Jimmy Cohrssen’s spellbinding new book brings the magic of Saint James Paris alive
When interior magician Bambi Sloan was given carte blanche to turn a neo-classic château in Paris, originally constructed in 1892, into a dreamy playground of colours and textures, the result, in the words of photographer Jimmy Cohrssen, ’can only be described as magical.’ We agree. Cohrssen has spent more than three years bringing the magic alive in an 80-page hardcover photo book that tells the story of about a dozen of the rooms in the hotel.
The Bertrand Family, who also runs the Relais Christine hotel in Saint Germain, acquired the then Saint James Club (now Saint James Paris) in 1991 and turned it into a small boutique hotel. Sloan was brought in to redecorate in 2008 and spent three years hand-picking every item for the 42 suites and rooms (all different in size, layout and interior) and the restaurant and public spaces. Cohrssen was captivated by the uniqueness and level of detail when he first visited the hotel for a photo assignment in 2012 and quickly came up with the idea for the book.
Sloan’s clever use of carpeting resembling herringbone parquet flooring or leopard skin, petite ballerina shoes on the front legs of a set of antique chairs and custom-made hot air balloon wallpaper for one of the hotel’s main staircases are just some of the details that make the space extraordinary according to Cohrssen.
Skilfully choreographed models (both naked and in kimonos) further enhance the allure of the interiors. The house cat, Pilou, also makes a few guest appearances. The strict symmetrical framing of the photos gives a certain order to the rather flamboyant and highly decorative interiors. Hard-to-capture details are brought into view using a technique that blends several layers of the same scene in one image to capture both bright and dark areas.
’Saint James Paris’ will be available for purchase at the hotel, Colette Paris and via Cohrssen’s website later this month. Pictures from the book will also be showcased at the Gyre Gallery in Tokyo from 2-10 May.
ADDRESS
Saint James Paris
43 Avenue Bugeaud
75116 Paris
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Originally from Denmark, Jens H. Jensen has been calling Japan his home for almost two decades. Since 2014 he has worked with Wallpaper* as the Japan Editor. His main interests are architecture, crafts and design. Besides writing and editing, he consults numerous business in Japan and beyond and designs and build retail, residential and moving (read: vans) interiors.
-
Les Lalanne’s surreal world takes over Venice
‘Planète Lalanne’, presented by Ben Brown Fine Arts, takes over Palazzo Rota Ivancich, with a cast of blue hippos, woolly sheep and giant grasshoppers
By Hannah Silver Published
-
At home with Barnaba Fornasetti
Barnaba Fornasetti invites us into Casa Fornasetti, a private residence and creative hub, as he carries on its founder’s perpetual exploration of creativity and design
By Maria Cristina Didero Published
-
Niceworkshop explores the cycle of industrial materials at Milan Design Week
Seoul-based Niceworkshop caught the design world’s attention with its inaugural collection dedicated to the humble bolt. Now, with its first solo showing at Capsule Plaza, the studio aims to disrupt the life cycle of industrial materials with an exploration into aluminium formwork
By Laura May Todd Published
-
‘Package Holiday 1968-1985’: a very British love affair in pictures
‘Package Holiday’ recalls tans, table tennis and Technicolor in Trevor Clark’s wistful snaps of sun-seeking Brits
By Caragh McKay Published
-
Josèfa Ntjam reveals mythical sculptures for her LVMH Métiers d’Art artist residency
LVMH Métiers d’Art presents ‘Une cosmogonie d’océans’, celebrating Josèfa Ntjam’s artistic residence
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Damien Hirst takes over Château La Coste
Damien Hirst’s ‘The Light That Shines’ at Château La Coste includes new and existing work, and takes over the entire 500-acre estate in Provence
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Ludovic Nkoth’s vibrant paintings reflect on migration
Cameroon-born, New York-based Ludovic Nkoth uses acrylic paint to strike a balance between abstraction and figuration
By Ugonna-Ora Owoh Published
-
‘Art Exposed’: Julian Spalding on everything that’s wrong with the art world
In ‘Art Exposed’, Julian Spalding draws on his 40 years in the art world – as a museum director, curator, and critic – for his series of essays
By Alfred Tong Published
-
Marisol Mendez's ‘Madre’ unpicks the woven threads of Bolivian womanhood
From ancestry to protest, how Marisol Mendez’s 'Madre' is rewriting the narrative of Bolivian womanhood
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Heads up: art exhibitions to see in January 2024
Start the year right with the Wallpaper* pick of art exhibitions to see in January 2024
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Tia-Thuy Nguyen encases Chateau La Coste oak tree in tonne of stainless steel strips
Tia-Thuy Nguyen’s ‘Flower of Life’ lives in the grounds of sculpture park and organic winery Château La Coste in France
By Harriet Quick Published