Clean crisp sheets,
A good bed,
To walk into a room that feels like you are in France.
Soft big towels,
Comfortable place to read,
Good table lights,
No TV,
WIFI,
Hot water (I guess that means five showers in one hour),
No dishwasher,
French coffee press,
Wine glasses,
Pat Herndon wrote,
"…Everyone wants the same thing:
the apartment to be infused with "Corey".
And, we all know it will be,
because you won't be able to help yourself."
French Husband responded, "Oh God, Corey it has to be practical, mirrors you can see yourself in, chairs you can sit in, easy to use, maybe think not old stuff…"
He barely got that word out of his mouth when I stuck out my tongue.
"Ugly isn't going to score points, I know it has to be user friendly, and charming." Grumpy sick me responded.
Someone mentioned having bicycles available for the guests. Lucky enough Paris has rental bikes all over the city. Which is a very good thing because if I put two bicycle in the apartment there would either be no bed, or nor kitchen.
By American standards our Paris apartment is small… 540 square feet. But for Paris that is average. A happy place, as it is on the corner, that means double views!
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The things you mentioned that I did not think of but quickly put on my list:
No smoking. Sorry Gauloises. As Clare said, "…Well, don't offer an apartment to others in which you yourself would not want to stay…"
That makes good sense to me.
But as French Husband has pointed out more than once is our twenty five years of married life, "Corey could sleep, eat, and live at the brocante. What she considers beautiful, ninety nine percent of the time it isn't practical."
Don't worry the mattress will be new and the bedding too… Antique bedsheets don't count as old do they?
Laurie SF wrote, "If chosen I'd invite a fellow Tongue in Cheeker to come along. A contender would be the ageless Franca, with her naughty ways. Funny girl she is."
How nice is that. To invite someone from the blog to go with you.
I might have to use that idea in the future.
"Alas, what has not been already said? I think that an apartment in Paris should be filled with charming, worn pieces full of character and nature. Soft, soothing color, wood that has been rubbed and caressed by many hands, wrinkled and faded fabrics, mismatched china, a small crystal chandelier, branches with lights, handmade soap..but I can tell you know this already. A small washer and dryer would definitely be a blessing tucked in a closet. (No one has mentioned the hunky French guy who delivers the morning paper tied up with a rose, the shy French maid who tidies the room once a week,or the adorable children delivering fresh pastries from mother's bakery..)" I love this comment by Patti Lloyd.
But I doubt I can find Hunky French Guy, Shy French Maid, and adorable children when I live three hours away from Paris…. but you never know.
Photo Source Nine New Bells For Notre Dame
Irene Thomas reminded me that nine new bells arrived at Notre Dame, and on Sunday morning, the 24th they will ring for the first time. You won't be able to hear them from our apartment, but there is a bakery across the street, the smell of fresh baked goods equals bells right?
Good ideas that that you gave, that I noted:
First aid kit.
Flashlight.
Umbrella.
Hair dryer.
An iron, ironboard, hangers…
A retractable clothes line in the bathroom.
Cds/DVDs with French music and films.
Candles and a vase,
Converter.
An appt describing everything we love in Paris… Gee I better start writing now.
I had a good chuckle when BW Clark wrote, "Maybe a kitten. I know it isn't feasible, but still, that makes me feel happy and safe."
… as Trisha pointed out, "…As someone who travels about 200 days a year and has for the last 15+ years. Live in the apartment for a couple of days. Sleep in the beds, use the kitchen and then you will know what works and what doesn’t. SO often I wonder if anyone actually every tries out the arrangements in their hotels or B&Bs. Switches on bedside lamps that can’t be reached without actually getting out of bed or no bedside lamp at all. Towel racks you can’t reach form the shower, etc., etc. Use the apartment for a couple of days to work out those kinks. Bonne chance!"
I might never leave.
Suzy Meek Geere's comment sounds right up my alley, "Maybe (you can have) lovely decorative pieces, with a price tag!"
French Husband chimmed in, "Corey you cannot do that? The apartment might be empty every time someone leaves."
"I know! Wouldn't that be fun! Then I could go to the brocante all day long and re do the apartment all the time."
French Husband walked away.
I hollered after him, "Hey it beats trying to find a sexy Parisian fireman, that is what someone wrote they wanted!!"
He didn't turn around.
I loved what Elle wrote, "The loveliest place that I ever stayed in had a long running journal, laid open on a small well worn table. Every visitor was invited to sign in and then write an entry, long or short, each day of their stay. Travelers wrote about dreams long fulfilled,secret places stumbled upon, foods tasted,locals met … Staying there was like spending a week basking in a living novel. I was up everyday at dawn, drawn to explore, to make wrong turns, duck into every little place that called to me, because I too wanted to pen my own chapter. Oh yes, there was a beautiful basket of pens, a scented candle and an overstuffed chair by the side of the table. But it was the journal that called to me. I would have written in it standing up over the sink if I had to. To add my own voice, my own heart to the great adventure of so many travelers and adventurers…"
So if you come and stay in our apartment I hope you will write in the journal.
The Randomly Picked out of a mixing bowl Winners are:
Amylia
Tedee Grace
Jend'isère
Petra Leaford
Mom of Five
Kit
Please contact me by email.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful, creative, spot on, good advice! I read every single comment and took notes. Even though some of the suggestions were the same, that in itself was helpful, a pattern, a style, a sense of knowing what you want, and having it echoed spoke loudly.
I will do this again as the day comes closer to having our first renter.
Tomorrow I will announce the chocolate winners.
Today's giveaway…
A pair of antique monogram dinner napkins. I will pick two winners.
The question to answer in the comment section: What do you cook for dinner when you don't feel like cooking. (Going out and take out doesn't count.)
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