About Me

Hi, I'm Lynn, the owner of the online shop, Paris Hotel Boutique. I've been selling vintage and antique wares for over 15 years now, and blogging since 2007.

This blog is a companion to my online shop, Paris Hotel Boutique. Paris Hotel Boutique celebrates the glitz and glamour of a bygone era by offering vintage and antique finds including European furnishings, antique curiosities, first edition books, paintings, Mid Century decor, and a vast array of old hotel souvenirs and silver.

Blogging allows me to share my musings in the world of vintage; flea markets, tips on collecting, travel, trends, friends and fun finds. I welcome your comments and suggestions. Thanks so much for visiting!

Design*Sponge Bloggers Online Shopping Guide

Thanks to Grace at design*sponge for creating the bloggers online shopping guide! With this two part guide you will find some of Grace's favorite bloggers' online haunts which include furniture, lighting, textiles, paper goods, wallpaper, gifts, ceramics, garden, vintage finds, artwork and "hidden gem" web sites. It's really worth taking some time to read these finds. There are some fantastic links!

Shopping Guide Part One

Shopping Guide Part Two

I want to extend my thanks to Victoria at SFGirlByBay,

Anna at Absolutelybeautifulthings and Courtney at StyleCourt for including Paris Hotel Boutique among their favorite vintage finds! Thanks so much!

Summer in the City

It's be awhile since my last post, but I've been busy shopping for new inventory and getting photos ready for the web site in addition to updating the site. Should be seeing a "new & improved" Paris Hotel Boutique in the weeks to come!

I just have to share my joy... Indian Summer just started 3 days ago in The City by the Bay. This is my third day of wearing sandals and I couldn't be happier! Gone with the summer turtlenecks and down jackets and time for summer, fall? The fog could take us by surprise, but to my fellow San Franciscans, "HAPPY SUMMER!!!"

California Dreamin'

The other day I decided to pamper myself and get a pedicure at Teashi on Polk Street here in San Francisco. Such a cute salon that I couldn't resist purchasing one of their new lines of candles from Seeay California. These candles are amazing! First of all, they are 100% soy wax and each burn for 55 hours. More importantly, the packaging is gorgeous! Hot pink boxes with wonderful modern graphics that have a Hollywood Regency vibe. Each box is packaged with little matchbooks wrapped in cellophane tied with vintage type material ribbon that is the cutest ever. And don't we all love presentation? More than that, the aroma is divine! My whole house smells like a tropical island and that's sure nice when we're in the dead of winter here in S.F. The scents are inspired by the sights and scents of the California coast. There are 8 scents including Malibu, Big Sur, Half Moon Bay, etc. And, these candles are fairly priced at $28. I think I want to order one of each! You can order them online here at Seeay California. Enjoy!

House of Whimsy

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Kimberlee Edgar's home in the East Bay. Kimberlee is a long time friend and antiques enthusiast. She has been collecting vintage items her whole life. Everyone in her family is a collector with eclectic and over-the-top homes. Kimberlee's Mom is an antique dealer/collector. Her Mom introduced Kimberlee to antiques when she was very young. They went to flea markets, estate sales and shops to uncover hidden treasures.

Kimberlee was fascinated with ribbons, ephemera and millinery items, and started her journey collecting as a young girl. Her Uncle was also a great influence to her collecting. He had an old barn set up like a prop museum with big chandeliers, taxidermy, top hats and more. Mesmerized by the barn, Kimberlee decided to sleep there instead of in the home. When she got older her Uncle would give her a trinket every time he saw her. They were always rare and unusual.

This really got Kimberlee going with collecting. Now her favorite things are top hats, holiday collectibles, dress forms, taxidermy, ephemera (paper) and anything unique. Her advice to newcomers collecting is to try and pick something rare and different which makes the hunt fun and interesting. Kimberlee and her husband Charles love to go antiquing. In fact, Kimberlee claims that Charles has an amazing eye for buying wonderful things. Sit back and enjoy the photos of their home. There is much too much to photograph, but you can get an idea of their whimsical house of curiosities! You can also check out Kimberlee's blog, Edgar and Edgar to see more of Kimberlee's unique finds. Thank you Kimberlee for the most enjoyable visit!

If You're Going to San Francisco...

Click on photos to enlarge...

Be sure to wear a heavy coat! Well, it's that time of year. Gloomy Summer. My favorite. Dreaming of sunshine and sitting in the fog. Brrrr...The rest of the country may be sweltering in the grip of record summer heat and drought, but we here in San Francisco are lost in a blanket of grey gloom. Our usually lovely view of mountains, Twin Peaks and the East Bay is a bank of fog. We can hardly see the cars in front of us while driving down the street. And everyone is all bundled up like we're in Alaska. Actually I think it's colder here than Alaska. It is 51 degrees and windy as well. YES, I just checked. It's 62 degrees in Anchorage, Alaska. Unbelievable! No one believes me when I say, "if you're coming to San Francisco in the summer, bring a coat!" Fisherman's Wharf must make huge profits in the summer selling thousands of sweatshirts to tourists trying to stay warm! Everyone is walking around in Bermuda shorts with sweatshirts of Alcatraz. Scary. As it is said, "the only seasons in San Francisco are Summer, Winter and Fog." Also, the overused quote, supposedly by Mark Twain, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” This is true.

So for all of you in need of air conditioning, please come to San Francisco. I guarantee you will cool off right away and start missing those sandals! I sure do!

Updated House Photos

Just thought I'd share some current photos of my home. Thanks to my friend Sandy who did such a great job with his professional camera equipment! And thanks Della Wilson for all of your help in completing the bedroom. I never thought I'd finish! I do love the Tiffany blue touch.

Be sure and click on the photos to enlarge...

Vito resting in the living room