travel
We’re those people who have been known to make travel plans based solely on stylish lodging. It’s no wonder the recent opening of the Hotel Saint Vincent caught our attention. Surely set to become one of the best hotels in New Orleans or at least in my design mind. In all of its spectacular wonder, grandeur, style and glory has got us itching to plan an excursion down to New Orleans for a visit. It looks like the perfect place to “pass a good time”. Disappointingly, we didn’t get our invite to the hip, it-krewe opening featuring indie rock singer, songwriter, St. Vincent, but hey, we’re not ones to hold a grudge. How about next time?
As an interior designer, this hotel is the very best kind of eye candy. Inspired by 70’s Italian design, Lambert McGuire Design (love me some Liz Lambert) put a modern mark on a NOLA historic property that originally opened back in 1864 as a children’s orphanage. In the renovation and design process, there was absolutely no attention to detail spared in creating the resulting eclectic, decadent, magical vibe. From the colorful, bold patterned Vousta wallpapers to the dark, moody Farrow and Ball painted walls to the mix of vintage and modern art and furnishings, it is an intoxicating, seductive expression of both the feminine and the masculine, and the intersection where the old and new worlds meet, in the coolest kind of way.
Hotel Saint Vincent, you’re on our radar and our where-to-stay list. Laissez les bon temps rouler… We’ll see you soon!
,



















Oh, hey there New York City neighbor! Well, not exactly… we don’t live in NYC, but this was our across 29th Street neighbor we had the best view of from our 10th floor room of the Ace Hotel. By the way, I would highly recommend this Midtown NoMad district hotel and will be sharing more about our stay soon.
When we checked into room 1012, we couldn’t miss our stunning view of the Empire State Building. It immediately brought back such sweet, fond memories of when my now 22 year old son was four and he called it the “Entire” State Building! Having this view was such a lovely surprise. Once I enjoyed a memory and my eyes moved beyond the iconic landmark, an across the street building, clearly an older, historic property, caught my eye. The ornate style, partially hidden by repair scaffolding, was juxtaposed with the coolest, modern penthouse addition, including a green rooftop terrace space. I’m completely smitten and my design curiosity goes into overdrive, wanting to learn more about this place.
Once we were out and about roaming the streets, I made it a point to look for the name of the building. The unassuming, lackluster building awning read – Gilsey House. A quick google search of the name revealed the story of this exact property I’d been studiously stalking from our room window since our arrival. By this point, my husband thinks I’m a bit hyper focused. Obsessed I am my dear! Dwell Magazine featured the Manhattan dream home back in March 2017, with all of the details on the renovation/addition, including interior and exterior photos. And, oh the delight of getting my very own little home tour from across the way!
The historic building with its cast-iron facade of the Second Empire style was constructed in 1869 and has storied evolution from its glory days operating as a posh hotel to at one point being in disrepair and falling victim to dilapidation and then being resurrected with new energy and life. The architect and penthouse owner, Jay Valgora, principal of STUDIO V Architecture, purchased the loft over 25 years ago. The reimagined space for his growing family showcases the successful, harmonious blending between the old and new, juxtaposing the zinc and glass rooftop addition with the white, historic building. For me, it is nothing short of NYC living perfection with an enormous wow factor!
And by the way, this home stalker departed the city without incident, although I’m often tempted to embarrass myself and my family in the name of my love for design! For the full story on this NYC reno/addition, check out the linked Dwell article.
,












All images via Dwell unless otherwise noted.
Travel + Lodging – A Space
Oh, travel and lodging… I could write an entire blog post about how where we stay plays a big role in our travel experience. Honestly, it can make or break a trip for me. In the early days of our marriage, it was a point of contention for my husband and me. We would arrive somewhere and need to switch rooms or even hotels. And, by the way, it was not him! I so clearly remember when my husband and I were dating, and we travelled to Atlanta, GA, to see David Gray in concert (and wow, what a concert it was!). I was in charge of the concert tickets and my husband’s task was to secure the hotel. Easy, right? Well, what an experience it ended up being, in the process learning so much about the other! The room reeked of stale cigarette smoke, and there were soiled and stained textiles in most areas of the room… bedding, carpet, drapes, even the walls. Yuck…it was a stomach-churning kind of disgusting! This is a rather drastic example as we’ve also switched hotel rooms for lesser offenses. My husband could probably rattle off the list, recounting each instance with vivid detail. Spouses are always good like that, right?!
Interior Environments
Over time though, I’ve come to recognize that I am a person who is deeply affected by the spaces where I live and spend time. It’s indeed a real thing. There is a rather large body of research out there that has been conducted by behavioral scientists on how our interior spaces have a significant affect on how humans think, feel and behave. We are impacted, even if we aren’t consciously aware, by our surroundings. There’s also a continuum so some people are more sensitive to their environments than others. Where would you fall on the spectrum? I would fall in the “keenly aware” category. For me, it’s everything about a space –Â lighting (both natural and artificial), spatial layout, furnishings, textiles, colors, even the smell of the space. I have an awareness around this and try to plan as much as I can, especially when traveling. Out of necessity and the thoughtful, kind regard for those around me, I’ve also learned to be flexible when my surroundings are not working for me (and spend as much time outside of the space as possible!).
Our Yosemite Stay
Securing lodging in and near national parks can sometimes be tricky. Accommodations inside the parks are usually more limited and get booked pretty far in advance. Since our AutoCamp, Santa Barbara, visit several years back I had been following their social media accounts. Once they announced their plans to build a sister property outside of Yosemite, I hoped a visit was on our travel horizon. The property is located about thirty-five minutes outside of Yosemite in the historic town of Mariposa. I followed the progress and crossed my fingers that they’d be ready for visitors well before our summer visit. They officially opened in the spring and in plenty of time to work through any grand opening kinks before our July arrival. And indeed, we enjoyed a stylish, comfortable and relaxing stay! Thank you AutoCamp Yosemite! Now, if we can figure how to get to your other two properties, AutoCamp Russian Creek and AutoCamp Cape Cod! (recently announced as the first East Coast location and opening in the fall of 2020).
,
Â
Lodging Style
We initially thought we’d stay in a beloved AirStream (as I’m obsessed with these metal bullet campers); however, with our middle and youngest sons being older and bigger, we decided we might be a little more comfortable in one of the modern cabins. That was definitely a good call… still small and cozy with a little extra room to move around.
Our Little Black Cabin



The Club House
Okay, in few words, I could live here! With its clean, modern, warm and dreamy interiors and exterior, I felt right at home hanging here. The clubhouse is comprised of a beverage bar, event spaces, a camp store and indoor/outdoor gathering spaces, including a pool.
Â
A Look Around the AutoCamp
Â