Shades of Paris: Black and Gold
My obsession with Paris began long before I ever set foot in France. It goes back to when I was a little girl, when I spent hours poring over the illustrations of the city in Ludwig Bemelman's classic kids' book, Madeline.
While some of the book's illustrations are in full color, most of them are black lines on a golden yellow wash background. They're beautiful - and in my mind, the picture of Paris.
Since then, I've seen thousands of pictures of Paris, and have been to the city twice. I know it has a lot of faces. But the interiors that capture the black-and-gold aesthetic of those original Madeline illustrations - they're the ones that feel the most Parisian to me.
While some of the book's illustrations are in full color, most of them are black lines on a golden yellow wash background. They're beautiful - and in my mind, the picture of Paris.
Since then, I've seen thousands of pictures of Paris, and have been to the city twice. I know it has a lot of faces. But the interiors that capture the black-and-gold aesthetic of those original Madeline illustrations - they're the ones that feel the most Parisian to me.
The tiled interior of the Guerlain house in Paris shimmers with gold that contrasts perfectly with wrought iron accents.
Q