Paris is Not What I Expected.
A designer trip to Maison et Objet, the Paris flea markets, and Versailles
I think I romanticized Paris in my head before I went. Don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful. The city center had all the classic Parisian architecture I expected, with historic facades, tiny balconies, and beautiful vignettes everywhere you looked. Paris also felt like a real, layered city. However, the outskirts were much more run-down than I imagined, and there was more modern architecture mixed in than I expected.
Maybe that contrast is part of what made the trip so interesting. I went looking for old-world French design, but some of my favorite moments came from seeing it alongside something completely modern.
We intentionally visited in September during Paris Design Week, and the timing could not have been better. It was warm without being hot, cool without being cold, and truly the perfect weather for walking all day, which we did a lot of.
Landing in Paris and Staying Awake
On our first day, we dropped off our bags, took a quick shower, and headed straight into the city. Normally I am very tempted by the “quick nap” after an overnight flight, but staying awake was the best thing we could have done. We made it until about 10 p.m. and adjusted to the time change almost immediately. I would absolutely do that again. Also, the direct flight from Salt Lake City was 100% worth it!
We started with the Paris classics: the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, croissants, crêpes, and as many pastries as seemed reasonable. Going inside Notre-Dame was incredible. The height of the vaulted ceilings and all of that pale limestone were even more beautiful in person, paired with a classic black-and-white checkered floor. When clients tell me that checkered is too trendy, they are wrong! It has been around for centuries.
Because it was Paris Design Week, there were modern art installations appearing throughout the city. Seeing those contemporary pieces against historic French architecture was such a cool juxtaposition, and honestly a perfect introduction to the entire trip.
The Real Reason I Went to Paris
Maison et Objet was the real reason I went to Paris. We hit the ground running the next morning, took the train out and spent the entire day walking the market until it was closed.
At first, I was completely blown away. There were so many objects, materials and details I had never seen before, and I immediately began picturing them in future projects. Truthfully, I expected a little more furniture. I apparently focused heavily on the “Maison” part of Maison et Objet, but the lighting, accessories, textiles and smaller objects were so good. It was also incredibly inspiring for our sister brand, Thread by Eden & Co.
I sourced several new vendors and came home with a long list of pieces I cannot wait to use. My favorite interiors are never made from one giant statement alone. They are built through layers: the unexpected lamp, the odd little object, the textile that makes a room feel collected instead of decorated. Maison et Objet had all of that.
We took the train back into Paris, which felt a little like New York but much cleaner, and ended the day at an Italian restaurant. I know...Italian food in Paris. We did try plenty of French food while we were there, but I have to admit that escargot and caviar are not really my thing. The breads, cheeses, pastries and crêpes, however, I can absolutely get behind. One savory crêpe even had pickles and mashed potatoes in it, and I loved it.
Antique Shopping and the Stool Incident
The next morning, we went antique shopping at the huge Saint-Ouen flea market. I specifically wanted to source small objects, artwork and furnishings that could eventually make their way into our projects. I collected so many beautiful pieces and even haggled a little, which was surprisingly fun. Most sellers were willing to barter, although a few who did not speak English were understandably not interested in attempting it with me.
I had heard so many people say that the French were rude, but that was not our experience at all. Most people were very kind, and nearly everyone we interacted with spoke at least some English. The biggest thing was simply beginning with “bonjour.”
We did have one very classic French misunderstanding at the flea market. The booths are a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, many of them covered but completely open to the walkway. We entered one that looked open, stepping around a stool near the entrance. I found a beautiful piece of art and was standing there holding it when a man came in, clearly upset and yelling very quickly in French (a quiet yell if that is a thing?)
We just looked at each other like deer in headlights until someone nearby translated: his shop was closed, and the stool in the doorway was the sign. How were we supposed to know? There were objects practically flowing out of the booth. Apparently, if an object is placed across the entrance, it means closed. Good to know for next time…
We balanced all of that vintage shopping with a little bougie shopping too, including silk scarves, something I had always wanted to buy in Paris. It was the perfect mix.
Versailles Needed an Entire Day
Our final day was for Versailles, and Versailles really was that memorable. We bought tickets for the earliest time slot and arrived extra early with a very specific plan: get through the doors and book it to the Hall of Mirrors before it filled with people.
We made it through security, reached the ticket scanner and discovered our tickets were for the day before. They would not honor them or let us in. I was so disappointed, but we were incredibly lucky that tickets were still available for 1 p.m.
The mistake ended up being the happiest surprise because we spent the morning exploring the gardens while they were nearly empty. I think I enjoyed them even more than the palace itself. It is impossible to comprehend how vast they are until you are standing there. We ate lunch inside the gardens, and the food was actually incredible, which is not always what you expect at a major attraction. I finally tried real French onion soup after making it at home for years.
We continued to Marie Antoinette’s hamlet, her little village, gardens and boudoir. She truly outdid herself. It was charming, excessive and completely fascinating, and I am so glad we allowed an entire day to experience it.
Once we finally entered the palace, it was every bit as beautiful as expected. The Hall of Mirrors was incredible, but I kept noticing the checkerboard floors, marble, paneling, moldings and the proportions of each room. Those details are what stayed with me.
What Paris Clarified About My Design Style
Paris confirmed something I have been slowly figuring out over years of designing: I really do love French interiors- just a much more edited, modern and slightly unexpected whimsical version of them.
I love the formality, craftsmanship and history, but I also want sculptural lighting, interesting objects, florals used in a very particular way and something unexpected that keeps a room from feeling too precious. Versailles gave me the classical foundation, while Maison et Objet showed me how contemporary makers are bending those ideas into something new. Somewhere between the two felt very Eden & Co.
That is why traveling matters so much to me as a designer. It opens my eyes beyond what I am seeing repeatedly online or in my own market. I came home with antiques, new vendors and a much clearer sense of how I want to bring a more Parisian influence, with our own twist, into future hospitality projects here in Utah.
A Designer Girls Trip
The trip was also more fun because I went with my very closest friend, Kimberly Schmidt of KS Studio. Our styles and markets are different, I specialize in hospitality and commercial design, while she focuses on high-end residential in Park City, but we appreciate so many of the same things. Traveling with another designer means no one questions why you need to stop and photograph a floor, stare at a molding detail or spend entirely too long looking through a booth of tiny objects. We could film our content in peace and drool over designer handbags.
Paris was not exactly the perfectly romanticized version I had created in my head, and I think I liked it more because of that. It was historic and modern, polished and gritty, familiar and surprising. Now that I am home, of course I already want to go back. I would absolutely attend Maison et Objet again-and next time I will have a whole new itinerary.