Bonjour! I was fortunate enough to visit Paris around Labor Day for the Maison et Objet Show, and to do a little trend spotting with our wonderful client at Benjamin Moore.

A view towards the Louvre, which I ran into to check out Napoleon's apartments. Needless to say, they are nicer than my apartment.

Not only was the weather gorgeous, the Euro was down a bit, and the city was not too full since the Parisians were just returning from their summer vacances.

Surprisingly peaceful in Paris.

Let’s get this out of the way. Yes, I ate a lot of macarons. I hit Pierre Herme, Laduree, Angelina, and everything in between. I am still not tired of them, and would really like another Pierre Herme olive oil and vanilla. Yum.

6 macarons later, I had to be dragged from the store.

We stayed in the lovely Artus hotel, which i highly recommend. The pretty rooms were spacious by European standards, and I liked the Missoni bedspread. The concierge, Sanjay, is also the best I’ve ever encountered.

The Artus is located just off Boulevard St. Germain, on the Rue de Buci, which has a great market in the mornings. Adorable!

The show itself, Maison et Objet, was a good one, though the aisles were fairly empty.

Love the orange and hot pink posters, plastered ALL OVER the city to welcome us.

While I can’t say I saw much that blew my mind, I thought the color palettes that seem to be emerging are gorgeous, and the organizers’ inspiration exhibits were completely over-the-top insane.

This installation, clearly inspired by Lady Gaga (the point was hammered home by a sound system blasting Bad Romance) really ratcheted up the crazy. What to do with a disco ball chain?

One display, by Spanish design wunderkind Jaime Hayon had my head spinning, literally. Hayon has designed everything from Camper shoes to Lladro figurines to Swarovski-encrusted light fixtures.

This chair, a collaboration with Ceccotti, is made from 22 pieces of wood.

At Maison, a number of Hayon’s projects slowly swirled around on  raised platforms, seeming to dance with each other. The effect was beautiful and whimsical, but not silly.

Look at these colors. Makes me want to redecorate in soft blue-gray, red and copper.

After the show, we required a big dinner, and an even bigger dessert. Chez L’Ami Jean came highly recommended, and I am passing on the favor to you. This Basque bistro serves amazing food (including a tremendous foie gras that comes to the table in flames), but I’m here to tell you about the dessert. Get the rice pudding.

For scale, the bowl in the background has already been filled with a large portion of rice pudding from the bowl in the foreground. The toppings are salted caramel mousse topping, and some magical granola. Three people barely made a dent.

Here are a few other highlights: I find the Louvre frustrating and crowded, but the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, which is attached, is funny and charming. I loved the current exhibition on design inspired by the animal petites et grosses.

Look! I'm a bear!

And finally, if you have the time, check out Chateau de Malmaison. It takes about an hour to get to Napoleon and Josephine’s love nest on the outskirts of the city, and it’s well worth it.

Just a little hideaway.

Let me tell you- Josephine was one heck of a decorator.

I like the embroidered valances.

Malmaison is vibrantly, gorgeously colored, beautifully furnished, and surprisingly comfortable looking.

Lovely reds and greens in the library.

Until next time, mes amis,