Hi Matic Hotel

There's hardly a shortage of hotels in Paris, but in the wake of the recent (and ongoing) spate of luxury palace openings, the launch of a small, modern and eco-friendly concept hotel on the other side of town makes a for a refreshing change.

The colourful Hi Matic Hotel is the latest venutre from French design guru Matali Crasset, protegee of Philippe Starck and creator of Le Nouvel Odeon cinema in Paris and the Hi Hotel in Nice. Five minutes from Bastille, in an area PR types are trying to dub EsBa (East of Bastille), the 5 floor hotel is in a slightly down at heel, residential area full of organic bakeries, highly rated restaurants and creative types. 

Hi Matic Creator and Designer, Matali Crasset

The 42 room hotel is part futuristic hostel, part Japanese Riokan.  The cosy bedrooms feature comfy futons cocooned in wooden structures, in a bright palette of colours that you would expect from Crasset. The self check-in in the lobby, the designer vending machine selling travel guides and the self service breakfast room give the guest total autonomy and keep the hotel fuss free and simple. The hotel throughout is eco-friendly, with organic paint on the walls, recyclable coat hangers, REN bath products and organic food in the breakfast room (incidently breakfast is included in all room rates).

Hi Matic Hotel

71 rue de Charonne

75011 Paris

tel: +33 1 43 67 56 56

www.hi-matic.net

Rooms start from around €114

photos copyright Kim Laidlaw Adrey

Camper Together - L'Imprimerie

Last night was the opening party for Camper Together, a collaboration between quirky shoe brand Camper, the fashion designer Bernhard Willhelm and newcomers BM&Fils, at L'Imprimerie gallery in the Marais. 

Giant models of the shoes appear to have crashed through the prisitine walls of L'Imprimerie creating a visual impact deserving of such innovative fashion. The real shoes themselves are also on display in all their eccentric glory. 

Bravo et merci a la belle Cecile!

Camper at L'Imprimerie by BM&Fils

1st - 30th October

Open daily, 11am - 7pm

L'Imprimerie

16 rue Saint Merri

75004 Paris

Rue Charles-François Dupuis Part 1: Messieurs Dames

Rue Charles-Francois Dupuis in the Northern Marais (or NoMa as the cool set are trying to dub it) is fast becoming a street to watch. First to set up shop here was hip hair salon Messieurs-Dames, founded by the effervescent Sebastien (former director at Toni &Guy, rue Tiquetonne, who also worked his coiffure-magic in New York) in late 2009. By his side is the super-stylish kick-ass colourist and hair-stylist Yumi. Along with Colette, Messieurs-Dames is one of the few places in Paris to stock the cult hair care line Bumble&Bumble. The interior design of the salon is suitably edgy, with vintage chests serving as display cases and contemporary art exhibitions providing the decoration. The team are really friendly and take the time to talk to you to find your perfect cut (unlike some big name salons I could mention). Not only that, but they create styles for real life that are easy to maintain and that grow out with out losing their shape. Definitely our favourite hairdressers in Paris.

Messieurs-Dames

5 rue Charles-Francois Dupuis

75003 Paris

Tues - Fri 11am - 9pm

Sat - 11am - 7pm

Tel: 01 42 71 29 60

Facebook Page here

Les Puces du Design 2010

The vintage furniture fair, Les Puces du Design, is back for its 22nd edition along the banks of the canal de l'Ourcq in Paris' 19th arrondissement from tomorrow. The fair hosts a collection of stands showcasing the best in 20th century design - expect Panton and Eames chairs galore as well as other iconic gems from the 50s to the 90s, including a special exhibit on video games from the 70s and 80s.

27th-30th May 2010
Quai de la Loire (next to the MK2), Paris 19°
Metro Jaurès
From 10am - 7pm (9pm Thurs)
Free entry

Happy New Year!

After travel adventures (Eurostar was down, flights were grounded, trains were cancelled - even terrorism tried to make a comeback) over the holidays, and lots of champagne and food excess, I Heart Paris is now back in the game and ready to face 2010!

Lots of fun things are happening in Paris this year - we're already looking forward to the imminent sales (starting 6th Jan), galettes des rois, world cup mania in the summer (we're just hoping Henry behaves) and Takashi Murkami at the Chateau de Versailles (late 2010)....as well as plenty of events that our party-addled brains are too fried to remember right now.

You'll just have to stay tuned to I Heart Paris to find out about all the exhibitions, fashion, eating, drinking and shopping scoops in the capital this year. In the meantime, Bonne Année!

Les Puces du Design

The Puces de Design, an antiques market specialising in 20th century design furniture, takes place from today until this Sunday, along the banks of the Canal de L'Ourcq at the Quai de Loire. Expect to find Eames chairs or Knoll tables amongst other delights from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Les Puces du Design 8th - 11th October 2009, 10am - 7pm, Late night opening Thursday until 9pm. Quai de la Loire (next to the fab cinéma MK2), Paris 75019 Metro : Jaurès. Free Entry