Paris is full of surprises. Turn off the Grandes Boulevards, slip through a 19th-century passage once frequented by Victor Hugo and Chopin, and you’ll find a quiet street anchored by the Cinabre boutique. Founded by Parisian designer Alexandre Chapellier, it’s a portal into his world – part store, part atelier, with two suites above.
The entrance sits beneath a striped Napoleonic marquee, upholstered in the same fabric that lines the walls of Château de Malmaison, Napoleon’s last residence. Inside, a century-old spiral staircase rises beside velvet chairs, while tuxedos and men’s accessories (good enough for President Macron) are displayed with cinematic flair. It’s the kind of retail experience you might expect from another era.
But where’s the hotel, you might wonder? Golden lettering points towards a polished desk and a concierge in a vintage military jacket with a fez-like hat. Everything here is theatre, and the show starts with the store. Check-in comes via a tour of the atelier before heading upstairs to the suites, which are co-designed with Necchi Architecture and continue the brand’s vintage feel, adorned with hand-curated memorabilia, books and art from Chapellier’s own collection.
Suite No. 2 is an instant show-stopper with a wrap-around floral tapestry from Pierre Frey’s archives, reprinted especially for the space and hand-stretched across walls and ceiling by upholsterer Clémentine Messié. You might have spotted it on Lucy Williams’ Substack earlier this year, so it already has its fans. I spent the night in Suite No. 1, though, which holds its own as a 70s, caramel-hued pad with a sunken bed and textured walls. Both suites have living areas, kitchens and luxurious bathrooms perfect for hosting friends or brand events.
For Chapellier, this project was an opportunity to indulge every design fantasy, collaborating only with makers he admired. Walking through with him is like being guided by an exuberant collector as he points things out with the enthusiasm of someone who knows the story behind every detail. The beds, for instance, are by Hästens, the six-generation Swedish company still based in the small town of Köping, where Chapellier’s own family hail from. Each one is hand-made from horsehair, with prices edging towards £100,000 and a clientele rumoured to include Beyoncé and European royalty. With an exclusive partnership, it’s the only place in France where you can sleep on one.
In both rooms, you’ll find a mini cocktail bar, a roll-down projector for impromptu screenings, and vintage Hi-Fi systems that nod to Chapellier’s love of music. Even the wardrobes are part of the fantasy – stocked with Cinabre dinner jackets and ties for guests to borrow, in case a last-minute invitation to a glittering dinner party should arise. You can almost imagine that this is your own apartment, in the heart of Paris, with a diary full of exciting engagements – almost.
