We had such a wonderful stay in Catherine's apartment! Lined with books, collected art and curios, there is always something fascinating for your eye to rest on. If you love the romantic, bohemian idea of a Parisian writer's loft tucked under the mansard roof of an old structure, you will not be disappointed, and if you fancy yourself a writer in need of inspiration, every object in there holds a potential story.
The old structure of the building (heavy timber beams and huge, thick walls), along with vintage rugs and fabrics are more than just aesthetically pleasing: they are incredibly sound-dampening. When we are not traveling, we live in a vibrant, active neighborhood, and we wanted to stay in a similar neighborhood in Paris, even if that meant we might be woken up at odd hours by nightlife that lasted longer than we did (as sometimes happens at home). Not at all! Just outside the walls of Catherine's place, the lively nightlife of Saint Germain spills out of restaurants, bars, theaters, and more — and yet, the bedroom is so silent you would never know. Even the trash and recycling pick up in the morning (the scourge of our sleep at home) is so dampened you could sleep right through it. The space feels truly private, quiet, and dark. We slept better than we had in years.
Saint Germain is our favorite of the neighborhoods we explored while staying at Catherine's place for nine nights — we were so pleased to have found it and to come home to it during our stay. As it is so centrally located, we often would pop back in to drop off a package, or to enjoy some wine and change clothes for a night out on the town after wandering the streets by day. The apartment is not simply a functional place to sleep and leave from, it's a comfortable space you can hang out in and enjoy your time in.
Catherine was always very responsive and provided us with a detailed list of recommendations for different types of places nearby, which was incredibly helpful to help us feel right at home from the start.
We very much look forward to returning when we next find ourselves in Paris!