world where a cemetery is considered a top-notch must-visit location. More than plain burial grounds, Parisian cemeteries are more like open museums with millions of stories to tell among century-old molded tombs often classified as historical monuments. Akin to the architectural and floral heritage of the city, they form a significant part of Paris’ open green spaces and are enjoyed by millions of tourists and locals per year. Taking an autumn walk in one of these mysterious and charming “cities of the dead” is always a moving and interesting endeavor. Stopping in front of the tombstone of a world-famous celebrity or a humble stranger often makes time stop for a while and invites you to share an intimate moment with the “dearly departed”- a journey charged with emotions, questions and thoughts that would take you away to a distant land which you can only imagine possible…

Belgian writer George Rodenbach’s allegoric grave

The classics:      Designed in 1803 and built on the sloping grounds of a prior Jesuit residence, the Père Lachaise cemetery was named after Father La Chaise, Louis XIV’s confessor. Housing 300 000 graves, today it is Paris’ largest and arguably the world’s most famous cemetery, but interestingly this was not always the case. In the beginning no one wanted to be buried there because the place had “no history”. As a means to promote it, famous “bodies” (among which Molière’s and the tragic lovers Heloise and Abelard) were actually moved there in order to position the new graveyard as a place of prestige. With its poetically winding paths, peaceful rolling hills and elaborate mazes of crypts and graves, it’s no surprise that Père Lachaise makes the list of Paris’ top ten attractions. Notable figures have their resting place here: for a final rendez-vous with Chopin, Proust, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf or Jim Morrison, that’s the place to go.

The winding lanes of Pere Lachaise

Montparnasse:                Open in 1824, the Montparnasse cemetery measures as the second largest one in Paris. Lying in the shade of 1,200 sophoras, maples, ash and lime trees, this serene park in the heart of the city was once a farm belonging to the Hotel Dieu hospital. Confiscated during the French Revolution, the land was later used as a burial ground for the dead whose remains were not claimed by relatives. An eternal home of many foreigners who have made France their second home as well as of much of France’s intellectual and artistic elite, today you could visit the lipstick-smacked gravestone of Baudelaire, wait for Godot by Beckett’s side, pass by the metro ticket-ridden tomb of Serge Gainsbourg (inspired by his song “The ticket puncher at Lilas”), post a letter in the mailbox of dark Romanian philosopher Cioran, play some hopscotch by Cortazar’s tomb, share a kiss over sculptor Brancusi’s famous statue “The Kiss”, or just ponder on Ionesco’s last quote: “Pray to the I don’t-know-who: Jesus Christ, I hope…”

“Exit the King”: Ionesco’s grave in the Montparnasse cemetery

Montmartre:     Set in a rolling landscape, where Berlioz liked to stroll, the Montmartre cemetery is Paris’ third biggest cemetery, a peaceful resting place with sinister past. During the French Revolution, the abandoned gypsum quarries then abundant in the area were used as mass graves for the victims killed during riots – among them, hundreds of Swiss Guards who perished while defending the Tuileries in 1792. A popular tourist destination today, the cemetery is the final resting place of many artists who lived and created in Montmartre – like Dalida, Degas, Dumas Junior, Heine, Nijinsky, Offenbach and film pioneer François Truffaut.

The beauty of decay: a shrine for dancers, this pile of decomposing baller-slippers placed on Marie Taglioni’s grave, serve as a memento of her as the first famous modern ballet dancer

The curiosity:    The largest private cemetery in Paris, the Picpus cemetery, hosts the remains of French aristocrats guillotined during the French Revolution. Located five minutes away from the Place de la Nation, where the  guillotine used to be situated under the Terror in 1794,  a pit was dug to collect the decapitated bodies of “noblemen and nuns, grocers and soldiers, laborers and innkeepers”, all thrown in together. Later in the 19th century the parcel was converted into a cemetery we know today where only direct offspring of Terror victims can be put to rest to this very day.

Widely commemorated in the US, general Lafayette’s grave in the Picpus cemetery is a common stopover for Americans

Not to be Missed: Turns out “Pet Cemetery” is not just an example of Stephen King’s vigorous imagination. It’s a real place indeed. Built in 1899 and located on the outskirts of Paris, this historical curiosity is tailored to the needs of rich animal fanatics. What makes the world’s oldest pet cemetery really stand out is its great quantity of animal statues giving an eerier look to this abode already eerie enough. WWI dogs, movie dogs, police dogs, cats, horses, monkeys, hens, goldfish and hamsters are among the eternal residents, some of which coming with enthralling life stories to tell. Weird, unsettling and so utterly uncommon, Le Cimetière des Chiens is an uncanny and thrilling alternative to the rest of Paris’ more celebrated cemeteries. Enjoy your macabre stroll…

Cats and dogs sleep in heavenly peace in Paris’ Pet Cemetery

Our high-end city loft for soaring above Paris

The prospect of living in a loft has become an appealing alternative to apartment living for an increasing number of individuals in the most wanted hotspots around the world.

The View from the Skyline Loft

With their distinct appeal, lofts blend the old and the new, play with classic and contemporary and prove perfect for those who seek a fresh and eclectic feel for their home, crave open spaces or need a flexible place in which to both work and live undisturbed.

In our Skyline Loft you can have all this and more.

The main living space

Located on the 21^st floor, the Skyline Loft grants you so much more than a mere stay in Paris – it’s an invitation to constantly soar over this magical city, day or night.

Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer miraculous views of Paris which you can have all to yourself while relaxing in your burgundy-shaded sofa with a glass of fellow red wine…

A glass of wine and Paris, please!

With its artsy feel, the Skyline Loft is a “textbook” place for having big parties or hearty family get-togethers – never again will your friends have to suffer from the lack of space and cram into a single room! Here you can enjoy all your guests together, happily united in the same large open space of your cozy home.

One of Skyline Loft’s key privileges is its open layout construction and design resulting in numerous benefits, such as the great reception of natural light and the feeling of spaciousness and independence – with its high ceilings and open spaces, the Skyline Loft helps you get this “outside feel” without even leaving the space, it’s pure magic!

The bedroom

Successfully balancing a spacious and breathable space with a cozy and peaceful core, the Skyline Loft is a trendy living space blending individual style with a warm and charming aura and a luxurious feel.

Giving you the freedom to design your open space the way you like it, the Skyline Loft lets you control the level of privacy of its particular areas.

The kitchen

In a smart way of segregating the areas in the loft, the open kitchen and the living area have been separated by a contemporary furnished kitchen table corner and a mini bar with stools.

Industrial and smart

Design-wise, industrial style is commonly used when styling lofts. It often promotes a certain unfinished look, hereby expressed by the idea of black pillars exposed across the living room as a nod to the loft’s historic “warehouse” roots.

The beautiful wooden floor adds warmth and more homely charm to the entire space.

Enhanced by the sofas, the scarlet and burgundy red thread in the living room brings out the room’s brighter, livelier and more daring side. Adding some upholstered furniture helps create a welcoming atmosphere and the mismatched chairs give a playful and diverse kick to the space.

A game of chess, anyone?

In the cheerful bathroom, the heritage of chess is being celebrated as one of the oldest games still enjoyed today. A collection of black and white ceramic tiles make up for a perfect classic checkerboard design and create a splendid example of a contemporary bathroom.

The spacious bedroom is all equipped for a good night’s rest, not to forget the cheeky blue rooster waiting to wake you up in the morning, the old fashion style.

Cock-a-doodle-doo, it’s time to wake up!

With its contemporary, cozy and eclectic air, this modern urban retreat designed with a sense of movement and continuity makes for a remarkable and stylish living space for the modern-day creative individual.

A “Skyline Loft” you would be happy to call home…

To book the Skyline Loft, please contact bookings@studiosparis.net

Waiting for the Love Train at Cité station

Like a scene from a Wong Kar-wai movie set in the Parisian underground, this blithe couple is hoping for a long ride in a Love train that won’t be out of schedule in this dysfunctional world…

Xmas is a free carrousel ride! Picture: quefaire.paris.fr

To celebrate the 2013 Christmas season, many carrousels will be installed in the city of Paris to give your kids a fairytale ride for free!

(Not sure if that works for adults too but we’re certainly willing to give it a dizzy try!)

You can find a list of the carrousels’ locations installed between December 21 and January 5 in a number of Parisian arrondissements here.

Free rides from 10h to 19h!

Very merry Christmas everyone – and remember – everyone who dares tell you that Santa Claus doesn’t exist is a vile liar who shouldn’t be trusted!

Just two more weekends left before the holiday Christmas season of 2014…

Ready for the big day?

If you’re still feeling somewhat holiday-dazed and kind of lost in a sea of opportunities, then here’s some festive tips to fill your Christmas shopping carts with for the first weekend to come!

Desperate about finding that perfect gift?

“Le Noel des Créateurs” is the event meant to inspire and ease your Christmas shopping! With more than 80 artists presenting their jewelry, fashion accessories, pret-à-porter and décor articles, this is the perfect place for you to find handmade, original and above all unique Christmas gifts – 100% “made in France”! (ESPACE D’ANIMATION DES BLANCS MANTEAUX, 48 RUE VIEILLE DU TEMPLE; December 14 th & 15th, from 11 till 20h)

For some tranquil pre-Christmas merry-making with carols, mulled wine and holiday treats, visit St. George’s Anglican Church this Sunday at 6:30pm (7 rue Auguste Vacquerie) – Xmas cheer-wise, they’ve got it all figured out!

Un périscope est un instrument d’optique permettant à une personne d’observer des choses situées en dehors de son champ de vision.

Comme cet instrument, le « Pariscope », l’un des derniers appartements rénovés avec style et caractère par les Studios de Paris, a été conçu pour vous envoûter par la magie inexplicable d’un spectacle rare : la capitale vue d’en haut.

L’appartement a été remis à neuf par l’équipe d’architectes et de designers des Studios de Paris qui l’ont transformé en diptyque simple, mais moderne aux couleurs de deux métropoles animées : Paris et New York.

Situé dans l’un de ces immeubles parisiens typiques des années 1960, si intéressants en soi, le Pariscope séduit avant tout par ses prestations haut de gamme. Lorsque vous louez cet appartement, vous avez accès à une piscine et un solarium au dernier étage de l’immeuble, à un supermarché au rez-de-chaussée, à un service de conciergerie à l’américaine 24 h/24, 7 j/7, ainsi qu’à un parking privé au sous-sol de la résidence, en location pour 70 € par mois.

Baigné de lumière et jouissant d’une vue panoramique, cet appartement niché au 16^e étage est desservi par un ascenseur et dévoile un long pan de ciel sur la Ville lumière.

Offrant un panorama aux accents new-yorkais sur la ligne d’horizon du 13^e arrondissement de Paris, ses façades vitrées donnent sur les gratte-ciel et les immeubles de bureaux alentour.

« La clé du nouveau design du Pariscope est la vue dégagée depuis toutes les pièces, ainsi que l’extension du salon et de la chambre à coucher sur la terrasse. Dynamisante et contemporaine, la vue très urbaine sur les gratte-ciel au loin rappelle l’impression que l’on peut ressentir dans les grandes villes américaines », explique Jean-Christophe Peyrieux, le designer de l’appartement.

Aménagé avec ingéniosité pour composer avec un budget serré, le Pariscope doit son nouveau style aux lignes graphiques, colorées et épurées des villas typiques du Palm Springs des années 1950, en écho au style années 1960 de l’immeuble, souligne Jean-Christophe Peyrieux.

Alliant confort et indépendance, ce grand deux-pièces dispose d’un balcon fleuri, véritable oasis servant d’écrin à la vue sur la ville. Idéal pour se détendre et oublier la fatigue d’une longue journée, le luxuriant balcon du Pariscope est un atout vert et zen, tellement rare dans une ville comme Paris…

Apportant un dynamisme visuel à l’atmosphère, sans concurrencer la vue, le spacieux séjour est agrémenté d’un canapé, d’une télévision, d’une table à manger conviviale et d’un accès à la terrasse.

Petit plus : le dernier étage de l’immeuble offre une vue imprenable à 360° sur Paris et la tour Eiffel !

Après une rénovation réussie qui a permis la spectaculaire transformation de la terrasse, du salon et de la chambre à coucher, le Pariscope a été immédiatement loué par un jeune trentenaire vivant entre Paris et New York. La décoration correspondait exactement à son style et la vue lui rappelait le panorama urbain de New York.

Pour louer le Pariscope, veuillez contacter bookings@studiosparis.net

Pour faire rénover votre appartement par les Studios de Paris, veuillez contacter design@studiosparis.net

Outre un moment opportun pour célébrer l’esprit de Noël, décembre est également le meilleur mois pour dresser le bilan de l’année écoulée et planifier l’avenir.

Selon notre devise de toujours « accrocher notre wagon à une étoile » nous avons rêvé et réalisé pour vous une multitude de projets pour devenir une entreprise encore plus importante, plus performante et plus prospère en 2014.

Nous avons préparé une synthèse des réalisations les plus importantes qui ont donné un coup d’accélérateur à notre entreprise et contribué à notre image de marque auprès de nos clients actuels et futurs.

Bonne lecture !

DEVELOPPEMENT DE NOTRE COMMUNAUTE

2013 a été une bonne année pour les Studios de Paris en termes d’expansion.

Nous avons accueilli plus de 5 000 locataires satisfaits dans nos appartements design, une centaine de nouveaux propriétaires ont rejoint notre communauté et plus de cent nouveaux appartements à louer, soigneusement choisis et aménagés, sont venus agrandir le réseau des Studios de Paris. Notre nouveau service de vente d’appartements a permis à de futurs propriétaires de dénicher d’exceptionnels pied-à-terre à Paris et de nombreux appartements de notre parc existant ont fait l’objet de rénovations créatives par l’équipe de design intérieur des Studios de Paris pour le plus grand plaisir de leurs propriétaires !

Le chiffre d’affaires de la société aura augmenté de 40 % en 2013, pas si mal pour une année de récession mondiale.

Mais la meilleure nouvelle est la découverte de nouveaux horizons pour les projets créatifs des Studios de Paris avec des propriétés au Canada, en Italie et au Portugal. Là encore, nous restons fidèles à notre philosophie de recherche de la qualité plutôt que de la quantité : nous avons déniché pour vous les refuges idéales, les lieux solitaires dont la beauté vous coupe le souffle, les joyaux plébiscités par aucun guide. Si Rome, Florence et Lisbonne remportent tous les suffrages, que diriez-vous de découvrir un charmant village de pêcheurs dans l’Algarve ou la cité médiévale de Recanati, ville natale du poète Giacomo Leopardi et du ténor Beniamino Gigli dont la voix emplit la piazzetta du village. Portant le leitmotiv de notre entreprise, « Plus qu’un logement, une expérience esthétique », au-delà des frontières, nous serons ravis de partager avec vous nos découvertes de lieux singuliers tout au long de l’année 2014.

CONCIERGERIE DE LUXE

En 2013, nous avons élargi notre palette de prestations en proposant de nouveaux services à nos clients parisiens. De la spiritualité à l’esthétique, en passant par le romantisme et le côté pratique : nous proposons désormais à nos clients de bénéficier de cours particuliers, ou en groupe, de français, de philosophie et de dessin, du « stageing » de propositions de mariage, de la mise en scène de lunes de miel à Paname, même si vous y habitez déjà, et de se détendre entre les mains de nos partenaires professionnels pendant un re-looking ou une prise en charge par un coloriste végétal pour vos cheveux.

ART

En 2013, la galerie d’art des Studios de Paris a assuré la promotion de deux nouveaux artistes, la sculptrice allemande Mechtild Kalisky et la peintre française Catherine Cazau. Notre galerie a également proposé une exposition d’art contemporain en plein air pour présenter les remarquables portraits d’artistes rebelles de Jack Servoz dans le passage des Abbesses de Montmartre. Cette exposition a dépassé les 5 000 abonnés dès la première semaine sur Instagram.

DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA MARQUE

Le développement de la marque Studios Paris a atteint de nouveaux sommets en 2013.

Notre newsletter est désormais diffusée à 6 955 abonnés contre 3 537 lors de la première campagne d’envoi en juin 2012.

Participant aux Paris Golden Blog Awards, avec 232 posts publiés sur Paris, nos services et la philosophie de l’entreprise, le blog des Studios de Paris sert de base de données d’une grande fiabilité et jouit d’une réputation d’éclectisme bien méritée auprès des nombreuses personnes qui visitent la Ville lumière ou qui y vivent.

Enfin, nous avons également lancé en 2013 les versions en français, espagnol, chinois, portugais, allemand et italien de notre site Web d’origine http://www.paris-apartment-rent.com/

Merci de votre fidélité, continuez à voir grand et visons le meilleur pour 2014 !

A periscope is an apparatus by which an observer can see things that are otherwise out of sight.

“Pariscope”, one of Studios Paris’ latest apartments renovated with character and style, is a similarly constructed “device” designed to initiate you to the elusive magic of a rare sight – Paris as seen from above.

The Parisian rainbow, hereby admired by Pariscope’s terrace, is a truly rare metropolitan phenomenon

Initially an old lady’s apartment, the flat was revamped by Studios Paris’ team of architects and designers so as to become a simple yet modern diptych of two vibrant metropolises: Paris and New York.

Located in one of these typical Parisian buildings of the 60s, so interesting in their own right, one of Pariscope’s great advantages lies in providing top-notch client services – in renting it, you could also get access to a swimming pool and solarium on the building’s top floor, a supermarket on the ground floor, a 24/7 American-style concierge reception and a private car park in the basement of the residence rentable for 70€ per month.

The top-floor swimming pool

Full of light and great vistas, this luminous apartment on the 16^th floor comes with a lift and lavishly exposes a piece of sky in the City of Lights.

Offering a New York-like view over the skyline of Paris’ 13^th arrondissement, its window fronts give on the surrounding area of skyscrapers and office buildings.

“The best thing about Pariscope’s new look is the open view from all the rooms, as well as the extension of the lounge and bedroom onto the terrace. Energizing and contemporary, the very urban view of the skyscrapers in the distance reminds you of the feel you’d get in big American cities”, says JC Peyrieux, the apartment’s designer.

Pariscope’s living room

Smartly designed to make for the restrictions posed by a tight budget, Pariscope’s new look is inspired by the graphic, colorful and simple lines of the typically American Palm Springs’ villas from the 50s – a style which corresponds to the 60s feel of the building, designer JC Peyrieux points out.

Offering great comfort and a sense of independence, this large 2 bedroom apartment has an oasis-like flowered balcony serving as the perfect frame for the city view lying behind. A great place to relax and shake off the weariness of a long day, Pariscope’s floral balcony is a luxurious, green and zen asset so rare to have in a city like Paris…

The pretty balcony

Adding visual dynamism to the atmosphere without competing with the view, the apartment’s spacious living room comes with a sofa, a TV, a comfy dining room and terrace access.

The living room

Bright and cozy, the separate kitchen and the intimately designed double bedroom also provide access to the terrace.

A bathroom with shower and washer/dryer, a dressing room and a hallway with cloakroom complete the picture.

Not to mention that the building’s top floor offers a 360° panoramic vision over Paris and a view of the Eiffel Tower!

The cozy and equipped American kitchen

After Studios Paris’ successful renovation during which the terrace, the lounge and the bedroom were utterly transformed, Pariscope has been instantly rented by a 30 year-old man living between Paris and NYC. The decoration was exactly his style and the urban view reminded him of NYC’s cityscape.

Attracting people who enjoy sports and modernity, Pariscope corresponds to singles and couples in their 30s or to anyone else who would care to be immersed in the experience of living the intriguing tale of two cities…

The lovely bedroom

To rent Pariscope, please contact bookings@studiosparis.net

To have your apartment revamped by Studios Paris, please contact design@studiosparis.net

Other than a fit moment for celebrating the Christmas spirit, December is also the best time of the year for evaluating the past and mapping the future.

We’re delighted to report that all of Studios Paris’ great achievements accomplished throughout the year have nurtured our energy to “dream big” and fostered our passion for progress, encouraging us to become an even bigger, better and stronger company in 2014.

In order to honor our improvement, we’ve prepared a short summary of the company’s most significant achievements which have positively advanced our company and have made our brand more beneficial for our current and future clients.

Read on!

NETWORK EXPANSION

2013 has been a good year for Studios Paris in terms of network expansion.

We have hosted more than 5000 happy tenants in our designer apartments, over a hundred new owners have joined our community and more than 100 hand-picked and designed new apartments for rent have become part of the Studios Paris’ growing network. Our new apartment sales department has helped many owners find exceptional pied-à-terre in Paris and numerous flats of our existing apartment park have been creatively revamped by the Studios Paris’ interior design team to the delight of their proprietors!

Company turnover has increased by 40% over 2013, not bad for a year of worldwide recession.

Playback, one of Studios’ revamped apartments during 2013

The most exciting news, however, we’ve saved for last. The opening of new territories for the Studios’ creative endeavors with properties in Canada, Italy and in Portugal. Here again we remain faithful to our philosophy of quality over quantity: we have discovered for you the perfect hide-aways, the places untouched by tourism, the gems of no guide-book. And while we all  love Rome, Florence and Lisbon, we thought you might be interested by that dreamy fishing village in the Algarve or the medieval town of Recanati, birthplace of poet Giacomo Leopardi and tenor Beniamino Gigli whose voice fills the enchanted piazetta of his hometown. Ready to spread our company philosophy of “more than housing, an aesthetic experience” and promote our activities further across the continents, we will be happy to share with you our discoveries of unique places in the world throughout 2014.

CLIENT SERVICES

During the year we have vastly expanded our client services, featuring fascinating new pastimes for our Parisian guests to enjoy. Ranging from the spiritual and the aesthetic to the romantic and the practical, we now offer our clients to benefit from our Private French lessons, Philosophy and Drawing classes, Honeymoon, anniversary and wedding proposal packages (enhanced by personalized photo sessions) as well as the bespoke Hairstyle and Fashion makeovers provided by our network of associate professionals.

Reinventing your style with hairstylist Fanny Morin, one of our newsly promoted client services during 2013

ART

During 2013, Studios Paris Art Gallery successfully promoted two new artists, the German sculptor Mechtild Kalisky and the French abstract artist Cathertine Cazau, and funded a contemporary open-air art installation introducing Jack Servoz’ remarkable portraits of rebellious artists in Montmartre’s Passage des Abbesses which sparked over 5000 followers within the first week on Instagram.

Jack Servoz recreating the Passage des Abbesses during Studios Paris’ “Montmartre’s Hall of Fame” project

BRAND DEVELOPMENT

The development of the Studios Paris brand has reached new heights during the course of 2013.

We have a current number of 6 955 total newsletter subscribers as compared to the 3537 initial recipients during the first newsletter mailing in June 2012.

A participant in the Paris Golden Blog Awards, with 232 total published posts elaborating on the essence of Paris, our clients services and company philosophy, the Studios Paris’ blog serves as a dependable information database and has a well-earned reputation of an inspiring source for “all things Paris” for many people visiting or living in the City of Lights.

Finally, 2013 was also the year during which we have launched the French, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, German and Italian versions of our original website http://www.paris-apartment-rent.com/

Thanks for staying with us, keep dreaming big and let’s aim for the best during 2014!