• The Louvre has a fabulous collection of antique French furniture, tapestries, rugs, and tableware, which can be daunting in its historic scope and size. One can stroll at leisure through the galleries featuring the fine, signed pieces which belonged to French royalty or take a tour given by a decorative arts professional, which can take more than two hours and is usually in French.

• There are many smaller museums to explore in the heart of Paris, which feature decorative arts. Some of our favorites include:

• Musee Nissim de Camondo, is located adjacent to the wonderful Parc Monceau in the 8th arrondisement. Moise Camondo was a prominent banker who had a passion for the furniture, art and decorative accessories of the 18th century. Each room is decorated with period pieces and remains just as when the family had lived there at the beginning of the 20th century. We love the butler's pantry with its wall-to-wall glass cabinets filled with exquisite Sevres porcelain.

• Musee Carnavalet, located in the 3rd arrondisement, adjacent to the popular, historic and ancient Marais section of Paris, offers a chronological room-by-room view of French decorating from the renaissance period of Henri IV, to the opulent rococo style of Louis XIV, the curvy and flowered femininity of the Louis XV rooms in rich jewel tones, to the cool classicism and restraint of Louis XVI with its toned down blues, greens and grays. The museum is housed in a 17th century hotel particulier and is a work of art in itself.

• Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature. ( Also located in the same 3rd arrondisement) Collections relating to hunting and nature include decorative arts, furniture, sculpture, textiles, and tapestries.

• Le Musee Jacquemart Andre is a sumptuous early 20th century mansion decorated with the finest French art and antiques from various periods, but primarily from the 18th century. It is located in the 8th arrondisement and contains a restaurant.

• Musee National de la Ceramique, located at the Pont de Serves metro stop, this museum was created to feature the porcelaine de Sevres, the royal porcelain manufacturers.