HAUT DÉCOR: The 17 themed rooms in the Hôtel du Petit Moulin are filled with Lacroix's flamboyant touches, from the bedroom walls to the bathroom mirrors — but they still pay homage to the building's history
From the runway to the red carpet, couturier Christian Lacroix always makes a statement with his bold, over-the-top creations. To the delight of travelers, he has applied that flamboyance to the Hôtel du Petit Moulin, an offbeat hostelry situated in the Marais district — the epicenter of Paris fashion.
Its 17 rooms ($300 to $455 per night) feature 17 different interiors, each personally designed by Lacroix. One room mimics a dressmaker's atelier with Lacroix's own sketches mounted on the walls, while other rooms convey a sense of Baroque Paris, '60s Pop Art or Zen. As in his couture collections, Lacroix intentionally mismatches fabrics and textures — think orange leather sofas, chocolate brown canvas walls, sequined drapes and lots of feathers. And when guests lie on their beds, they look up at ceilings fitted with gemmed headdresses, 18th century French prints and mirrors.
Regardless of theme, each room is a riot of color and a welcome alternative to more staid boutique hotel competitors. Catering to well-heeled fashionistas, the hotel welcomes "little pets" like chihuahuas, and the three-night vip Shopping Package comes with 15% discounts on top-end labels such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Lancel.
But amid all the glamour, Lacroix also respects the building's history. Constructed in 1615, it is publicly listed as Paris' oldest standing boulangerie. Antique furniture and original 17th century beams are integral to the décor, and the façade, dating from 1900, lists the confections that were once on sale. Today's offerings are of a different nature, but just as sweet. www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com