The former Mediterranean villa in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, once owned by Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson, was later acquired by fashion designer Coco Chanel, who rebuilt the house from scratch at the end of the 1920s. This sprawling white-walled villa with blue shutters and black crittall windows has been restored to its original specification after being purchased back by luxury fashion brand Chanel in 2015.
The library within this villa holds a wealth of information about Coco Chanel's friends, interests, and creative pursuits, making it an intimate window into her inner world. The shelves are adorned with biographies of famous artists such as John Richardson on Pablo Picasso, first editions of novels like Virginia Woolf's 'The Waves' designed by Vanessa Bell, and volumes about guests who visited the villa. These books not only reveal Coco Chanel's fascination with various art movements and thinkers but also provide a glimpse into her personal life.
Restoration expert Peter Marino worked tirelessly to recreate the exact look of Coco Chanel's 1920s retreat, taking great care to ensure that every detail accurately reflected her original tastes. From the potted cacti at the foot of the staircase to the mirror-lined bathroom, the La Pausa library has been meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of tranquility and intellectual curiosity.
Coco Chanel's love for books was deeply ingrained in her life from an early age. As a child, she spent hours reading newspaper serials and copying passages from novels to supplement her meager educational opportunities. Books became her escape, allowing her to dream about becoming the heroine of her own story and exploring the possibilities that lay beyond her humble beginnings.
Today, Coco Chanel's library continues to inspire awe and curiosity in all who visit it. This exquisite sanctuary represents a testament to the enduring power of books to connect us with our past, with each other, and with the world around us. In this beautiful retreat, we find ourselves surrounded by fragments of history, imagination, and creativity – a reminder that our bookshelves are not just repositories for our knowledge but also intimate portraits of our inner worlds.
As we wander through the rooms and libraries of La Pausa, we cannot help but wonder what stories these books might tell about Coco Chanel herself. What secrets did she hide within its pages? How did her love affair with literature shape her fashion empire and artistic pursuits? And how do the memories stored in these books continue to connect us with this enigmatic woman who continues to captivate our imagination?
The La Pausa library stands as a shining example of the transformative power of art, imagination, and storytelling. It invites us to ponder what our own bookshelves reveal about us – what we've learned, who we've met, and how we've escaped into the worlds within these pages. As we immerse ourselves in the stories and memories contained within its shelves, we are reminded that books are not just objects but gateways to new experiences, ideas, and connections.
The La Pausa library is an heirloom of creativity and imagination, a living testament to the enduring legacy of Coco Chanel's love for literature. In this tranquil oasis, where the past meets the present, we find ourselves lost in the pages of history – forever changed by the stories that these books tell about us and about each other.
The library within this villa holds a wealth of information about Coco Chanel's friends, interests, and creative pursuits, making it an intimate window into her inner world. The shelves are adorned with biographies of famous artists such as John Richardson on Pablo Picasso, first editions of novels like Virginia Woolf's 'The Waves' designed by Vanessa Bell, and volumes about guests who visited the villa. These books not only reveal Coco Chanel's fascination with various art movements and thinkers but also provide a glimpse into her personal life.
Restoration expert Peter Marino worked tirelessly to recreate the exact look of Coco Chanel's 1920s retreat, taking great care to ensure that every detail accurately reflected her original tastes. From the potted cacti at the foot of the staircase to the mirror-lined bathroom, the La Pausa library has been meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of tranquility and intellectual curiosity.
Coco Chanel's love for books was deeply ingrained in her life from an early age. As a child, she spent hours reading newspaper serials and copying passages from novels to supplement her meager educational opportunities. Books became her escape, allowing her to dream about becoming the heroine of her own story and exploring the possibilities that lay beyond her humble beginnings.
Today, Coco Chanel's library continues to inspire awe and curiosity in all who visit it. This exquisite sanctuary represents a testament to the enduring power of books to connect us with our past, with each other, and with the world around us. In this beautiful retreat, we find ourselves surrounded by fragments of history, imagination, and creativity – a reminder that our bookshelves are not just repositories for our knowledge but also intimate portraits of our inner worlds.
As we wander through the rooms and libraries of La Pausa, we cannot help but wonder what stories these books might tell about Coco Chanel herself. What secrets did she hide within its pages? How did her love affair with literature shape her fashion empire and artistic pursuits? And how do the memories stored in these books continue to connect us with this enigmatic woman who continues to captivate our imagination?
The La Pausa library stands as a shining example of the transformative power of art, imagination, and storytelling. It invites us to ponder what our own bookshelves reveal about us – what we've learned, who we've met, and how we've escaped into the worlds within these pages. As we immerse ourselves in the stories and memories contained within its shelves, we are reminded that books are not just objects but gateways to new experiences, ideas, and connections.
The La Pausa library is an heirloom of creativity and imagination, a living testament to the enduring legacy of Coco Chanel's love for literature. In this tranquil oasis, where the past meets the present, we find ourselves lost in the pages of history – forever changed by the stories that these books tell about us and about each other.