In the elegant 16th arrondissement of Paris, Chanel has transformed a magnificent three-story building into its first House of Beauty. This 1940-square-foot (180 m²) sanctuary represents the complete consolidation of Chanel‘s beauty universe, offering an experience that combines retail space with luxurious treatment rooms.
The house, which underwent a two-year renovation, embodies the French spirit of Chanel through its architecture and unique, one-of-a-kind taste. Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur, head of creative resources for the brand’s fragrance, beauty, watch and jewelry activities, said: “Through its architecture, this house expresses the French spirit of Chanel, its singular and unique taste, with a desire to be part of a very French decorative arts vocabulary.”
Every decorative detail is in keeping with Chanel’s iconic codes. The iconic black and white palette dominates the space, while oversized camellia motifs and wrought iron work spelling out the brand name create an unmistakable sense of place. The stone floor features elegant black and gold geometric patterns, complemented by suede-covered walls that mirror the texture of Chanel’s make-up cases.
Perhaps most striking are the surreal elements throughout the space. Suspended from the ceiling, a giant N°5 bottle appears to float upside down, while oversized make-up compacts serve both functional and decorative purposes. These theatrical touches transform everyday beauty items into architectural features, creating an environment where reality and fantasy merge.
On the ground floor, there is a themed product edit, currently focused on the holiday season, as well as two make-up stations where visitors can try products for free and without an appointment. The first floor is dedicated to fragrance, showcasing all 88 Chanel fragrances and their companions. Visitors can sample the fragrances, meet with perfume experts or take part in master classes. The brand’s new digital tool, La Rencontre, which helps identify individual fragrance preferences, is being used in-store for the first time.
On the third floor, two treatment rooms, Gabrielle and Coco, are accessed through a gold and black lounge with a Sublimage jar transformed into a coffee table and a glass chandelier inspired by Chanel lipstick tubes. The exclusive treatment menu includes the L’Allure personalized body protocol and Le Grand Soin, a customized body and face treatment that lasts between one and three hours.
In addition, Chanel will launch “Chanel: The Allure of Makeup,” celebrating the brand’s centennial in color cosmetics, written by Natasha Fraser and published by Thames & Hudson on December 5th.
