the DUNMORE

So, this is what heaven looks like I’m sure.  No… Really, H.E.A.V.E.N. At least I hope so. Just look at the beauty called the Dunmore Hotel & Resort.  I think their design team nailed the look! The entire resort has a sophisticated yet relaxed look to it, one that allows you to exhale but reminds you that you’re somewhere special.  Just look at the dining room shot below, I love the collected treasures and old photographs… they add warmth and patina to an otherwise crisp and  bleached out space.  And, who doesn’t love a stripe?  They are clearly cuckoo for stripes judging from these pictures (pictures that were in fact found on Instagram, I give credit at the bottom for each individual who posted them).

In their own words…

Welcome to The Dunmore, a Harbour Island resort where the exceptional is part of each day. At our Caribbean beach hotel, you’ll experience the profound warmth of our people in a timeless retreat that blends classic elegance with contemporary comforts.

Our resort in the Bahamas overlooks the sea’s spectrum of blues and the celebrated pink sands that are uniquely Harbour Island. Join us at The Dunmore for your Bahamian holiday, and discover why we have been inspiring memories since 1963.

A little bit about the island…

Harbour Island, in the Bahamas, is one of the most celebrated destinations in the Caribbean. On the Atlantic side of the island are the famous pink sand beaches. A three-mile stretch of indescribable beauty, the sand here is truly pink. Sifted and smoothed by generations of waves, the sands are coloured by finely crushed coral. A light rose blush by day, they become a vibrant pink at sunset. With its gentle sands and the ribbons of blue in the sea, it is often called the world’s most beautiful beach.

Beyond the beauty of the beaches is the charm of the island itself. This precious place is a historic destination, dating to 1791 when Lord Dunmore, who had a summer residence here, planned the streets of the town. Today, well-preserved cottages are nestled along the streets where golf carts are now the transportation of choice.

 

I wanted you to see the folks who captured these great images… follow them on Instagram!

Blackberry Farm

I’ve never been to Blackberry Farm but these images (all from Instagram) made the decision for me to add it to my “must visit” list. I had never even heard of this beautiful place until today, but just look at it.  I’m sure my southern friends will say “hello, where have you been…”  I’m just happy to have discovered Blackberry Farm.  The decor and care and attention to detail is clearly something they pride themselves on.  To see many more beautiful images and to learn more about Blackberry farm visit their website here.  Here’s more in their words (taken for their website)…

In 1939, Mrs. Florida Lasier of Chicago snagged her silk stockings on a wild blackberry bramble while exploring the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, and the name Blackberry Farm was born. Thirty-nine years later, the Beall family invested their hearts and souls in the same romantic site that has become their family home and lifelong passion. Today, one of America’s most celebrated intimate luxury hotels beckons discerning guests who aspire to escape modern-day frenzy and slip into a Blackberry state of mind. Situated on a pastoral 9,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry will show you the many reasons why it is one of the top rated properties in the world.

Whether you select the intimate charm of an Estate Room, the legendary elegance of a spacious Singing Brook, Farmstead Cottage, Holly Glade Suite or luxurious comforts of a Hill Cottage, Blackberry Farm’s accommodations offer a haven of carefree comfort. From heavenly feather beds adorned with sumptuous linens to plush robes and luxurious amenities, your accommodations reflect a meticulous attention to detail.

Winter Rates available January – March:
Roaring fires, frosty mornings and everything signature Blackberry Farm in between – plus our annual winter rates for rooms and activities. No matter what draws you, there are plenty of reasons to slip away to Blackberry this Winter and enjoy the stillness of the smokies during truly one of the loveliest times of the year.
(Winter rates available from January 1 – March 13, 2016)

Winter Romantic Escape: Spend more time together at Blackberry Farm in an exclusive offer for a complimentary fourth night when you book three weeknights during December-March. You will also receive a split of champagne on arrival, a seasonal welcome amenity, and a rose petal turndown one evening.
Call 800–557-8864 for information and details. *subject to availability

No promotional enticements or fees were paid for this blog by Blackberry Farm or another person or company.  This is just me, telling you what I think is chic and what deserves to be celebrated and admired.  

TULUM a loveletter

As most of you know, I grew up in the Bay Area, San Francisco-ish.  Living in such close proximity to Mexico I have had the pleasure of visiting many times and,  just for context – this is not a brag – I have seen the beaches of Hawaii, Thailand, Spain, Italy and the Caribbean and I’m here to tell you that Tulum beach on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is one of THE prettiest beaches I have ever seen.  No lie.

Of course anywhere you go where your responsibilities don’t follow you is a happy place, a total checkout… But to add to that a warm sunny place with beautiful breezes and a relaxed and kick-back atmosphere surrounded by beauty like this?  Well, I’m sold and frankly ready to buy!  Did I mention the food? Giant fruit salads, yummy coffee (yes all the cafes had soy) and a yoga class within a stones throw starting practically every ten minutes.  The real test for me was the lack of pool.  I’m a pool guy.  In fact I love pools, laying by them, getting a drink brought to me while I’m near one and yes eating at the pool (the height of decadence) is something I love.  Well, there was no pool.  And I’m still in love with Tulum.

You will find almost every type of resort in Tulum.  All inclusive, Yoga and wellness focus, fancy & not-so-fancy, but the thing they all have in common is a underbuilt (3 story max from what I could see) and place sensitive architecture that allows the natural surroundings to stand out and remind you that your somewhere between a jungle and the ocean, with a sky filled with stars (and avocado on every entre!).  My architecture of choice would be something along the lines of the beach structure shown above.

Newport

Hi everyone.  I had a great weekend that started on Thursday actually.  We braved a snow storm (really) to drive to Newport Rhode Island for a lecture on public gardens, landscape architecture and Olmsted put on by the Newport Preservation Society. Wow, what a serious collection of antique homes they have acquired… truly amazing and major treat for the architecture aficionado.   I take out-of-towners to this treasure-trove and it never disappoints.  An exhausting list of their properties looks like this: The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, Chepstow, The Elms, Green Animals Topiary Garden, Hunter House, Isaac Bell House, Kingscote, Marble House, and Rosecliff. Rather than rant on about the houses themselves, I think instead I’l give the hight praise deserved for doing such a good job presenting these properties to the Newport Preservation Society .  Thank you.  And, I’m going to let them tell you about each of their beautiful properties.  click on the link to be taken to the Society’s web page.  Please do the stories behind each house are fainting.  This magnificent structure is the Breakers.

The Elms is not to be missed.Something for everyone Kingscote is one of the few wooden structures in the collection. Here is where we were for the lecture, Rosecliff. Oh and here is Chateau-sur-mer.

the VICEROY Anguilla – Borrowed Blog

I had to “borrow” and re-post this blog from BAD (Blog About Design) because It’s so beautiful and you know I’m a big Kelly Wearstler fan!  AND, having just come back from Mexico… I’m an missing and “jones-ing” for more beach weather!!!  I give you the Viceroy Anguilla.

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla

The Viceroy Anguilla is located in West End, Anguilla. The property features fantastic living spaces as well as beautifully manicured grounds and great places to eat, designed by Kelly Wearstler. (ABOVE) The architecture of the hotel is quite modern. It’s clean and smooth like that of the sand. With just a few short steps from the water, it’s the ideal location for the beach bum! (BELOW 1) The hotel features breezeways that one passes through to get to their suite. The tiling is modern, and gorgeous! I love the armchairs, they have that beach feel, but are very chic. (BELOW 2) The infinite pool is a phenomenal place to kick back and relax. It’s definitely a great place to swim laps or sip a drink and look at the views! (BELOW 3) One can relax on a lounge chair or one can have a seat at one of the seating areas and read a great book. The seating areas or wonderfully designed. (BELOW 4) Half Shell Bar is a great place to enjoy a drink or a quick meal. With fantastic views of the sea and cliffs, it’s a must visit while at the hotel. (BELOW 5) The Ocean Villa’s are detached large size homes. The Ocean Villa’s are three and four bedrooms. The Living Room of the villa is bright with floor to ceiling windows. The villa’s have an infinite pool! What do you think of the hotel?

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 1

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 2

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 3

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 4

http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/anguilla 5

A Day In The Life… (of a designer)

Not going to lie… The PUPPY along with a busy work schedule is taking its toll on me.  I’m runnin every day, working on designs for clients, making deliveries, and managing the paperwork, scheduling and other details that go along with a busy design practice… But today I found the time to have a runner installed on the back stairs at my house, yeah… MY HOUSE.  You’ve heard about the cobblers kids right? …they go around with old or no shoes, well I am no longer the designer with an unfinished staircase.  I have been a fan of this pattern for some time (I’ve used it more than once for clients) and love the way it turned out.      
Speaking of clients, the sofa for this room finally arrived today.  The clients were in town last week for just a day or two are thrilled how things are turning out.  I can’t wait to hang art add accessories and the finishing details.  Once that happens I’ll be sure to get some professional shots before the clients start enjoying the house.  I have a beautiful pair of embroidered pillows in mind for that sofa!While at the New York Gift Show I spied this new color of the ever popular “Cats Paw” rug from Dash and Albert.  A fan for years of Dash and Albert for Summer homes and coastal cottages, I can not tell you how happy I was to see this affordable and durable wool rug in a palette I am literally in love with.  This rug is my soft, tonal, “greige” dream-come-true… It looks good with warm tan walls, grey walls and countless other colors and that’s why I ordered several for the store today , so excited.And, I helped install these custom-made drapery today.  The green flange at the lead-edge coordinates with a slip-covered chair and ottoman and the neutral colored sofa and love seat have orange and lime patterned pillows, perfect!  Now All I need is the sofa and the love seat, they’re still at the upholsterer (the slip-covers are custom).  I have been assured they will be done before this client returns from traveling for work.

I ‘d be lying if I told you I worked out today… But it has become a regular thing for me.  I’m seeing my trainer two to three times a week, I am committed to having the body I want by summer.  A trip to Mexico at the end of this month is coming a bit too quickly, I’m not where I want to be just yet, but the warmth and sunshine will be a good reminder of why I’m working out and help me stay on track.  I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t splurge from time to time.  Last week in Boston I had a great meal at cinquecento and I did have dessert.  This panna cotta was infused with bay laurel and was served with a cherry coulis, and it was worth every calorie!  If you’re in Boston check out this boisterous and popular eatery.   In my down-time (7pm to 10pm) I blog, Facebook, Instagram, cook healthy dinners, play with the dogs, wash the dishes, email family, and occasionally try to catch-up on my DVR’d TV shows (Downton Abbey being the only show I try not to miss) and I squeeze in a bit of work from time to time.  I actually love sitting on the sofa, with a dog on my lap, poking around Pinterest, Zinc Door and many other great resources for furniture and accessories with my husband across the room while I enjoy the warmth and the crackle of the fireplace.  

Museum of Fine Art – Boston

With a few extra days after Christmas and my Mom still in town exploring Boston was the perfect thing to do and what treasures Boston has, among them the Museum of Fine Art or MFA.  Always a pleasure, I find myself drawn to the Americas wing.  Fine and decorative arts spanning decades are displayed so beautifully  and the range from crude and rustic to deco and even modern is so thorough. The museum feels intimate although quite large.  I loved the details shown in each of the dining chairs they have on display from different manufactures across the nation most from the late 1700’s, similar in many (most) respects considering the distance between furniture makers, these chairs point of origin are all different but clearly what was in vogue at the time had the strength of popularity to in force certain details… trendy if you will:  The carved and bowed leg, the claw and ball foot.   Aren’t these chairs beautiful?  

California Castles, Dream Machines & a Glamourous Hangout

I really only need three things to live happily in Los Angles… a beautiful Spanish Mediterranean house with a tile roof and interesting windows, iron work and maybe a pool.  Any of these will do:

A beautiful car (vintage please with a soft top because it’s always warm in LA).  I love all things Mercedes but put me behind the wheel of a vintage 280 and there would be NO STOPPING me.

And, of course a chic, beautiful place to hang out that is the epitome of Glamour… Someplace like Cecconi’s.  The food is great, servers are nice, the Maitre d is charming and the restaurant is beautiful…

LA STYLE

I thought about it on the plane and realized that I hadn’t been to Los Angeles for seven years, that’s a long time… But after being here just one day I’ve realized that while shops, clubs and restaurants have come and gone and others have taken their place the city is largely the same. It still has beautiful weather, beautiful people wearing carefully crafted outfits, there is beautiful architecture – both old and new – and yes, still lots of glam if you know where to look.
This first image is part of Chateau Marmont – a haunt of the rich and famous and now me.  The old world glamour is really perfect, modeled after an infamous royal residence in France’s Loire Valley, it is a fantastical folly in the land of make believe.  The bungalows, pool area and hotel are all well perserved and are a total throwback to the glam days of Hollywood. I had a delicious lunch in the outdoor courtyard with great great friends, had a star sighting: Toby Mcguire, and loved walking the grounds and pool.

West Hollywood doesn’t suck either.  West Hollywood is bordered on the north by the Hollywood Hills, on the east by the Hollywood district, on the south by the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, and on the west by the city of Beverly Hills… so its a great location and the walkable neighborhood is a great mix of residential & commercial.  The architecture is largely extreme Art Deco, Spanish Colonial Revival, Monterey Revival, elaborate Italianate monsters – and fountains and statues, hidden gardens and fantastic ironwork and detailing.  The most famous building in the general area is the Art Deco Sunset Tower Hotel up there on the Sunset Strip (8358 Sunset Boulevard), back to its original name after being the Argyle for a bit – 1929, architect Leland A. Bryant. It’s very famous, in a good number of films, and once home to Howard Hughes, John Wayne, Paulette Goddard, Zasu Pitts, and that famous gangster with the great name, Bugsy Siegel. It seems everyone lived there. If you’re really in the know – or if you’re lucky enough to have close friends in the know – the SOHO house is a private club on the top two floors of the 14-story, 9200 Sunset Boulevard.  Opened in spring 2010, Soho House West Hollywood has a bar and dining room that offers spectacular views LA.  The terrace garden dining area is lined with olive trees and covered by a retractable roof. There is also a comfortable sitting room and a private dining and bar area for members’ events and screenings.  Devine!

Red velvet club chairs in the screening room, whats not to love?

the South End Buttery – Boston Ma.

 

If you find yourself in Boston you have no excuse to not stop at the South End Buttery.  If you only have 20 minutes in the morning house made pastries are to die for and the selection, limitless.  Free for brunch? …Saturdays and Sundays the kitchen is cooking up eggs, pastries, sandwiches, salads and the like from 10 AM to 3PM.  Regular cafe hours are 6:30 to 8PM daily and the cozy restaurant serves dinner 7 nights a week.  I had the pleasure of stopping in more than once this last weekend while I was in Boston.  Friends and I had dinner in the downstairs dining room, its beautiful.  Thick stone walls and dark upholstery make the dining room sexy and very atmospheric.  The service is professional but personable and the food was interesting without being precious, filling without being heavy and dessert was simply out of this world.

I wrote all of the above waiting for as long as I could to tell you that my second trip to the South End Buttery was to the on site bakery and the prepared food “market” …the icing on the (cup)cake!  The Buttery is pretty well-known for the cupcakes, cookies, tarts and other confections and they are amazing but on this second trip I was blown away by the cases of prepared foods – everything from glazed carrots to ham and butter sandwiches (yum!) to pork chops that were brined and melt in your mouth delicious.  Everything I (we) tried was very, very good and I have to say being a picky virgo decorator motivated by aesthetics the “market” and prepared foods area was FLAWLESS.  Beautifully appointed, clean and photo-shoot worthy, just look at my iphone images.  The young lady at the counter  was helpful, nice and intelligent and I loved being able to see into the bakery (clean as could be) as they made biscuits, cookies and cupcakes.

If the weather is nice you can sit outside in the charming neighborhood of Boston’s South End, sip a latte and enjoy a baked treat… But if you have the chance make a reservation for dinner and enjoy the talent of the chef and the easiness of the pretty but not stuffy interiors and leave room for dessert!  I had the salted chocolate chip cookies and they were worth every calorie!  Friends got the mixed “sampler” of mini cupcakes, yes I ate some too… Diet be damned.  The surprise take away (pun intended) was the prepared food section.  You could self-cater an entire dinner party (they even have a small “grocery” section with crackers, spreads, pastas and other items)  from their beautiful food cases.  Run don’t walk to the South End Buttery for any meal of the day, eat it there or bring it home… just don’t miss this treasure!   

I only regret…  not taking more pictures, this is truly the tip of the iceberg!

 

 

 

Provincetown

Darn it, I’ve been a day (or two) behind for as long as I can remember getting a blog post up… sorry, life has been full to say the least!  I’m not complaining mind you.  The amount of travel and social events this summer has been staggering and I’m off to Provincetown today for a two-week stay – lucky for me I have family that stays with our dogs.  But I digress, I’m behind by two days and I’m feeling the same pinch in life so the vacation couldn’t come at a better ( or depending on how you look at it worse ) time.  I need to regenerate and build up the creative juice it will take to get me through a productive fall and a long cold winter.  What better  place to relax and unwind than Provincetown?  It’s an easy hour plus drive, countless friends will all be there, the beaches, restaurants, shops, bars, shows and the like can keep me busy all day and all night if I choose, or I can stay on the wharf and watch the beautiful cape light chance throughout the day and simply read, draw, sunbathe and of course eat.

I’m not a cyclist per say, what I mean is i don’t do long bike rides for exercise but I have to say one of most favorite parts of a Provincetown vacation is not getting in a car for two weeks.  And, I love my old-fashioned olive-green bike, bell and all.  It’s really not a good bike for long treks out to the dunes, Herring Cove or hatches harbor but I make it work.  And no, that’s no one I know in the picture above… it’s just a very cute ( and very vintage ) image of the camaraderie and playful nature of people drawn to Provincetown.  I guess it is a bit surprising to think that the community has been so accepting for so many years, what a wonderful tradition and what a wonderful spot to feel so safe, included and equal.

What does all of this have to do with design? ..not much really.  But, it is a magical place where everyone – for the most part – is happy and pleasant, creative and smart, or at least silly and fun.  A guilty pleasure for me in the next few weeks is the Provincetown pool at the Provincetown Inn.  It is literally at the very tip of Cape Cod, the end of the continent and I am somewhat embarrassed to admit I love going there.  Surrounded by natural beauty, the most amazing beaches, and I’m happy to sit in a plastic lounge chair listening to loud dance music and being served burgers n the hot sun all surrounded by a safety fence and attache to a motor inn that frankly could use a facelift.  Why? well because it’s sorta fun to relax into the casualness of the place, it’s not the type of resort where you have to mind your maners, think too much about your outfit, or have the right pool bag… it simply is what it is… thats what Provincetown really is for me.  Simply put it’s a place where everyone is accepted, they are who they are, and we all coexist, beautiful right?  I think so.

Of course seeing friends from all over the world is priceless.  There is always a gang willing to go out, beach it, hit the pool, take a walk, sit for hours at the coffee shop or to swim with off the wharf.  I was going to take two weeks off from blogging, but the truth is I think I’d miss it… so if it’s ok with you, I’ll post throughout my vacation when time and WiFi allow.  I can’t say that the posts won’t influenced by where I am and what I’m doing, because they probably will.  But I’ll continue to troll Pinterest, and the great blogs I read daily and sometimes share with you.  Thanks, as always, for reading Billblog… Hope the remainder of your summer is filled with fun and laughter.  xo

Edgartown Holiday

We were on Martha’s Vineyard for an overnight to see my sister and her family and friends, that’s why this post is so late.  Rewind 48 hours ago.. After scoring an early 1970’s Hobie long board for our hosts on Martha’s Vineyard off of Craig’s List it was a quick one hour ride from State Pier in historic New Bedford (a mile from my house) to one of my most favorite places, Edgartown. The town is so well maintained, the shopping is great, the beaches are beautiful and it’s only an hour away!  This beautiful view was our backyard for two very relaxing days.  The sun was out, the water was warm and we had a great time   splashing around, and eating, and shopping… did I mention shopping?We managed to get invite to a wonderful garden party.  You wouldn’t have believed the brightly colored outfits!  Lilly, Tory, Trina… they were all there ( their clothes anyway ) and would you believe the men were just as into it?

At the opposite end of the spectrum from the cocktail party there was a great bike ride to Morning Glory Farms and the wonderful grocery store full of fresh produce, healthy food, flowers and delicious prepared foods.  Go there! next time your on Martha’s Vineyard.

I could have taken 1000 pictures of the lovely gardens on the island alone and 5000 of the houses and the architecture.  As a matter of fact I took so many that I’m going to do a part 2 blog tomorrow on the houses and history.  This yard was most definitely worth getting off my bike for.

I almost forgot to post a picture of the beach, well one of the many, but the one I was lucky enough to hang out on today!  Warm water with a slide into the ocean – yep, a slide! – a shady spot for lobster salad lunch, and of course charming beach umbrellas and Adirondack chairs for lolling.

…And just incase all this charm isn’t making your teeth hurt, this was the view on our way home from the beach today.  Seriously this isn’t a postcard, I took this shot – along with all the others – with my iPhone.  Gorgeous!

Clam Bake

Well as you can probably tell fro my late and nonexistent posts that Summer is getting the best of me!  Friends are here for the weekend and instead of catching up on blogs from the back yard, we drove them out to the charming town of Westport for a clambake and lobster feed.  Nothing says summer like a clambake.. well bug bites and a sunburn say summer too but not quite as nicely.

 

The homemade chowder was served under the tent in the yard of the Westport Point church and it was really quite yummy… of course I’ve been dieting and avoiding diary so the diet flood gates were flung wide open, all bets were off and I ate with abandon.  The folks couldn’t have been more welcoming and sitting at communal tables inside the meeting hall was quite fun and it was nice to escape the heat of the day.  

 

A real clambake involves making a large fire to heat stones that are smothered with wet seaweed creating the steam that cooks the clams.  The crowd gathers round the clambake before the mounds of hot seaweed are pulled back exposing the cooked clams.   My lobster that got boiled with sausage, potatoes and corn in giant pots was delish.

So If you don’t mind I think this weekend will be dedicated to summer and we will get back to art, design and furniture monday. Happy Sumer everyone!

 

The Farm

Well here I am in the outskirts of Baltimore MD at the farm of good friends and I could not be more relaxed, or better fed.  So far it has been a culinary extravaganza… home-made fried chicken, herb’d corn and coleslaw for dinner last night and oven pancakes with fresh berries and warm maple syrup for breakfast, and lunch today was at Petite Louis.

The massive barn ( the biggest of its type in the County ) is impressive to say the least.  Dating from the 1700’s and once a dairy barn the structure is now home to lama, sheep, goats, chickens as well as geese.  The inside is equally impressive as the outside, three stories high, open to the rafters, gorgeous!

We are close to the Pennsylvania state line, and the topography has wonderful rolling hills, wide green pastures and giant oaks, maples and pines.  A summer storm just passed through and cut the humidity – thank goodness – and the rivers are high and full of clay, they were clear just an hour ago.

This is the view off the front porch, ridiculously beautiful, sublime and peaceful. 

The house dates to pre 1850 and faces the river and road.   Beautiful period details live in harmony with tasteful details and modern day upgrades ( like the biggest master bath and walk-in closet you’ve ever seen).  The long driveway takes you over the river, through the fields, around the barn and animals to the charming house, for real.  I’m serious.

Thank you to my wonderful hosts B & A, three more days and I’m already so content, relaxed and happy.

the Maritime Hotel – NYC

Nope, I’m not going to feel bad that I’ve blogged about this cool New York City hotel more than a few times.  It’s just so cool and now I’m staying there for my 8th wedding anniversary!  This glamorous Chelsea hotel, once the headquarters for the National Maritime Union, made its striking debut in June 2003. The owners revamped the building, using its nautical architectural elements—most notably the 5-foot porthole windows (one per room) overlooking the Hudson—and expanding on them with perfectly conceived details, such as the cabin-like teak furniture.

The rooms have custom beds with Japanese fabric headboards, 20” flat-screen TVs, a complimentary WiFi connection and dimmer lights, as well as a waterfall shower head in the green-tiled bathroom. Two terrace suites, which have outdoor showers, are also available. The guests, many from the entertainment and art worlds, are suitably stylish and keen on the hotel’s bumping nightlife scene.

Among the hot spots—not to mention the cool lobby with a fireplace and La Bottega, which extends outside into 6,000 square feet of patio seating. Factor in the party cabanas on the terraces and the Maritime has the most outdoor space of any hotel in Manhattan.

I’m crazy for this place… And I’m going next month, YIPPIE!

for more info and additional pictures “search” Maritime in the righthand column.

Ocean House – Watch Hill, RI

The village of Watch Hill, Rhode Island is located on a peninsula of land at the southwestern most point on the Rhode Island coast.   In 1833 a man named Jonathan Nash established what was to be the first of many hotels in the area.  By 1890 seven wooden hotels accommodated hundreds of guests for the summer season and Watch Hilla became a summer playground to Bostonians, New Yorkers and many others who travelled further to enjoy the beach and the community of people who visited regularly and became acquainted.  In the late 1800’s through the 1920’s the cottage colony was born on Watch Hill, private homes had not existed prior to this boom. Cottages became summer homes, homes grew to what would be considered mansions today and the wealth of architectural beauty was established and is still preserved today in Watch Hill.

We are staying at Ocean House, the only remaining hotel from the original seven, built in 1868. With recent renovations the hotel is a grand dame with charm, character and views to die for, plus every amenity you could want for.  The rooms are pretty, they vary in styles and have an authenticity and quality I rarely see in resorts.

to be continued… I’m off to breakfast and a walk on the beach.  Will take pictures of the great architecture and catch up with you later.

Mens Summer Fashion

Old school is the new New School.   Madras, plaid, chambray, seersucker… it all coming at us in the next few weeks, next thing you know you’ll be pulling out your flip flops and looking for your white jeans.  Me?  I’m going to rock an oxford cloth suit at a party this coming weekend in RI to celebrate a friends birthday.  Can’t wait to see the beautifully redone Ocean House Hotel (of course pictures to come!).  Love an excuse to buy a few new items of clothing and I love knowing I’m packing a new outfit or two.  If you’re in the market for a suit, they are still wearing them snug, lapels are not too wide and jackets are still just a wee bit shorter than you might think it oughta be.  This one is by JCrew.

I expect that I’ll be able to break up the suit and wear the pants with a blue blazer for work, and mix the slacks with khaki pants or blue cotton trousers or jeans for that matter.  A suit is just a good investment, no matter how you wear it – unless of course you grow out of it or if styles change to drasticlly.  Me?  I like a short jacket that fits snug and a 3 button is better for my body type, so I usually go 3 button, but not always.  you can always button the middle button if you want a 2 button look… and you know what they say about buttons on an man’s jacket, don’t you?

TOP BUTTON: ALWAYS

MIDDLE BUTTON: SOMETIMES

BOTTOM BUTTON: NEVER

Palm Springs Yacht Club

We believe in the American country club experience: mixed doubles, a long steam, and a stiff cocktail.

We believe in inner beauty. But, do what you can on the outside.We believe in old-world etiquette and new age simplicity.We believe you can swim right after you eat.We believe we should trust those seeking enlightenment and doubt those who claim to have found it.We believe the earth is three-quarters water, and your body is three-quarters water, and… this is purely coincidence.We believe in good sport as well as fitness: Pétanque and Pastis, Pimms Cup and Croquet, Snooker and single malt whiskey.

P S Y C

This is the place to be in Palm Springs.  Missing friends out that way, and wishing I was laying by a pool – at the Parker House, the Viceroy, the Colony Palms or in their back yard for that matter – The Parker is really a cool, chic place to disappear and chill out.  fashionistas and hipsters from LA and all over spend a weekend here to relax, rejuvenate, and do a bit of partying too.  The place has a mid-century meets 70’s vibe and its stylish and super chill at the same time, but when you enter the Spa (Palm Springs Yacht Club – aka PSYC) you know you have really arrived!  I love the old school glamour of the foyer, the nautical influence is a cool relief from the desert sun and feels literally like an oasis.  Looking for a low key place to get some R&R and maybe flaunt your abs poolside?  … The Paker is the place for you.

Hosfelt Gallery NYC – Luka Fineisen

New York: Using frost, foam, food, glitter, viscous liquids and molten metal, German artist Luka Fineisen presents ambitious sculptural works that explore moments of becoming.  This exhibition is the premiere of Fineisen’s work in the US.  “Phase transitions” is the term used in thermodynamics to describe the shifts between solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter.  At a literal level, this is what Fineisen represents in her work – tipping points – the transitional moments when a substance changes from one condition to another.  While playing with formal sculptural concerns of modernism and pos-minimalisim, she explores movement and potential.  Luka Fineisen was born in Offenburg, Germany and educated at the Kunstakademie Dusseldorf.  She has exhibited in museums throughout Germany.  This is her first solo show in the US.  The show ends Saturday March 31st.

Hosfelt Gallery New York is located at 531 W 36th Street, between 10th and 11th avenues. Due to construction, 36th Street is accessible only from 10th Avenue. Hours are Wed-Sat 10-6. For more information, contact Celene Ryan at 212.563.5454 or celene@hosfeltgallery.com. images top to bottom:Bubbles, 2010, plastics, various sizes from 3 to 16 inches tallFrosting (detail), 2012, coolant, humidifier, metal, wood, rubber, styrofoam, frost

PARK

There are many beautiful parks in New York City.  Madison Square Park is a favorite, there’s the very famous Central Park, and  Gramercy, Union Square and Washington Square Park.  The High Line is a new park on the elevated railroad tracks and there’s even Battery Park, with the best views of the Statue of Liberty in all of NYC.  But the park I like to be in on a Sunday morning  serves you warm banana bread as peruse the menu and the ambiance is perfect for a lazy sunday morning.

The bar and lounge are a funky mix of hand glazed brick walls and a fire-place surrounded but seating made from tree stumps and roots.  Tall beamed ceilings are pierced by skylights and bamboo reaches for the sun in the middle of the dining room.  Over-scaled round lanterns hang over booths and large windows look out over 10th Street and the atrium where there is additional seating.  The mature trees that grow out of the brick floor in the atrium give the Park the perfect indoor/outdoor vibe great in the rain or on a beautiful sunny day.  My iPhone pictures don’t do it justice, but trust me the energy of this place is almost perfect – or waiter was a bit chilly. 

I loved the banana bread the kitchen sends out on the house!