IN ORDER OF OPULENCE
In Order of Opulence - Luxury Travel Magazine
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| By: Gary Allen, Issue 49 Summer 2012 | ||||||
| Mandarin Oriental Paris | ||||||
| THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW SUITES IN THE MANADARIN ORIENTAL PARIS IS INDEED AN EVENT INDEED FOR LUXURY TRAVELLERS. THE HOTEL OPENED MID LAST YEAR, BUT NOW WITH THE UNVEILING OF 39 NEW SUITES IT'S TRULY MADE ITS MARK ON THE PARISIAN HOTEL LANDSCAPE. GARY ALLEN TRAVELLED TO PARIS TO EXPERIENCE THE GLAMOUR FIRST AND SEE FIRST HAND THE INSPIRED COMBINATION OF SILK, PEARLS, CRYSTALS, VELVET, EBONY AND MARBLE IN EACH OF THE SIX SUITES CATEGORIES. From the windows of the new suites at the Mandarin Oriental Paris you can gaze over the rooftops of Paris to see the city’s most well loved landmarks, including of course, La Tour Eiffel. French interior designer Sybille de Margerie combined classic and Parisian styles with Oriental touches in her vision for the interior of the new suites, but while the rooms have a feel of ages past, all the latest technology is in place. They’re all fitted out with LCD screens (either 32 or 40 inches), Bang & Olufsen surround sound, iPads interfaced with the televisions and Playstation 3s. There’s also both wired and wireless broadband internet throughout. Here’s an overview of each of the suite categories, in order of opulence. | ||||||
| ATELIER SUITES | ||||||
| These are split-level suites starting at 55 square metres in size, each with a bedroom (with 500 thread count linen) and bathroom upstairs, and a powder room and living room downstairs. Decorated in greys, plums and blacks with works by photographer Ali Mahdavi displayed throughout, the Atelier Suites have views towards the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Bump it up a notch and stay in one of two duplex Premier Atelier Suites on the top floor of the hotel, with interior design inspired by Art Deco Paris. Past the parquet hallway there is a living room and private dining area, with a bedroom with large dressing room and bathroom upstairs, and views from a balcony to the Eiffel Tower and L’Opera. Rates: the Atelier Suites start from €2,650 (about A$3,467) per night. | ||||||
| CRYSTAL SUITE | ||||||
| This 80 square metre suite, which is also known as the Broderies de Cristal, is on the seventh floor with views over the rooftops towards Montmartre. The decor features embroidery in silks, pearls and sequins with works by Man Ray on display. It has a living area, private dining space, bedroom, separate powder room and bathroom with private steam shower, two toilets and a large terrace for outdoor dining overlooking the north of Paris. Rates: the Crystal Suite starts from €4,500 (about A$5,888) per night. | ||||||
| COUTURE SUITES | ||||||
| Starting at 78 square metres in size, the design of the Couture Suites was inspired by muses of famous couturiers of years past. The décor of the suites, of which there are four including Coromandel and Arabesques, features Lesage embroidery in silk, pearls, sequins and crystals. Each spacious and well-lit suite interior includes a bedroom, bathroom with freestanding bathtub and steam showers, living area and balcony overlooking the Rue de Saint Honoré. Rates: the Couture Suites start from €4,700 (A$6,148) per night. | ||||||
| CABOCHONS SUITE | ||||||
| Decked out in orange and copper tones, the Cabochons Suite features fashion photography and fabrics and textures from an atelier in its interior design. The split-level suite covers 92 square metres with an upstairs living room, dining area and bedroom. Off the suite is an outdoor terrace, perfect for private dining. There are two toilets and a bathroom where you can sit back and relax in your bathtub with views of the Eiffel Tower. Rates: the Cabochons Suite starts from €10,000 (about A$13,085) per night. | ||||||
| ROYALE ORIENTALE SUITE | ||||||
| The suite is 162 square metres of east meets west design, incorporating lacquer, velvet, ebony and marble with decorating touches like hand-painted crocodiles on the bar and art by Thierry Bisch. The ground floor houses the living room, private dining space, study and terrace with views over L’Opera, and upstairs is a large bedroom with adjoining bathroom with standalone tub and steam shower. This suite is the one to choose if you’re travelling with your family because you can connect the Royale Orientale Suite to the Premier Atelier Suites on the top floor creating a three-bedroom penthouse and the largest hotel suite in Paris. Rates: the Royale Orientale Suite starts from €12,000 (about A$15,705) per night. | ||||||
| ROYALE MANDARIN SUITE | ||||||
| At 350 square metres the Royale Mandarin Suite is at the top of the hotel with panoramic city views (including over Montmartre, the Louvre and the Madeleine). Designed with touches of gold, white, beige and plum, and textiles like silk and velvet, standout features include the staircase made from guilloche metal and a headboard by Lesage incorporating a work by Man Ray, Neck, which took 650 hours to complete. On the downstairs level there is a spacious and light- filled living room, dining room with kitchen, study and outdoor dining terrace, and upstairs the master bedroom has a dressing room, personal gym and Eiffel Tower views from the bathtub. Rates: the Royale Mandarin Suite starts from €20,000 (about A$26,164) per night. | ||||||
| mandarinoriental.com/paris | ||||||
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