A ROOM WITH A VIEW

When I moved to Paris almost six years ago I was allured by the possibility of a simple life. Living in Southern California, or imagining settling in other places like London and New York City, always left me feeling in need of more, more, more. Paris was the opposite. I thought “here, if for the rest of my life I have nothing more than a room of my own in a beautiful old building and the charm of the city streets for free just below, then I’ll be satisfied.” I knew this to be true because I tasted this life for two weeks before moving here. I rented a studio apartment below the Luxembourg garden with my sister on a tiny street only one block long called rue Campagne-Première. The street itself seemed insignificant until I read Patti Smith’s ‘Just Kids‘ two summers ago in Spain with Audrey. Patti Smith and her own sister stayed at 9 rue Campagne-Première on their first trip to Paris, one of the most formative journeys in Patti’s creative life. What’s more is she chose it because Man Ray, Rimbaud, Verlaine, and Duchamp all resided on this same little street once as well. My heart lit up to discover such a parallel and coincidence. Our little room was up five flights of stairs with the window of the main room looking out over one of those beautiful churches, each extraordinary in their own right yet with names unknown to most because they are just one of hundreds in Paris. The experience altered the course of my life. I tasted what we call “la vie boheme” and knew it was for me. Today I have it, my modest little flat in Paris with no elevator up to the front door, no dishwasher or television inside. Plenty of tea to drink though, that some how all tastes better in this little place of my own. A change of scenery is always nice though. So I said yes to Habitat Parisien when they invited me to stay in their apartment, Coeur Vu, in Montmartre for a few days. The experience brought me back to our little room with a view on rue Campagne-Première. This time though the church out the window has a name that everybody knows, Le Sacre Coeur.

Coeur Vu

ABOUT

I wasn’t sure my last experience with Habitat Parisien could be topped, but at Coeur Vu it was. Just like the rest of their picturesque apartments located throughout Paris’s best neighborhoods, this charming flat can be rented by anyone looking for the perfect place to call home during their trip to Paris.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

• The view could not be better. I can’t explain to you the majestic experience it is to go to bed at the foot of the Sacre Coeur with the church lit up like your very own night light. In the day you can enjoy the peaceful quite of the apartment and write at the table looking out upon this landmark for inspiration. The carousel below is so charming as well.

• The location is ideal for all those looking to experience la vie boheme. Montmartre is one of Paris’s most quaint and unique neighborhoods, with tiny cobblestone streets, hills, and sweeping views. It is known as being a haven for artists.

• The layout is spacious for a Parisian flat and is used well. It’s large enough for entertaining which I did while I was here, hosting a dinner party for my friends.

• The amenities in the apartment also covered everything I needed to entertain as well, from cooking to presentation with candle sticks, plenty of plates, crystal bowls, and more.

• The design of the apartment has all the traditional elements that I love about parisian flat, an old glass door, the ornate rod iron window railings, the old fireplace. All things you would hope to see in a beautiful French flat.

If you would like to stay at Coeur Vu or any other of Habitat Parisien’s apartments, please visit their website.

My dear friends Sam, Imogen, Meg, Anna Clara, and Yann-Yves enjoying dinner with at view at Coeur Vu.

Some outtakes from one of my upcoming Lancôme shoots Faye and I shot in the apartment.

Many thanks to Faye who helped take all the photos of me and many others on the blog lately. Also a bit thank you to Habitat Parisien for letting me have this experience and all of your for enjoying it with me here. More from me this weekend but until then see you on facebook, instagram, twitter, google , and pinterest.