Indagare member Lawrence Kaplan just returned from a trip to Paris where he visited two of the city’s major design shows. Here are some impressions from his journey.

“Paris was teeming with activity given the confluence of Maison & Objet, Paris Deco Off, and the many fashion shows. Maison & Objet was replete with its cast of likely suspects and the express trains (RER) were packed heading to the Parc des Expositions, where the endless halls felt enormous. Interestingly, there is another large hall opposite hall 7 currently under construction. This may be a result of hall 5B collapsing (high winds caused the temporary roof/structure to cave in) last year, which led to many exhibitors losing several critical exhibition days. I did not spend a lot of time in halls other than 5B which housed the Editeurs (Read more on the Editeurs.) This year the Editeurs were contained within rows A-F which felt like a fraction of last year’s show.

We spent far less time at the Parc des Expositions (at the M&O fair) this year because of Paris Deco Off. (It’s a terrible name if you ask me; why couldn’t they have called it Paris Deco Parallel or something a bit more interesting?) Paris Deco Off was, in part, a reaction of leading global textile manufacturers to last year’s collapsed tent: many Paris-based designers decided to exhibit at their showrooms, rather than at M&O as they have done traditionally. (In some ways, this is similar to the Salone in April in Milan.)

Further, on Saturday evening until midnight, champagne was flowing in many designer textile showrooms on Rue du Mail and in showrooms in Saint Germain des Pres on Rue de l’Abbeye and Rue Furstenberg. Similarly, Sunday evening lasted until 8 p.m., with a steady flow of traffic. I should also point out many people commented about the lack of Americans present at both M&O and Paris Deco Off. This may have been a result of the exchange rate. One of my favorite stops during the entire fair was at Arte (6 Bis Rue de l’Abbaye), a wall-covering company with huge exposure and success in Europe, yet relatively less known in the US. (They will be launching a new website soon.)

Thanks to Indagare, we stayed at a charming boutique hotel nestled behind the Place Saint Sulpice in the heart of Saint Germain des Pres: Hotel Recamier. While the 24 guest rooms are typical of small, if not cramped Parisian hotels, the hotel is well-appointed and the staff could not have been more accommodating. Half the rooms overlook the Place Saint Sulpice, which is lovely by day and night. They are also reasonably priced. Inspired by 20th-century decoration, the hotel offers an ambience of true Parisian elegance, which is comfortable (if not bourgeois) rather than grand. The beds were comfortable and guest rooms nicely designed. I would avoid the smallest class of rooms, as the larger rooms felt much more comfortable. The location, facing Saint Sulpice, is central and convenient, particularly if one is spending a great deal of time in the sixth arrondissement. The guests were well-heeled and international. This is definitely a great hotel to have on one’s list for Paris.”

Read Indagare’s destination report on Paris

Read Melissa Biggs Bradley’s picks on what is new and noteworthy in Paris

Read plugged-in recommendations and hot spots by Indagare’s local insiders