I believe that the time may have come for a new laptop...
...and I think the arabesque curls on this GOLD laptop is sorta kinda catching my eye!
The Ideal Bookshelf 12/28/2010
The Ideal Bookshelf is a nifty little creation by Jane Mount from New York, NY.
My favorite is tied between the Harry Potter book set and the cookbook set. Ms. Mount paints these booksets for clients as gifts and I think these are beautiful and very thoughtful!
Photos courtesy of The Ideal Bookshelf.
The Mandala Hotel 12/27/2010
So I spotted this picture of a hotel bar and thought it looked pretty spiffy. I would have featured the rest of the hotel but the picture quality was quite up to par, so I decided just to show the bar because I thought the illuminated tile detail was very pretty! This bar belongs to the The Mandala Hotel in Berlin, Germany and someday, I will go visit there!
Confetti System: the way to brighten up any party! 12/26/2010
Sorry for the long hiatus! I've been a bit preoccupied with the happenings of the holidays and the people in my life, but now I'm back!!! Yay!!!
So let me introduce you to Confetti System, a charming little company that makes decorative garlands in a variety of colors. They also make some pinatas as well! When was the last time you cracked open a pinata?
I think the Peaches Garland is by far my favorite because of all the pink.
I think it's a pretty simple way of jazzin' up a place if you're in need of a bit of bling and silliness. I wonder how easy it is to make these!
Photos courtesy of Confetti System.
HOTEL JUNKIE: The Waterhouse - Huangpu District, Shanghai 11/02/2010
It has been brought to my attention from my friend Phong, that I need to start researching Asian hotels as well. So here goes! When I first saw images of the Waterhouse, I thought "Wow, that looks incredibly dilapidated.... " So my hopes for this hotel were pretty bleak.
I mean look at it! It looks all... grungy... and stuff... but the interior will totally blow you away (as it did to me!)
So the Waterhouse is pretty awesome looking huh? Apparently it was built/used in the 1930's as military headquarters which probably explains the exterior. Neri & Hu is the amazing design company.
Photos courtesy of Vain Lane and Arch Daily.
HOTEL JUNKIE: The Palace at Playa Grande - Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic 10/26/2010
The frilly little princess inside of me is just dying with joy right now! All the way on the beautiful coasts of the Dominican Republic, there is a special place called the Palace, just waiting for princesses to find it.
While the rest of the Palace left me wanting a bit more, I still found myself oohing and aahing over the cute bedrooms with the foofy sheers and fancy windows. Also, how can anyone say no to a view like that?
HOTEL JUNKIE: Epic Hotel - Miami, FL 10/25/2010
I just can't get over this hotel! I think I'm in love! The Epic Hotel really is EPIC. At first, when I saw the website and the photos, I thought "Pfft... there's better out there," but as I continued to explore the website, I fell more and more in love with this hotel.... Here, take a look yourself!
While this bathroom does look fairly modest, it still looks so comfortable and serene...
I just want to sink into that tub and feel my troubles melt away....
This whole rooftop club/pool area looks amazing both at night and during the day.
I'm not a lounge-by-the-pool type, but for Epic Hotel, I'd give it a try!
They also have the Metropolis Ballroom, which looks so glamorous!
This area is called the Hammam Detox Chamber. I LOVE IT.
Zuma Sushi Restaurant
It looks so yummy already... and the food didn't even come out yet!
How can it be so pretty? I'm flabbergasted.
The caption for this area on the website reads "Area 31 Private Dining With
A Highly Publicized View" and I have to say.. this view looks to die for!
(They must have had one of the BEST photographers ever... all the other hotels should hire this photographer because he/she certainly worked his/her magic and made this place look ridiculously good, dont you think??)
Ashley Meaders 10/24/2010
There are so many different areas of design. While I've always had a deep love for architectural design (yes, even more so than interior design), I also have a great love for wedding design as well. I've often toyed with the idea of jumping headfirst into wedding desing. Ashley Meaders is a seriously fantastic wedding designer who's designs have a touch of homegrown feeling to it. I love that personal touch that makes a wedding just a bit more intimate. It makes me smile... that's what Ashley Meaders' design does to me!
You don't often see elephants in wedding invitations, do you? Well you'll never forget these elephants with this awesomely simple design :)
I've never seen a swing like this one, and someday hope to have one just like this in my backyard.
This is by far my favorite wedding design. It's just such a lovely pinky-peach color and Ashley Meaders incorporated some of my favorite flowers: the ranunculus!
Photos courtesy of Ashley Meaders.
HOTEL JUNKIE: Chambers - New York, NY 10/24/2010
Fifth Avenue has been known for years as one of the most expensive streets in the world and the Chambers Hotel, which is right off of Fifth Avenue, is just as swanky as Fifth Avenue itself. With what I can only describe as casual elegance, the Chambers Hotel is understated but still very luxurious and you can see it in their use of materials from the finishes to the textiles.
The Exterior
The Lobby
The Restaurant
I am a huge fan of symmetry; drawn to it like a moth to a flame. So it's no real surprise to me that I find the balance of the Chambers Hotel to be so refined and calming. Typically clean lines and contemporary design don't really pull me in. However, with this hotel, there's still a feeling of comfort and warmth. There is an excellent mix of textiles that really convey that home-away-from-home feeling. You may disagree with me, but gosh darn it, that bed in the suite photo just screams to me "Come hither and staaaaaay forever."Photos courtesy of Chambers Hotel.
Oyster.com 10/23/2010
Recently, while watching the news, there came a report about a website called Oyster.com. Apparently, hotels have been lying about themselves! What?? I'm in disbelief! (The two previous exclamations are dripping with sarcasm... I know, it's hard to read sarcasm via internet.) Well Oyster's pull is that they allow you to "see thousands of undoctored hotel photos, then book with confidence."
I think that this is a great idea and it looks as though they are already pretty popular. It's pretty awesome that they allow you to search hotels based on certain criteria such as: Romantic, Party, or Luxury among others... versus just the plain ol' Cost or Distance. So the next time you're looking to find a place to stay... double check with Oyster.com!
The best part about Oyster.com is that they have a FAKEOUT section! Which is hilarious because they're basically calling out all those poopy hotels that lied to you! Hahahah Enjoy!
HOTEL JUNKIE: Turtle Inn - Palencia, Belize 10/23/2010
Disclaimer: I Love Turtles. So it's safe to say that anything named after turtles, I'm going to LOVE.
On a teeny tiny peninsula in Caribbean Sea exists a delightful little resort called the Turtle Inn. What's really exciting are all the amenities that are available: the Belize barrier reef (I didn't even know Belize had a barrier reef!), wildlife sanctuary, and tons of caves and waterfalls to be explored. Another nice aspect of this resort is that they actively participate in conservation and sustainability. You can read more about it here. It only adds to the charm of Turtle Inn!
Oh! There have been sightings of turtles too! ;)
Photos courtesy of Coppola Resorts.
Marion Bolognesi 10/20/2010
This Brooklynn-based artist certainly has a way with her medium, which I believe is watercolor. With such vibrant colors, these images literally leap off of the stark white backgrounds. I certainly love Marion's work. Seeing images like these make me wish that my hands were more fluid and could create art like this. However, my nimble fingers were made to work speedily and type at 100+ WPM. Haha!
