The new Salon Haute Couture
« Once
upon a time, the palace of tomorrow ».
It could be the
beginning of a fairytale, but it actually is what will come to your mind when
you walk back inside 25 avenue Montaigne, now that the hotel has finally reopened,
after months of refurbishment and expansion works.
As a proud ambassador of the Plaza Athénée, I felt like returning home after a long time
abroad : walking through the revolving doors and inside the lobby, everything
looked familiar, starting with the signature smell of the palace. Yet,
everywhere I laid my eyes, subtle touches had been added, that altogether enhance
the building, giving it a new life without losing the spirit of the place :
new bronze, marble and brushed oak furnishings have been designed, along with
wood panelling on the walls. The beautifully designed mosaic floor is adorned
with a rug inspired by a crystalline motif, which echoes the large chandelier.
The lobby
The new Salon Haute Couture
With this
design overhaul, the Plaza Athénée takes further its relationship with the couture
houses on Avenue Montaigne.
For François
Delahaye, managing director of the hotel, « our establishment has a close relationship with the couture houses on
Avenue Montaigne, not only through the bespoke services that we offer each of
our guests, but also because we are closely connected to our employees, who may
well be working behind the scenes but who are very much in the spotlight in
keeping the Hotel running – similar to the seamstresses who work behind the
scenes of a fashion show.”
If the lobby
already sets the tone, linking the palace to the world of Haute Couture the
minute you step in, there is one new addition to the palace that definitely
makes it the ultimate « couture palace », as I saw before its
official opening : the Salon Haute Couture. The new grand ballroom of the Plaza
Athénée is a masterpiece, spanning over 150 square metres and 5.75 metres in
height, with a glamourous red floor rug and a golden ceiling which holds 7
large chandeliers.
Inside a Prestige suite
Inside a Prestige suite
Located in one
of the new extensions of the hotel, the Salon Haute Couture has been designed
by internationally acclaimed interior designer Bruno Moinard, who also
redesigned the lobby, La Galerie, La Cour Jardin, and the Salon Organza
(previously known as the Salon Marie-Antoinette) – where his work consisted
mainly in highlighting the existing features by light effects and a subtle
silver colour scheme.
Other
designers and artists took part in the herculean task of renovating the Plaza
Athénée : architect Jean-Jacques Ory, who was responsible for extending
the premises; designers Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku for the Alain Ducasse at
Hotel Plaza Athénée restaurant and Le Bar; and finally Marie-José Pommereau for
the restoration of the guestrooms and apartments. The Hotel now has 154 rooms
and 54 suites, having created an additional 14 rooms including eight suites and
six guestrooms. Marie-José Pommereau chose a range of warm tones for the walls
including peony, sun- infused yellow and silver as well as using materials such
as damask, embroideries and plain silks from top couture houses to adorn the
windows, armchairs and beds.
Inside a Superior suite
Inside a Superior suite
Inside a Deluxe Junior suite
Inside a Deluxe Junior suite
The Cour Jardin
The tone is
set : for its new century, the Plaza Athénée will remain true to the
appearance and essence that its current guests are so familiar with, whilst its
style update will for sure appeal to newer generations.
Of course, the
Parisian Eye will keep sharing news and updates about the hotel and its
highlights… Stay tuned for more !