Paris Agrees with Her

Paris agrees with her

Chelsea lives in Paris, in a closet called a studio with a price tag of a house in most towns in USA.

At least the ceiling is fifteen feet high, and there is abundant light, that helps.

I am sure you have heard of a bathroom so small you can do your duties without moving more then two inches in any direction. Well in Chelsea's um place, add to the bathroom, a kitchen, a bedroom, a desk, and a dresser that serves as a closet and subtract one inch in any direction.

Chelsea's studio is 107 square feet.

 


Parisian

Nevertheless, Paris agrees with her.

So much to see, do, taste, be, enjoy. Beauty in Paris knows no bounds… it is literally a cornucopia of eye popping, heart throbbing, hands itching, mouth watering, feet dancing, mind boggling (all is a good-good way) delight.

Ascetically, inch by inch, pleasing… I swear every rock has been turned over, nothing is left for not, Paris is the only place I can walk for days and never tire.

Chelsea noted that wherever your eyes fall beauty picks them up, "…the cafes, the museums, the restaurants, the gardens, the streets, the PEOPLE, the food, the makeup, the architecture, the many shades of grey, numerous things to do, the churches, the shoes, the shoes, the shoes…" 

Paris. Even the name conjures up elegance.

 

Parisian Doll

We lived in Paris when we were first married, conceived Chelsea, and eventually Chelsea was a baby there… two of my favorite memories are:

1) When Chelsea was born she weighed 10 lbs. At six weeks she was nearly as big as me. My dear friend Cynthia, a baker at that time in Paris, was nearly six feet tall. No matter where we went people thought she was Chelsea's mother, and would argue with us that she was. Also my other friend Hi Kyung was from North Korea, when Chelsea was born she looked Asian. In Paris people would ask if Hi Kyung was the mother, and when we said no that I was her mother, the Parisians would nod and say, "Oh you are married to her brother."

Nobody believed I was her mother, except Chelsea and that was all that mattered.

Another memory is:

2) When she acted like a little dog, crawling and barking under the long wooden tables at Marche Saint Pierre (a famous fabric store in Montmartre) she had on a baby pink stripped outfit that was black from dust after rolling around under those tables! But oh the fun of chasing her in that big fabric store, under those long old tables drapped with silks, lace, velvets, brocades…

 


Paris agrees with her


Everyone should visit Paris once in their lives.

And dare I say live their once when they are young.

Parisian

The comments are wonderful, boy do I have my work cut out for me! Thank you so much for the good guidelines and tips! I appreciate them all.

Two favorites are (because they speak directly to what most of us long for when traveling, and the winners of the cups are:

Tammigirl, "My #1 tip, for anyone traveling to Paris is to take the train to Versailles and spend a full day (at least) walking the grounds. You'll find parts they never advertise in brochures, but I think they should. You'll find parts of your soul you didn't realize existed."

TeriSalvo: "Visit the Quiet Corners of Paris as outlined in the small book of the same name. When all that is the wonderfulness of Paris overwhelms the senses these are the places that reset your compass."

Thank you, thank you! Now I have some work to do!

Notes:

Beautiful walks in Paris

Paris – an Inspiring Tour of the City's Cretive Heart, by Janelle McCulloch, I read through this last weekend at La Madone and loved it!



Comments

28 responses to “Paris Agrees with Her”

  1. Alan from Chicago

    Yes I have been in apartments like that you have to go outside to turn around. But who cares it is Paris with so many things to see and do.

  2. She’s a lovely girl Corey I am sure you are proud.
    Love your eyebrows girl.

  3. Studying in Paris, Falling in love in Paris, I did that. Falling in love with Paris I did that too. Leaving Paris my one regret.

  4. Such beautiful dark brown velvety eyes…

  5. Such beautiful pictures of a beautiful young woman!
    I’m so sorry I missed your blog yesterday! The comments were wonderful and I am filing them all away for the day I visit France and Paris in particular! I am so thrilled that I will have an apartment to rent (wink) so I will be sure to place my order early! I have loved Paris for as long as I can remember and yet have never been. I think I must’ve lived there in a past life. Even as a child, I loved everything about it. I know I will visit one day and when I do, I am going to find you and give you a hug!

  6. Beautiful post filled with thoughts and feelings I share. Had I never gone to Paris, I would be so sad. That is all I dreamed about, well, Provence was my first choice. I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to join me, so Paris it was.
    I truly hope to return to France, I had a wonderful time and didn’t nearly see as much as I would have liked. One week is not enough.
    Versailles truly stole my heart, especially the long walk to her Petite Trianon farm. Closing my eyes and remembering right now.

  7. While I realize my comments yesterday were about Paris past,I do want to visit Paris in the future. Other commenters were very inspiring.
    Even if Chelsea’s place is small, it probably doesn’t matter to her because there are so many things to do in the city. Lucky girl!

  8. A wonderful, beautiful daughter… I’m so happy for you! Best wishes to her!

  9. tammigirl

    Beautiful girl! If only her space was bigger I’d send my girls to bathe in the light of Paris with her! It really is a magical place. We’ve always had Paris on our list of places we need to live.
    And thanks for choosing me! I never considered having a winning comment, but I always tell people who ask us what to do/see in Paris to take that train.
    Same for London – take the train up to Dundee Scotland, at least. That train ride will change you forever.

  10. Brother Mathew

    That’ like 10×11. This is intriguing. Bathing, cooking, sleeping in a space less than 110 sq. ft. Draw a to scale floor plan and take some pictures. There has got to be more! The whole place is 107 sq. ft.? I call bullshit.

  11. Merisi in Vienna

    Could not agree more! 🙂
    My oldest spent a few months in Paris last Spring.
    She makes me want to go there, too. Never been.

  12. Tongue in Cheek

    Hey Mat
    I’ll bet my measurements are BS. Yann’s got a video of the tiny place, I will tell him to send it to you.
    Imagine this: Walk in, in front of you a dresser, behind the front door a coat rack, turn sharply right take one step forward, a shelf 1 x 1 greats you, a single bed is behind it. turn sharply left avoid hitting the small table, under it is storage, as well as under the bed, in several steps in front of you there is a window, at the end of the bed a nightstand table hugs it, that is a desk, with a lamp and shelves above it. Next to the nightstand desk (same side as the bed,
    a fridge, on top of it a burner (between the fridge and the window wall there is a tiny space for a broom and garbage can). Opposite the fridge is a roll shelf about two feet long and three feet high, groceries and dishes living there, on top of it is a rice cooker. Alongside of it a curtain behind it is a tiny sink (bathroom and kitchen sink) to the right a toilet, to the left a shower someone the size of a green bean could fit into.
    Viola A true Shoebox Castle.
    xxx You would be amazed! Your sister c

  13. mary blanchard

    Chelsea is so beautiful..
    Tell brother Matt it is quality not quantity:)and I know with your talent you will make it beautiful

  14. The studio sounds perfect..less to take care of, more time for life for Chelsea! xoxo

  15. Amy Kortuem

    Beautiful Chelsea, gracing Paris with her presence.

  16. KAMFreeman

    Chelsea is so beautiful and her adventurous spirit alive as she manages her life and time in this tiny space. For her entire life she will never find a space inadequate after her time in this place. Creativity of living well with minimal collecting and gathering for a time will most likely be a necessity if not a choice.
    Thank you for including all of us out here in cyber space with the life of your family as the members stretch their place to include world explorations. Each story is a delight for me.

  17. diane – florida

    my heart is aching for France. The words of your brocante description haunt me every day: ‘if you make jewelry, you will think you’ve died and gone to heaven’. Please include everything possible about the brocantes, what items different ones are noted for. ahh….

  18. Is Chelsea finished with school?
    I wonder if Paris has a legal limit on how small the studio spaces can be. San Francisco recently had a debate about lowering the legal size to 220 square feet: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/us/micro-unit-apartment-proposal-divides-san-francisco.html?_r=0
    I am a day late on this, but my favorite places to go are Louvre des Antiquaires for windowshopping and Marche aux Puces at Clignancourt. Also the square in front of Centre Pompidou is a pretty great place to people watch and have lunch.

  19. Mentioned the 107 ft² to Farmboy Husband, whose reaction was that it’s about the same size as an American single college dorm room (although those tend not to have their own bathrooms or mini-kitchens).

  20. www.monicawatercolors.com

    I think every real Frenchman has a place in Paris….truly amazing.

  21. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Does Chelsea live near your soon-to-be refurbished apt? I forgot, is she still working on her Master’s program or now working for a firm in Paris? Her apt. size sounds familiar to that of one in New York City – Manhattan. Location can really impact cost! But she is living her dream, and that’s fabulous 😉

  22. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Oh, do share some pics of Chelsea’s little studio; I’m sure she’s decorated it in style!l

  23. Laurie SF

    This apartment sounds divine for one crazed, new, madly in love, wild, passionate, couple.
    Short term lease of course.

  24. I like your post; very much 🙂

  25. Madeleine

    Lucky, lucky girl!

  26. Brother Mathew

    I believe half of what I see and none of what I read here! I guess I will have to come to Paris to measure it for myself!

  27. Brother Mathew

    Lighten up Blanchard.

  28. Coco Marie

    I love the advice everyone should live in Paris once!I have and it was the best decision of my life. Paris has helped me grow into the woman I am today. thanks for the post

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