Great design doesn’t necessarily require an excess of augmentation. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate a string of French reigns – all of the Louis hold a special place in my heart with their desire to outdo one another. The graceful gilt dipped chair legs, and golden carved flowers are a wonder to behold. You could sit staring at a single room all day long, and perhaps not absorb all the beauty, the artistry that the designers packed into those four walls. Make no mistake, spaces that are stripped of that layer upon layer of intricate detail, have no place to hide. There simplicity must be perfection or their flaws will surely show.

I pay special attention to this skill, as the century we are in, doesn’t have much room for the opulence of the early 18th century. Who has the time or money? Well, clearly some people have plenty of time, but not necessarily the money and those with the plenty of money often don’t have the time, but that’s all a story for another day. There is a quiet complexity in simple spaces for which I hold a high regard.

I came across this hotel – yes it is French, and yes it is in this century. Hotel des grands boulevard. It’s in the Marais and is so sweet. It has a bit of imperfection mixed in with the simple clean lines of the interiors in the form of some battered old furniture, but it feels right.

The bathrooms don’t rely on expensive tile or grand gestures in the form of statement mirrors. To the contrary, their simple lines are recognizable because there is nothing there to distract. It’s refreshing.

The beds have a little old school grandeur with their canopy and the luxury of velvet. The paint job takes center stage as only it can when all the hard work of smoothing and cocking, and plugging the gaps has been done.

See if you agree – Paris is always a good idea.