Paris Ritz Renovates Traditional Antique French Decor

I am pleased that the Paris Ritz renovation is finally completed and the hotel is open again! Here at EuroLuxHome.com we import all our fine antique furniture from Europe (hence the name!) and although some of the furniture comes from other European countries, most is from France. Paris is close to our hearts and the Paris Ritz is an icon. The building on Place Vendôme is beautiful and it is packed with antique furniture. So let's see how it looks now, because even if we can't all afford to stay there, we can enjoy the beautiful antique décor.

The photo above of the Windsor Suite gives a taste of what to expect. When Swiss hotelier César Ritz bought this private palace built in the early 18th century, he planned to turn it into a luxury hotel with: “All the refinement that a prince could desire in his own home.” He did a good job of it because when the Ritz opened in 1898 the most influential people started to stay there.  The Ritz boasted a private bathroom with each guest room! In those days, this was an unheard-of amenity. Boy, how times have changed. Even a Motel 6 room has its own bathroom now!

In 2012 the current owner closed the Paris Ritz in order to restore it back to its former glory. The hotel is famous for its traditional 18th-century French décor, splendid and opulent, but the antique furniture and decorative items needed some work.

They had craftsmen restore the antique furniture and light fixtures, and apparently the hotel expected a lot from the artisans who did the restorations. For example, some of the antique chairs were repainted 15 times to restore them to their original authentic colors!

Antique objects and art still fill the Ritz Paris after the renovation, and some of the suites replicate the furnishings that reflect the décor styles of the famous names that once stayed at the hotel. For example, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Coco Chanel, and Marcel Proust all had their individual styles. This is the Salon Proust:

The New York-based French architect and designer Thierry W. Despont was in charge of this precious renovation. Yikes, he had to carry a lot of responsibility. He had to keep the essence of the hotel but also allow for modern technology to be included, and hey… as a New York architect he certainly knew that they had to upgrade the air-conditioning system!

It seems that the renovations at the Paris Ritz have been very popular. It looks like they did a great job of it. If you've stayed at the Paris Ritz since it reopened, tell us about it on the blog or even send some photos... we'd love to see them!