New Suite Chez Le Meurice

Fresh from Philippe Starck’s stylish makeover of the restaurants, Le Meurice in Paris just unveiled a brand new suite — the result of a year’s renovation work. The Pompadour Suite is an elegant, Versailles-style apartment named for a legendary 18th-century figure. Madame de Pompadour was the mistress to Louis XV and a passionate patron of the arts, notably behind the founding of the Sèvres porcelain factory. General Manager Franka Holtmann chose to create a suite in her honor because Pompadour’s values are so closely linked to those of Le Meurice, she says.

Encompassing more than 800 square feet, the suite comprises a spacious living room, bedroom and marble bathroom. It can be combined with two other bedrooms to create a luxurious Parisian apartment of over 4,050 square feet — ideal for families or groups of friends traveling together. This is the first of what will be a series of refurbished signature suites.

Renowned designer Charles Jouffre was recruited to decorate the suite. The first thing you notice when you step into the room is the meticulous attention to detail — hand-carved wood paneling, Versailles parquet floors, and silk textiles by Prelle, a Lyon-based workshop dating back to 1752. Bien sûr, there’s also a bust of Marquise de Pompadour herself, modeled after an original by the Manufacture de Sèvres.

Nice Touch: Flat-screen TVs are hidden behind period “paintings” on the wall and unveiled at the click of a remote control. In fact, the easy-to-use technology deserves a shout-out; a simple switch controls the black-out curtains on the windows, and another illuminates the “Do Not Disturb” light on the door. On the desk, what looks like a sleek objet d’art hides international electrical adapters.

For VIP requests, reach out to Marie-Pierre Morelle ([email protected]; 011-33-144-581-022), director of sales.