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PARIS, Mar 26, 2005/ FW/ --- Lacroix says that everyone trusted his vision and creative ideas on the project. He credits Anne Peyroux with helping him to give form to his utopia.

“Having left Saint-Germain to live in this area, I know just what people are looking for here, how to live here, how to feel at home here, even when passing through.”

According to Christian Lacroix, the Marais district, which by the way is where the Hotel du Petit Moulin is located, was his muse when he was retrofitting the hotel.

With the district’s distinct personality that is rich in various paradoxical facets, Christian Lacroix translated all these contrasts of the Marais into 17 ambiences corresponding to each of the 17 rooms of the hotel.

Beams or cement, antiquated wallpaper or gaudy fabrics, sober canvas fabrics or leather were contrasted with wooden floors and tiles, carpeting and ceramics.

Continuing this trend, contemporary lighting units were used rooms with period furniture redone in bright colors and graphics.

To make everything come together, panels of giant collages on the walls or windows, linking this medley of different worlds.

It became a world of counterpoints, from a ‘rustic’ Marais in toile de Joy to ‘Zen’ or ‘design’ Marais.

The hotel guests are greeted with lawn green corridors with black lacquered doors framed in optical white on polka dot carpet background to be welcomed by a room designed with pilasters, cornices and consoles, a literal journey from a ‘historical Marais’ to a ‘playful Marais.’

The starkly modern bathrooms that were done in slate, faďence or cement were warmed with Venetian mirrors or panoramic wallpapers.

It’s like traveling through time, from the 21st century sparseness to a wink at nostalgia; as guests see fluorescent green at one point, then antique gold next.

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