Coco Chanel’s Apartment Comes to Life in London

Fifty Shades Sam Taylor-Johnson’s new project looks stunning…

Looking at booking a quick jaunt to the constantly interesting London? We’re holding off until mid-September because we want to catch the amazing sounding Coco Chanel exhibition that is hitting up the Saatchi Gallery. Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson has taken 45 photos of the famous fashion founder’s iconic Parisian apartment and the result promises to be a sumptuous and elegant party of black and white imagery, if the above released shot is anything to go by.

31 Rue Chambon is one of the most stylish addresses in the world but until now Mademoiselle Chanel’s second floor apartment has been shrouded in mystery and closed to the public. Apparently the space remains unchanged from when Chanel herself was alive and hosted luminaries such as Dali and Stravinsky. Chanel’s library is intact and it filled with leather bound editions of Voltaire and Bront? editions. A crystal chandelier also illuminates the space.

Sam Taylor-Johnson with her husband Aaron Taylor-Johnson

In the Telegraph Taylor-Johnson described the experience of photographing the apartment as ?unexpectedly absorbing? and added ?I truly believe that her spirit and soul still inhabit the second floor.? While Taylor-Johnson is now primarily known as the director of the highly anticipated erotic drama, her CV is actually one of the most impressive in British art. A Turner Prize nomination and Venice Biennale nods are some of many illustrious markers dotted across her two-decade long career.

The exhibition will be called Second Floor, runs from September 12-22, and will come with a companion book – sounds like an ideal stocking filler.

Jeanne Sutton @jeannedesutun