i want to go to there « Elements of Style Blog

Archive for the ‘i want to go to there’ Category

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

I am currently obsessing over all things Moroccan. Wait, let me correct myself- I’ve been obsessed with all things Moroccan for a LONG time now. Specifically anything located in or having to do with the magical Marrakesh. I am absolutely dying to travel there and these two uber-luxurious hotels would be where I’d ideally lay my head (but I have a feeling they might be a *smidge* out of my price range) C’est la vie- I’d at least go for a cup pf mint tea!

Palais Rhoul is a seriously stylish mix of modern decor and traditional Moroccan style. I am quite enamored.

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Oh hello zig zag floors and striped walls with vintage paintings. I want to hug you.

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“Why yes, I WOULD like my room to look like a super sweet tent. Thank you.”

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La Mamounia is the most famous hotel in Marrakesh, recently renovated and the host of one hell of a celebrity packed grand re-opening party. It looks incredibly opulent and full of incredible detail.

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Can you imagine this? A nice sunset picnic in the desert? Because I sure can!

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A fabulous detail of the pool- the bottom patterned like a Beni Ouarain carpet! it’s one of my goals in life to own one of these bad boys. I love how they go with any style decor and in any room. A must have.

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Even Jenna’s got one- so you know it’s good.

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I also LOVED this Marrakesh themed spread in Bazaar last month (thanks Absinthrill for scanning- I had no patience this morning). I adore the colors, layers and patterns shown here and the “looseness” of the styles- I plan to adapt this for spring!

Posted in Inspirations, i want to go to there, rugs | 29 Comments »

Monday, February 15th, 2010

A friend of mine suggested I start watching Lost. Yep, you read that right, START watching it. I love TV, but don’t watch a lot of the shows people assume I would i.e. Gossip Girl, The Hills, The City, anything Housewives related, Greys Anatomy, etc. But I decided to give Lost a go with the first season DVD and sweet baby Jesus, I. AM. HOOKED. Like drug-addict hooked. When the last episode on the DVD finished and there were no more I became completely panicked and seriously considered going out to by the whole series. But my willpower reared it’s ugly head, and I shall now wait for Netflix to deposit the next one in my mailbox. The sight of that sweet red envelope will make me convulse in glee.

Here’s the thing though, part of me was kinda jealous of the people on that island. that’s how deranged I am right now with this winter weather. It’s just so damn pretty (despite the smoke monsters/polar bears) and made me think of my two weeks in Hawaii and lifetime ago. And now all I can think about as I sit here with a pile of work to do is going back to Kauai- more specifically, The Princeville resort on the Napali Coast where we stayed for one of those weeks (the other at the very glam Four Seasons Wailea). It’s been purchased and renovated by The St. Regis and looks better than ever, but the best part about it is the location. It is the most peaceful, happy place on earth and I want to go back NOW. This frigid weather is turning me into a complete sourpuss.

I need sun.

I need warmth.

I need TO GET THE HELL OUT OF NEW ENGLAND.

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Ok, I’m done venting. Thanks.

Posted in i want to go to there, my tv addiction, nonsense | 26 Comments »

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

I’ve got two trips planned to warmer climates this winter/spring- Los Angeles in February and Florida in March. But after seeing this spread in Coastal Living of designer Meg Braff’s reinvention of a villa at Round Hill in Jamaica, I wouldn’t mind adding that to my itinerary as well. This first picture of the blue bedroom made me weak in the knees when I saw it. Actually, I said TO the magazine itself, “Oh my goodness, you are SPECTACULAR!”

Crazy? Check.

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How could you not be happy with this pink umbrella over top?

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Oh, hello awesome yellow bamboo print. You are adorable. braff-yellow-bedroom-l braff-kitchen-l

I can totally see myself reading here with a cool gin & tonic in hand. Oh yes I can. braff-porch-l

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What would I wear to such a vacation spot, you ask? Why none other than the Morocco-meets-Palm Beach designs of Jules Reid! A former interior designer herself, Jules totally rocks the beachy/resort look without being sickeningly sweet and embraces designer prints like ikat (so is Gucci for Spring 2010, like this pink ikat dress). I adore these looks and wish it were warm enough to toss one on right now. Alas, I’m reduced to throwing on my big, ugly down coat once more.

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Posted in fashion, i want to go to there, lustworthy, trips | 32 Comments »

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

I’ve been seriously craving a retreat somewhere warm, quiet and peaceful lately. And from your comments on the Mykonos post, I think you are too. While quickly becoming reacquainted with my seasonal affective disorder, I have been searching the interwebs for torturous images of magnificent resorts. Very healthy behavior, I know. In my most recent search (keyword:”luxury yoga retreats”) I came across the COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali and it looks to be just about a close to blissful perfection as can be possible. It’s a residential holistic health retreat that caters to your every whim while managing to look stylish and zen:

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Then I clicked on their other property, Cocoa Beach in the Maldives, and just about had a stroke. This resort follows the same wellness approach but on the beach. The rooms are strikingly simple and soothing, something you can use as inspiration for your own home in order to make it feel more calming, perhaps? Either way, these destinations are calling my name. LOUDLY.

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Posted in Inspirations, i want to go to there, trips, yoga | 24 Comments »

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Facts about today:

*It’s snowing outside, which will turn to heavy rain later. New England, you kind of suck sometimes.

*I did not sleep a wink last night- perhaps because I threw myself a little pity party with some wine at 10 pm. It was a total scene. You should have been there.

*Due to said pity party, I now have a wee bit of a headache and zero motivation. All I want to do is get in bed and watch The Holiday and Love Actually.

* My decision to hand line all my holiday cards was idiotic but I can’t back down now. Bring on the paper cuts.

Okay, enough bitching and moaning from me- let’s take a little break from all the frantic shopping, fa-la-la-la’s and bad Christmas music to look at pictures of a warm, sunny spot that has nothing to do with the holidays! If I could run away here to the Cavo Tagoo Hotel on Mykonos right now, I would.

I’d sit right here for hours on end and do nothing but read, listen to music, eat and drink luscious fruity cocktails.

Then later I’d move over here and repeat the same:

Then skip off to the spa to bliss out:

Then sit here for a lovely meal overlooking the sea:

The retreat back to one of these LOVELY rooms for tons of sleep:

I could totally use a vacation like this right about now- how about you?

Posted in i want to go to there, trips, whining | 39 Comments »

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

I was reading the very clever Balustrade and Bitters and nearly dropped my coffee when viewing Colleen Rider’s gorgeous photos of the Tavern restaurant in L.A. It’s a magnificent interpretation of an English pub by design Jeffrey Alan Marks, who splits his time between those two locations (and is cute as a button himself). This will certainly be on my list of “must see’s” for my winter LA trip!

Design elements to note: the rivet edged metal tables, the rope detail on the lighting, the sofa-like tufted banquettes, the row of armchairs behind the bar stools in the bar (genius), the rough hewn flooring, the beautiful blue/grey wall color in the bar and the amazing chinoiserie wallpaper against the textured brick. All truly breathtaking!

Photos via Volleen Rider/Balustrade & bitters, JAM Design and Tavern LA.

Posted in Inspirations, food and drink, i want to go to there, trips | 18 Comments »

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Summer is in full swing and while I love the hustle and bustle of the city, I certainly crave quiet time by the ocean (which has yet to happen this year). One place I’d love to spend a couple days listening to the waves and meandering through the countryside is the new 13 room Stone House hotel in the gorgeous, quiet seaside community of Little Compton, Rhode Island (I must admit, every time I say “Little Compton” I have an urge to start spewing Dr. Dre lyrics about the other Compton…) But I digress.

This place is AMAZING. Recently renovated by the Goosewing Hotels crew, they maintained the traditional exterior of the main house and barn (the house has two foot thick stone walls) while modernizing the interior into a sleek, clean lined escape reminiscent of an urban hotel. The juxtaposition of the new and old makes for a really interesting design.

The restaurant Pietra has a Tuscan inspired menu, while the casual bar/dining space, called 1854, is in the lower level in a room that is rumored to have been a speakeasy (I love that kind of history in a place!)

Did I mention that the Stone House has it’s own Hinckley yacht available at your disposal for sunset cruises or trips to Newport?

Yes please.

While in Little Compton, you could spend an afternoon touring the Sakonnet Vineyards and feel like, if only for a moment, you’ve been transported to Napa!

Posted in i want to go to there, trips | 13 Comments »

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Inspired by this article, I began to think about how these days people are often having to consider what their “Plan B” in life might be. Layoffs and budget cuts typically leave their victims one of two ways- devastated and immobile or inspired to make change and see what else is out there for them beyond the expected. This article in Psychology Today was particularly interesting and I wanted to share it with you while I pondered what my “plan B” would be…. it’s kind of fun to think about, no? A little bit of an escape fantasy!

I think moving to a sunny, beachy island and running a B&B like India Hicks would be perfection…granted, that might take a little capital! Oh how charmed her life appears (and her home- yes, please)…

…or maybe moving to the quiet countryside here in New England and opening a sweet little bakery (like the folks at Heaven, which I posted about here.)

…or be a yoga teacher and live a more spritual life (and a fab Indian inspired home too…of course).

…or scrap everything and move to Paris, work in a boutique while writing and painting at the same time.

So what would your dream Plan B be???

images via Cookie Magazine,Apartment Therapy, Point Click Home, LivingEtc, Flickr

Posted in Inspirations, i hate recessions., i want to go to there | 27 Comments »

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Right about now I’d love to be spending time at a shingled, tiny, rose covered Nantucket cottage- spending my days trolling the town and beaches on a bike with a wicker basket and nights with friends on a porch. I love the aesthetic of Nantucket, especially once the warm weather hits. It makes me want to revert to my uber-preppy days of Lilly and grosgrain trimmed everything…

I’ve always adored the cover of this book an Nantucket’s architecture- my dad has had it on his coffee table for years!