Saint Germain: Come Home to Classic Paris

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If you’re new to Paris you’ll have an idea of its classic image. It’s a city in which the signature style is romantic – the Seine and its bridges, the galleries, candle-lit brasseries, boutiques, scenic parks,  plus all those pavement cafés where you watch the world go by.  If you’re a veteran visitor, you will know just where to find this classic city - in the 6th arrondissement. Here, the laid-back elegance of Saint-Germain-des-Prés meets culture-rich experiences on the left bank. Café culture is alive and thriving. The sixth is where to stay for French flair.

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The Location

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Welcome to the 6th arrondissement and classic Paris. In the city, the 20 arrondissements are numbered clockwise, starting in the centre then radiating outwards. If it’s the Paris of artists and culture you’re interested in, you’ve come to the right place.

Famous writers, such as Sartre and de Beauvoir, plus James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway, used to hang out here. Two of the most famous places with literary heritage, Deux Magots and the Café de Flore, will now be your local stops for coffee. Museums include the Delacroix and the D’Orsay. The sweetest Parisian streets, such as Rue de Furstemberg, serve up that classic Parisian feel of strolling along, loving life.

As do the wide avenues by the busy boulevards. The revolutionaries used to hang out here and Danton lived here, although his house is long gone. Living in Paris, you’ll be immersed in café culture and this is the neighbourhood to know for some of the best.

Some of the August team's favourite restaurants are in the sixth, including Le Cherche Midi at 22 Rue du Cherche Midi. Opened in 1967, by the De Meo brothers, it's a local beloved for the finest Italian food. The brothers are art dealers so appreciate art, as we do in our apartment in Paris.
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Feast for the senses

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This part of town is made for strolling and stopping off at whatever catches your attention including the opulent obvious, such as the Luxembourg Palace in the Odéon neighbourhood. Near the rue Quatre-vin, you’ll find myriad food choices. Camdeborde has pitstops for snacks here, including an oyster bar, and a stroll away there’s  a fusion of Breton crepes with Japanese flair at Breizh café. The nearby Thé-ritorires is a quirky tea shop option. As we’re in Paris, perhaps wine is more to your taste? Steps away, the vintage cremerie facade fronts what is now a wine shop.  

Le Hibou has a cool vibe and a view of the Odéon theatre - the inspiration for naming many places here – and right by the Luxembourg Gardens.  The buildings around the theatre mimic its arches. Try the lovely theatre bar after 6pm and the square’s café in summer.

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Many street sights make  you stop and smile from amazing vintage doorways and arches to curios like an English language bookshop named San Francisco Books. Vive le difference!

Highlights here include  crossing the Pont des Arts for the views, stepping back in time at the Saint-Germain-des-Pres 11th-century church and, of course, the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens. Paris is full of pockets of delight and, as a resident, you can explore them at your leisure to your heart’s content.

On the Left Bank, you'll find foodie hotspots, including the courtyard set in Ralph Lauren's four-storey shop. Here, couches piled with striped cushions invite a laidback feel to a light lunch of crab cakes, perhaps, followed bu a tower of toffee-drizzled popcorn, on the house, which arrives with your post-lunch coffee or tea. On the search for classic Paris, Le Petit Lutetia at 107 Rue de Sèvres delivers with country frescoes and gold leaf gilded mouldings, cosy tables and a classic menu. A neighbourhood favourite of four decades standing, it attracts the fashionable crowd too.

The Home

‍When you find an arrondissement as golden as the Sixth, it seems fitting that the apartment references the classic Parisian style. One of the many reasons we were charmed by this pied-à-terre is its parquet floor – an absolute classic design element dating back to 16th-century France. This one, in a chevron pattern, instantly says perfect Parisian apartment.
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Before

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With excellent bones and heaps of potential, we will reconfigure the floor plan to create a seamless living experience. The refurb includes maximising the flow of the space by opening up the room to create a living-dining area. The kitchen was dated and in need of a transformation, so a new stylish kitchen will be created with all the amenities you will require.

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Before

Inspiration after

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We add  a level of luxury to the principal bedroom with an en suite. Ripping out the wardrobes and  built-in fixtures leaves space for decor that aligns with its stylish neighbourhood. A new bathroom upgrades the home instantly. The living area is recharged by maximising its space. We curate a unit for storage and TV and upgrade a kitchen so the feel of the space is more sociable.

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Before

Inspiration after

The Inspiration

As we’re in the City of Lights, the apartment’s lighting has to be just right. We mix classic wall lighting with contemporary takes on glamour, such as this pendant light.

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French design is characterised by a blank canvas so whites and creams are the main palette in this apartment. We’re looking at cream curvy sofas, stone shades for tiling. A splash of French flair is courtesy of a paint shade in Stone Blue. Farrow & Ball’s no.86 is a warm blue named after the indigo pigment which was often imported in lumps in the 18th century and our design team favours this to contrast with the neutral palette. Textiles can add a layer of luxury. Stylish, sophisticated, subtle. Think velvet curtains in off-white by Gotain and furnishings to align with the mood.

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Saint Germain is synonymous with art, from the city's finest art school, Esba, to the Musée du Luxembourg, with its array of homegrown talent including Matisse collages and works by Cézanne. Indie galleries such as Galeries Kamel Mennour will delight too as you explore your neighbourhood. Taking artistic inspiration inside your home, we often source local artists' works, as well as curating treasures from vintage stores.
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For an August take on true Parisian style, look no further than our inaugural apartment in Paris. It’s sleek, chic and serene – in sync with the city. Based in Le Marais, this shows how you can live like a true Parisian.

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At August, we redefine the way you experience luxury travel. Our unique co-ownership model allows you to own a share in not just one but five exquisite holiday homes. Your journey to effortless holiday home ownership begins here