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Home Away From Home: Sarah Jessica Parker's Favorite Hotel

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:00:43 -0700

In a Q&A in the October issue of Metropolitan Home, Sarah Jessica Parker revealed that her favorite hotel is The George V in Paris. And I can't really fault her for the choice. The hotel, an eight-story landmark 1928 building, offers 245 guest rooms, nearly one-quarter of which are suites. The hotel is so overwhelmingly Carrie Bradshaw, and so absolutely decadent, that I wish I could hop a plane (watching Sex and the City DVDs the whole way) and book a room at The George V right now. My first point of business would be to book a massage at the hotel's spa (shown here), and then finish off the treatment with a dip in the whirlpool or a sweat in the sauna. Then, I'd take a walk and enjoy some of the local attractions, since the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Eiffel Tower, and other gorgeous spots are a half hour or less away by foot. The hotel itself is only steps away from the Champs-Elysées. With private terraces, a gorgeous courtyard, an impressive collection of objets d'art, and a two-Michelin-star-cuisine restaurant, it's hard to see how you could go wrong with a stay at The George V. For a complete tour, read more.

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Guess Which Beatle This Hotel Room is Named After?

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:00:14 -0700

Today, 09/09/09, marks the day that the entire digitally remastered Beatles catalog is being released by Apple. Additionally, The Beatles: Rock Band video game launches, making this a very Beatles-esque day to celebrate. So to honor this day in Beatles history, can you tell me which of the Fab Four had this hotel room named after him?

Great Decorating Ideas From the Hotel Saint Cecilia

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:00:15 -0700

Austin's South Congress Hotel Saint Cecilia expertly mixes styles, eras, and patterns in the design of its rooms and public spaces. The uniting factor throughout the space is the hotel's inspiration. The hotel was named in honor of the patron saint of music and poetry, and the Rolling Stones circa early '70s, writer William S. Burroughs, and artist Andy Warhol all serve as muses for the hotel. Comprised of five suites, six poolside bungalows, and three studios, this hotel is a must-visit spot the next time you hit Austin. See my favorite decorating ideas from the Saint Cecilia.
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Midday Muse: Welcome to the Parker

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:00:43 -0700

Are you guys watching the new Bravo show, "Welcome to the Parker"? After stumbling on this photo of the hotel's Jonathan Adler-designed interior, I think I should check it out if only for the eye candy.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:13 -0800

When do you start your holiday decorating? - Simply Stated
What do you think of these wall drawers? - AT:LA
Go typographic with your coasters. - Craft
Get grain sack style. - Re-Nest
How do you hang pots and pans? - Shelterrific
Check out decorating tips from the Crosby Street Hotel. - ShelterPop
Peruse these interior painting tips. - This Old House

Betsey Johnson to Design an Eloise-Inspired Suite at the Plaza

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:27:56 -0700

Betsey Johnson is diving headfirst into her first hotel collaboration with a suite inspired by Kay Thompson's Eloise for New York's most prestigious address, The Plaza Hotel. Once the dust of New York Fashion Week settles, she is due to begin designing a two-bedroom suite in the character's signature pink-and-black palette. This shouldn't be much of a stretch for the designer, who dressed her own Manhattan penthouse in head-to-toe pink (shown left). The suite, as you might expect, will balance Johnson's notoriously wild style with the Plaza's brand of luxury, and should be a treat for adults and young guests alike. Of the collaboration, Johnson has said:

I'm tickled pink to be designing the Eloise Suite at the Plaza. When I recently moved uptown and my first granddaughter was born, I rediscovered Eloise and hoped that something magical would happen between me and my favorite hotel. This is the perfect pink combo!

Can't wait to see it! Would you like to stay in Johnson's Eloise-inspired suite?

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Home Away From Home: Stockholm's Hotel J

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:41 -0700

Stockholm's Hotel J is a super chic chalet influenced by the fine craftsmanship of yachting with a distinct Scandinavian twist. Bright and airy, the interiors' chairs and sofas are upholstered in thick white wrinkly cotton and also feature clean-lined contemporary light oak furniture. The hotel has a gorgeous view of the Stockholm harbor, and guests can rent sailboats or taking sailing lessons.

"Nautical by nature," the hotel is filled with boating accents throughout, such as sail remnants and model sailboats, but knickknacks are kept to a minimum. I love the calm vibe of the hotel. Beds are dressed in blue and white stars and stripes, but not in a kitschy way. Stockholm, here I come! Take a tour when you read more.

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Found It! Vibrant Orange Bedspread at Seattle's Hotel Max

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:26 -0700

Seattle's Hotel Max is a vibrant boutique hotel that provides luxuriously hip accommodations for travelers. Located in downtown Seattle, the hotel features quirky-cool interiors as well as over 350 original paintings and photographs. Since I'm on an orange kick, I also had to give the hotel props for its beautiful bedspreads and pillows.

Want to know where you can find them for your own home? Then read more.

The bedspreads are the Wallter Premium Wave Wool Bedspread ($580). I'm a big wool-blanket fan, and I love this modern update on the fabric. If you're not wild for orange, they're also available in a neutral camel color. While the coordinating pillow doesn't seem to be available, you can buy a close match, the Wallter Tree PIllow ($120-$160) in the same vibrant orange.

The New Yorker Profiles Kelly Wearstler

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:06 -0700

The “presiding grande dame of West Coast interior design,” Kelly Wearstler, is featured in a six-page profile in the Sept. 14 issue of The New Yorker.

I've always considered Wearstler (pronounced "Worst-ler") an enigma - wife of a hotel mogul, author, Top Design judge, crimped-hair enthusiast, Southern belle, ex-Playboy model - but her design skill is irrefutable. So, it was interesting to read about how the girl who grew up in a cluttered Myrtle Beach home decorated in a "blowsy Provincial style" became the face of ornate, layered, over-the-top Hollywood Regency style.

"You don’t hire her for her subtlety, you hire her for what her critics call ‘muchness'," said a client. Her style, as it turns out, is governed more by instinct than intellect: "I don't have time to think things through a lot. I just do how it feels," she says. I was also intrigued to hear that she thinks of herself as having "a very European sensibility" that's "well travelled, collected." Pick up a copy to read the full text or read an abstract online.

Home Away From Home: The Maidstone in East Hampton

CasaSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:33 -0700

If you live in the New York metro area, you know very well of the Hamptons' reputation as THE place to be in the summertime. If not, you've probably caught a glimpse of the glory of the Long Island townships in movies like Something's Gotta Give and Grey Gardens. Unless you're a lucky dog who owns a home in the popular seaside locale, most visitors rent a Summer share or score a bed with a friend, as hotels in the area tend to be overpriced and lacking in looks (and personal BBQ grills). But room and maid service does have its perks, so if you are looking to stay in a Hamptons hotel, might I offer one that gets my seal of approval? The iconic Maidstone hotel was reinvented by Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg who has mixed the free-spirited design of her native Scandinavia with the timeless sophistication of the Hamptons, and thrown in some arresting artwork and photography - all with a bit of a bohemian twist. One of the guest rooms is furnished with pieces designed or inspired by seminal designer Josef Frank (a favorite of mine), and features white oak flooring typical of midcentury Scandinavia, as well as modern wallpaper by up-and-coming Swedish designer Hanna Werning. Another, the Kurbits Cottage, takes a note from traditional Sweden with a wooden Jantze Brogård Asshoff table, hand-painted wall motifs, a wood-burning fireplace, and water-lily light fixtures, as well wooden clogs as décor. Hear about the hotel's eco-friendly features and see plenty of photos when you read more.

Beyond its refreshing design philosophy, the hotel has also taken every conceivable step to be the Hamptons' most eco-friendly hotel, with a goal of becoming carbon neutral. Some of its eco-friendly features include an on-site Natura water filtration system in place of bottled water; high-efficiency furnaces; state-of-the-art central a/c units; Low-E double-paned windows with insulating argon gas; organic cotton linens; water-based paints; and low-flush toilets. They also use refillable toileterie containers, recyclable carry-out containers, organic produce, organic cleaning products, and compost all of their restaurant's organic waste and donate it to local farmers. And, guests are encouraged to use their collection of Kronan bicycles as green transport free of charge.

If you arrive in a car, you'll be happy to note that each room comes with a much-coveted beach parking permit. Pets are also welcome, and WiFi throughout the hotel is free. And after a tiring afternoon at the beach, you can cozy up with a book from the library stocked with volumes about art, design, photography and the Hamptons' history, or watch a DVD from their large collection, also free. Summer rates range from $450-$995.
To see interior photos, read more.

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