A Tour of Coco Chanel's Apartment

By: Annie Deakin Click author's name for more of his/her articles

'An interior is the natural projection of the soul,' were the wise words of fashion icon Coco Chanel. We want to see the film in all its period costume, rags-to-riches glory, but, interior-geeks that we are, Chanel's apartment gets an Oscar from us first.
The screen bio follows the success of Gabrielle Chanel, a mere seamstress who rapidly progressed to Parisian haute couture with a change of name along the way. If you don't know much about the famous Parisian couturier (who transformed the fashion industry making herself her own muse and adapting men's clothing to replace the frump and frills of lace and corsets) we won't spoil the film for you.

In real life the creative magic happened at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris. Paying homage to the iconic designer, Chanel's apartment has been frozen in time since her death in 1971 and preserves her decor as if she had just designed it. Her mix of occidental and oriental references was groundbreaking in her day.

Above the Chanel store on street level are sprawling mirrored and lacquered dressing rooms. Her apartment takes up the second floor and above that is the design workshop. Coco Chanel designed a mirrored spiral staircase to wind up through the house so she could see what was happening on every level, and especially to watch the reactions of editor's at her fashion shows. Big Brother, eat your heart out.

Her imaginative and experimental style is also showcased in the lacquered Chinese screens that she split and used as wallpaper to adorn the walls. One of three rooms in the apartment, it's home to little more than a low slung chair for inspecting hemlines and an richly ornate mirror. This is in the shape of her trademark bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume and the Place Vendôme - the nearby Ritz where the design icon spent her nights as well home to Chanel's jewellery boutique. You can't get much quirkier than that.
Her dining room is extremely opulent and indulgent. It's home to more oriental screens, gilt mirrors, busts, lions, and chandeliers with the famous '5's' and double 'C's' made from semi-precious stones interwoven into its design.

Be as cool as Coco with a Jet Clear 14 arm chandelier (£950) at Heal's or be more adventurous like the fashion icon herself with Moooi's chandelier (£5,575), at Foundry Light & Design, which is made from paper, card and papier mache. Juliettes Interiors has a variety of big gilt traditional mirrors as well as an elaborately ornate Augustus Rex console and mirror (£2,820).

The piece de resistance in the 20th century icon's home has to be the sumptuously filled living room. The film shows Tautou languidly reclining on the tan and suede sofa, clutching one of the quilted pillows close to her face. Her sofa reportedly mixes her favourite colour and material and such a combination was quite controversial in the world of interiors at the time. She also held interviews from this sofa and was very choosey about who she allowed to join her on it.

As Tautou brings the first leading lady in fashion back to life, the rest of the living room surrounds her with wooden camels, crystal balls, more chandeliers and screens. A packed wooden bookshelf wraps around yet another gilt mirror and lines the far wall.
Steal her style by sinking into a deep Neoz sofa (£6,732) at Made in Design. Layer lots piles of tan leather and suede cushions (£60), from Heal's and you'll want lounge in it all day, like Chanel, above.

Her mix of oriental, modern and traditional decor was a revolution of interior design at the time and is still around today; a testament to her design prowess, eye for detail and timeless chic style.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Annie Deakin is a journalist, fashion and furniture expert and editor at mydeco.com who is currently interested in radiators, furniture and dishwashers.