Paris Aspirations

Paris Aspirations

by Stephanie Andrews

Bonjour! I have been back from Paris for 2 weeks. I admit to feeling a little blue, with a sense of longing since my return. Why does Paris pull me back time after time? (Like 3 times in the last 9 months!) I figured that before I go broke, I needed to explore the magnetic pull it has for me and see what I could incorporate from Paris into my hometown life in Atlanta, Georgia. Obviously, this is a rather ridiculous ask, but perhaps there are small aspirational things that I can adjust to create a more Parisian lifestyle. I also realize I am no expert on Paris or France, so these are merely my American musings, based on my little slice of experience.

My 2026 Vision Board is a work in progress that is prominently displayed near my closet in the bedroom

I also wanted to explore this on my 2026 Vision Board. At the beginning of the year, I started a vision board with my daughter and my best friend. The three of us chose a word of the year, goals, inspiring pictures, and the overall vibe and direction I wanted for the New Year. I was curious how I could merge some of my board with my Paris aspirations and create a touchpoint I can see every day.

Some of my Parisian observations that are guiding my aspirational list:

1-Parisians can talk! Ed and I both noticed that no cell phones were used or around at dinner. Really! For us, even on a romantic dinner, the phone is never far away, and it is especially close for coffee or lunch. I mean, what else would we do? Turns out the French can talk for hours. They appear not to have lost their social skills to their dopamine-feeding phones. This also seems to be true for teens. We stayed in a little Airbnb in the Marais, next to a high school. We walked by in the morning, at lunch, and after school, and kids were just hanging out, talking to each other. Having limited French-language skills, I am not exactly sure what they were talking about, but it was animated, multisyllabic, and almost entirely cell phone-free. For me, it’s the level of cell phone dependency I need to work on. I would also like to improve my conversations with people that I care about.

2. Parisians linger. This relates to the above observation, yet expands on the concept. I do not really know how to eat slowly, let alone relish a 2-3-hour dining experience. We had these multi-course dinners each night, without any push to leave. As a matter of fact, we experienced a bit of French dismay at the thought of staying only an hour. This lingering is something I would like to improve. Mindfully eating, paying attention to the people I am eating with, enjoying the ambience, the food, the wine, the dessert, and just being in the moment, without worrying about where I need to be next. Linger Longer!

A bird lands in an old bronze statue at dusk.

3. Parisians beautifully integrate old and new. Ed said it like this: Paris, as we know it, was planned with deliberate intent, primarily by a guy named Haussmann during Napoleon III’s reign, between 1853 and 1870. He updated the city to feature wider streets, boulevards, balconied buildings with living quarters on top, and shops at street level. This is how we all know Paris. It acts as a skeleton, then the modern touches like the pyramid in front of the Louvre, all of the activity around the Seine, the modern items inside the shops, and the more traditional bakeries, it’s like the blood and skin of the city. (This analogy sounded much more eloquent coming out of Ed’s mouth.) What does this mean to me? In my design world, it is all about celebrating architecture and integrating patterns, textures, and individuality to create something memorable and beautiful. Antiques mixed with modern gems are my favorite.

Some of the beautiful details from the Fashion museum Palais GALLIERA.

4. Parisians have a very individual sense of style. Whether I was in the fashion district of Dior and Chanel, the area around the Sorbonne, or in the Marais, I loved the way Parisians expressed themselves through their clothes. Even in the smallest details-a pin, scarf, lipstick, hat, jacket- they considered all of them! I found this style setting very inspiring. I also learned that when we were in Paris in January, it was the “Solde” season. I learned this is prime sale season, when almost everyone is selling items at a fraction of the cost. Score! The trove I brought back is a huge part of my 2026 style goals.

Just a few of the unique details that I saw in Paris.

5. Parisians have an acute attention to detail. From the brass handles on the giant doors to the marble and wood herringbone floors to the intentional branding of each boutique, these fine details were everywhere I looked. I felt a little dizzy finding these tiny touches! I now feel on a quest to notice those details and create some of them myself, in my home and in my work.

Sure, many of these observations may seem stereotypical, and perhaps my lens simply picked up on those stereotypes. However, I was moved (and feel improved) through my travels to Paris. I am ready to go back! But until then, I have my Paris aspirations to live through.

Thank you for reading. I would love your thoughts on the City of Light. Please email me at stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com.

Until next week,

Stephanie