Shutters on the Beach!

I don’t often do blog posts about hotels (I know I have mentioned my dislike of the impersonal and generic spaces once or twice before). In order for a hotel to truly impress me, it has to be unique or have rooms that feel and look nothing like hotel rooms at all. Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica fits this criteria well. The rooms look so homely and inviting (fireplaces in hotel rooms… oh the glamour), the beds look as comfortable as clouds, the colour scheme is calming and serene, the location is beyond spectacular and I have even fallen in love with the logo!

What do you expect from hotel rooms? Are you an all-luxury kind of gal or do you just need somewhere clean to lay your head?

All images via Shutters on the Beach

A place to muse…

A while back, I started to notice that my inspiration folders were filling up with pictures of benches. Benches outside landmarks, garden benches, benches in the dining room, entrance hall, living room, bedroom. I have no idea where this obsession came from or even why I have it but it seems like a good thing to go with… so I’m going with it!

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My Fair London – The Suburbs Part Deux

Tourism is good… tourism is good… this is the mantra that I keep playing in my head as the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee fast approach. It’s not easy being a Londoner during this chaos (my train company sent me an email helpfully suggesting that I might want to walk to work during the next coming months as most trains, tubes and busses will be cancelled or delayed… well you can bet that I have a few choice words to say to them)! So it goes without saying that I have been avoiding the woes of public transport on the weekends and seeking solace on foot. Here’s a couple more snaps from the other side of my neighbourhood.

All images via Wishful Thinking

Living the dream…

If you asked me what my dream home would entail, you would almost certainly hear the following words: cottage, cosy, natural timber, fireplace, more windows than walls, soft colours, and most importantly – sea-view. This rural cottage in Maine encompasses all of those things and more! Renovated by architect Sheila Narusawa (for clients Fiona and Tony Hooper), this former dilapidated General Store  sits so close to the coast that during high tide, the water actually laps at the porch (I can’t decide whether this is scary or really intriguing)!   I’ve swooned over the kitchen a few times on Pinterest but I had never seen the whole package! I can honestly say, hands down, that this is one of my favourite finds!

It gets better… you can rent it here!

All Images via Justine from designskool