Paris, France - Hermes Store (Rue de Sevres, 17)

After one hundred and seventy years on the right bank, Hermès has decided to cross the Seine and embrace the future with a new store at 17 Rue de Sèvres in the ritzy Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris. The new store has come to life in a building filled with rich history; a historical monument with landmark status that was once home to the Lutetia swimming pool (one of Paris’ oldest swimming clubs in the 1930s), and a stunning example of the Art Deco period.

The interior was conceived by Denis Montel and the RDAI agency, the architectural firm that creates and designs all Hermès stores across the world. In keeping with the pool theme, the beautiful mosaic tile floor, with colors of turquoise blue, silver, light green, and white gold, almost evokes the sparkling surface of the water, and the undulating wood staircase could be a giant wave.

As you descend the staircase you see massive wooden huts (about 30 feet tall) that extend towards the skylight of natural light above. Each hut houses Hermes brand new collection of home wares, including cushions, furnishing fabrics, fine china, wallpaper, carpets and furniture.

The three floored, 15,800 square foot space has been well used (almost half of it being devoted to their home range) and also includes a florist, a book store (the Chaîne d’Encre), and a tea bar situated on the balcony which has been aptly named Le Plongeoir (the Diving Board).

A close up of the balcony and the wallpaper

The beautiful mosaic tile floor from the old swimming pool

New Hermes furnishing fabrics range

A gorgeous throw from the new Hermes home collection