A Truly Fascinating Find

For those who have not yet read the November issue of World of Interiors, I have to share a most interesting story that appears in the magazine.

A Dutchwoman who recently purchased an apartment in Paris called the magazine to alert them to an unusual find in her new home. The walls of the sitting room were painted with beautiful panoramic scenes similar in style to those of Zuber. What is amazing, though, is that the walls were painted by the former homeowner, a designer by the name of "J. d'Ars". In fact, he signed his creation with "J. d'Ars, décorateur, 1955".

Now here's the really interesting part. After some sleuthing, the new homeowner was able to piece together the story of J. d'Ars. As a young man, d'Ars had been a waiter at a Russian restaurant in Paris. One evening he was serving a young American couple who was celebrating their honeymoon. The waiter and the groom fell in love that night! The American man eventually set d'Ars up in an apartment and in an interior design business. And every year for about fifty years, the American man, unbeknownst to his wife, would come to Paris to spend a few weeks with his love. They especially enjoyed visiting France's glorious châteaux, which in turned inspired d'Ars to paint the walls with scenes of these châteaux.

Now, if I had been the lucky new homeowner, I would have kept the walls intact. How can you alter something with such beauty (not to mention such history)? Unfortunately, the Dutchwoman did not agree and she removed the paintings (d'Ars had painted the scenes on paper backed with card). She has preserved these paintings and plans on using them in her own château, which I suppose may be a very appropriate place for these marvelous paintings.






Even the ceiling was painted!

(All images courtesy of World of Interiors; photographed by René Stoeltie)