From the outside, the stately Hôtel du Marc, Veuve Clicquot’s private mansion in Reims, France, about 90 miles northeast of Paris, looks much as it has since it was built in 1840. So painstaking was its recent renovation, even shrapnel divots from World War I were preserved in its Roman stone facade. Step through the new translucent black-glass awning, however, and you’ll find the estate is full of subtle updates and striking designs.

“At the entrance, the magic commences,” says project designer Bruno Moinard. Along one wall, a pleated accordion of age-worn mirrors reflects the light of a crystal chandelier, creating what Moinard calls “twinkling origami.” Beyond the entranceway is the mansion’s most traditional room: a wood-paneled dining area redone in matte black and gold filigree, with ash parquet floors and a smoked-glass crystal chandelier. Elsewhere are more experimental homages to the estate’s history. A tasting room is lit by three neon chandeliers by Jugnet + Clairet, and there’s a stainless-steel wine cellar by Porsche Design Studio. Upstairs, a softly lit hallway is lined with thick-framed leaning portraits of the Clicquot Ponsardin family and includes Pablo Reinoso’s gracefully unraveling Spaghetti bench (pictured). Says Moinard: “The objective was to provide a modern touch while respecting the location’s identity—a renewal of references to the past.”

Hôtel du Marc
Bruno Moinard
Photos: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot