World's Most Astounding and Beautiful Book Stores Series ~ Netherlands

The Dutch have always been inventive and open minded in their solutions. 
One of the most amazing book stores is housed in an 800 year old
Dominican cathedral in Maastricht, Netherlands.  Boekhandel Selexyz
Dominicanen is dubbed a book store that is "made in heaven." 

Can you imagine the scale of this place?

It must feel very peaceful inside.

What a wonderful way to preserve an old

cathedral rather than letting it rot away.

The architects Merkx + Girod did a fantastic job with the design.

Even the cafe table in the middle is in the shape of a cross - an

appropriate reference to the building's original use.

The Dutch are known for the openness to the gay community

and have one of the largest celebrations in the world every

summer. 

I can only imagine what it feels to browse instead

 since the scale of the cathedral is so grand.

Libraries

by Candida Hofer

I hope you enjoyed the tour of this bookstore

as much as I did.  If you enjoy bookstores and

libraries, this hardcover book has fantastic images

of libraries.

Photos from Flickr and Google Images

A Log Home in Shenandoah

I just can't get over the deck of this log cabin.  The view, huge deck and

gorgeous stone fireplace is a dream place to hang out in.  I know it's 

very cold on the East Coast as of late.  Here's a fabulous log cabin to

show that with cold weather, you can still have a gorgeous home that's

warm and rustic. 

The front entrance is modest.

Everything down to the entire staircase is wood.

If this was my house, I'd be camped

out next to the fire with a sleeping bag!

Notice the outdoor deck wraps around the house.

Even the hood over the stove looks like wood!

There seems to be a great view from every room in this home.

A writing area on the landing of the stairs.

What a gorgeous and cozy bedroom.

The perfect rustic kid's room.

Hope this is inspiration for those of you

who are experiencing colder weather.

Photos from Loghome.com

Outdoor Beach Living, Decks and Porches

It's been raining for over 2 weeks in San Francisco so can you

blame me for thinking of warm weather, beaches and outdoor

living?  I imagine many of you also could use some sunshine

about now in your lives as well.  So here's some monday

inspiration. 

Having a porch or deck such as this with such a view would

be an absolute dream.  Can you imagine living in a place like

this? 

Quintessential tropical living with beautiful rattan furniture.

This place is absolutely amazing!  Did you see all the woodwork

on the ceiling as well as the floors?  I adore wood so I can't

help it.

This sort of railing is perfect so it doesn't block

the view.  What a great place to hang out.

Talk about a sweet place for tea, cocktails or daydreaming...

The colors of this porch with blend right in

with the clear aquamarine of the sea.

This is true island living with all the gorgeous

woodwork and plantation doors.

I'm totally drooling over the sofa. 

Colonial chairs with a gorgeous daybed for

outdoor living.  What more could one ask for?

What fun pops of color to bring some fun to a porch.

Now this is a pretty cool and cozy outdoor deck.  The

kitchen is built right around the sitting area complete

with a fireplace.  If I had a room like that, I'd hang out

there all the time :)

Using benches is an interesting idea

for a deck.  It's nice and simple.

I just couldn't stop staring at the plush

pillows.  What a place to to kick back in.

Hope this has brought you some sunshine

this week.  I can keep dreaming that

some day I can live next to the ocean...

Photos from Coastal Living

Colonial Mexican Architecture Series - Another Merida, Mexico Gem

I'm afraid I'm in one of my obsessive runs lately with colonial Mexican

architecture.  Since we're (me and my sweetie) planning a trip to

Merida, Mexico to get a feel for the city and to look at properties, I've

been scouring a lot of properties online so we can narrow down properties

we want to look at.  They include properties that are totally finished and

properties that need a lot of work.  I'm showcasing some of the homes that

have really inspired my imagination and hope it will do the same for you.

This home has clear Moroccan/Andalusian influences on it with the

detailing in the arches.  The home is a fantastic blend and comes

turnkey.

I'd have to say that this courtyard is pretty fabulous.  You get a

great centralized view of the entire home and property.  The

home is developed in a "C" shape.

You may wonder why the pool is above ground.  There is a lot

of limestone and bedrock beneath the surface.  If you hit bedrock

while trying to dig a pool, you may as well make an above ground

dipping pool for all the trouble it is to jack hammer bedrock.

Here's that outdoor living space next to the courtyard.

It leads right into one of the 3 bedrooms in the house.

This is the side living area.  The glass doors are really great

so you can open them up completely for outdoor/indoor

living.

Here's a more traditional piece of furniture.  It

makes sense to have all the holes in it to breathe.

A lovely dining space.

The kitchen is gorgeous with a modern twist on the classic

Yucatan kitchen.  The Andalusian influence is very obvious.

Since the rooms are so large, this designer

but two double beds in one room.

This is one of the really unique rooms in this home.  It's a

completely Moroccan styled bathroom - right down to the

sink being smack in the middle of the floor.  I imagine in the

olden times, it was a small fountain that was used to wash.

Upstairs next to the balcony is a room that

serves as an office or an extra guest bedroom.

A nice little washing area next to it.

They either had this piece custom built or they

got really lucky in fitting it into this nook!

I love the little lanterns strung across canopy made of

branches.  The branches are perfect to provide some

shade while still letting light through and the lanterns are

perfect for ambience at night.

A view from above.

So what do you think of this home?  What do you think

of having a courtyard in a home?  I personally love the

idea of a courtyard. 

Photos from Buena Vida Realtors

African Safari Style - Makanyane Safari Lodge

One of my dream places to go on a luxury tour is Africa.  Of course

I'm really going to have to save my pennies because these luxury

lodges are definitely not cheap running at several hundred to several

thousand dollars for one night.  But in the mean time, I can certainly

drool over these fabulous places.  One thing I adore in many of these

lodges are real fireplaces with canopies in the bedroom.

 

It's a great inspiration for any of you who would love that African safari

style.  This lodge is called Makanyane Safari Lodge and it is located in

the northern part of South Africa.  It consits of a main lodge witih 8

individual suites.

Can you imagine staying in a suite where an

elephant is literally steps away from your room? 

I don't believe I've ever seen an upscale African lodge with a

bed and sheets that do not look like the epitome of comfort.

Love the open concept bathing idea.

Better than many spas.

Even the private decks at this lodge give chances for wild life viewing.

What a way to take afternoon tea.  Count me in for sure!

Or take it from your own deck.

The main lodge.

The wall of branches are so cool.

A small infinite pool with fabulous lounge chairs. 

For lounging with a loved one or reading, this is definitely the spot.

It's so romantic at dusk.  Dusk is one of my favorite parts of the day.

How about a traditional outdoor meal.

What an awesome experience to view the wild
life of Africa from a lounge chair.

Of course you'll get a better view up close and personal on a safari.

Never imagined elephants in a field full of

yellow wild flowers.  It's almost fantastical.

And mother nature is a force - it's fearsome

and awesome at the same time.

If you've ever thought of having an African

styled safari room, hope this has provided

some great inspiration.

Photos from Makanyane Safari Lodge

Scandinavian Color Inspiration - Color on a White Background

Ever since we've the Scandinavian invasion from Ikea and H&M,

many of us can't seem to get enough of it.  While pure Scandinavian

design isn't for everyone, there are many elements of it that anyone

can incorporate into their own modern designs.  One thing ths
Scandinavians do very well with is being able to use color

dramatically on a blank white canvas.

Or a black one...

Here we have white walls with pickled floor boards (great

Swedish floor treatment) with really vivid pops of yellow,

chartreuse and green.  It's just fantastic!

A closer look at those fantastic throw pillows.

Wall stencils make a really great statement - they're especially

great for people like me who can only draw stick figures...

Another example of putting color on a

blank canvas.  Very simple yet interesting.

If you don't want to deal with stencils, how about wall decals!

Love the pink bamboo rug, but love the brightly colored nook

for storage space even more.

Just place them where you want it, stick and unpeel.

Love the color of the towels.

Hope this post has given you some ideas

on how to brighten your white walls.

Photos by Thomas Dahl and from Bolig Magasinet (magazine)

Colonial Mexican Architecture Reimagined ~ Merida, Mexico (Yucatan)

First of all, I'd like to apologize as it's come to my attention that my Email

RSS feed has been coming out in a jumbled mess.  I am trying my best to

fix this.  It's been a bit tough since Google has no support for Feedburner. 

Please stick with me a bit longer.  

One of my favorite shows is House Hunters International on HGTV.  This is

because it combines two of my favorite favorite past times:  travel and

design.  In December, HGTV aired an episode in Merida, Mexico which

is on the Yucatan peninsula (opposite side of Cancun.)  I'd never heard

really heard of Merida before.  It's actually a city of about 1 million people.

However, what makes it uniqe is it's old colonial center of town and the

fact that it is only 30 minutes from the beach.  On the outside, these

homes look "poor and run down", but expats have been moving there

and taking these neglected and run down colonial homes and renovating

them.  The result is astounding.  My jaw literally dropped seeing the inside

of some of these renovated homes.  It actually has inspired my significant

other and I to plan an Easter trip to Merida to seriously consider buying

property there.  As it's our first time to Merida, of course we have to

evaulate if we like it first.

This home is a gorgous home that has been renovated. 

The plants and landscaping is also outstanding.

Because Merida has tropical weather, it's very

much so indoor and outdoor living at it's finest.

My parents are from Malaysia so I know very

well what the weather is like and the fact that

most homes are not "air tight" like our homes in

the states are.  But my parents certainly did not

have a home they grew up in like this!

The colonial homes in Merida very typically have

18-20 feet ceilings.  The expats have carried

over the concept of open living to create large

and spacious rooms that are dramatic in their

height alone.

The French and the Spanish brought over their influences

during the colonial era.  From the Spanish also came

Andalusian influences which is why many of the traditional

kitchen designs in Merida look Andalusian in nature.

Andalusia also has heavy Moorish influences in their

architecture - so it seems almost natural to incorporate

moorish elements in their design.  Isn't the bathroom

above fantastic?

Here is that kitchen I was talking about.

The kitchen follows the lines of traditional kitchens in

Merida yet incorporates modern finishes and pasta

tiles (you can see on the back splash) that are hand

made in the Yucatan.

You can see just a hint of the Moorish influence in the arch.

Because the Yucatan peninsual has tropical weather, they don't use

rugs there very much - instead they lay down these fantatsic pasta tiles

in all sorts of patterns to serve as a "rug."

The ceilings and the walls in this living area is very traditional.

Isn't the paint job fantastic?  Do you notice the high walls to the left in this

photo?  All of the colonial homes have very high walls so even though the

living space is so open, there is no concern about privacy unless you live

next to a building even higher than yours ^_^

I'm totally drooling over this long wooden table and view. 

What a place this would be to live in!

Hope you enjoyed feasting your eyes on this home as

much as I did.  I'll be showing more homes in Merida

later on.

If any of you are interested, a reputable real estate agency

in Merida is Mexico International.  Eric Partney is an agent

there who is very knowledgable (and was the real estate

agent in the House Hunters International episode.)

World's Most Astounding and Beautiful Book Stores Series ~ Argentina - El Ateneo (Grand Splendid)

This looks like one of those fantastical renderings doesn't it? 

A place that just doesn't seem real...I've got news, this is a real
book store in Buenos Aires, Argentina called El Ataneo
(Grand Splendid.)  The 1919 building used to be a theater and
was repurposed as a book store.  Absolutely splendid isn't it?

Here's a fisheye view of the whole theater and the different floors.

Just stunning.

The ceiling and light fixtures are all super gorgeous. 

Talk about amazing latin american colonial architecture.

More details.  This photo from Guslight on Flickr.

The stage area is now used as a cafe and hang out place.

Great ambience.

Here's the front of the  bookstore.  Wouldn't this be
a fantastic place to spend an afternoon?

Photos from Flickr

Kishani Perera ~ Fabulous L.A. based Interior Designer

Kishani Perera is one of my favorite designers.  She is based out of L.A.  She first caught my attention when I saw the New York Soho apartment that she designed for Molly Sim.  More recently, she worked on this L.A. atelier's home.  I just love the use of vivid colors in her design.  It's difficult to get just the right hue and she did just that here with the walls and the ceiling.  The fun cover on the bed was purchased from Maryam of Marakesh's store.

Nothing makes a room pop like a bunch of fresh flowers.

Kishani has a wonderful sense of not only color, but being

able to blend eclectic styles and vintage furnishings together.

I love the arched window in this home - it lets so much light in.

I had to take a moment to really study this bathroom.  The wallpaper really makes this bathroom a "wow" factor.  It's interesting to see the tiles in small pieces where many times most of us are most accustomed to seeing large format tiles on the floor.

By leaving the ceiling white, the dark

color does not overwhelm this bathroom.

When in fact, it is a gorgeous hue of peacock blue.

Isn't the chandelier just rocking?

Now that is one Huge lamp shade!

Who says the outside shouldn't be just as stylish as the inside. 

Love the organic wood table and especially the very long sofa!

Hope you've enjoyed this home as much as I have. 

All photos are from Kishani Perera's site

A Luxe and Otherworldly Moroccan Boutique Hotel in Marrakech - Part II (the Rooms)

This, ladies and gentleman is a dream spa room for me.  The tall ceilings to

the architectural details, perfect lighting and the fun designs on the wall

from  the lantern all contribute to make this space peaceful and beautiful.

This is a continuation from Monday's article on the gorgeous boutique hotel

Dar Les Cigognes in Marrakech, Morocco.

Each of their 11 rooms are decorated differently and beautifully.  This

is the silver room.  The details on the ceiling are just gorgeous.

The  bathroom is not huge but it is luxurious and very well designed.  The bathtub looks to be made entirely from concrete - oh the things you can do with concrete are just amazing.  There are arches everywhere.

The lines and furniture in the room marry traditional moroccan decor with modern furnishings and clean lines.  It's just fantastic - especially the fireplace design!

This is the Harem Suite and named appropriately so in this sinly and decadent crimson color.  I love it!

Totally fell in love with this room as soon as I laid eyes on this image.  This is the Safari suite and the shade of green is just perfection.  It's really hard to get that perfect shade and the designers managed to get it just right.

This is Safari deluxe room.  The room is simply decorated -- but it is just perfect.  Not too much and too minimalistic.

Gorgeous wood beams with a berber carpet really make this a luxuriously rustic space.

A traditional Berber styled lounging area.

The Library

Last but not least is the dining room with a gorgeous chandelier.

What ambinence the dining room has at night.

The Villas and Riads of Morocco

If you love Moroccan design as much as I do, check out these two books.  I have several books on Moroccan design and am buying more!

Living in Morocco
Design from Casablanca to Marrakech

I hope you enjoyed "eyeing" this hotel as much as I did.  I'd love to stay there some day.  If you love all things Morocco, Maryam of My Marrakesh is THE blog to check out.

Photos from Dar Les Cigognes

A Luxe and Otherworldly Moroccan Boutique Hotel in Marrakech - Part I (the Property)

I recently discovered this gorgeous Moroccan Boutique Hotel in Marrakech

that has been renovated to perfection.  This property is located in the old

town of Marrakech and was originally owned by a wealthy merchant.  The

developer took two Riads (traditional Arab home with an interior world

built around a courtyard with fruit trees and a fountain) and worked with

an architect to create this astounding boutique hotel.  The hotel is called

Dar Les Cigognes and it boasts 11 guest rooms and suites which are all

decorated differently and beautifully designed.

When viewing the images of this property, I totally fell in love with

all of the details and the authenticity of the place.  You can tell the

developers really put in a lot of care and attention to detail with the

architect to create this place.  You definitely feel as if you're in a

different world.

The lighting in this image is absolutely perfect to showcase this fountain.

The hotel boasts a hamman as well. 
This is the entrance to the hamman.

Here you can see the same fountain by night.

The courtyard is brilliantly lit with lamps and moroccan lanterns by night.

You can see the incredible detail and workmanship.  It's just amazing.

The rooftop deck is not forgotten and gorgeous views can be seen from there.

A gorgeous lounging area to have mint tea.  Stay tuned for the second post

on this property which will feature all of the rooms.  You won't be
disappointed!

All images from Dar Les Cignognes

Amy Atlas ~ A Stunning Lavender Snowflake Candy Table ~ Happy New Year 2010 !!

One of The Most mouthwatering and Gorgeous Candy I've ever seen are

from Amy Atlas Events based in New York City.  She is the creative force

and owner of this company that makes beautiful cakes, desserts and candy

tables for events of all kinds.  She calls this winter wonderland creation 

Lavender Snowflake Dessert Table.

"We created this dessert table for both a Bat Mitzvah and for an event by

the Wedding Library at the New York Palace. The design details were

inspired by the Bat Mitzvah girl's lavender snowflake invitation.

Opalescent lavender desserts were placed on our custom lucite vessels."

Amy Atlas' creations gives new meaning to the word "Eye Candy."

This color palette is perfect for a little girl in a winter wonderland.  Don't

 the candy canes above just make you think of Sugar Plum Fairies?

Snowflake topped chocolates in silver, lavender and white. 

Wouldn't it also be a wonderful color palette for a room?

I'll be taking a break this week so I will see you all back next

week.  I hope you are all having dreams of the Sugar Plum

Fairy as well!  Cheers and Happy New Year to everyone!

All photos from Amy Atlas Site