Hotel Fabric

The Scene

Hotel Fabric is perfectly situated in Oberkampf. Once a hub of industrial activity, the street has been reborn as a trendy, young district buzzing with nightlife. The larger neighborhood-Canal St-Martin-is an escape for all Parisians from the buzzing touristy bits of the city. Galleries and beautiful back alleys abound in the area, but more well-known (or simply bigger) museums such as the Louvre are only a Metro ride away. For a distinctly Parisian experience, Pere Lachaise cemetery (where Oscar Wilde and a host of other notables reside in magnificent monuments) only requires a short walk.

The Concept

Drawing on its industrial roots as a textile factory, architect Vincent Bastie with interior designers Agnès Louboutin and Patrice Henry play with the duality of gritty and dark furniture and accent pieces against bright and light fabrics that recall the bygone gardens of the neighboring Ménilmontant. The result is a delightful mismatch that works because of its strong identity and clear inspiration. The vibe throughout Fabric is marvelously cool and lively, matching that of the surrounding areas; it feels as though you've walked into an interior designer's workshop. The spaces ooze creativity and encourage you to consider inventive combinations you never thought would work- think a chartreuse and teal bird design on the drapes set against a black and white striped wall. If it sounds a little crazy, that's just the ingenuity of the design coming through. Look for hints of the building's industrial past in the architecture-some rooms feature the original brick wall, for example-and other raw/reclaimed touches of material.

The Look

The 33 rooms channel the modern ambience throughout the four floors but are more restrained in the amount of décor, but this is certainly not to suggest that the design is any less inspired. While the bathrooms are industrially appointed, featuring cement tiles and oversized space for the rain shower, the historically-inspired details carry over into the bedroom in useful details. The bedside table, for example, could just as easily be a wood box marked 'FRAGILE' as a repurposed metal stool. The colors in the textiles and on the walls are utterly refreshing, hobnobbing merrily with their surroundings to create a feel that is uniquely Hotel Fabric. Be sure to look up-the chandeliers in the rooms are a delightful wonder of wires and an understated splash of cool. If you want to channel the vibrant energy of the hotel, head down to the gym (a trainer is available on request); if you would prefer to tap into the more refreshing ambience, be sure to relax in the hammam steam room or book an appointment with the beauty salon that offers massages, facials, body treatments, and hairstyling services.

In Short

It's not often that an establishment can pull together disparate stories from its past into one common thread, boldly stamping the creation as their own…but then again, not every hotel is Hotel Fabric. When cool is called for, Hotel Fabric impeccably delivers its singular brand.