Hotel Fasano Boa Vista

'Boa Vista' indeed. Both inside and out!
Hotel Fasano Boa Vista is in the Brazilian countryside, just outside Sao Paolo amongst 13 natural lakes and with beautiful views ('boa vista') of the Ipanema mountain range. The hotel itself was designed by Brazilian architect, Isay Weinfeld and has a strong connection to the nature around it. Sustainability and the use of local materials were also key. The owner, Rogerio Fasano was heavily involved with the interior specification and makes a huge understatement when he says 'there is a slight Sixties and Seventies influence'.
Isn't it glorious?

Images from Fasano Boa Vista and Sleeper

Painted On Paris

The Guilded Suite, La Maison Champs Élysées, Paris. Designed by Martin Margiela. Nice, huh? (no, Paris...ha ha...hmmm...)

La Maison Champs Élysées

The Merchant Hotel Spa

I was lucky enough to join a brilliant design team that specialized in Spa design and consultancy when I finished college. The new spa at The Merchant Hotel in Belfast was one of the projects I was involved in for the initial design stages before I moved on. It's been completed for a couple of years now but it's great to see how the design developed and the compromises that were made along the way. I love the sexy graphics used on the shower doors in the treatment rooms and throughout! Very tempted to book a relaxing weekend in Belfast now...

Images from The Merchant Hotel

Aikwood Tower

Whilst I was off growing a baby, I was also working on a very exciting refurb project in the Scottish Borders. Aikwood is a 16th century tower about 40 miles south of Edinburgh, deep in the beautiful Ettrick Valley. With many an outdoor pursuit on its doorstep, my client felt the 5 bedroom tower was in the perfect location to be transformed into an luxurious exclusive-use holiday let and wedding venue. His parents had lovingly restored the tower from a ruin into their home in the late 80's and were now ready to to pass it on to the next generation.
We had three months to turn it around so it was intense and stressful but pretty exciting and everyone was more than happy with the result. I'm pretty proud of it, even if I do say so myself...

We sourced local tweed from Andrew Elliot and Hinnigan (who also made the gorgeous cushions and throws) and scoured antique markets from London to Glasgow, and everywhere in between, to source key feature pieces, furniture and lamps that sit comfortably next to the brand new bespoke items. After many doubts, lots of persiverence, a little convincing, plenty of elbow grease, not to mention the searching, sourcing and shopping, it all came together in the end. What do you think?
P.S. It looks even better in the flesh...so go ahead and book a long weekend of luxury...
Photography by Douglas Robertson

Babbington House

The Soho House Group have a pretty impressive portfolio of hotels around the world, including the latest addition in Berlin but I still like to refer to their sumptuous first venture, Babbington House in Sommerset, for design inspiration. It opened in 1998 and, although i presume it has undergone some updating along the way, still looks elegant and relevant in the design stakes. There are 23 rooms in the main house and coach house, 5 family holiday rooms in the Stable block (...of course), a lodge with 3 bedrooms and 3 more next to the very funky Cowshed Relax Spa overlooking the walled garden, dahling...
Surely, having that beautiful old chapel in the gardens propels it into the most perfect setting for an English country wedding, no? ...only if daddy has enough on the credit card...

Sun, Sea, Sangria

The Balearic Islands in the Mediteranean, have an unfortunate reputation for being saturated with British sun-seekers, keen on drinking as much beer as possible, eating full English breakfasts, sowing there seed, and generally disgracing the nation for 3 months over the summer. There is a reason, however, why this pocket of the world became so popular in the first place; the breathtaking mountainous scenery and the stunning turquoise sea (not to mention the food, people and, pretty much, guaranteed sunshine).

I haven't given up on these jewels of the Med and certainly wouldn't turn down a week or so at one of the very cool exclusive spa resorts like Son Gener, Mallorca.

For more information: Son Gener

Lute Suites, Amstel

Peter Lute is a chef...a very creative and inventive chef with an eye for design. He opened a restaurant in Ouderkerk, a village on the outskirts of Amsterdam, and quickly expanded to include boardrooms and then seven freestanding suites; three-level gabled cottages, each with kitchenette and living room, all facing the Amstel River.
He hired Marcel Wanders as the designer and the results show his commitment
to surprise, delight, and elicit strong emotional response...
...not to mention, Bisazza-tastic!

Lutesuites.nl
via designhotels.com

The Jura Lodge

I've done a little travelling...more than some...not as much as others, but in my opinion the west coast of Scotland is one of my top 5 most breathtakingly, beautiful places in the world (if the sun shines).
Granted, I may be biased being from Glasgow (hardly the beautiful west coast...but the west none-the-less) but if you ever find yourself on an island off the west coast of Scotland, you will witness turquoise water the Maldives would be jealous of. If you're lucky enough to have your naked feet in the whitest sand, a whisky in one hand and an oyster, fresh out the sea, in the other...well, you might as well call it heaven. As the sun goes down and the breeze picks up, you might need a fireplace, a hot bath and a bed...
The Jura Lodge, the old head distiller’s house next to the Jura whisky distillery has been transformed by Paris-based American designer Bambi Sloan. It's situated on (you guessed it) the Isle of Jura, and is notoriously difficult to get to (as are many others) but I would definitely battle through the nausea-inducing, Scottish B roads and vomit-activating, ferry journeys for a long weekend in heaven...

The Lodge has been open since late 2006 and we still haven't made it over for a visit. What a fantastic interior...it reflects the beauty of it's situation; incorporating the island's history and scenery.

I enquired in 2007 about having our wedding there, but with only 5 rooms and it being a bit of a treck (especially for the Australians) it just wasn't ideal, not to mention the cost. To hire exclusively you'll need £2500 per night for a minimum of 3 nights. Our piggy bank just fainted....

photos from IsleofJura.com and thecoolhunter.net

Hot Tin Roof

Metal ceiling tiles: The more decorative and vintage looking the better.

One Up, Glasgow

The Borough Hotel bar, Edinburgh

What do you think?

Images 1 & 3 from Andy Thornton. Image 2 from The Borough Hotel.

Crosby Street Hotel, NYC

The husband and I have agreed for sometime now that if the opportunity to live in New York should ever arise, there wouldn't be any need for a debate. We'd be ready; bags packed, doggy passport sorted, hands poised and waiting for bagel and 'cwafee' to be inserted...yes please!
In this fantasy life overhaul (humour me on this) I'd imagine we'd need somewhere to lay our excited noggins as we searched for the perfect apartment, dogwalker, job etc.
As much as I hate to inject a little reality into this daydream, I doubt very much we'd be checking in to the beautiful 11 storey Crosby Street Hotel. I don't see anything on the website about allowing 28kilo boxer dogs to rest their weary heads on the high thread count linen let alone relieve themselves in the sculpture garden...(nothing to do with the rates of course)!
We'd very happily settle for afternoon tea or a Sunday night film in the screening room...
Tim and Kit Kemp already have a portfolio of hotels in London. The Crosby Street Hotel is their 1st venture across the pond and opened in October 2009. Interiors are by Kit Kemp.
Click on the pictures for a closer look
Available to book here and here