press release

november 2010

The art of refinement in the heart

of Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Would you like to see my room? 

the hotel la belle juliette

la belle juliette opens its doors on december 31st 2010
92 rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris La Belle Juliette. The discreet luxury of a four-star hotel and the
reservation@labellejuliette.com
charm of an address that visitors and Parisians will give to their most
www.labellejuliette.com demanding, cultured friends.

contact details In the pure Parisian tradition of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the hotel is guided
Alain Bisotti by a modern vision of romanticism and urban conviviality. Exceptional
Communications Manager service with particular attention to hospitality, guests’ well-being, calm and
Hôtel Paris Rive Gauche
19 rue Feuillantines – 75005 Paris
tranquillity… all in the heart of bustling Saint Germain.
abisotti@hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com
t. +33 1 56 81 00 33 Corinne and Pascal Moncelli, the owners of the hotel, have decided to
breathe new life into an establishment that had been left to abandon
PRESS RELATIONS on the rue du Cherche-Midi by telling the story – or rather stories – of a
Marie Jacquier famous historical personality. This star of her time lived in the 19th century,
21 bd de Beauséjour – 75016 Paris frequented all the intellectuals and politicians of the era, was blessed with
t. + 33 1 45 25 10 07
f. + 33 1 40 50 69 55
exceptional beauty, had an extraordinary love life and – above all – excelled
m. + 33 6 13 54 60 12 in the art of receiving. The popular literary salon that she organised from
jacquier@bureaujm.com the tender age of 15 attracted the greatest minds of the time and continued
until her death, age 72!
www.hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com
It is Juliette Récamier – famously known as La Belle Juliette – who gives her
name to this new hotel.

­– 01 –
 interior design by Anne Gelbard,
the parisian expert in “home couture”

Anne founded her workshop a decade ago after graduating from the École National
Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Her workspace overflows with books (for
inspiration), swatches of fabric, other pieces that she has created and... some secrets!

Why? Because Anne Gelbard has developed her own technique for fusing metal leaf (gold,
silver, copper) to fabric, paper and even feathers. The most prestigious names in fashion (Dior,
Christian Lacroix….) were quick to request her talents for creating items in their collections.
Recently, she has adapted the techniques she uses in haute couture for what she calls “home
couture”, with an exclusive collection of wallpapers, fabrics, cushions and decorative panels.

Corinne Moncelli and Anne have worked together closely to conceive all the wonders that are
to be found at La Belle Juliette, with the invaluable help of architect Vincent Bastie and under
the daily supervision of Pascal Moncelli, present at every stage.
Corinne Moncelli & Anne Gelbard

Materials, colours, furniture, lighting, floor

coverings, walls, bathrooms, rooms, salons...
absolutely everything has been carefully thought
through, studied, discussed...

The aim was to offer a refined décor that succeeds in

combining a certain classicism with a contemporary
setting, mixing quality furnishings and the latest
technology, design and comfort. (In the annex, you’ll find
more information about the interior design choices).

La Belle Juliette will offer four-star service and thirty-

four rooms, ranging in size from 13m 2 to 35m 2. Prices
will range from 300 euros for a classic double room to
700 euros for the suites.
© photo: Jérôme d’Almeida — interiorspictures.com
Each room will be equipped with a large screen iMac
computer and broadband Internet access.

­– 02 –
 92 rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 paris 
{ france }

T
+33 [0]1 42 22 97 40
F
+33 [0]1 45 44 89 97

reservation@labellejuliette.com
www.labellejuliette.com

the treasures
of la belle juliette 

Alain Bisotti, General Manager of the “Hôtels Paris

Rive Gauche” has conducted a large amount of
bibliographical research. Through the purchase of
out of print books, first editions and old magazines,
he was able to discover the fascinating story of this
exceptional woman.

A selections of texts - some of them extremely rare - will

be available for consultation on the iMac in each room.

Unusual items such as a play, a pianola scroll, stamps,

miniatures, postcards, illustrations and portraits - some Each room will be equipped with a large screen iMac
dating from the era itself - will bring Juliette’s time to computer and broadband Internet access.
life. Passionate about literature and photography, Alain
Bisotti, instigator of the photo project “A Hotel Photo,
An Artist’s View” - has asked young photographers to
create pieces around the theme of Juliette.

Prints by Marie Maurel du Maillé, Valentine

Fournier, Sabine Biancuzzi, Elène Usdin and
Angela Svoronou can be seen in the lounge areas
and on each f loor of the Hôtel La Belle Juliette.

© photo: Jérôme d’Almeida — interiorspictures.com

­– 03 –
 the new bar with a literary theme

Le Talma This area is a homage to Talma, a famous actor of Juliette’s time,

beloved by both her and Napoleon. From breakfast to dinner time,
the Talma will change its ambiance throughout the day.

At breakfast, organic products and freshly-squeezed fruit juice will be served

in a refreshingly calm atmosphere.

At lunchtime, our menu - created by ‘Une Fête à Paris’ and inspired by

Juliette’s stay in Italy - will be a carefully prepared extension of their wildly
successful offerings at the Salon du Panthéon.

In the afternoon, succumb to temptation with our selection of cakes served

The Talma bar from the dessert trolley. And in the evening, a special selection of fine wines
decked entirely in red, is available together with light, tapas-style Italian dishes.
with adjoining
music room

Our supplier will be the excellent “Qualitalia”.

Madame Chierchi Rossi will deliver fresh

Burrata every day, or it may be truffle-infused
goat’s cheese, special antipasti, unusual sliced
meats, or irresistible spreads like la Giacometta
(chocolate and hazelnut spread) by Giraudi.

Similarly to Madame Récamier’s

literary salons, the Talma will exude
refinement with attention to detail,
making each visitor feel welcome
and at home in the bar’s luxurious
sofas and armchairs. As an essential
venue for meeting and conversation,
a cultural collaboration with the
Quartier Latin Committee is
currently in preparation: “Les
Saveurs du Savoir”.

­– 04 –
the spa, energies of beauty

Mayia and Céline are the trusted practitioners of Corinne

Moncelli, owner of the hotel La Belle Juliette, a homage to Juliette
Récamier in an elegant setting designed by Anne Gelbart.

La Belle Juliette, the seasons and gold

Céline Claret-Coquet is an acupuncturist, with her degree in traditional Chinese

medicine from the Peking Academy. SEASON BEAUTY is her concept for skin
and body protection adapted to each season. “GOLD NEEDLES by CCC” is an
acupuncture lifting procedure using no botox or hyaluronic acid, a technique that
she created and has now proved its efficacy.

Painless and non-allergic, thanks to the use of gold needles, th e treatment is suitable
even for the most sensitive complexions, thanks to gold’s exceptional hygienic
qualities, completely innocuous for the skin.
Mayia Alleaume is a studio make-up artist. Over the last 12 years she has worked
with all the most famous models and actors, listening to their wishes, complaints
and worries about their skin, whether made-up or au naturel. Her experience has
led to the creation of SENTARA, an expert range of beauty products with hi-tech,
ultra-reparative formulas. Their fine textures bring out the sublime, tighten the
skin, protect it and reveal its beauty. Skincare and cosmetics,
treated like an art.
The pairing of these two women seems supremely natural:
they have the same passion for precise gestures, the same high
expectations for results based around the use of gold. They
are a perfect feminine combination.

SEASONAL BEAUTY MASSAGES BY CCC

Massages adapted to each season
Céline Claret-Coquet has developed a range of A swimming pool and Turkish bath
unique massages tailored to your body’s energies are also available for clients.
at the time of your visit. Juliette, famous for her
www.sentaraskincare.com & www.celine-claret-coquet.com
beauty, would surely have adored them.

Seasonal beauty facial massages

Seasonal facial beauty ritual
or Seasonal Beauty Body Massages
“A nourishing anti-age action”
Vivifying seasonal massage with essential oils
Special Belle Juliette instant “Stimulates and harmonises body and mind using Tui Na
perk-up face treatment
manipulative therapy”
“Stimulates, vivifies, brings out the sublime
in the skin” Seasonal body beauty ritual
 “A scrub, wrap, massage... absolute bliss!”
Purifying face treatment
“Purifies, calms, magnifies your skin’s beauty”  La Belle Juliette haven of peace treatment
“Relaxing massages that carefully calms
and soothes away all tension”

Hands happiness, by CCC

“Essential oils bath, scrub, mask, hand massage,
hand and neck massage, seasonal reflexology treatment”

Peking at your feet, by CCC

“Beauty pedicure (essential oils bath, scrub, mask)”

­– 05 –
annex: Anne Gelbard’s interior deco
choices and some references

The images in the hotel are all original engravings

1 st f loor
madame Récamier & madame de Staël  framed by le Tout Venant in Brussels
Intimate friends, feminists, modern women.
One was delicate, the other forceful.
2 nd f loor
The voyages in Italy
Intense artistic and personal encounters.
One of Juliette’s most memorable places of exile.
3 rd f loor
René de Chateaubriand
‘The’ person in Juliette’s life. On one side we have
images of his youth, his passion, his f lamboyant
ideas, on the other his wisdom, or rather his
thoughtfulness and the writing of his memoirs.
This f loor is laid out as if to echo the volumes of
his memoirs.
4 th f loor
Les Causeries
Representing the social whirl of the era’s literary
salons, balls, famous personalities, the evolution of
moral values…
specially sought out with passion and taste, and
 
The bespoke furniture and certain lampshades were
devised by Anne Gelbard.
The books were sourced by Monsieur Trovero, an
antiques dealer who really selected books that went
with the story of the hotel!
For the rooms (on the De Staël side), the bedside
draperies were specially painted and leafed by the
workshop of Anne Gelbard.
We asked Ludovic Avenel to restore and relook
the hotel’s per iod f ur niture to g ive it a more
contemporary look. He will also be looking after
the furniture and desks at reception.
In the stairwell over all four f loors (14 metres high
altogether), there will a large panoramic image
created exclusively for the hotel by Anne Gelbard,
forming a landscape, much like windows looking
out onto the world.

The patinas on the second f loor (Italy) are by C2C

(artist/interior designer Catherine de Couëssint)
and devised to ressemble an abstract landscape!

The g rou nd f loor f r iezes a re i n spi red by the In the toilets, Beautiful wall coverings
engravings on period books about Juliette Récamier, as a humorous touch: from the ‘Carapace’
and executed by Catherine de Couëssint af ter a – Herman van Peer collection by Arte.
design by Anne Gelbard. distributed by Arte
– Reproduction ostrich Upstairs corridors:
Stairwell birds by Marie Christophe. skin by Texam wallpaper by
Osborne & Little
The gardens are desig ned by Thierr y Dalcant,
landscape architect and graduate of the national
school of landscape architecture in Versailles.

Restaurant crockery by Sandrine Ganem.

Other pieces: the Galet collection by Deshoulières.

­– 06 –
The Voyagers Salon
(greyish beige)
Saarineen tables by Knoll
Armchairs found in antique stores
or rebooted from the Ferrandi
 
The Talma (wine red)
  The majority of the ground f loor furniture has been
The music room (grey-purple) salvaged f rom the Fer ra ndi hotel a nd entr usted
Saarineen, Fuchsia armchairs and chairs to Ludovic Avenel for complete transformation.
Other pieces of f urniture were found in antique
The reading room (violet-blue) stores in the Sablons area of Brussels including two
Meteor table designed by Arick levi (Serralunga) magnif icent Biedermeier chairs.
Dark purple armchairs and chairs
The curtains in the Rubans salon (kakemono) are by
  Luc Druez (LCD) after a design by Anne Gelbard
on Dedar velvet.
paint
A collaboration
with the venerable Tollens
company for of a range
of new colours, Fabrics  Furniture
specif ically created Pierre Frey Table Icicle by Thomas
for the hotel. Kvadrat Ederson (Denmark)
Buche Chair from 1959
Some sweet little swans been Fadini Borghini by N.O. Moller
hidden around the hotel, Dedar (Denmark)
ready to be discovered by the Warwick Saarinen Marquina
curious. Will you be able to   Knoll
f ind them?   Jens Risom (1941)
Knoll
Heerenhuis
Eames
Jielde

contact details
Alain Bisotti
la belle juliette Communications Manager
Hôtel Paris Rive Gauche
92 rue du Cherche-Midi
19 rue Feuillantines – 75005 Paris
75006 paris 
abisotti@hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com
{ france }
t. +33 1 56 81 00 33
T
+33 [0]1 42 22 97 40
F
+33 [0]1 45 44 89 97 PRESS RELATIONS
© photo: Jérôme d’Almeida — interiorspictures.com Marie Jacquier
reservation@labellejuliette.com 21 bd de Beauséjour – 75016 Paris
www.labellejuliette.com t. + 33 1 45 25 10 07
The graphic design for everything related to La Belle
Juliette was created by the Brussels-based agency f. + 33 1 40 50 69 55
of Emmanuel Blondiau: www.neutre.be m. + 33 6 13 54 60 12
jacquier@bureaujm.com

www.hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com

­– 07 –
annex: an interview with Anne Gelbard
Can you tell me how you ca me to be involved in the project?
I met Alain Bisotti of the Hôtel Paris Rive Gauche label at the Maison
& Objet trade fair in Paris. That’s where I show my home decoration
collection based on my haute couture work. He then introduced my to
Corinne and Pascal Moncelli, the owners of La Belle Juliette, and after
a series of discussions and conversations we decided to collaborate on
the birth (or rather, rebirth) of their new hotel. It was a very down-to-
earth meeting, with a great feeling of complicity, shared ideas and trust.
Did you have your ow n persona l feelings or con nection w ith
Juliet te Reca mier Did that cha nge in a ny way over the course
of creating the interiors?
It was Corinne who had an attachment for this 19th century heroine
and introduced me to her. Juliette Récamier has a certain renown
of course, but she’s not really known for what she did. I really got to
know her while designing the hotel. I had to steep myself in her era,
her life, like an actress researching her character. My feelings about
her evolved over time, as there’s an iconic image of her (as the most
beautiful woman of her era), but she was also a real businesswoman,
kind of a forerunner of what is now known as marketing or PR.
Some of the designs you’ve chosen are far more contemporary than
Récamier’s life. How do you see these reflecting her style or the legends
that surround her?
It’s an era with a lot happening. Society was going through radical change,
new values were being formed. It was just after the Reign of Terror that
followed the French Revolution. Philosophy, design, the way of dressing, the
whole way of life were perpetually changing. Greek references, the republic
and democracy were the basis for constructing a new lifestyle, a new aesthetic.
Society’s values were very free. You have to remember that death and violence
were both very close. What now seems old to us - the Directoire style - was
new and innovative at the time, et both Juliette Récamier and Joséphine de
Beauharnais were considered trendsetter. So it seem logical to me - obvious
even - not to betray Juliette, to introduce key pieces of contemporary
design like the Risom chair or the Saarinen table, or excellent new pieces
of current design like Arik Levy and Sam Baron. I’m not here to copy the
style of an era, but to understand a character. It also allowed me to bring
in young creators and photographers like Elene Usdin, Valentine Fournier
and Marie Maurel du Maillé who will be giving us their vision of Juliette.
Can you describe what your main inspiration a nd desires were
in creating these interiors?
Each floor marks a strong element from Juliette’s life, either key people -
like Madame de Staël, her best friend and mentor, or Chateaubriand, the
great love of her life - or snapshots from her life, like Italy, her refuge
and venue for the cultural and political gatherings for those exiled by
Napoleon Bonaparte, or the literary salons, the ‘causeries’ (where people
­– 08 –
met to talk) that were very much in vogue at the time.
Juliette’s was the most frequented and lively of the time.
These themes are spread over the four floors where the
rooms are.
You’ll start on the second floor up by getting to know
Juliette Récamier. I wanted very sober, monochrome
tones here (Juliette wore all white, right up to the end of
her days) and Madame de Staël, a very strong influence
who will be represented by bold, contrasting colours.
The third floor is inspired by Italy and evokes movement,
long voyages by coach and horse. This explains the
simplicity of the materials and styles used. The accent
is on the walls, the colour of the sky, with large frescoes
that suggest imaginary landscapes lost in the mist.
The fourth floor, dedicated to Chateaubriand, is laid out
like his memoirs from beyond the grave. It’s the the most
masculine of all the floors.
The fifth f loor, called “Les Causeries”, represents
socialising and tells of certain characters of the time;
scientists, philosophers, actors or women of loose
values. It’s the most classic of the levels, with heavy
curtains, plaster mouldings and antique furniture
(taken from the previous hotel and completely
transformed by Ludovic Avenel).
The ground f loor is also designed like a home with
the antechamber or ‘salon des voyageurs’ which will
be a space for photo exhibitions (the HPRG label is a
sponsor of photography), the reception area, round,
which will be like a cocoon that welcomes guests, the
Talma bar, a homage to a famous actor of the time and
friend of Juliette, who often entertained her salon, the
music room, and the library. Each space is designed
like a living space. The idea is to give the impression
of walking into Juliette’s townhouse and feeling at
home, not just in a hotel.
The spa is a poetic stroll, like a secret garden or the
Grecian baths and reproductions of caves that
were popular at the time. With a fresco called “The
extraordinary garden” by Jean Boggio for Frantz, you’ll
discover a laid-back, calm space magnified by this
ceramic landscape.
Even if each floor has been designed to
represent the fundamental symbols of
Juliette’s life, I wanted each detail to be “like
at home”; reassuring, comfortable. I want
to intrigue and surprise guests and make
them feel at ease. For me, we are in Juliette’s
home, or at least my vision of it.
What was the building like
when you bega n?
A superb, impressive façade, a faded interior
and a strange floor plan all stretched out
that makes the building so particular, like
a picture book.
Were there a ny speci f ic cha llenges
you faced? Special moments?
Specific challenges, yes!!! It’s the first
time that I have been asked to design a
space that must stand the test of time,
an interior to be lived in. You have to be
sure that your designs on paper and your
dollhouse model really represent what
you have in mind. There have been many
special moments too, one in particular: a
weekend in Brussels with lots of laughing,
snowball fights, and lovely meals, when
we went round the antique stores like
curious children, looking for objects and
furniture with 20cm of snow outside. We
all went: Vincent Bastie, the architect on
the projects, Corinne and Pascal Moncelli,
Alain Bisotti, and Emilie Corre who has
helped me to transform my ideas into
reality, doing a great ‘translation’ job.
I only had a fashion vocabular y at
the beginning, and it wasn’t easy to
turn that into architectural language.
I definitely needed an interpreter who
could understand my way of explaining
things from a fashion background. Each
profession has its own language, each idea
has a huge number of ramifications when
it comes to technical details, finishing
touches and lots of other elements...
Throughout the conception of the project, the atmosphere was
excellent, full of exchanges, thoughts about the essence of the project,
its form, and the solutions to each question.
I’d love to be able to talk as well about your general st yle
a nd approach in decorating a nd working w ith clients.
How would you describe this? Do you have a pa r ticula r
“sig nature” in your work?
My approach for this hotel was to make a place, a reassuring house, not
a “concept”. Juliette was an excellent host, so I wanted to make the hotel a
warm cocoon for voyagers discovering Paris.
As a place of luxury too, I wanted to avoid the simple solutions, anything too
showy, and get back to chic, quality materials, use hand-crafted wallpapers,
specially-created paint colours - the real luxury of the era - painted frescoes,
fabrics woven to order. The time needed to design and build the space was
also a luxury that we gave ourselves.
Coming from the world of fashion and haute couture, a special harmony,
a resonance of colours and materials, is especially important to me.
The sculpting of spaces, complementing elements, the surprise given by
the subtle mix of contemporary and antique are also very important to me.
Is that my “signature”? Humorous touches - like bubbles of oxygen - without
which life would be completely dull. In fact, I hate anything serious, boring,
pedantic or fake... I like poetry, the imaginary. With Corinne et Pascal
Moncelli, we got on absolutely perfectly. They are ‘concrete’ people, open,
frank, with the right words to help things advance. Together with Alain
Bisotti, everyone gave their time and energy to the project. It’s a hotel that
comes from the heart.
The numerous restrictions and obligations dictated by the workings of a hotel
were just bumps along the way. I adopted a phrase said to me by one of my
teachers: “Going beyond restrictions is the greatest of liberties”.
I really feel like this first experience will be remembered as my best: a
fascinating theme, a huge amount of freedom and trust, amazing, funny,
adorable bosses... and feet on the ground. I hope that the guests will feel this
ambiance when they stay at La Belle Juliette.
­– 09 –