Parisian Hideaways

I tend not to travel in the summer because 1) it's too hot in many destinations so it's a little hard to see the romance and charm when it's a sweltering 90 degrees and 2) too many tourists on summer holiday.

Instead, I'll be taking a trip to Paris, all in the comfort of my air-conditioned home. I finally had the chance to read my copy of Parisian Hideaways: Exquisite Rooms in Enchanting Hotels by Casey O'Brien Blondes, and it's really something else. Each chapter features charming Parisian boutique hotels that are unbelievably stylish. Some are very traditional and very French while others are slightly eccentric.

Now, how many times have we read articles in which homeowners said that they wanted to duplicate the hotel look in their homes? I never understood that because isn't home supposed to look like home? Why do I want to feel like I'm living in the lobby of a W hotel? The hotels featured in this book are completely different. You will get a lot of decorating ideas from these hotels and this book (at least I did).

In addition to the glorious photos, there is interesting information about each hotel as well as lists of the hotel owners' favorite restaurants, shops, and museums. I think what I liked most about this book is what a surprise it was. A book on hotels is usually not up my alley, but when the hotels are as gorgeous as these, well, that's a different story!


Windsor Home, 3, rue Vital


Le Daniel, 8, rue Frederic Bastiat


Dokhan's, 117, rue Lauriston


Hotel du Petit Moulin, 29/31, rue de Poitou (decorated by Christian Lacroix)


Le Duc de Saint-Simon, 14, rue de Saint-Simon

(All images Beatrice Amagat from Parisian Hideaways: Exquisite Rooms in Enchanting Hotels by Casey O'Brien Blondes, Rizzoli New York, 2009)