destination friday: Veuve Clicquot Hotel

What are fridays for, if not for grabbing a bag and heading out on an adventure?

a destination friday post is long overdue....

and so...

Although it's technically a hotel,

The invitation-only Veuve Clicqout guesthouse is not a place many of us will ever set foot in.

More than decoration, more than architecture...

it's an attitude, an atmosphere...sultry, chic and very adult.

But what would you expect from the creators of one of the greatest Champagnes of our time?

the sparkle, who would have ever thought to use mirror like this? genius.

and that staircase....

more mirror, herringbone floors....

whats a party without crystal?

serenity reigns in the boudoir...

decadence.

the cellars below, imagine the champagne.....

sigh.

Another one for the travel wish list...

found via The Diversion Project - thank you for introducing me to this gem, Jules!!

happy friday, friends - hope you are heading into a long, relaxing weekend...

we're starting early with a lunch with friends today - x

(oh yes, and my black friday post can be found here - I was a week early!

This is what happens when I try to schedule posts ahead of time, lol...)

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..