I'll be in France in December and will spend part of the time in Paris reconnecting with some of my favorite art and foie gras. I'm interested in receiving recommendations for boutique hotels within 45 minutes walk of the Orsay and the Louvre and not too far away from the train station (chunneling to and from London). I believe in being specific, so here are my requests:

- No brocade, faux-Louis XIV, faded glory nightmare decor some people consider elegant; contemporary or spartan, please.

- Clean.

- Relatively quiet.

- Non-intrusive, but courteous (for Paris) hotel staff.

- Unusual.

I don't trust most of the reviews left on Expedia.com et al. Additionally, some of the loveliest, privately owned hotels (think "non-chain") don't use such services. Please send recommendations as private messages and or post them as comments. Fingers crossed...

Thank you,
TJP