Traveling to Paris in March? Mark your calendars for a special event at Drouot, the prestigious auction house, on the 12th. Vintage décor from the Saint James Paris—the chateau hotel which unveiled a dazzling makeover by designer Bambi Sloan last year—will be auctioned off starting at 2 pm. Located in the 16th arrondissement, the chateau dates from 1892, when it existed as a school (and the first hot-air balloons took flight from its park).
Almost a century later it was converted into a hotel and private club, largely by acclaimed designer Andrée Putman. So design junkies will be thrilled to know that the Drouot auction will offer a chance to nab pieces created especially by Putman, including the massive lobby chandelier estimated at 30,000-40,000 euros. More than 350 lots will be auctioned off, including lights, dishware, and the fabulous leather club armchairs (estimated at 200-300 euros) and Chesterfield sofas (estimated 600-800 euros) that used to adorn the bar. For more information about the auction, see www.drouot.com.
For more information about the Saint James Paris, see www.saint-james-paris.com plus our first-hand account in the June 2011 issue of Luxury Travel Advisor.