Arts & Lifestyle

Les Lumières Versailles

Taking a 40-minute train from Paris to Château de Versailles, one can enjoy a meal or stay overnight at the newly opened Les Lumières Versailles. This luxury 5-star hotel was recently inducted into Relais & Châteaux, and is located near the entrance of the Palace of Versailles.

Translated in English as The Lights of Versailles, Les Lumières melds historic architectural features with contemporary luxury amenities. From the moment guests check-in, they begin a transformative storytelling journey filled with cultural immersion and personal discovery.

Guest suites at Les Lumieres Versailles

Taking a tour with Julie Dillard, Assistante chef de réception, I learned this historic property was once given to Édouard Colbert and Antoine III de Gramont by the ‘Sun King’ Louis the XIV. ‘The historic Gramont and Villacerf pavilions date from the 17th and 19th centuries,’ said Dillard. ‘ At one time, this mansion was known as the Hôtel du France, a three-star hotel.’

In 2019, the 2L Collection, a family-owned hotel group in France, purchased the property and opened just before the 2024 Summer Olympics. ‘The equestrian competitions were held in Versailles and the hotel was sold out,’ said Dillard. ‘Right now we have 22 Superior and Deluxe guest rooms, plus Junior Suites and Suites. When the Gramont building on the other side is completed, we will have 31 rooms.’

Elegant guest rooms. Photo Jill Weinlein

This new hotel in Versailles pays homage to the Enlightenment era. ‘Inspired by the revolutionary spirit of that period, our aim was to transform the space into a catalyst for reflection, awareness, and awakening,’ said Delphine Jaouen, CEO of 2L Collection. ‘By blending knowledge, openness, and natural beauty with elements of classicism and modernity, we’ve created a place that celebrates freedom of thought and exploration, echoing the very essence of the Enlightenment.’

Guests receive their key to their room inside a hollowed-out book with a story about a famous person the guest room is named after. Room number 10 is Voltaire, a Junior Suite. It’s an ADA room across from the elevator. Just like all the rooms, thoughtful wellness and mindful amenities include a meditation sleep machine and comforting weighted blankets to ensure a good night’s rest.

‘The sleep machine has four sessions to enjoy,’ said Dillard. ‘There is meditation, smooth music, and a calming nature session.’ ‘Ceilings in the guest rooms provide a nod to the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles,’ Dillard said.

Guest Suite. Photo Jill Weinlein

Guest rooms and suites are furnished with king-size beds, and televisions cleverly hidden inside picture frames. Spacious bathrooms have either a separate bathtub and shower room or both. Closets display plush robes and slippers. There is also a cabinet in each room with a coffee machine, kettle and assortment of teas.

Solarium. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Guests can gather in the comfortable winter garden solarium to experience an enclosed and warm environment. Natural light filters in on rattan-framed chairs and loveseats, among decorative pillows, with an abundance of greenery.

Library and reading room. Photo Jill Weinlein

Staying with the theme of ‘Age of Enlightenment’, the hotel has a library honoring some of the greatest philosophers and writers. There are volumes of books from this era to enlighten guests during their stay. The library also displays self-care, spiritual books and works from the 1900s and 2000s.

This quiet area has plush velvet club couches and chairs to curl up into and tables for board games supplied by the hotel.

The Philosophers Bar. Photo Jill Weinlein

‘The Philosophers Bar has a gold facade and decor in honor of Louis XIV,’ said Dillard. Inspired by Louis XIV’s court attire, this elegant gathering space reflects the 18th century’s glory and is an ideal spot for a flute of effervescent champagne. Bartenders make unique libations named after historical people. Many are blended with fresh juice and garden herbs.

Café Pierre Hermé. Photo Jill Weinlein

Walking up the main stairway built in 1907, guests will reach Café Pierre Hermé. This fit-for-a-king cafe’ by Chef Pierre Hermé has a soaring ceiling, crystal chandliers, and panoramic views of Place d’Armes.

The savory and sweet menu items include elegant salads and sandwiches, plus the prettiest pastries and flavorful macarons. Chef Pierre Hermé was voted ‘World’s Best Pastry Chef’ in 2016 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Julie Dillard and server at Pierre Hermé Boutique

Downstairs next to the lobby of the hotel is the Pierre Hermé Boutique. Glass cases are filled with a rainbow of macarons, picture worthy pastries, and fine chocolates.

Other onsite dining venues include The Restaurant La Table des Lumières by chef Erwan Le Thomas. This talented chef offers inventive plant-based, fine-dining French cuisine featuring a variety of vegetarian dishes and delights.

Les Lumières Versailles Spa

Walk between two marble water walls to be transported to the soft sound of water and the gentle smell of appealing treatment oils. The spa provides a reign of serenity, embodying the ancient adage: ‘Mens sana in corpore sano,’ which translates to ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body.’

Enjoy a cup of organic tea in the tearoom before or after a treatment in one of the two treatment cabins. Guests have the opportunity to enter the hammam (a Turkish style steam bath) and visit the sauna to unwind after a day exploring Versailles for pure relaxation.

The spa also offers a fitness room and a pressotherapy non-invasive lymphatic drainage treatment. There is even a Dream Machine for self-hypnosis.

Beau Domaine Skincare

The spa uses Beau Domaine, a scientific French skincare brand initiated by the winemaking Perrin family. They collaborated with two scientists to explore the antioxidant properties of grapes that they were growing in their vineyards. Stemming from years of research, the scientists discovered grapes have two active ingredients that combat toxicity, one of the main causes of skin aging. Grapes have antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals and reduce cell damage and aging.

The Beau Domaine skincare line features patented active ingredients derived from grapes and enhanced by seasoned oenologists. This holistic approach to anti-aging treatments caught the attention of actor and entrepreneur Brad Pitt. Using these products, he was impressed with the noticeable improvements to his skin, and has collaborated with Beau Domaine to ignite the spirit of the brand.

Be sure to visit the 5-Star Les Lumières Versailles to experience royal luxury in Versailles.

Images courtesy of RUF

From JustLuxe Content Partner MensGear

With a remarkable pedigree in motorsports, many view Porsche as a marque that manufactures sleek sports cars people can drive daily. Moreover, with a bit of tuning, even take on the tracks.

Conversely, some automotive enthusiasts prefer to follow its stint in off-road races. Thus, RUF presents a new project dubbed the Rodeo.

Over the years, the German firm has earned a reputation for its prolific usage of Porsche body-in-white for its builds. Mostly designing and engineering bespoke rides for paved roads, the team now dabbles with something exhilarating. Here is a machine ready to drive anywhere you want it to.

“After exploring our capabilities on the road, testing the absolute limit of grip and speed on the road, and spiking emotions in the driving experience, we have decided to take our capabilities off-road and introduce another feeling of excitement with the RUF Rodeo,” reads the press release.

With a carbon monocoque chassis, this platform promises to be lightweight yet rugged enough for the trails. The shop outfits the Rodeo with a custom dual wishbone push-rod suspension to enhance its all-terrain performance and provide a higher ground clearance.

With almost no limitation on where it can go, RUF has a potent overlanding model on its lineup. Hook it up with your favorite camper trailer and take the most scenic routes for your outdoor escapades. Elsewhere, the rear engine bay is where you’ll find the 3.6-liter twin-turbo flat-six.

RUF mates it with a six-speed manual gearbox — a must-have for motoring purists. Its mill produces roughly 610 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque, benefiting from the in-house variable all-wheel-drive system. The Rodeo is available to order right now.

Discover More

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Crafting leather demands accuracy, aptitude, and the appropriate equipment. A leather craft knife made especially for leatherworking is one of the most important equipment in this industry.

Leather knives are essential tools for shaping, carving, cutting, and finishing since they are available in a variety of sizes and forms, each with a specific function. This post will go over how to become proficient with leather knives and examine four of its most popular applications.

Precise Cutting for Leather Projects

Any effective leather job starts with clean leather cutting. Cutting leather with a good-quality knife helps you prevent fraying and uneven edges by making clean, accurate cuts.

Hold your leather cutting knife at a small angle and press down steadily to get clean cuts. It is essential to use a sharp blade since dull ones might rip or harm the leather. It is advised to place a cutting pad underneath your material to safeguard the surface and your blade. Among the most popular methods of cutting are:

• Straight cuts: Utilize a straightedge or ruler as a reference;
• Curves: For smooth outcomes, gentle, slow motions are essential;
• Corners: To preserve accuracy, cut gently and with caution.

Beginners should start with basic cuts and work their way up to more intricate designs as they develop their knife abilities for cutting leather.

Carving and Detailing Designs

Tools and Techniques for Effective Carving

Shaping and Molding Leather

Edging and Finishing Leather Edges

Techniques for Smooth and Professional Edges

Tools and Methods for Finishing Leather Edges

Conclusion

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PDF reigns over all other file types due to its universal compatibility, formatting consistency, and enhanced interactivity. Such documents are easy to open on iOS-driven devices, but challenges often arise with the need to change page orientation for a consistent viewing experience and improved content readability. Whether you are dealing with images, text, tables, or complex graphs, this guide will help you master seamless PDF rotation on your iPhone or iPad. The easiest solutions are described step-by-step, so you will make your files look crisp in no time!

Rotate PDF on iPhone & iPad Using Specialized Online Services

If you are looking for a quick, convenient, and hassle-free way to rotate PDF files without spoiling page layout, specialized online services is your way to go. It’s a powerful, feature-packed online tool allowing you to flip pages in just a couple of taps, regardless of the device you use. Thanks to high-quality mobile optimization, it’s equally easy to modify files on different iPhone/iPad models, while the entire process takes mere seconds.

Noteworthy, PDF Guru is not just a file editor. The tool is packed with a variety of features – literally everything you may need to craft a good-looking document on your iOS device. Maybe you are looking for ways to rearrange, insert, or delete pages? Or is there a need to merge or split files? You can also use the tool to convert your documents from/to dozens of other formats as well as compress PDFs to make them take up less space on your device.

The steps to rotate PDF pages are very simple:

1. Open PDF Guru in Safari or any other convenient iOS browser you love and always use.
2. Tap the ‘+’ icon and locate the file you are willing to edit or just drag and drop it into the upload area if you are using an iPad.
3. Click on the thumbnail icon at the left-hand panel and find the page that requires rotation.
4. Long-click the page and choose ‘Rotate 90° Counterclockwise’ or ‘Rotate 90° Clockwise’, depending on your needs.
5. Click ‘Done’ to complete the process.

How to Save a Rotated PDF

Once you complete all the necessary file modifications and click the ‘Done’ button, you should do the following to save the updated PDF on your device:

1. Choose a format for your file (PDF, PNG, Word, Excel, JPG, or PPTX).
2. Enter a new file name if needed.
3. Tap ‘Download,’ and the document will be processed and saved on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Rotate PDF on iPhone Using Files App

The Files application is a built-in file manager that serves as a centralized location for quick access to all user documents stored on iPhone, whether locally or in different cloud-based services (Google Drive, Slik Safe, iCloud Drive, etc.). Apple introduced the program with the release of iOS 11, so it’s currently available on all modern iPhones. Besides an option to rotate pages in PDF, you can also use Files to rename, move, copy, and delete documents; no advanced features are offered. This is how to turn PDF pages using the app:

1. Run the Files app and tap on the needed PDF to open it.
2. Click on the Edit button in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap on the three-dot icon.
4. Select ‘Rotate Left’ or ‘Rotate Right’ according to your needs.
5. Hit ‘Done’ to save the changes.

How to Rotate PDF on iPad Using Notes App

Besides Files, the owners of Apple devices can also rotate PDF files through Notes. It’s a pre-installed app launched for iOS back in 2007 so that users can quickly capture their thoughts by making notes, checklists, and sketches. Most importantly, the program supports PDF format, allowing you to view and rotate pages in your files. The procedure will not take you much time, especially if you are already familiar with the Notes app. Here’s how you can do this:

1. Open your PDF into the Notes app: long-click the file, pick ‘Share’ -> ‘Notes’, and select a note where you are eager to attach your PDF. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop the file into a newly created note.
2. Move to the page you want to rotate.
3. Click on the three-dot icon at the top of the screen and choose ‘Rotate Left’ or ‘Rotate Right’ to turn the page in the needed direction.
4. Save the changes.

Final Words

Comparing the options to rotate PDF on iPad and iPhone, the top specialized online services have an obvious advantage. As ultimate file management tools, they offer everything you need to change page orientation, compress, convert, and edit documents in one place. The Files and Notes app can cope with page rotations too, and may serve you well if you do not have an internet connection. Anyway, this guide will help you effortlessly rotate PDFs on iOS devices to maintain the readability and clarity of your files – just give it a try, and you will handle the process with ease.

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Hiring models is a crucial part of branding, whether you’re launching a fashion line, shooting a commercial, or running an online store. Traditionally, companies have relied on modeling agencies to find and book talent. While agencies can provide valuable connections, they also have several pain points that make the process costly and complicated. Today, with new platforms and technologies, you can skip the middleman and explore more flexible, cost-effective alternatives that give you direct access to the talent you need.

The Pain Points of Traditional Modeling Agencies

 

1. High Commissions and Fees

2. Lack of Flexibility

3. Limited Talent Options

4. Lack of Control

Modern Alternatives to Modeling Agencies

1. Direct Booking Platforms

Platforms like Zodel allow businesses to directly book models without the need for a middleman. These platforms offer a transparent, streamlined process where you can browse models, review their portfolios, and book them for projects—all in one place.

How They Work:

Key Benefits:

2. Freelancer Marketplaces

Freelancer platforms like Upwork and Fiverr also offer a way to hire independent models for your campaigns. These platforms may not specialize exclusively in modeling, but they provide access to a broad range of talent, including models offering their services directly.

How They Differ:

Challenges:

3. Social Media & Influencers

Another popular alternative to traditional modeling agencies is using social media platforms to find models. Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms have become goldmines for discovering fresh talent, especially if you’re looking to work with influencers who already have a strong following.

Power of Direct Connections:

By reaching out to models and influencers directly, you can avoid the middleman entirely. Many influencers work independently and are willing to collaborate with brands on sponsored shoots and campaigns.

Pros and Cons:

Key Advantages of Skipping the Middleman

1. Cost-Effective

2. Flexibility in Talent Selection

3. Direct Communication

4. Access to Diverse and Niche Talent

Conclusion

Ever feel like your money is slipping through your fingers, no matter how hard you try to hold onto it? You’re not alone. Many of us experience the struggle of juggling bills, expenses, and debt, all while trying to save for the future. But here’s the thing, taking control of your finances doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In fact, with a few simple yet powerful habits, you can turn things around and build the financial security you’ve been dreaming about.

Let’s dive into five life-changing habits that can help you get a handle on your money, reduce stress, and create a brighter financial future. Ready to make some changes? Let’s get started!

1. Create a Realistic Budget and Stick to It

2. Automate Your Savings for Effortless Growth

As you begin automating your savings, it’s important to think about what you’re saving for. Whether it’s an upcoming big purchase, a rainy day fund, or simply building a financial cushion, having a clear goal helps keep you motivated. If you’re unsure how much you should be setting aside, there are helpful tools that can give you clarity. Calculate your emergency fund to get a sense of how much you might need for unexpected expenses, or adapt your savings plan for other financial priorities. The key is making saving a habit, no matter what the goal.

3. Tackle Debt With a Clear Plan

4. Start Investing Early, Even in Small Amounts

5. Prioritize Financial Education and Self-Improvement

Here’s a truth bomb: financial knowledge is power. The more you understand about money, how it works, how to manage it, and how to make it work for you, the more control you’ll have over your financial future.

Unfortunately, many of us didn’t learn much about personal finance in school. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late to start educating yourself now. Make it a habit to learn something new about money each month.

Explore sources, like books discussing finance topics and podcasts by financial experts to expand your knowledge and learn valuable insights, for making well-informed decisions in managing your finances effectively.

Don’t overlook the advantages that accompany literacy! Feeling more self-assured and less anxious, about what lies ahead is a result of understanding your finances well. Rather than worrying about mishaps without a solution, in sight; being prepared with a solid plan brings peace of mind and security.

Well then! Where should one begin? 

Commit to learning something new today, whether it’s reading a book about budgeting or listening to a podcast on debt management during your commute. The more you invest in your financial education, the stronger and more secure your financial future will be.

Conclusion: Start Today, Reap the Benefits Tomorrow

Taking control of your finances doesn’t happen overnight. But by adopting these five habits, creating a budget, automating your savings, tackling debt, investing early, and prioritizing financial education, you’ll be well on your way to a more secure, stress-free financial future.

So, what’s the first habit you’re going to work on? Will you finally create that budget you’ve been putting off? Or maybe you’ll automate your savings and set yourself up for long-term success. Whatever you choose, remember this: every small step you take today is a giant leap toward a better financial tomorrow. You’ve got this!