|
|
The
Lancaster, in rue de Berri, just off the Champs-Elysées in the heart of
Paris, is one of Europes' most charming hotels, with an indisputed
reputation for impeccable standards and service. Built in 1889, it was
the private house for Monsieur Santiago Drake del Castillo, who had
acquired the land ten years earlier from the Prince and Princess de Hennin. The house remained in the Castillo family until 1925, when it
was sold to Monsieur Emile Wolf. It had been converted into four flats,
one on each floor, but Wolf set about transforming the building into an
hotel, which he named The Lancaster. He retained the original features
and most of the furniture, maintaining the building's period character
when he added four more floors, between 1925 and 1928. The conversion
was completed in 1930 with the aid of Wolf's housekeeper, daughter of a
famous antique dealer, and together they filled the rooms with antiques
and works of art. Until today, the Lancaster has been run as it always
was , like a luxurious private home, filled with a fascinating
collection of furniture, antique clocks, paintings, chandeliers, lamps,
tapestries, velvets, silk and damask, crystal and porcelain... After
five months of renovation, the Champs-Elysées most charming hotel has
re-opened to unveil the magic of its past spendour brought up to date by
the inspiration of Grace Leo Andrieu, that of a nineteenth century town
house, a heaven of peace and quiet where our guests may relax after a
busy day in the city. The renovation followed a long and detailed plan
evolved round the central idea of keeping the essential soul of the
place which gave it its charm. Research done on eighteenth and
nineteenth century documents produced designs for wall hangings and
curtains. A choice of 70 designs were selected from Braquenié and Pierre
Frey. The antique furniture was completely restored by specialised
master craftsmen. To reach the upper floors, you will use the same lift
as before, unique, with its brass and its gold engraved red leather. Its
doors open on to deep carpeted landings with rich materials, pleasant
lighting and botanic and animal prints from the last century on the
walls. Each of the 60 rooms and suites has kept its individual touch.
Lobbies hung with
padded material, silk, satin or cotton curtains in watered silk, damask
or printed designs. Perfection in the details, coordinated blotters,
letter racks and counterpanes. The paintings by Boris Pastoukhoff, some
80 portraits or still life chosen to harmonize with the dominant colours
of each room. The monogrammed house linen is by Frette.The new bathrooms
are in grey marble and iroko wood, with clean, straight lines. The taps,
heated towel rails and accessories have an old fashioned look and the
beauty care products, "Contemporel", were specially created by Grace Leo Andrieu. Although the rooms are classic, they offer none the less all
the modern techniques you may need. Each room has two phone lines plus
one fax/modem line, voice mail message, a safe, a combined TV-VCR with
access to major cable channels. A selection of movies as well as GSM
phones, are available to our guests.
|
Overall
