'Lunch could last all day – and night': inside Coco Chanel's sun-kissed sanctum for art's superstars

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 la paisa library is like a time machine 🕰️, takin me back to when coco chanel was still a young designer 👗📚, tryna make a name for herself in the fashion world 💪, and her love for books is just so inspiring 🤩, it's like she built this whole lifestyle around reading and creatin' 🌟
 
I just read about the amazing La Pausa library and I'm totally obsessed 😍! Coco Chanel's love for books is so inspiring, especially considering she came from humble beginnings. I think it's awesome how her passion for reading led to her fashion empire – who knew that all those hours of devouring novels would shape her style? 📚

I also love how the library has been meticulously restored to its original specification – every detail is just so Chanel 💁‍♀️! The fact that books from famous artists and writers are on display really gives you a glimpse into her interests and friendships. It's like stepping into a time capsule of creativity and imagination 🕰️.

I'm curious, what do you think about Coco Chanel's legacy? Do you have a favorite book or author that inspires you? 🤔
 
🤯 This villa is literally a shrine to Coco Chanel's love for books! I mean, can you think of anyone else who'd have a whole library dedicated to their art and interests? It's like she wanted to prove that fashion and literature weren't mutually exclusive or anything 😏. And the fact that her former friends and collaborators are on the shelves is just too cool. You can almost feel like you're eavesdropping on her inner monologue while you're browsing through the books. 💁‍♀️ The level of detail in the restoration is insane, btw – it's like stepping into a time capsule or something 🕰️. Anyway, I think this library is proof that our personal interests and passions are what make us who we are, and that's something to celebrate 📚💖
 
🌸💖 this library is literally a treasure trove of coco's inner world!! i can totally imagine her surrounded by all these amazing books, it's like she's still with us 💫 how cool that they recreated everything to perfection 🤩 and the way it's been described here is just magical ✨
 
📚🏠 I totally get why Coco Chanel loved her library so much - it's like a time machine to her world! 🕰️ The way Peter Marino restored it is insane, like he really got into her head 💡. And omg, the books she had are literally iconic authors and artists... I'm dying over Virginia Woolf's 'The Waves' 🤯. But what I love most is how this library makes you feel all introspective and stuff 🧘‍♀️. Like, it really makes you think about your own bookshelf and the stories it tells about you 😂. And Coco Chanel's story is just so fascinating... I mean, from newspaper serials to her fashion empire? 🤯 What a woman! 💖
 
🤔 I'm not sure why they had to recreate the whole thing from scratch... like, couldn't they've just restored it to its original state instead? 😒 And what's up with all these expensive books on display? Can't they sell some of them or something? 🤑 It seems like a waste of resources to me. 👎
 
omg i'm literally low-key obsessed with coco chanel's la pauza library 🤩😍 i mean who wouldn't want to escape into a world of art and literature in such an exquisite villa?! the way they've restored it to its original specs is, like, perfection 💯 and can you even imagine all the secrets those books must hold? 😉 i'm totally shipping coco chanel as a literary genius 👓👗
 
wow 🤩 the way they restored the villa is insane 😲 coco chanel's library is like stepping into her private world 💡 it's so cool to see all these books and artifacts from her life 👍 she was literally a bookworm as a kid, reading newspaper serials and copying passages from novels lol that's amazing 🤓
 
🤩 I am so stoked that La Pausa library is getting the love it deserves! Coco Chanel's passion for books is truly inspiring 📚. I mean, who wouldn't want a sanctuary filled with biographies of famous artists, first editions of novels, and volumes about guests who visited her villa? It's like stepping into a time capsule 🕰️.

The attention to detail by restoration expert Peter Marino is mind-blowing 🤯. From the potted cacti to the mirror-lined bathroom, every detail screams Coco Chanel's style 💁‍♀️. And can you imagine being able to explore the personal life of this fashion icon through her book collection? It's like getting a glimpse into her secret world 🤫.

I'm loving how La Pausa library is more than just a collection of books – it's an experience that transports us to another era and connects us with our past, each other, and the world around us 🌎. It's a reminder that our bookshelves hold so much more than just knowledge, but also secrets, memories, and stories about ourselves and those we love ❤️.

Can't wait to visit La Pausa library and get lost in its pages! 👍
 
I'm thinking of getting a new laptop 🤔... I heard they have some good deals on gaming laptops right now. How much can you get for like £1000 or so? Do you think it's worth upgrading from my old one that's around 5 years old? 🤑

And speaking of books, the La Pausa library sounds so cool! I love how they restored it to its original state, it must be so relaxing to visit there. Did Coco Chanel have any favorite authors or books that she always came back to? 📚

I've been meaning to ask my friends about this... how do you guys deal with the stress of online shopping and social media? It seems like everyone's always on their phones, even when they're supposed to be relaxing 😴.
 
I just learned about La Pausa library and I'm totally obsessed 🤯💡. The fact that Coco Chanel rebuilt her villa from scratch is mind-blowing, but the library itself is like a character in its own right 😏. I love how restoration expert Peter Marino recreated every detail to reflect her original tastes – it's like stepping into her personal world 🌿. And can you believe she had potted cacti at the foot of the staircase? 😂

I think what I love most about this library is how it shows us that books are not just objects, but gateways to new experiences and connections 📚💻. It's like, imagine walking into a room filled with people who share your passions and interests – that's basically what this library feels like for me 🤩. And the best part? We can all learn from Coco Chanel's love affair with literature and how it shaped her fashion empire 😎.

I wish I could visit La Pausa in person, but even just seeing these images is giving me bookshelf envy 📚👀. If you ever get the chance to see this library, do it ASAP! ⏰
 
I'm literally blown away by La Pausa library 🤯! I mean, can you even imagine living with all those iconic books and having Coco Chanel's own library as your playground? 📚👠 It's like stepping into a time machine where the art world and fashion history come alive. The attention to detail is insane – from the cacti at the foot of the staircase to the mirror-lined bathroom, it's all so meticulously crafted to reflect Coco's unique style. 💅 And I love how it's not just about the books themselves but about the people who've been a part of Coco's life and legacy. It's like getting a glimpse into her inner world 🌐... now that would be some book club material! 😂📖
 
I mean, I went to the La Pausa library and it was soooo beautiful 🤩... but also kinda overwhelming, you know? There were so many old books everywhere! I'm not even kidding, I saw at least 10 biographies of famous artists on one shelf alone. Like, what's going on here?! Can't they just pick a few faves and be done with it?

And don't even get me started on the decor 🤮... I mean, I love Coco Chanel as much as the next person, but seriously, who thought putting mirror-lined bathrooms in a library was a good idea? It's like they wanted to blind us into submission or something.

But for real though, the La Pausa library is super inspiring 📚... it's like walking into a time machine and getting to experience Coco Chanel's love of literature firsthand. I mean, I loved seeing all the first editions of novels and the photos of her friends and fellow artists. It was like stepping into a different world.

One thing though, can we please get rid of the awful website they have for this place? 🤦‍♀️... it's so hard to navigate and you can't even see all the pics and info from the library without paying a gazillion dollars for a membership. I mean, come on, guys! Make it accessible to everyone!
 
📚💖 I'm like totally obsessed with this library at La Pausa! It's like stepping into Coco Chanel's world, you know? The way they've restored it to its original spec is just wow. And can you even imagine the stories these books must tell about her life and passions? 🤯 I mean, she was all about empowering women and breaking free from societal norms... her love of books is like, totally inspiring! 💪 I wish I could visit this library in person, it's like a dream come true. Have you ever been to a place that felt like this? Like, transported to another world? 🌟
 
lol, I was just reading about coco chanels old villa and it got me thinking - what's up with old people collecting all these fancy art pieces and books? like they're trying to leave some kind of legacy behind 🤔... but also what's wrong with that? I mean, if someone wants to spend their life accumulating stuff that makes them happy, who cares? it's not like they're hoarding or anything 😂. And Coco Chanel's villa is literally the ultimate example of that - she just rebuilt this whole thing from scratch and now it's all about her love for books and art... I guess you could say it's a pretty cool way to spend your time 💫.
 
🙌 I'm so stoked they restored La Pausa library to its original glory! Coco Chanel's love for books is literally inspiring 📚💖. It's amazing how her personal story can be unravelled through the pages of those biographies and novels. As a bookworm myself, I feel like I'm stepping into a time capsule when I visit this sanctuary 🕰️. The way Peter Marino carefully recreated every detail to reflect Coco Chanel's tastes is pure genius 👏. Can you imagine being able to sit in that mirror-lined bathroom or surrounded by potted cacti? 😍 It's not just about the books, it's about the memories and secrets they hold 🤫. This place really makes me wanna curl up with a good novel and get lost in its pages 📖.
 
📚✨ I think it's amazing how much personality Coco Chanel infused into her home, especially the library. It's like stepping into her mind, you know? 🤯 The way they've restored the villa to its original state is incredible – every detail, every book on the shelves, it all feels so... her. 💁‍♀️ And can you imagine what she'd have thought if someone walked in there with a smartphone? 😂 I mean, would she have loved the idea of having access to all that information and inspiration at her fingertips? 🤔 It's fascinating to think about how her love of books shaped not just her fashion empire but also her life itself. 💭
 
This La Pausa library is like a time capsule for Coco Chanel's inner world 📚💫. I mean, think about it, she was all about empowering women and breaking free from societal norms, but then you have her personal library with books by famous artists and thinkers... it's like she was trying to prove that luxury and high culture weren't just for the elite 🤑👗.

I wonder if this is a reflection of her own rise to fame and how she used her platform to create a space where women could explore their creativity and ambitions. It's also interesting to see how she collected books on art movements and thinkers, it was like she was trying to connect the dots between fashion, art, and culture 🎨💼.

The fact that Chanel rebuilt this villa from scratch in the 1920s shows how much her love for literature and luxury influenced her life's work. It's like she was saying, "I may have come from humble beginnings, but I'm going to create my own world of beauty and elegance" 💁‍♀️💅.

The La Pausa library is more than just a collection of books, it's a symbol of Coco Chanel's legacy as a woman who broke the mold and created her own path 🌟. And now, we get to experience this piece of history, surrounded by the stories and memories that she cherished so much... it's like stepping into her shoes and walking in her footsteps 👠💃.
 
I think it's so cool how they restored La Pausa to its original state! I mean, Coco Chanel was like, totally a bookworm from the get-go 📚👠. She loved getting lost in novels and reading newspaper serials as a kid... I can see why she built this library - it's like her own little sanctuary! 😌 The way they've preserved all these books and details is really something special. It's amazing how much you can learn about Coco Chanel from just looking around the room 🤔. And, honestly, I think it's awesome that people are still fascinated by her today... she was a true pioneer in so many ways 💪. The La Pausa library is like a time capsule or something! 😍
 
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