once upon a time, the ritz paris

by Sharon Santoni

 

Here is a fun date for your calendar, and maybe something to include if you are in Paris this April.   The famous Ritz hotel is holding a sale!  They are naming the event, Once Upon a Time, The Ritz Paris

The hotel was thoroughly renovated and re-opened in 2016, and they have now had time to sort through the many treasures that were stored and finally replaced.   The gold leafed armchair; garden furniture; poodle beds or the occasional ashtray …. the catalogue of 3500 lots for sale is quite wonderful and gives us an instagram-like approach to the former contents of the hotel.

The Ritz originally opened in 1898, and has seen monarchs, business moguls and stars of every nationality walk through its doors.    One of the most well known suites is the Windsor suite that used to look like this…..

……and and has been updated with a lighter touch that shines a light on the historical detailing …

The sale is promising to be quite the event in Paris, with a pre-auction show displayed in the showrooms of the specialised auctioneers Artcurial on the Champs Elysees.  This will be open to the public from 12th to 16th April, and the vignettes and displayed pieces are coordinated by Parisian interior designer Vincent Darré.

Once everyone has had time to feast their eyes and count their available euros, the sale takes place from 17th to 21st April.  Of course Artcurial will also be taking bids by phone or by internet.  You can view their full sale catalogue HERE

So of course the question is what would tempt you?!   Here is a tiny selection with some guideline prices, but I’d love to know if you have memories of the Ritz before the renovation, and whether there is any particular item that you remember and would happily buy for your home?

30 comments

andrea March 12, 2018 - 8:00 pm

Hi Sharon,
Is there any chance you might know of the colour of blue in the newly renovated suite?

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Lauren March 13, 2018 - 3:49 pm

Andrea,

This is a fellow reader, Lauren. That room reminds me so much of Phoebe Howard’s colors that I went and pulled out a leaflet of her favorite color swatches. The most similar is SW Topsail (Trim SW Simply White) The next is slightly more great SW Sea Salt. I hope that helps you 🙂

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Lauren March 14, 2018 - 3:00 pm

*green not great

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Steven March 12, 2018 - 8:04 pm

Thanks for this delightful post – and especially for including the auction catalog. I’m betting their estimates are “conservative” – someone is going to make a tidy sum off this sale!

Let us know what you take home!!

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bonnie groves poppe March 13, 2018 - 9:00 am

Yes, those look like very conservative estimates, I could see myself buying something from that sale if I was in Paris and had somewhere to put it, if those are realistic estimates!
bonnie in provence

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Sandra Walker March 12, 2018 - 8:45 pm

There is no way I would be able to go and see everything, but I would love to have a copy of the Sale Catalogue, how much are they please.

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rusty cannaday March 13, 2018 - 2:58 am

Sandra Kennedy Walker? In Germany?

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Madonna March 12, 2018 - 8:55 pm

I hope you go and buy something and that you post about it. I love the room change. I am partial to light colors.

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Kelly Dodson March 12, 2018 - 8:59 pm

Glad to know I’m in the same realm as the designers who renovated the Windsor Suite! Same exact colors I am using as I renovate my master bathroom. Beautiful room! I hope they do well with their auction.

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Sandy Jones March 12, 2018 - 9:17 pm

How can the Ritz paint over the boiserie that is considered State Treasures, as revealed by reading the auction catalog?

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Taste of France March 12, 2018 - 9:28 pm

I like the after, but I like the before an awful lot, too. Maybe even more.
That garden gate seems like a steal.

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bonnie groves poppe March 13, 2018 - 9:03 am

Yes, the before is much more interesting, the after is just a bunch of white and pastel. Pretty but ho hum. It looks like they overpainted those beautiful doors and woodwork, vandalism.
bonnie in provence

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Melva March 12, 2018 - 10:00 pm

Sigh…. to even be able to travel there to view, much less purchase and ship home. Only in my dreams.

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lynda santillan March 12, 2018 - 10:24 pm

hi .. I also would love to buy a copy of catalog…would you be able to get copys to sell??? thanks so much//love everything French..

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April March 12, 2018 - 10:26 pm

Yes Sandy, how can that be allowed!!!!!

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Hattee Christian March 12, 2018 - 11:26 pm

I totally agree with Sandy. To me, the redo is lovely but has no personality. Luxurious, to be sure, but it could be located anywhere. The original was embracing and guests knew they were in France. The very best of France.

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bonnie groves poppe March 13, 2018 - 9:04 am

Ditto….
bonnie in provence

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Nina March 14, 2018 - 5:05 am

Double Ditto! Looks too whitewashed and common.

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Candi Duncan March 13, 2018 - 12:58 am

Wonderful! What I wouldn’t give to be there and purchase one more memory.

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pamela March 13, 2018 - 2:51 am

Looks like lots of great things to be had.

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Nancy Brantley March 13, 2018 - 4:39 am

The before looked very Ritz. Now its just a room….boring!

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bonnie groves poppe March 13, 2018 - 9:04 am

Yeah……
bonnie in provence

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Cecelia March 13, 2018 - 4:54 am

The new Windsor Suite? YAWN! It certainly isn’t the well-known Windsor Suite anymore. The “before” had character. The “new” may be consider up-to-date and the latest fashion; however, white on white doesn’t take much imagination.

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bonnie groves poppe March 13, 2018 - 9:05 am

Totally ….
Guess I’ll just have to stay somewhere else next time I’m in Paris.
bonnie in provence

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Jan March 13, 2018 - 11:21 am

Anyone know what an average night’s cost is to stay at the Ritz? I would concur, the before is more what I would want to see when visiting France. The after is like anywhere trying to look french.

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Anonymous March 13, 2018 - 1:42 pm

Agree with the others about the Windsor suite. The before had grandeur and distinction. It’s what you might hope to find at a Parisian grand hotel (or palace hotel as they’re now called). The after is just bland decorator de luxe style and looks more like the interiors in an American high style magazine where the American designers are trying to produce something they think looks French.
But the auction would be wonderful. Hope you’re able to go and do a post on it.

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suzanna March 13, 2018 - 5:06 pm

drooling over here in the US….wish I could buy a few pieces but I am here and Paris is there, ooh, la la……the prices seem low even in euros…absolutely wonderful pieces…..wish I were there…..thanks for sending this out Sharon…..amazing !

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Cindy March 13, 2018 - 9:13 pm

As others have asked, I would love a copy of the sales catalog. How can we get one and how much would they be in dollar? Thank you and I wish I could see this in person!

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chris van velthoven March 14, 2018 - 7:44 am

Hallo shannon,
is it possible to have a catalog to?
I would like to go to the auction and so I can do some research . Thank you !

Chris

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Parisbreakfast April 6, 2018 - 5:15 am

Will yoube at the presse preview Sandra?
Hope so..

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