Table Linen Shopping in Paris - Where to go?
 

Hello, while in Paris I would like to purchase some of the colorful French linen tablecloths and napkins. Can someone suggest a few shops or general areas to look? Thank you!

Hi Margie,

The big department stores, Le Printemps, Samaritaine, Au Bon Marche', Galeries Lafayette are some suggestions.

Will you be travelling outside Paris at all? The markets in some of the small towns have great linens.

Margie, I just topped a message which describes in detail some of the linens we purchased. That little shop had gorgeous things. The message which says Finale in Paris should be right under this one.

MARGIE
Yes, to Ira's suggestions...I'd also add, BHV 52 rue de Rivoli (metro, Hotel du Ville) The "Target" of Paris!
I've found fun kitchen items, the little french cotton dish cloths.......and they also have a great stationery department! AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT! My last trip to Paris I stocked up on great hosiery , gloves, scarves etc. at BHV. During my stay I saw several of these items for sale in little exclusive shops...twice the price!!
Sorry, back to linens.......
The antique kind of linens?
There is a terrific Stall in Marche Vernaison,Puces de Saint-Ouen...beautiful snowy white, freshly pressed.....the proprietor was ironing while we shopped. She had a wide assortment of table cloths, bed linens etc. She pointed out any flaws....most were in tip-top shape!! Her prices were VERY reasonable...36" table cloths 10-25 euros,
I could barely make it back to the Metro with the load...so we stopped along the way & bought a cheapy suit case from a vendor outside the Metro. (Metro: Porte de Clignancourt)
I'm really NOT a shopper...don't know what comes over me in Paris!!?

When you say colorful, are you talking about Provencal styles and colors? (bright blues, yellows, paisley patterns, etc).

I think you probably could get that in a major dept. store -- I think Printemps is supposed to be best known for their "art of the table" section; I also like BHV for household goods. However, Souleiado and Les Olivades are two very wellknown makers of that style fabric and househouse linens made from it.

Try rue de Seine in St-Germain, there is a Souleiado showroom at 78 rue de Seine, and I believe an Olivades store right near it on rue de Tournon. There is also a store named Cote Bastide at 4, rue de Poissy in the 5th arr that specializes in Provencal stuff for the household. They also sell Les Olivades at Galeries Lafayette dept. store.

Oh, thank you - these suggestions are perfect! I'm adding everything to my notes, including the BHV store - sounds like fun, and of course it never hurts to get a bargain! I will buying mostly new, but of course we will be hitting the markets, so I'll probably pick up some of the "antique" ones too. RobynFrance, thanks for topping your post the shop sounds wonderful. Ira, I will certainly check out the bigger department stores too.

Thanks everybody!

I don't know if you sew or not, but I've picked up great fabric remnants in the BHV fabric department and brought them home to make tablecloths & napkins for myself & for gifts. I am by no means a great seamstress, but do OK with straight lines! I've found beautiful Provencal fabrics in those remnant bins and made pretty decent things for much less than what we would have paid at Souleido (sp??). Which, by the way, is another great place for linens, but just a little above what my budget can handle! Happy shopping!

I have a friend who always buys provencal table cloths and linens at the Maubert Market. There's a woman there who sells nice, reasonably priced stuff and it feels very French to buy in a street market. The market operates Tues., Thurs and Sat. mornings. It is on the Place Maubert facing the Blvd St. Germain about 5 or 6 blocks into the 5th from Blvd. St. Michel.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34430496

Here is a link to Robyn's thread, which has already sunk.... (To do this, find the thread you want to reference, then right-click in the title and select "Copy Shortcut". Now go back to this thread and paste. Easy!)

I have bought linens (tea towels, napkins, place mats) at a wonderful little shop on Rue Jacob. They also have gorgeous pottery. I can't remember the name of the shop, but Rue Jacob is a short street.
Have a great time in Paris!!

I wouldn't be surprised if I end up buying the extra suitcase like Bailey did to get all of my "goodies" home - it is going to be great. I had read Robin's thread (but thanks for the link Lesli, that was thoughtful) and the idea of fabric remnants could really lead to interesting "projects". The Maubert Market, Robin's store, the BHV store, and other department stores sound like what my budget will handle - I don't think I'll be doing any "showroom" shopping this trip! Thanks everybody for the great suggestions, I appreciate it!

Margie,
The most awesome shop for table linen is Muriel Grateau, Galerie de Valois, Jardins du Palais-Royal, 1st arr.
She once designed ready-to-wear for Charles Jourdan and has now her own place. Her linens come in any colour you can imagine. It's not cheap though and as far as I remember, the shop opens only at around 11 AM. Almost next door is the beautiful Shiseido shop. Not to be missed either.
Even if you should decide it's too expensive, do visit the Palais Royal. It's a wonderful quiet oasis away from all the tourists.
If you can, have a look into Le Grand Vefour, too. :)

There is a Descamps store in the 6th (probably other quartiers, also); they have the more traditional (beautiful and expensive, also) linens, as compared with the provencal fabrics of Souleiado and Les Olivades, which I love! I have bought LO fabrics on several different trips and had them made into table cloths and napkins back home. The cotton is such good quality that you rarely have to even touch it up with an iron if you remove promptly remove from dryer, etc.

Another place to buy table linens is Diners En Ville, at corner of rue de Varenne and rue de Bac, in the 7th. They have, among others, the very pretty Beauvilliers linens from Ribeauville in Alsace and which are typical of that region.

Robyn, Could you tell us a little more exactly where these two shops are? Are they close to the end of rue de Varenne near Musee Rodin or more towards the other end? Thanks!

grandmere,
Forgot about Olivier Deschamps. Nice shop, yes. Got some cotton pajamas there.
One is on Blvd. Raspail, close to Sevres-Babylone metro stop.

Must be the heat here...

The shop I mentioned above is Olivier Desforges, 26, Blvd. Raspail.

The shops are at toward the other end of rue de Varenne, considerably beyond Musee Rodin and near rue du Bac and rue de Sevres. They are very close together--so when you get to Diners en Ville, ask the owner there about the linen shop--it is small, but they have beautiful items. Both have the recommended by Patricia Wells logo in the window.

Thank you, Robyn!

Message to Margie: Another place for linens is Bouchara; they have a large store just down the street from Galeries Lafayette. If you were facing the GL store go to the right and it's just across the intersection (same side) right on the corner. They sell bed linens, tea towels, placemats, tablecloths, cushions. They had several layouts with table linens, matching teatowels, potholders, bread bags, etc. They also sell fabric in the provencal designs and colours; I've bought some and sewn my own things. I had priced provencal and toile in the shops around Monmartre and in the large stores and the Bouchara prices and quality were excellent. They also had (wishing I'd bought one) canopies you hang over the bed. I've never madeitto the BHV but I've recommended Bouchara before with success. They may have other branches in Paris (one in Cannes) but most people check out Printemps or GL so the one on Blvd. Hausmann is real handy.