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“When Madame Murano, Mr. Nourry and Mr. Demorge asked me to collaborate with them on their hotel projects last Fall, I had the impression of rediscovering an erstwhile childhood dream left by the wayside”, says the grand couturier.

“A dream of living in a hotel, building a decor, day after day, in the “colors of the times”, putting ambiences together into volume and space and not only on paper or through fashion collections. I was really convinced by this rather personal and intimate hotel concept, so different to the prevailing look-alike style of the big classic hotel chains,” he added.

The Hotel du Petit Moulin is the first of four slated hotel projects. It is located at the corner of the rue Poitou and the rue Saintonge in Paris’ chic 8th district. It lies next to two old buildings, which have been joined together and re-furbished by the Bastie architectural partnership.

The first building housed a bakery that dates back to Henri IV, which makes it one of the oldest in Paris. According to the local legend, Victor Hugo used to come and buy his bread there.

Listed as part of the French heritage by the Historic Monuments, the Hotel du Petit Moulin’s 1900 frontage and shop signboard had been conserved, together with the original woodwork’s black coloring slightly highlighted with gold.

Parts of the challenge of restoring a historic building is to be able to preserve the elements listed in the Historic Monument then make it blend with the new, like the lovely 17th century wooden staircase. It was left natural, just enhanced by simple white pebble-dashed walls as part of the restoration.

The very suave interior decoration of the old bakery, going right up to the ceiling was also restored, creating a ‘Venetian’ style setting for the reception area in almond green with wine-colored ruffled taffeta drapes.

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