Celebrated Decorator Jacques Grange Redefines French
Tradition
at Sofitel's Hotel Scribe in Paris, France
PARIS
� Oct. 23, 2007� Sofitel, the French luxury hotel brand, presents the new
face of the Scribe after two years of renovations. Jacques Grange, renowned
interior architect, refreshed the Scribe in a typically elegant Parisian
style, perfectly matching the brand�s vision of luxury hotels.
Located a few steps from the Opéra Garnier and the Place Vendôme,
the hotel was entirely renovated and offers new spaces ready to welcome
the most discerning guests including a spa, the �Le Café Lumière�,
the �La Maison de Thé� and a fitness center.
Opened in 1861, the hotel is inspired by the personalities who left
a mark in its history. The hotel embodies French sophistication, combining
contemporary luxury with the timeless charm of rare and precious decorative
features.
Inside, paintings accompany the visitor along the hallways. Each floor
celebrates an event or a distinguished guest in the Scribe�s history: the
first public projection of cinema by the Lumière brothers and the
visits of Josephine Baker and Jules Verne.
Jacques Grange, French decorator of international repute and ambassador
of Parisian elegance, exercises his talents around the world. He has decorated
private residences and palaces of clients such as Yves Saint-Laurent and
the Princess Caroline de Hanovre. Hotel Scribe is Grange�s debut at showcasing
his talents at a premiere French hotel.
Discover the new Scribe�
In the heart of the capital�s neighborhood of business, luxury, culture,
nightlife and shopping landmarks, the Scribe is a haven of serenity and
timeless charm. The elegant façade of Second Empire architecture
was entirely renovated and widened. The majestic entrance is enhanced with
crystal chandeliers and a checker floor.
The Scribe�s lobby is an invitation to relaxation and refinement with
two separate welcoming spaces:
- The deep velvet sofas of a plush salon in the mezzanine library,
offer a cozy ambiance under the dimmed light of the 1925 chandeliers.
- The �Café Lumière� delights with contemporary cuisine
under its new transparent glass roof.
Room and suites
Jacques
Grange made the 200 rooms stylish and distinguished spaces, playing with
subtle shades of blue, green, grey and brown.
The furniture blends simple lines and precious sycamore and white mahogany
woods. Grange incorporated Art Deco style furniture in shapes that combine
pure lines and supple curves, pyramidal volumes and a contrast between
light and dark tones.
Four spacious and luminous duplex suites offer the allure of a private
residence. They are decorated with pictures by famous photographers such
as Lee Miller who stayed at the Hotel Scribe.
Each of the hotel�s six floors celebrates an event or a person that
left a mark in the Scribe�s history:
1st floor - THE JOCKEY CLUB - The origins of the Scribe
As early as 1863, the French Horse Breeders� Society chose the already
prestigious Scribe as the location for its aristocratic Jockey Club.
2nd floor - JOSEPHINE BAKER � The Scribe and music
Arriving in Paris in 1925, Josephine Baker was famous for her mythical
�Revue Nègre.� She was also very involved in the Civil Rights movement.
She stayed at the Scribe often and made the hotel one of her privileged
places in Paris.
3rd floor - MARCEL PROUST � The Scribe and literature
One of Marcel Proust�s recurrent characters, the Baron de Charlus,
is a member of the Jockey Club at Hotel Scribe.
4th floor - SERGEI DIAGHILEV � The Scribe and dance
In 1909, the Russian Ballets were performed at the Théâtre
du Chatelet and received an enthusiastic welcome. The dancer Sergei Diaghilev,
like many artists, frequented the Grand Café, on the ground floor
of the Scribe.
5th floor - LOUIS & AUGUSTE LUMIERE � The Scribe and cinema
On December 28, 1895, Louis and Auguste Lumière held the first
public demonstration of their new invention -- cinema. For this event,
the Lumière brothers chose the Salon Indien, below street level
of the current Scribe.
6th floor - JULES VERNE � The Scribe and science
In 1896, Doctor Wilhelm Röntgen also chose the Salon Indien to
unveil another major discovery - X-rays. Jules Verne, precursor of science-fiction
and visionary author is illustrated on the top floor, just under the roof,
a tribute to imagination without limits.
The Spa
A sanctuary of serenity in the midst of Parisian luxury, the Hotel
Scribe spa welcomes guests into a world of lustrous, pearly white. Located
on the first floor, the urban spa of 2,045 square feet is a place of pure
indulgence. The signature treatments are an invitation to embrace the delights
of essential oils, clays and vegetal essences.
In the heart of the spa, the Lancôme Beauty Institute ? the signature
of French luxury and beauty ? boasts its exceptional �French touch.�
Lancôme�s commitment to the beauty of women and men is redefined
with its expert treatments and unique savoir-faire. All senses are
stimulated in the intimacy of the private cubicles, with rich multi-sensory
experiences.
The hotel offers additional wellness opportunities at the Jacuzzi and
dynamic sessions at the fitness center.
« La Maison de Thé »
Take a break from the bustling activity of the city in the tranquil
intimacy of the hotel at �Maison de Thé.� Evoking respite, the library-inspired
tearoom is an ideal place for a delicious break between shopping sprees
or for a business meeting. A variety of rare and exclusive teas from the
prestigious Cha Yuan brand accompany the delicatessen prepared by the Patisserie
Chef Pierre Prévost.
Gastronomy
In February 2007, the Scribe opened its restaurant �Le Café
Lumière.� The name pays tribute to the Lumière brothers with
a glass roof, creating a winter garden effect. The talented Chef Franck
Charpentier is at the head of the operation and is also the Chef at the
Michelin-rated �Les Muses,� the hotel�s gourmet restaurant. In Parisian
décor, inspired by the cinema spirit, Franck Charpentier offers
a creative and modern cuisine.
The bar innovates with whimsical variations of classical cocktails
like the �Purple Mojito� or creative cocktails with names dedicated to
cinema: �Fiction,� �Suspense,� �Cartoon,� and �Comedy.�
Sofitel: luxury hotels with the French touch
Because no one country or city is the same, Sofitel has made each of
its hotels around the world a truly unique establishment. Combining the
spirit of each place with the values of modernity, refinement and absolute
comfort, they are all imbued in their inimitable way with the French �art
de vivre�. Whether their setting is a great business metropolis like Paris,
New York or Bangkok, or nestling in the landscape in Indonesia, Polynesia
or Brazil, each Sofitel hotel offers travelers a genuine haven of peace.
So that each guest, for an overnight stay or longer, during a business
trip or for a holiday, can enjoy the rich variety of these unique places
in comfort and tranquility. |