Welcome, curious minds! Today, we’ll visit the stylish apartment of the iconic French couturier Christian Dior. What pops up in your mind when you hear “Dior” ? A New Look apparel: small shoulders, a cinched waist, and a voluminous skirt? Or his eponymous ready-to-wear house on the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street in New York? We hope that after watching this video, you’ll have one more association with his iconic name—Dior’s stunning home in Paris. Let’s explore the iconic designer’s townhouse we simply “J’adore.”
The fashion designer purchased this private apartment in Paris in 1950. It was located at number 7, Boulevard Jules-Sandeau. Christian Dior needed a dignified spot for formal receptions, ball gowns, and business dinners.
Dior decided to browse through the estates in Passy, his childhood neighborhood. One townhouse with a gracious floor plan and winter garden grasped his attention. The 1905 estate boasted an impressive colonnaded façad, which added to the property benefits. The last drop that inclined Dior to buy the estate was rather sentimental. As a boy, Christian had spent hours staring at the townhouse and pondering about the actress who lived there. As an adult with more extensive financial possibilities, he instantly fell in love with the apartment.
The balance swung in favor of the purchase, which later caused a boom of interest among the Parisians. Dior was already a well-known figure in the fashion industry—in 1949, the couturier arranged licensed production of his designs. Besides, only a few townhouses in Paris had been entirely decorated since the war. The grim post-war world needed the remembrance that beauty still existed—and Dior bounced forward with his opulent dresses and the sumptuous aesthetic of his new house.
Dior commissioned Victor Grandpierre and Georges Geffroy to design his dream home. Victor Grandpierre was in charge of private apartments, while Georges Geffroy was responsible for reception spaces. The iconic designer wrote in his autobiography: “The rules of good taste do not matter since they must, in my home, give way to those of my own taste.” The result of his collaboration with the designers appeared highly unexpected.
Our mini-tour starts with a dramatic yet simple entry. The draping on the stairs perfectly matches the trim on the portieres. The massive chandelier adorns the ceiling, letting plenty of light welcome Dior’s guests.
Now, look at this sensuous salon. Here, we can recognize Dior’s light touch based on his love for elegance and romanticism and Geffroy’s walls upholstered in sober sage velvet. Such a design was unusual for the flamboyant Pierre D’elbée, who was in charge of woodwork, upholstery, and curtains. The interior recalls the Louis XIV style due to armchairs with spiraling column legs, gilded fauteuils, and an antique table with sophisticated bronze mounts. Emerald, cherry red, and Prussian blue silks complement the picture. An Aubusson rug, a veneered card table, and a chic chandelier create the effect of lush abundance. We wouldn’t refuse to savor a cup of tea in such a salon, and you?
For more details, please check our video about Christian Dior