Come fly with me: Let CityJet take you to hotel heaven

Image credit: Christophe Bielsa

Fancy a bottle of champagne on ice, melt-in-your-mouth macaroons, a spacious bath and your fave music greeting you when you get home?

And, once the day’s glorious sunset has dissolved, climbing into a deeply soft bed complete with lavender pillow spray, ‘calming’ chocs, marshmallows and even a handy weather report?

Well you may want to look past your front door then (unless you have one very well trained spouse).

Image credit: Christophe Bielsa

When CityJet airlines popped me across the Channel to Paris, I checked in to the luxuriously furbished Les Jardins de le Villa, all in the name of work (it’s a tough life). On top of bed, bath and bubbly, every en suite bedroom has a private balcony, wall-mounted TV with movies, internet and music, a fabulously stocked mini bar (no mundane peanuts and red bulls), plus stylish decor to boot.

When I met the pint-sized owner, Anne-Marie Dupasquier Morrongiello, she welcomed me ‘into my home’ and gave me a tour of her hotel, pointing out all the subtle yet stunning fashion influences.  She told me: ‘The curtains, see, have these plaits inspired by post World War II Dior fabrics; you wouldn’t notice if you didn’t know but these subtleties run throughout our hotel.’

Image credit: Christophe Bielsa

Indeed, the flooring, walls, artwork and even the flowers in the entrance are all connected. The carpet’s chain-mail pattern was influenced by Chanel, as was the floral patterns on the lacquered bedroom headboards and flowers hand-stitched, no less, up the wallpaper. Then the huge fresh bouquet of roses bring out the pink and reds in the framed painting and internet alcoves nearby.

‘Attention to detail’ is the key, Anne Marie assured me. And she expressed gratitude to her interior designers, the Marc Hertrich / Nicolas Adnet Studio, who made Les Jardins de le Villa a ‘pampered private home’ and who have ‘given birth to unique projects, each with a strong identity, often linked to a cultural heritage’.

In addition, I spotted Eames and a heavy 1950s influence from the design duo.  And even though I felt some of the colour-coded bedrooms played safe with cognac and black, the hotel does cater for all as their fuchsia pink bedroom and living rooms may not appeal to everyone’s taste.

Image credit: Christophe Bielsa

Image credit: Shutterstock

Les Jardins de le Villa is new to 2010 but has all the old landmarks of culture on its doorstep. Situated up a quintessential Parisian side street, it’s only a stone’s throw away from the impressive Arc de Triomphe and Palais des Congrès. Staying with Anne-Marie, you’ll have the city’s architectural beauty enveloping you and well groomed Parisians feeding you with Michelin starred food and billion-euro champers (ok, the latter may have been a work perk… and in my dreams…).

Image credit: Christophe Bielsa

Keep a look out for more blogs from beyond the Channel – there’s plenty more culture to come. And if you missed it yesterday, read my interview with the quirky Parisian design duo from Tsé & Tsé Associées.