Jamaican Me Crazy!

Posted under Inspiration, Shops and hot spots, Uncategorized by on April 14, 2011

Maybe it is the snow, cabin fever, or just plain sick of winter that I find myself daydreaming of a tropical paradise.  The smell of sea spray, coconut, and the sweet musk of tropical blooms hanging in the air are just a few of the simple pleasures that you can savor in Jamaica.

Let’s take a peek into the Highland House in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Not only can you relish in breathtaking views, the design of Highland House allows you to embrace the indoors as much as the outdoors.

Not only did legendary Oscar Hammerstein II and his wife own this estate, Highland House was built for a wealthy English Actress, Gladys Cooper.  Hammerstein even wrote the lyrics for “The Sound of Music” on the terrace overlooking breathtaking views of the ocean, and flora and fauna.  Talk about inspiration!

The Living Room is fresh and white with turquoise accents reminiscent of the beautiful waters that surround Highland House.  I love the white painted wood high ceilings; the height of the ceiling is pretty familiar to tropical climates since hot air rises.high Jamaican Me Crazy!

How would you like to sleep in this luxurious bed, swept in toole?  Fit for royalty, the Owner’s Suite is open to a veranda.high2 Jamaican Me Crazy!

high3 Jamaican Me Crazy!Imagine waking in the morning to wash your face in this indoor/outdoor bathroom.  Who needs coffee when you are blanketed in sunshine and breathing in the salt air?high4 Jamaican Me Crazy!

Take a dip in this sparkling pool, and sip on rum punch while lounging on luxury.  A fabulous way to end a day at the beach!high5 Jamaican Me Crazy!

Learn more about the Highland House, or plan a visit!

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I'm Obsessed With Kelly Wearstler

Posted under Bathrooms, Shops and hot spots, Wallcoverings by on February 1, 2010

If you have spent any time with me over the past 4 years, you know that I am obsessed with Kelly Wearstler.  Her Viceroy properties are my little pocket of luxury, and one day I will own a property at the Viceroy in Playa del Carmen.   I’ve visited the Viceroy in LA, and look forward to visiting any of the others.  The newest addition is the Viceroy in Snowmass!     Have any of you been there?

Jean Michel-Gathy and Kelly Wearstler’s Viceroy Snowmass Debuts

The resort boasts a restaurant, lounge, full-service spa, fitness room, boutique, conference facilities and pool.

NICHOLAS TAMARIN — INTERIOR DESIGN, 2/1/2010

1. Viceroy Snowmass spa rel I'm Obsessed With Kelly Wearstler
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Eco-conscious snow bunnies can finally travel without guilt, thanks to Colorado’s new Viceroy Snowmass and its sustainably chic décor by designers Jean Michel-Gathy and Kelly Wearstler.

Located at the base of a mountain in the town of Snowmass. just outside of alpine hotspot Aspen, the Viceroy is on track to become the first LEED-Silver certified hotel in the area, one of only two in Colorado, and one of only eight in the United States. This ecological achievement is even more impressive considering the scope of the project—173 residentially appointed accomodations, the Eight K restaurant, lounge, full-service spa, fitness room, boutique, conference and event space. The pool comes complete with café, bar, terrace and permanent cabanas.

2. Viceroy Snowmass Spa Ent I'm Obsessed With Kelly Wearstler

Green credentials were chalked up in several innovative ways. All dirt removed from the construction site was saved and reused. Construction workers were transported to the site by bus, reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. The Viceroy also provides reusable and washable water bottles, hand towels, and shampoo and conditioner bottles. A saline pool creates its own chlorine through the use of salt and electrical current. There’s even a gratis on-site electric car charging system.

3. Viceroy Spa Jacuzzi I'm Obsessed With Kelly Wearstler

The innovative interiors, however, are what really supply the energy. Gathy, the founding principal of Malaysian architecture firm Denniston International Architects & Planners, whose previous projects include Aman Resorts properties and Miami Beach’s Setai hotel, imbued the resort with a contemporary alpine décor to match its stunning setting. Organic materials abound, such as the birch tree wall wrapped in copper and leather in the lobby, or the 87-foot-long, glass-topped bar supported by tree trunks in the lounge area.

10. Viceroy Snowmass King R I'm Obsessed With Kelly Wearstler

Wearstler, who had previously designed the seminal Viceroy properties in Santa Monica and Palm Springs, was responsible for the slopeside pool terrace and café and bar in Snowmass. Departing from her signature nouveau Hollywood Regency look for a rocking Rockies palette of whites, pale blues, and greens, Wearstler also channeled the organic earth. The pool café’s white-stained oak walls are offset by a Cippilino stone bar with brass inlay and complimentary tables of White Oman stone with matching brass. The pool’s terrace features a central fire pit and three permanent cabanas with their own private fires, a perfect foil for those frigid mountain nights.

6. Viceroy Snowmass Lounge I'm Obsessed With Kelly Wearstler
All images courtesy of the Viceroy Snowmass.

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Be Mine. Valentine's Cornucopia. Dr. Kiss

Posted under Holiday, Shops and hot spots by on January 28, 2010

With Valentine’s around the corner- here are a few thoughtful gifts that won’t cheeze you out…too bad.

With special Thanks the TAIGAN–a website I found today, to these fabulous ideas!

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Dr Kiss Be Mine. Valentine's Cornucopia. Dr. Kiss

VANITYMARK DR. KISS

Vanitymark $12.00

Are your lips looking limp, tired and just plain bored? It’s time to wake them up in a snap the Dr. Kiss is in! It is not to waxy or greasy, fabulous right down the middle! Though Dr. Kiss has enough ‘body’ for staying power, it is light enough to go under your lipstick if you choose. It allows lips to breath with a moist natural look. A hydrating lip balm with a hint of pink tint. Satin finish that turns dry, brittle lips into a soft kissable pout. A hint of vanilla and peppermint give that little zing of flavor. Just fabulous!   Buy Here!

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KEY TO MY HEART NECKLACE

Many Will See $985.00

Beautiful multi piece necklaces in shades of emerald green and gold. A large old turn key gives this a little more of a rocker appeal. Great for a night out or under a Rick Owens leather jacket.  Available at H. Audrey or throught Taigan.

Super Bowl Cufflinks 2 150x150 Be Mine. Valentine's Cornucopia. Dr. Kiss Super Bowl Cufflinks 150x150 Be Mine. Valentine's Cornucopia. Dr. Kiss

CUFFLINKS – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS CUFFLINKS

Peter Elliot Mens $70.00

Indianapolis Colts Cufflinks Item Code: PD-INDY-SL The official logo of the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts. Enamel finish cufflinks on a nickel plated backing. Approximately 3/4″ x 3/4″ Enamel and silver plated Bullet back closure.

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Around the Haus: Objects of Desire & Designs to Inspire

Posted under Home decor, Shops and hot spots by on December 30, 2009

Picture 12 150x150 Around the Haus: Objects of Desire & Designs to InspireI first discovered the wonders of Haus Interior and The Cultivated Home thanks to DailyCandy’s NYC edition.  Upon viewing the fresh, sophisticated styles of Nina Freudenberger and crew, I was inspired to bookmark those sites for future reference when seeking design inspiration.

I particularly liked that the interiors Haus showcased were sleek and clean-lined without being pretentious or harsh.  The featured rooms, though scrubbed, set and polished for photo opps, looked immensely livable; I could picture me and my friends reclining or dining in any of those spaces.  Certainly, that’s the essence of great interior design; beautiful and livable must coexist.

I recently revisited those aforementioned bookmarks to find that Freudenberger has opened Picture 152 150x150 Around the Haus: Objects of Desire & Designs to Inspireshop in Nolita and online, allowing any of us to bring touches of Haus to home.  The assortment in the NYC flagship on Elizabeth Street looks like a cozy kinship of sass and panache, and the online store smartly divides haute Haus items into price-conscious categories.

Opening any retail endeavor this year is a bold move, let alone one focused on the seemingly superfluous category of home decor.  Yet to peruse the tight selection of items featured on the site is to remember that  “extra” is the antidote to “ordinary.”  A new pillow, a clever note card, a uniquely fragrant candle… These things aren’t necessary these days, or are they?

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Just observe how subtle touches can result in amazing transformations in living spaces.  This quartet of renderings by Haus Interior caught my eye a while back, and it’s still intriguing…and inspiring…as we all look to invest in the nest.

Picture 101 Around the Haus: Objects of Desire & Designs to InspirePicture 112 Around the Haus: Objects of Desire & Designs to Inspire

What about you?  Know of any designers that inspire or home decor shops that spark desire?  Comment back and share the resources you find bookmark-worthy!

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