Over the past three decades, Paris-based interior designer Jacques Garcia has put his unmistakably French stamp on a range of international properties: the Hôtel Métropole, in Monte Carlo; the Spice Market restaurant, in New York; Paris's celebrated Hôtel Costes, which remains a beacon of unabashed opulence (it's still the spot to see and be seen at—no small feat for a place that opened more than ten years ago). Garcia's most ambitious project to date, however, is his very own home: the Champ de Bataille, a 17th-century castle in Normandy, an hour's drive northwest of Paris.
Garcia purchased the dilapidated property, surrounded by ninety-four acres of gardens, fifteen years ago and has since meticulously refurbished it. The Champ de Bataille's estate and public rooms have been accessible to visitors since 1992 (some 30,000 come annually), but beginning next year, guests will also be able to spend the night, in eighteen lavishly decorated bedrooms. "I wanted people to feel the way I feel at home," says Garcia when asked why he decided to add the title of hotelier to his résumé. The castle, which was designed in 1653 by Louis Le Vau, one of Louis XVI's architects, now showcases a range of styles and periods and acts as a museum for the designer's impressive collection of 17th- and 18th-century antiques and objets, many of them sourced during his extensive travels.
The fifty-nine-year-old Garcia—who was designated a knight of France's prestigious Légion d'honneur—is a man of many contradictions, which he enjoys maintaining. He's an avid traveler but doesn't believe in making reservations. He has worked for François Pinault and the emir of Qatar but prefers to fly coach. He runs a successful business but doesn't use a computer or "do e-mail." And his views on traveling are as exuberant and surprising as his sense of style.
How do you like to spend your vacation?
I can't sit at the beach for fifteen days. I'd get far too restless. I always mix work and pleasure. I'll combine visits to the places I'm designing with trips to old buildings, markets and museums.
Do you have a favorite museum?
At the moment it's Paris's Musée de la Vie Romantique. It houses objects that belonged to the writer George Sand and those in her inner circle.
Which parts of the world do you enjoy?
I particularly love India, Turkey and Syria, where I have vacationed in the past. Syria straddles all civilizations. It has the nicest Christian relics and beautifully preserved mosques that date from the 13th century.
In what ways do your journeys influence your work?
Life as we live it is my inspiration. Modernity is an attitude, and you get there by looking at the past. I like to read and visit museums. I never watch television, since it is good only for bad information.
How do you travel?
Wherever there's a seat; I don't care. I am spontaneous: if there's a bus, I'll hop on. In the old days we sent emissaries abroad and they brought back exotic things. Today we are both emissaries and explorers, meaning we discover and bring back.
Where do you like to stay?
I design luxury hotels, but I prefer casual places. In London, for example, I stay at the Mansion House, which was designed by George Dance the Elder in the city's most gorgeous old Georgian building. I also love the Raj Palace, in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
How would you define your design philosophy?
I keep in mind what I would want for myself. I cannot bear bad lighting or restaurants that blast music at 8 p.m. I was the first designer [at the Hôtel Costes] to gently increase the music level as the evening wore on. That way, by 11 p.m. you're in the mood for a party. What I want to create is an atmosphere where politicians, nobility, celebrities and writers interact because it feels comfortable to them.
You have designed several restaurants. Do you eat out often?
I'm not fond of restaurants. I'd rather spend an evening with friends who are kind enough to invite me. But I see the point: people no longer entertain at home; they go out. I make an effort in my public spaces to be as interesting as possible.
Do you like to shop?
I am a chineur, that is, a hunter of things. I don't come prepared with a list of stores. When I travel, I visit the markets, I snoop, I ask around and I see where the locals go.
Where do you venture for unique finds in Paris?
On the Right Bank, I like the family-run Galerie Aveline and the Galerie Eugène Becker, which specializes in rare 18th-century furniture. On the Left Bank, I frequent Kraemer & Cie, a discreet shop in a town house on the Rue Monçeau, and Galerie Yves Gastou, on the Rue Bonaparte.
What made you decide to take on the enormous project of the Champ de Bataille?
I wanted a real house in the country, though I think that I'll prefer it in twenty-five years, when it's a bit worn. I don't have any children, so this is my legacy, I suppose.
Garcia's Greatest Hits
The designer's distinctive old-world style can be experienced at these addresses:
France: Champ de Bataille Starting next year, guests can stay in Garcia's castle, which is located in Le Neubourg. 011-33-2-32-34-84-34; duchampdebataille.com.
Hôtel Costes Opened in 1995, this sumptuous Paris property is the preferred address for fashionable visitors. Rooms from $640. 011-33-1-42-44-50-00; hotelcostes.com.
Hôtel Fouquet's Barrière Paris's newest five star, which debuted this past fall, comprises five remodeled 19th-century buildings. Rooms from $905. 011-33-1-40-70-57-05; fouquets-barriere.com.
Monaco: Hôtel Métropole In 2004, Garcia remodeled the 146 rooms of this Monte Carlo grande dame with 17th- and 18th-century furniture and Pierre Frey fabrics. Rooms from $863. 011-377-93-15-15-15; metropole.com.
Morocco: La Mamounia The much-anticipated refurbishment of the legendary Marrakech palace is scheduled to be unveiled this summer. Rooms from $575. 800-745-8883; 011-212-24-38-86-00; mamounia.com.
United States: Hotel Victor Garcia's first Stateside venture, on Miami's trendy Ocean Drive, has a giant jellyfish tank in its lobby. Rooms from $489. 305-428-1234; hotelvictorsouthbeach.com.
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