[ weekend links ] May 11th Edition

House Tours

A beautiful Spanish apartment [ Shimmer Like Gold ]
White, black and mirrored Aussie loft [ Desire to Inspire ]
Grown up nerd style [ Peep My Styles ]
Charming in Berlin [ Remodelista ]
Modern meets ornate in Turkey [ Freshome ]

DIY & Projects

A neon animal garland [ HGTV ]
Make a herringbone stamp [ A Beautiful Mess ]
Handmade clay pots [ Say Yes to Hoboken ]
Geometric wall art [ DesignSponge ]
The water bottle chandelier [ Oh Happy Day ]

Fashion & Beauty

Anna Dello Russo x H&M = hell yes [ Honestly WTF ]
Turn mom jeans into skinny jeans [ Uber Chic for Cheap ]
How to dress joyously [ Yes and Yes ]
Glass bottle necklace [ Sincerely Kinsey ]
Tory Burch necklace DIY [ The Glitter Guide ]

Hotels & Travel

Soho House, Berlin [ Remodelista ]
Mama Shelter, Paris [ The Designer Pad ]
The new W hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand [ Freshome ]
Shelter Co, California [ Poppytalk ]
The Standard, East Village [ on bluepoolroad ]

Entertaining & Parties

Cute! Bite-sized brunch [ Mrs. Field's Secrets ]
Pop up place cards [ Camille Styles ]
High style low cost party [ Remodelista ]
Pomegranate gin smash [ Signed by Tina ]
Ginger syrup cocktails [ DesignSponge ]

Miscellany

Faceted ring boxes [ My Adventure is Your Advantage ]
Tiles by Lenny Kravitz [ Freshome ]
Tips for choosing cabinetry [ Centsational Girl ]
Angry Birds theme park (!!!) [ Freshome ]
Remembering MCA [ Kottke ]

Happy weekend everyone! Hope yours is both relaxing and full of sunshine (as I’m hoping mine will be).

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ daydream destination ] Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco

The Location

Acapulco is the classic Mexican resort town which rose to popularity in the 1950s as a getaway for the rich and famous. It may have faded slightly from its former glory days but it is still the number two destination in Mexico for spring break among U.S. college students. Nowawadays, most of the tourists are actually Mexican. However, it a worthwhile adversary to the larger Cancun and is the largest beach resorted city in Mexico. The north end of the bay is the “traditional” end, known for its nightlife while the south end is dominated by luxury high rise hotels.

The Hotel

If you are after that original 1950s Acapulco vibe, then Hotel Boca Chica is right for you. The property was featured in Elvis’s Fun in Acapulco movie. Grupta Habita acquired the property and opened Hotel Boca Chica in 2010. A deft minimalist make-over has smoothed over the faded edges and breathed life into the space.

Renovating a building while keeping the original spirit is a tricky task for most. But thankfully many elements of the 1950s still shine through here thanks to Mexican artist Claudia Fernández who was in charge of the redesign. The exterior remains largely unchanged but the interiors are sleek and mostly white. Furnishings and details are on the minimal side but quirky accents – such as the vintage soda dispenser in the lobby – show off the hotel’s personality.

In a town full of massive resorts, the Boca Chica seems downright tiny with a mere 36 rooms. Each has a bay or ocean view and a roomy balcony outfitted with a hammock – the perfect spot to indulge in an afternoon nap. Jalousie doors open to allow ocean breezes inside and ceiling fans keep things cool. Amenities include Dr. Bronner products, wifi and 24 hours room service.

The Extras

The restaurant’s large open air palapa is the perfect spot to down a few chilaquiles. The restuarants Executive Chef Keisuke Harada provides an eclectic menu, including a sushi take-out menu.

The retro-style pool is a hip place to hang both day and night. Slide up to the bar to try an Acabrown, the hotel’s own tamarind and mescal blended cocktail. Or if you want to see how the locals live one of Acapulco’s most popular beaches is right next door. If you are in the mood for adventure, take the hotel’s boat to nearby La Roqueta island – an ecological reserve that’s the perfect spot to do some snorkeling.

The on site gym and spa are ready for those who desire it. The spa is a striking departure from the rest of the hotel decorated in dark and moody colors. There are several massage cabans and a therapy area where trained experts offer a full menu of body and facial treatments.

Once the sun goes down, the hotel turns into one of the hippest places in town. The onsite disco provides a place for guests and locals to dance all night long.

Hotel Boca Chica
Playa Caletilla
Fracc. Las Playas
Acapulco, Guerrero,
México, 39390
T. 1-866-978-7020
Rates from $95 USD.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ weekend links ] Friday May 4th Edition

House Tours

Lovely Manhattan loft [ Contemporist ]
Apartment by Mauricio Arruda [ Desire to Inspire ]
Another amazing Thai villa [ Contemporist ]
Reclaimed in Melbourne [ Desire to Inspire ]
Neon details in Spain [ Freshome ]

DIY & Projects

Instagram mini canvases [ Whimseybox ]
Silver leafed lamp shade [ DesignSponge ]
Terracotta color block pots [ A Beautiful Mess ]
Tassel garlands [ Unicornpara.de ]
An ombre watercolor card for Mom [ Eat Live Shop ]

Fashion & Beauty

Studded converse [ Sketch42 ]
Jersey scarf [ A Beautiful Mess ]
Make your own Miu Mius [ Because I'm Addicted ]
Wardrobe refreshers [ Cupcakes and Cashmere ]
Pantone chip nails (!) [ Jacquie Longlegs ]

Hotels & Travel

Can Tika, Ibiza [ Style Files ]
Mini Travel Guide: Uruguay [ Yes and Yes ]
Town @ House Street hotel, Milan [ Freshome ]
Alila Villas Soori, Bali [ Desire to Inspire ]
Daydreaming: Santorini [ Camille Styles ]

Entertaining & Parties

Succulent place cards [ The Sweetest Occasion ]
Bridesmaid kits [ Oh Happy Day ]
Mint juleps [ Crepes of Wrath ]
Ginger plum sangria[ Camille Styles ]
A birthday party [ A Merry Mishap ]

Miscellany

A German walk-in cookbook [ Remodelista ]
How not to stage a condo. Seriously. [ Elements of Style ]
Defining your budget [ The Designer Pad ]
Kooldog houses [ Freshome ]
Ideas for Instagram [ Decor8 ]

Recipes – Savory

Crispy sweet potato fries [ The Art of Doing Stuff ]
Curried lentil dip [ Well and Good NYC ]
Fresh ricotta [ Framed Cooks ]
Green eggs and ham [ Vmac and Cheese ]
Perfect soft boiled eggs and soldiers [ Eat Live Run ]

Recipes – Sweet

Lemon almond coconut ice cream [ Sacramento Street ]
Mocha brownie bites [ Poppytalk ]
Pinata cookies [ She Knows ]
Raspberry almond thumbprint cookies [ Oh She Glows ]
Healthy lemon loaf [ It's To Die For ]

I didn’t make anything blog-able this week so there’s no What I Ate post – but I’ll be back in full force next week! Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ weekend links ] April 27th Edition

House Tours

Minimalism in Israel [ Freshome ]
More modern in Sydney [ Contemporist ]
Overlooking the fjord in Norway [ Freshome ]
Gorgeous Bavarian home [ Desire to Inspire ]

DIY & Projects

Neon notebooks [ Eat Sleep Cuddle ]
Cardboard chandelier [ Etsy ]
Marbled glassware [ Honestly WTF ]
Scrap wood phone stand [ DesignSponge ]

Fashion & Beauty

Floral crown [ Sketch42 ]
Lace and jersey dress [ Sincerely Kinsey ]
Swimsuits I actually like [ Amber Interior Design ]
Lace up heels [ Runway DIY ]

Hotels & Travel

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali [ Desire to Inspire ]
Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh [ Freshome ]
London city guide [ This.Is.Glamorous ]
Coco Palm Bodu Hithi Resort, Maldives [ Freshome ]

Entertaining & Parties

Dotted neon wrapping paper [ Frolic ]
Paper calla lilies [ Oh Happy Day ]
Straw flag place cards [ Wedding Chicks ]
A Mother’s Day brunch [ The Sweetest Occasion ]

Miscellany

Pantone toothbrushes [ Poppytalk ]
Geode street art [ Design for Mankind ]
55 ways to take care of yourself [ The Freedom Experiment ]
Lovely libraries [ Remodelista ]

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ daydream destination ] The Haymarket Hotel, London

A light changing pool might be the last thing you’d expect in buttoned-up London but the Haymarket Hotel is not the type of hotel to follow convention. This luxury offering is the one of the latest in the Firmdale empire of British hoteliers Tim and Kit Kemp.

The Haymarket could not be more centrally located. It’s situated off of London’s Haymarket in the heart of the theatre district. It’s steps from Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and St. James’s Park. The Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross tube stations are each a six minute walk away.

The entire hotel has a fresh and playful feeling which is hard to detect from looking at the classic exterior. The main floor consists of three spacious rooms that are vastly different from one another. The stark lobby is clad in white and yellow and dominated by a shimmering Tony Cragg sculpture. A coolly elegant conservatory follows done in shades of green. Lastly the is the boldly patterned library which seems wild at first glance but becomes comfortably cozy after you warm up to it.

The converted Regency-era building was designed by architect John Nash who developed much of Regency London, including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the adjoining Haymarket Theatre. The interior design has been handled by the designer half of the hotel team – Kit Kemp. Each of the 50 rooms and suites has a vibrant and eclectic look achieved by a mix of eras, colors and fabrics. The furniture is a mix of modern and antique pieces. A consistent theme is the fabric dressing dummy which appears in each space.

All guest bath rooms feature granite and oak vanities which are further accentuated by double basins, an oversized bathtub and all the technological details you would expect (anti-misting mirrors, heated towel bars). Rooms also feature wifi and large flat screen TVs. For a truly luxurious stay, be sure to book the private townhouse.

The stunning basement level 60 metre pool is truly the highlight. The lights change color continually and were designed by Martin Richman. If you don’t feel like taking a dip, simply grab a drink from the sleek pewter pool bar and lounge in one of the many nearby sofas, some of which are clad in gold lamé. The sound system is superb and the whole room can be rented out for private events, should the need arise.

Feeling jetlagged? Visit the Soholistic for a visit to the 18 meter pool as well as a gym, spa and organic pharmacy.

After you’ve worked up an appetite, saunter down to the hotel’s on-site restaurant – Brumus Bar & Restuarant. It’s the perfect spot to dine on Modern English cuisine and drinks before taking in a show. And on the way back take a leisurely stroll through the nearby 58-acre St. James’s Park.

Haymarket Hotel
1 Suffolk Place
London SW1Y 4HX
T. +44 20 7470 4000
E. haymarket@firmdale.com
Rooms from £245.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me
a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.