Displaying posts from June, 2012

Here is another Domus Nova property. This one seems to have a Parisian vibe….and then the owners have added in some modern furnishings. I have to say the red sofa and chair and leather sectional-looking sofa are really throwing me off – I’d replace those with a large brown leather chesterfield and maybe a ratty vintage Louis XVI armchair. The windows are to die for though! A beautiful collection of traditional finds and contemporary pieces. This home offers open-plan space with original features such as stripped wood floors, high ceilings and large arch windows. Rustic furnishings including distressed dressers, original shutters and god adorned glass shades, give unparalleled character. Against a palette of neutral whites and greys, bold armchairs, books and photos inject life. The owner is obviously creative with a zest for bohemian living.

West London estate agents Domus Nova sent along photos of some of their latest properties. Here’s one that caught my eye – for obvious reasons. A spectacular maisonette with a very imaginative interior design, comprising over 2000 square feet. The property is the perfect party pad, from the bar space to the beautiful Brigitte Bardot adorned walls (photography by Terry O’Neill). Each space is different, take the eccentric style of the reception space which showcases an eclectic collection of armchairs, beautiful chandeliers, black painted walls and white polished wood floors. The owner’s passion for art and photography is evident simply by her collection of books. The rest of the property is almost fantastical, the owner has the most wonderful assortment of lights fixtures including a disco ball over the stairs. The bathrooms are a work of art themselves; a beautiful fairy-tale boudoir and a heavy pink and black striped space. The epitome of British quirk! 

“At Castello di Vicarello history lives on each path, in each stone and every wall sings a song of the ancient past.”

Crowning a hilltop amidst olive groves in southern Tuscany is a fairy tale castle come to life. But this castello is no dream. It’s a rustic luxe retreat that will sweep you up in its history, embrace you in its family’s arms and spoil you rotten with its quirky luxury. Aurora and Carlo Baccheschi Berti have restored the ruins of the twelfth century castle over many years and now play host to lucky guests who have the choice of seven luxury villas and suites. Rooms are filled with exquisite antiques and furniture and artifacts from the family’s life in Indonesia. As for the gardens and views. Sigh. A truly once in a life time experience. One day. One day I will go.

Here is the second hotel I wanted to share with you all, The NoMad. It too is located in New York. Located in a turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts building in the NoMad district at 28th Street and Broadway, the hotel has been fully restored to its original grandeur with interiors by French designer Jacques Garcia. The hotel is intended as a fresh take on the classic grand hotels of Europe with a distinct New York sensibility. The design of the hotel was inspired by the Parisian flat of Garcia’s youth. The 168 rooms are residential in feel and decorated in his classic, timeless style. Each room is appointed with hand-selected, richly textured custom-designed furnishings and original artwork. The soaring ceilings throughout the public spaces provide a fine gathering place to enjoy dining, drinking and socializing. It has a similar vibe to the previous hotel but I think the other is more Parisian-industrial whereas this is more Parisian-Gentleman’s club (and far more dramatic). I’d love to stay at both – how would one choose?! (P.S. The photography is perfection!)

This is the first of 2 hotels I am really excited to feature today. The first is the Wythe Hotel. Here are some details: Located in the heart of Brooklyn, Wythe Hotel is an 8-story hotel on the Williamsburg waterfront. Built in 1901, this former textile factory has been meticulously converted into a 72-room hotel offering service and amenities yet to be seen in the borough, while the building’s industrial character – like its concave corner entrance, original pine beams, masonry, arched windows and cast-iron columns – has been beautifully preserved. Throughout the hotel, guest rooms feature 13’ high original timber ceilings, oversized windows, radiant heat concrete floors, seasonally sourced mini-bar offerings, custom amenities and works by local artists. Many rooms, including band rooms, bunk rooms and suites, boast floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline and East River. In a nutshell this is my dream home in hotel form. From it’s location, to the funky industrial/vintage light fixtures, exposed brick walls, vintage bathroom to die for, Papa Bear and Thonet chairs, massive walls of barrister bookcases….