Maintaining a private mansion: an exceptional savoir-faire
Parisian private mansions are architectural treasures that span centuries. Behind their stone facades lie interiors of unparalleled richness: ceilings painted with gold leaf, Versailles oak parquet, Carrara marble fireplaces, sculpted woodwork and Bohemian crystal chandeliers. Maintaining these residences requires far more than ordinary cleaning. It is an art that demands deep knowledge of antique materials, an affirmed aesthetic sensibility, and absolute respect for heritage.
Lemon Soap trains its housekeepers in the specific maintenance techniques for historic buildings. Each protocol is developed in consultation with owners, and sometimes with their restorers or heritage architects, to ensure that every gesture contributes to the preservation of these exceptional residences. Our team understands the importance of every moulding, every patina, and every reflection on centuries-old marble.
The care of noble and heritage materials
Marble and natural stone
Marble is omnipresent in Parisian private mansions: floors, fireplaces, monumental staircases, columns and basins. Each type of marble -- white Carrara, red Languedoc, green Alpine -- requires a tailored treatment. We use exclusively pH-neutral products, applied with special microfibres that respect the stone's polish without scratching its surface. Polishing is carried out with professional buffing powders that restore the marble's natural lustre without altering its historic patina.
Woodwork and gold leaf gilding
The sculpted woodwork of salons, libraries and state bedrooms is the jewel of private mansions. Their maintenance requires meticulous dusting with goat-hair brushes, followed by the application of natural beeswax that deeply nourishes the wood. Gold leaf gilding, being extremely fragile, is never directly touched: dusting is carried out by controlled vacuum with a soft-bristle nozzle, maintained at a constant distance from the surface.
Antique parquet and marquetry
Herringbone, Versailles and chevron parquet floors constitute the living ground of these residences. Their maintenance involves daily dusting with a natural-fibre broom, weekly cleaning with diluted black soap, and gentle seasonal vitrification. Marquetry parquet, composed of precious woods of varying species, receives an individual treatment for each species, preserving the chromatic contrasts intended by the original cabinetmaker.
Chandeliers and crystal
Crystal chandeliers are cleaned drop by drop, with a mixture of demineralised water and white vinegar. Each pendant is dried individually to prevent any marks. The gilded bronze structures are dusted without contact with the crystals, and the metal parts are nourished with a specific wax that preserves their golden patina.
Protecting artworks during maintenance
A private mansion often houses remarkable art collections: old master paintings, sculptures, antique tapestries, rare book libraries. Before each intervention, our team leader establishes a precise inventory of the artworks and sensitive objects present in each room. Paintings are protected with antistatic covers, sculptures with non-abrasive cotton drapes. Our agents never directly touch a work of art. Dusting is done exclusively by gentle vacuum, with a nozzle held at a controlled distance from the surface.
Organisation and household staff management
Maintaining a private mansion requires rigorous organisation. Lemon Soap can take full charge of household staff coordination: housekeeper scheduling, product and supply management, supervision of external contractors (glazing, restoration, gardening). We establish a detailed house book documenting the maintenance protocols for each room, intervention frequencies, and products used, ensuring perfect continuity even in the event of a team change.
- Customised protocols for each heritage material
- Housekeepers trained in the codes of prestigious residences
- Systematic protection of artworks and precious objects
- Thorough seasonal deep cleaning of the entire residence
- Confidentiality agreement signed by every team member
- Specialist insurance for listed buildings and artworks
The seasonal deep clean
Twice a year, in spring and autumn, we recommend a thorough deep cleaning of the entire residence. This intervention mobilises an expanded team over several days and covers all surfaces, including those not treated during regular maintenance: painted ceilings, high cornices, moulding tops, chimney flues, cellars and attics. It is also an opportunity to check the condition of materials, flag any deterioration, and recommend restoration work if necessary.