Part 2: Versailles and City Wanderings

A Palace That Humbles

In the famed Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. I think Louis XIV would love the fact that people still flock to this room to see and be seen!

Standing before Versailles is a humbling experience that made me question every "luxury" finish specification I've ever made. As a designer, I found myself slack-jawed not just at the obvious grandeur (though there's plenty of that to go around), but at the extraordinary level of detail achieved without so much as a laser level or power tool in sight. Every corner, every molding, every gilded accent speaks to an artistry and dedication that makes our modern "hand-crafted" claims look about as special as a beige builder-grade carpet.

Window casings more than two feet deep feature delicately inlaid and carved marble.

It struck me as particularly poignant when considering modern architecture. Today, with every technological advantage at our disposal, we often default to creating characterless boxes and calling them “custom,” then charging astronomical sums for what amounts to bastions of sheetrock. The contrast between what we appreciate as beautiful now, compared to then, is stark and, frankly, a bit embarrassing for our era. While design history taught me to value a wide breadth of aesthetics, there is something a little soulless in the way our current neighborhoods are full of cookie-cutter homes crammed as closely as possible on top of each other. And craftsmanship seems to be a thing valued only in the past. I recently saw a video of the creative director of Hermes, who mentioned that the appreciation of speed is a 20th-century value, and it has replaced beauty as the most important element of industry. Having been humbled by the halls of Versailles, I think he’s right.

Even the more simplistic halls of Versailles have a quiet, but striking, beauty to them.

A Tale of Two Cities

Venturing out to Versailles offered a fascinating glimpse into a different side of Paris. Away from the urban bustle, the suburban architecture takes on its own distinct character. Beyond the celebrated monuments like Versailles lies a city teeming with hidden architectural gems. In quiet streets just outside of the palace, we discovered a more provincial style of architecture in lovely pastel colors. Each building tells a story of its era, contributing to the rich architectural palimpsest that makes Paris an open-air museum of design history. We loved our little jaunt, even if we paid for it with sore feet afterward!

While the walk from the train station to Versailles was enjoyable, we did all suffer from very tired feet after we toured the palace. I recommend a private car if you’d rather spare your feet! However, I would venture to say this beautiful street just outside the gates is stunning in the spring and summer when the trees are in bloom.

The waiter at the cafe near Versailles was helpful and eager to practice his English for us!

Come back next week for Part 3 of our journey through Paris & London, and if you missed Part 1, check it out here!