Putting on The Ritz!

I know where the heck have I been?  Incredibly busy and the days are sailing by!  However it is Sunday afternoon and I have done all my jobs and am sitting at the laptop with Andrew watching football and Georgie playing Minecraft and all is quiet!  So with glass of wine in hand I can show you "The Ritz" ~ more of our holiday and I am sorry if it is going on but I just love all the details of the interiors and the history and I want to share!

After our time in Paris we made our way to London and were met with 33 degree celius heat and the birth of the royal baby Prince George Alexander Louis (love the name not the least of which the second name is my own first borns!)  Well welcome to The Ritz!  I have never been so bowled over to coin an English phrase alluding to cricket!  Stunning! 

Everything was breathtaking and I thought I was in a wonderland.  The Ritz high tea is world renknowned and it certainly was gorgeous!

Upon entering our room I clasped my hands to my face and  with delight thought I had just walked into Marie Antoinette's rooms!  It was so lovely as when we arrived the doorman and porters were having jokes with Andrew about how much they love Australians especially when we are losing in both the cricket and the rugby!  Great fun and great banter!

The turn down service was exquisite!

Very French inspired with the pale pink walls and white contrast.  The gilding and moulding on the doors was gorgeous.....

Breakfast table!

Gorgeous foyer and wall panelling!

One day I would love to meet for high tea at The Ritz!

xxxx Frances

"Le Meurice"

Bonjour!  I just want to share this incredible hotel with you.   "Le Meurice" on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris is one of the most spectacular places I have ever had the privilege to lay my head!  As you know we were in rural France whilst Andrew did his cycling tour and I came back to Paris via Geneva about midweek.  It was such a wonderful experience to be in Paris for the centenary of Le Tour de France and one that we will never forget!  Above is the view from our suite overlooking the Fair (which Georgiana lived for!) and the Louvre in the background ....

Le Meurice was renovated recently by the world famous interior designer, Phillipe Starck, and one of my personal favourites.  The ability to create whimsy whilst still adhering to tradition and history is quite unique and very apparant at Le Meurice!  The interiors are stunning and very rich and decadent whilst still feeling warm and welcoming.  The staff are incredible and greeted my nephew and his new bride to be with the same elegance they did ourselves, even though they arrived with backpacks in tow!

Beautiful flower arrangements were bountiful and I couldn't contain my excitement and appreciation for such beauty....

The grey carpets and grey and gold upholstery were beautiful!

I actually felt quite chuffed as the colour in the bathroom is nearly the same grey that I picked for our ensuite at home...

Gorgeous bathrobes ....

Roses in the bathroom sitting on the calcutta marble bench top ... the vanities were very art deco with a rectangular shape with truncated edges .... 

on the day we arrived these canapes were waiting along with a beautiful bottle of champagne ....

view of the Tulieries Gardens and the Louvre ...

Philippe Starck's brilliance!

so gorgeous ... this is the top of the coffee tables in one of the waiting rooms ..

 a little bit of shopping!

the best foie gras I have ever tasted!

chilled champagne in the Hotel Meurice ice bucket

followed by a confection from Laduree ... Parfait!

our door

the beautiful foyer 

my favourite swan chairs

a private dining room

my nephew, Tom, and his beautiful bride to be, Kate .... 

welcome to Le Meurice

you will be enchanted ....

Le Tour buses coming in ....

beautiful Paris