Virtual Vacation: Edinburgh

Work has been incredibly hectic for me as we rush to close on an acquisition in a matter of weeks (instead of the months that we should have had). For all the craziness though, one upside to being overextended at the office is that, when things finally do settle down, you feel incredibly entitled to make the most of it and go on vacation. Dave and I are booked to take a much-deserved (for us both -- Dave has been just as busy as I have, if not more) trip at the end of May to London and then to Scotland. During our five days in Scotland, we'll be spending two nights nestled in the Highlands in Inverness and three nights in Edinburgh. During out time in Edinburgh, Dave and I will be staying at the Hotel Missoni -- and I'm beyond excited. So I thought today in anticipation of my upcoming vacation, I'd indulge in a little virtual vacation and explore all that the Hotel Missoni (and Edinburgh) have to offer.

I've long admired Missoni's brand; their clothes, fabrics and home accessories lines are exactly the kind of bold, brightly colored patterns that I'm always drawn to. It's very modern, but not spare. And, from the pictures I've been able to find online, their newest venture into boutique hotels (the first in Edinburgh, with more in the works in Kuwait, Cape Town, Brazil and Oman) has the exact same feeling as the rest of the line (modern, colorful and fun, but also incredibly luxe) -- and that's to be expected considering Rosita Missoni herself designed the hotel.

I love the predominately black and white vibe of the lobby. It's all so very, very Missoni. The style of the hotel is far more modern than anything I would ever do in my own home...and that's not to say that I dislike modern design per se as I quite admire modern design when done well for all its crisp spareness...it's more that it doesn't feel especially "me" and it's not something I think I could live with day after day. That said though, I always try and use traveling as an opportunity to stay in hotels that have a very different design sensibility than my own home. After all, half the fun of traveling is getting to experience something completely different from what you're used to.

I think my favorite design element are these giant urns in the lobby, which are visible from the street. Talk about making a statement.

Even the hotel's elevators are decorated in signature Missoni prints.

This hot pink, black and white suite is probably my favorite of the ones photographed (and I'm sure not at all representative of the baseline room Dave and I will be staying in). I love how the rug is a reverse of the pattern on the sofa and how the glossy pink buffet mirrors the pink accent wall on the other side of the space. Despite a growing penchant for more organically designed/eclectic spaces, I'm still a big fan of a well-thought out, tightly designed room like this one.

The same room, from a different angle. I love all the light pouring into this space from the windows. Too often hotel rooms are decorated too darkly, often to disguise cramped quarters or small windows. Here though, the overall feeling is one of light and space: two huge luxuries in Edinburgh.

Not sure if this is the same suite, or another suite with the same color palette. Either way though, I love that low slung, round chair; it's the perfect place to lay back and read a book or watch TV.

A second style of suite, this one decorated in a more masculine black and white with small touches of red.

I love how these two very different styles of chair are united by the common fabric. I'm not normally a fan of shaggy carpet, but the plush rug adds a level of warmth to a room that could otherwise read as a bit cold.

A smaller suite, probably more representative of the majority of the hotel's rooms. Despite the smaller size, the room is still elegantly appointed and cheerfully decorated. I particularly covet the zig zag pillows on the bed. Additionally, all rooms come with complimentary Wi-Fi, laundry and minibar (nothing I hate more at pricey hotels is the nickel and dime-ing you for any "extras"). I also like the pale blonde wood floors that runs through all the rooms. Not only does it add a natural (and more casual) element to these very modern interiors, but it's so much better than scuzzy hotel carpet.

Another one of the "standard" rooms, this one featuring a single king bed. I love how the bedding picks up on the turquoise and yellow used on the walls. It's not my favorite color combination, but it's peppy and fresh. A nice change of pace from the golds, browns and reds so often favored by hotels.

I tend to gauge a hotel's class by the quality of its bathrooms. I'm sure I won't be disappointed with these as they boast deep jewel-tone walls, rainfall showers and plush Missoni robes and towels.

Views from the hotel. I actually spent a few weeks with my family back in the summer of 2002 touring around Scotland. We went to Glasgow, Perth, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh (with a brief day trip up to the Highlands to take a boat ride on Loch Ness). And, while much of Scotland is achingly beautiful, my favorite stop by far was the few days we spent in Edinburgh. Edinburgh's Old Town is -- as you can see from this photo -- a wonderful mishmash of ancient and modern. I love the idea of staying in an ultra-modern hotel right off the Royal Mile, one of the oldest streets in the UK. It's this very European juxtaposition that, as an American (and a Houstonian in particular), I find so attractive.

The Royal Mile is so named as it's the approximately one mile stretch of road connecting Holyrood Palace (the official residence of the monarch in Scotland) to Edinburgh Castle (dating to the 12th century, the defensive stronghold is situated above the city on top of an extinct volcano). The Hotel Missoni is within a five minute walk of Edinburgh Castle and within ten minutes of . The Queen is rarely in residence, however, and typically only stays at Holyrood a few days a year en route to her private summer home in Balmoral. When you've had your fill of cultural outings, stroll over to Princes Street for the best in high street shopping. Jenners, Scotland's equivalent of Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdales, is the crown jewel of Scottish shopping and is a must-see.

There is, of course, plenty of entertainment to be had inside the hotel itself as well. Dave and I plan on spending a quiet, romantic evening at their much lauded restaurant and bar. I absolutely adore the collection of prints displaying the phases of the moon in Bar Missoni. The copper-topped, flower-shaped bar is also stunning. I'll be trying out one of their signature cocktails: the Basilito, a twist on the classic mojito (a blend of basil, grape and Italian lemon), or Biennale, a twist on a bellini, but with fig and vanilla preserve and prosecco.

The hotel's restaurant Cucina is (of course) Italian, with an emphasis on serving fresh, local ingredients. The graphic black and white patterns of the hotel lobby are carried through to the restaurant, punctuated with pops of bold turquoise and pink.

If you interested in visiting Edinburgh, my best advice is to stay in Old Town -- or as close to it as your budget will allow. Unlike London, Edinburgh does not have a subway system and getting around via cab quickly gets expensive. By staying in Old Town, you'll be guaranteed to be right in the heart of the major tourist attractions. Besides the Hotel Missoni, I've also heard wonderful things about Tigerlily, another very chic boutique hotel that also happens to be more moderately priced.

If you've visited Edinburgh recently, I'd love to hear your suggestions for restaurants, bars, shops and sites that we should add to our itinerary. It's always great to get travel tips first hand!

Trip Recap: Miami

North Bay

Dave and I just got back from our long weekend in South Florida, where we had a wonderful, relaxing time. I apologize for not posting while we were away (I had the best of intentions, I promise!) but somehow the days managed to get away from me.

But in a place this beautiful, can you really blame me?

Outside our hotel room

We stayed at The Standard, which is located right on North Bay (which separates Miami Beach from the mainland) and within a short cab ride from the action of South Beach. So while you're definitely a bit off the beaten path (which suited Dave and I just fine), the Standard's luxe boho-beachy vibe makes you feel every bit as indulgent and pampered as you would at the Delano or the Shore Club but at a fraction of the cost. And while I question a few design choices (like putting a full-length mirror right next to the toilet!) and wish they served breakfast on weekends, all in all I highly recommend the hotel.

Jonathan Adler boutique!

On Thursday Dave and I kept things relatively low key as I was still recovering from a nasty cold I picked up earlier in the week (great timing, right?!). We walked up and down Lincoln, a street so chock-full of trendy eateries and boutiques that a large portion of it is pedestrian-traffic only. I wasn't feeling particularly up for shopping (I said I was pretty sick!) until we literally stumbled across the Jonathan Adler boutique on our walk back from lunch, at which point I immediately perked up, cold be damned. Though small, the store managed to contain just about every Adler product you could desire. While Adler has a top notch e-commerce site, it was still helpful to see all of his accessories and furnishings in the flesh to get a feeling for size, scale actual color, etc.

Michael's Genuine

Thursday night we met up with Dave's brother ("M.") and his wife ("D.") for dinner in the Design District. We started the evening out at Grass, which we had high hopes for. Alas, the menu had changed drastically since the last time M. and D. had gone and we were so disappointed with our appetizers that we got the check and left before we ordered the main course. Quick to recover the evening, we headed a block down to Michael's Genuine, where we enjoyed some fantastic food and excellent service. Without question though our favorite course was dessert, where we split homemade dough-nuts and a banana toffee panini.

The Sauna at The Standard

While I felt significantly better the next morning, we didn't manage to muster up a great deal of energy to get out and about on Friday either. Instead, we spent the bulk of the day enjoying all the amenities that The Standard has to offer, including their incredible spa. Both Dave and I enjoyed massages, and I even indulged in a facial as well. Both treatments were well done and (bearing in mind we were on Miami Beach) reasonably priced. My favorite experience though was the sauna, a large very Romanesque space covered in heated marble. Just a few minutes laying on the warm stone was incredibly relaxing.

The Standard's (saltwater) pool

A few more hours lounging by the pool, sipping on pomegranate margaritas rendered Dave and I practically comatose.

Skybar

Fortunately, after all our lazying about, we managed to rally for a second night out with M. and D. This time though we went straight to the heart of the nightlife, South Beach. We dined at Nobu (which managed to live up to all the hype) and then sipped on drinks at the Skybar, an indoor/outdoor bar at The Shore Club. With ample Moroccan lanterns and plenty of seating, the Skybar is a wonderfully intimate and romantic venue that was far more understated, far classier than I would've expected for South Beach. In fact, both Dave and I agreed it was the best bar we'd ever been to. Anywhere.

South Beach

On Saturday while Dave and M. headed back up to Ft. Lauderdale to watch the UF-UGA game and relieve the babysitter of her duties, D. and I headed back to the Miami Design District to check out some of the boutiques and stores. Designed primarily for design professionals, the MDD is not exactly a hopping retail district on Saturdays. In fact, D. and I were surprised just how deserted the place actually was. We had just about every store to ourselves.

The Jalan Jalan Collection

Our favorite store for browsing was the Jalan Jalan collection, which has a great global eclectic-meets-beachy vibe that's very popular right now in home decor. Custom products are shown alongside popular lines like Visual Comfort, Oly Studios, and Lee Industries. There were almost too many great pieces to count, but some personal favorites include a gorgeous white lacquer side table with shagreen top (above left), giant square upholstered ottoman, the oversize porcelain lamp and mother of pearl throw pillow (all three pictured above right).

The Jalan Jalan Collection, cont.

Our hands down favorite vignette though had to be the one pictured above. I love the soft blues juxtaposed with the bright orange throw pillows and that reclaimed wood coffee table, while you can't tell from the pictures, is absolutely to die for.

Ann Sacks

After a few minutes salivating in the Ann Sacks store (if only I had dozens of kitchens and bathrooms to redo!), we headed over to a more retail-friendly part of MDD to explore some more.

Our biggest discovery of the day though was EQ3, a Canadian furniture store that is only just beginning to work its way into the U.S. market. Prices were similar to those of West Elm and the style on offer was a similarly modern one, though with colors and patterns more akin to Orla Kiely. The big story though is all the custom upholstery options, something that's generally unheard of at that price point. With over one hundred fabrics to choose from, and even custom leg options, you can get a very personalized sofa for under $1000. All I can say is, please, please, puh-lease come to Houston next.

After our shopping excursion we headed back to Ft. Lauderdale to spend Halloween with M. and D.'s adorable kids (who are 5 and 3, respectively). We had a thoroughly wonderful time during our kid-centric Halloween as Dave and I got to bond with our niece and nephew and to enjoy a great block party with their very social neighbors.

But enough about my weekend, how was your Halloween?

Vacationing and The g.

You may or may not have noticed the new widget I added to my sidebar the other day, but it's a countdown clock for my upcoming vacation to London, Dublin and Galway. To say I'm excited is a gross understatement. Dave and I haven't had a vacation in over two years. And, for the record, I don't count attending weddings, bachelorette parties, in-law visits etc. as vacations -- not because they aren't fun (they often are), but because they're often obligatory and rarely where I would've chosen to spend my precious few days off. I also haven't taken more than a week off at a time (and I've done this only three times in the past three years) since I graduated from law school in 2006.

But enough justification. The short story is that a vacation was long overdue and Dave and I decided to do it big this time and go abroad. Since Dave's only trip to Europe was a work trip to Paris last year, I thought the UK/Ireland was a good place to begin his international travels, especially since both of us are of primarily English, Irish (and Scottish) descent. Besides, while I've been to London/Southern England several times over the years, I have not yet visited Ireland and am excited to see the Emerald Isle.

One thing my husband absolutely does not understand is my love for gorgeous (and inevitably pricey) boutique hotels -- Frette linens and designer style just isn't worth the price tag to him. So this time we compromised. While in London, we'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum London at a steal of a price we got courtesy of Hotwire (a great option if you know the location you want to stay in, but are less picky about the exact hotel). Yes, the location is central and Kensington is one of the best neighborhoods in The City, but it's still a Holiday Inn -- no matter how many words you add to the end of the name. But once we get to Galway, we'll be spending three nights at The g. And if the reviews and photos are any indication, this place is going to be spectacular.

The g was designed by Galway-native and couture milliner Philip Treacy (whose probably most famous in the States for designing the towering green hat Sarah Jessica Parker donned at The Sex and the City movie premiere in London). If you look closely, many of the rooms at The g showcase the undulating, gravity-defying sculptural shapes that Treacy's hats are famous for.

The bespoke concierge desk in particular looks a lot like an oversized version of one of Treacy's hats. The desk is covered in white Venetian plaster, and is reminiscent of a giant seashell, which is a subtle theme that Treacy plays with throughout the hotel as a nod to Galway's location on Ireland's wild and woolly west coast. The walls and floor are black glass, allowing the desk-turned-art installation to take center stage.

The g's [in]famous Pink Salon. Yes it's crazy and something you'd never want in your own home, but it's also undeniably fabulous. With its Andy Warhol-inspired pink camouflage print chairs and black and white vortex rug, it's a contemporary reimagining of the psychedelic 60's. Admittedly a subtle detail in a not-so-subtle room, the white coral mirror is a standout here for me design-wise. In fact, I'd love to have an identical mirror in my new dining room (how great would that look against the Drawing Room Blue?).

The more formal of the two lounges, this second lounge's demure and modern color palette of creams and metallics keeps the serious furniture from looking too staid. The plush velvets and silks, combined with the mirrored tables and metallic-leafed woods make this room utterly sophisticated. The huge installation of large silver balls manages to accomplish two dueling purposes by both highlighting the dramatically high ceilings and visually filling in all that space to create a more intimate setting for quiet conversations over cocktails. This is an adult room, but one that doesn't take itself too seriously.

The bar and adjoining Blue Lounge are probably my favorite rooms in the hotel. With its dark blue walls, plush velvet chairs, gilt trimwork and stunning mirrored bar, it feels a bit old Hollywood Regency meets modern glam -- very Kelly Wearstler-esque, don't you think? I plan on spending some time here sipping on a cocktail while waiting on our table at The g's acclaimed Italian restaurant, the Matz at The g.

The guest rooms themselves are a lot more understated than the public spaces, which is a good thing, I think, if you're trying to get some rest after a day of touring. Despite the muted palette, the rooms still have Treacy's signature quirkiness -- just look at those space-age lamps (that again look rather like hats)!

Of course, there's so much to explore in Galway outside of the hotel, so I plan on taking full advantage of its burgeoning arts' scene (though, alas, we'll just miss the start of the annual Galway Arts Festival) as well as its proximity to the Aran Islands (which is a "can't miss" according to my law school roommate) and Kylemore Abbey (which looks more like a fairytale castle than a nunnery). You can be sure I'll be taking a ton of pictures to share with everyone when I get back, but for now, I'll just have to content myself with planning our trip until we leave July 2 (don't worry though, I'm going to start stockpiling posts to go up while I'm gone!).

Virtual Vacation: Capri

Beth of the lovely and inspiring blogs Style Redux and Chinoiserie Chic sent me this photograph of the salon at the J.K. Capri hotel on the Island of Capri in Italy to show off a room painted in Farrow and Ball's Drawing Room Blue (a color I'd love to use in my next house). Intrigued, I dropped into J.K. Place's website and found photograph after gorgeous photograph of impeccably designed interiors. Coupled with stunning views of the Gulf of Naples, I'm seriously rethinking my summer plans. How amazing would it be to spend a few nights at the J.K. Place? Unfortunately, until I find my missing [read: nonexistent] trust fund and can afford the minimum $1000 per night rates, I'll have to content myself with a virtual vacation.

I just love all the beautiful Mediterranean blue and white in this salon, it's so refreshing. What makes this room interesting from a design standpoint is how easily the decorator managed to work contemporary furniture and accessories that convey an easy, beachy feel into a formal architectural setting. I think the classical sculpture placed throughout the room really helps bridge the gap between the Ionic columns and intricate mouldings, on the one hand, and the casual striped rug and contemporary white sofa, on the other.

Here are a few more shots of a few of the other public rooms (all equally gorgeous):

Fortunately, the private rooms are as nice well-appointed as the public ones:

Each of the hotel's suites has a unique personality and color scheme and yet all the rooms feel related and speak to each other because of their pale walls, classic architecture and understated furnishings. The rooms are also all similarly appointed with a canopy beds, comfortable sitting areas and magnificant views of the bay. While I love the classic orange fabric (which reappears in another room in its yellow colorway) in the first photo and the dramatic purple and white upholstered wingback chairs in the fourth photo, my favorite room is probably the second photo. I love how the large canopied bed is oriented towards the fireplace, which is flanked on either side by gloriously huge french doors. I'd like to imagine that those doors open out onto a long private terrace. Magnifico.

Of course, the island itself is really the star of the show:

I'd spend the first day or two of my arrival simply relaxing on their large deck, taking in all the glorious Mediterranean sun and snoozing off my jet lag. After some good R&R though, I'd be sure to hit the major tourist spots on the island: the Villa Jovis (the Roman Emperor Tiberius' villa) and the famous Blue Grotto.

Since Capri is just a 45-minute boat ride away from Naples, I'd also plan on spending lots of time both in Naples and neighboring coastal towns (like Sorrento). As a devotee of Roman history, my first stop on the mainland would inevitably be Pompeii, which is just on the other side of the Gulf of Naples from Naples itself. In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii is without a doubt the most mystical, most beautiful and most fascinating place I've ever visited.

For me, at least, this vacation has everything: a luxury hotel with gorgeous interior design and stunning views of the ocean, mountains and the city within a stone's throw of major Roman archaeological sites as well as several vibrant and lovely Italian cities. I just couldn't ask for more. What's your idea of the perfect vacation destination?

Photographs courtesy of the J.K. Capri.