The Escape You Have Been Looking For

It's been a while since a hotel took my breath away.

I"m truly not interested in indulgence and excess at the moment.

Maybe it is the holiday madness, 

but this destination, which interprets it's surroundings so well, is calling..

The Juvet Landscape Hotel, Norway.

Here

sit seven cubes, each uniquely

designed by their architects

to blend in with the terrain

and to take advantage of the spectacular environment,

no matter the season.

To say that they have removed visual distraction from these structures

is an understatement.

But they are not without warmth.

A good sleep is essential for this

or perhaps a day spent visiting the farm

or the spa,

located amongst the magic waters 

of St Olav's spring.

Which is supposed to offer anyone who drinks it health and youth.

Anyone fancy a girls weekend?!

til next time..

Crushing on the Design of Roman and Williams

I have a crush.

These guys have almost topped my list of favourite designers 

(no one will ever be dearer than Muriel Brandolini :)

Not sure why I didn't venture further into this portfolio further when I posted about The Ace Hotel,

but the design team of Roman and Williams (founded by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch)

 have an adventurous, unconventional aesthetic where they " combine disparate objects and allow them to simmer to see if we can raise the temperature of a space".

Anyone who uses design and alchemy in the same sentence has my full attention.

This may be a few days series - 

there is no selecting one project over another, they are all top drawer.

Let's explore the hotels first, shall we?

The Standard Hotel, cleverly wrapping a bed in panelling.

The Standard Grill - have you ever seen such wonderful ceilings?

The Standard 18th Floor - 

a nightclub that manages intimacy and excitment with such tactile finishes, I want to touch everything.

The Royalton Hotel

The M40 Club at 40 Mercer

The Ace Hotel, their most recent hotel..

 gorgeous design, where disparate objects are brought together so perfectly.

Roman and Williams Office

How very talented these designers are - 

look at how they layer their space.

Hotels must be gorgeous without all the extra accessories, 

but when these creative designers are able to create a stunning space and then fill it.. magic.

 The Roman and Williams office begins to give you a sense of how real their residential design vibe is.

These are spaces to be appreciated and used, not just viewed from a doorway.

Tomorrow I will highlight their residential work.

It's to die for... don't peek!

It'll be worth the wait :)

Spent the weekend painting our ensuite bath, 1 coat of primer

 and 4 coats of a gorgeous new white I have discovered!

Just installing lighting and shelving and I will show it to you.

Working on a condo project today,

hope you all are having a lovely, creative day :)

til next time..

Destination Friday: The Lodge, Verbier, Switzerland

We live in a snow belt.

Purposely!

It's not uncommon to find the kids trick or treating with a sprinkling of snow on the ground..

My theory is that if you live in a country with snow, you may as well embrace it :)

So this destination friday takes us to the mountains -

 The Lodge located in Verbier, Switzerland.

The common room is centred around the hearth - and isn't it gorgeous?!

The wood has a beautiful, aged patina without all the red or yellow tones

 that sometimes make timber chalet interiors feel claustrophobic.

The green is a perfect accent to maintain the restful atmoshpere.

The party room uses lively amber accents to stimulate conversation and appetite.

a corner for reading, or wine and conversation..

the rooms provide a peaceful ambiance..

fantastic bunkies! 

This tiny space accommodates six children, and I know my kids would love the sleepover vibe.

Beauty that takes your breath away. If you ski, you know the magic that lies in being above the clouds..

where better to spend a winter evening?

If you are more of a warm-weather traveller

summer offers paragliding, golf and hiking, among other things..

Lovely!

How are you spending your weekend?

We are hosting Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday,

which means cleaning today and baking tomorrow..

I will try to get some pics of the tables (25 people!!) to share -

hope you all are looking forward to a family and friend-filled weekend..

til next time..