Hotel Felicien

The Scene

Named after the street on which it stands, Hotel Felicien is located in the 16^th arrondissement, a quiet Parisian neighborhood home to elegant tree-lined streets and beautiful sights, such as the Trocadero and the Marmottan (a museum where you can see a large collection of Monet paintings up close and without the usual crowds). A few steps away lies the Seine, and the Eiffel Tower is also easily accessible.

The Concept

Conceived and designed by Olivier Lapidus, fashion designer and perpetuator of his father Ted Lapids's legacy, Hotel Felicien has all the elements of a successful fashion collection: a strong focus on quality textiles and materials, an ever-present awareness of shapes, patterns and colors (seven different color schemes were conceived and employed in this project), a near-obsessive attention to detail (seen in the size and shape of furniture and the overall lighting plan), and an indispensable dose of audacity (displayed through the use of cutting-edge fabrics and light panels---a signature of Lapidus).

The Look

The interiors of the hotel feel contemporary and stylish (as one would expect from a fashion designer) but never compromise on comfort. The use of quality fabrics and materials was of utmost importance to the designer, who incorporated leathers (including plush leather flooring), silks, wool (such as the pure Irish wool rugs in bedrooms), ceramics and stainless steel. Not surprisingly, a few ideas from his couture house also made it into the hotel, including the forward-thinking fiber optic fabric used for curtains---the same he's used for dresses in the past---and the hand-painted silk materials used in some of the wall art (also seen in some of his clothes before). Another distinctive feature of the Felicien is the fact that each of the seven floors has their own color palette, which graduates from dark to light as you go up the building.

In Short

Being one of very few properties to carry the stamp of a fashion star, Hotel Felicien shines bright like a new fashion collection. And though both fashion and hospitality can be transient, great works like this one never lose their appeal.