Rambling...

I do have more photos from San Miguel to show you, but it seems I've caught some Mexican flu or something. So today is a rambling of semi-coherent medicine-induced thoughts...

via

-Why am I always sick?

-Can people get bed sores from laying in bed too long or is that just a Middle Ages thing?

-I want to make a delicious tagine- that sounds WAY better than chicken broth

-Blog reading is a great way to distract myself while feeling bored in bed: Lil Bee, Le Seur Interiors,
Chapman Interiors, all good reads.

-I want to resurrect my book club with my sweet friend Abby. To Kill a Mockingbird (don't judge me- I've never read it). Here is another inspirational places for book titles, I may use.

-I should paint my bathroom- it really needs it. Maybe that'll be my next project. That and cleaning.

-I can't get that crazy ethereal White Hinterland song Icarus out of my head (from the Project Runway finale)- finally googled it. So now I'm listening to it on repeat. Haunting. In a good way.

-I think I need some good galoshes... black ones with knee socks.

-I also think I need ankle booties, maybe grey ones.

frugal fashionista

- I just need to shop for some basics. Look how chic Elle looks in basics.  Jeggings, a good bootie, fresh tops, clean but cute.

- Speaking of clean but cute, I should wash and actually fix my hair. I tend to become a slob when I'm sick. How about this?

- And then maybe I could cuddle up in a spot like this? Surely, I'd be feeling better in no time....

- That gilded mirror, chrome table, lucite lamps, knarled stump table, and cuddly fur throw are such an amazing mix of materials. Texture = interest, in my opinion.

Didn't I just ramble? Yes, yes, I did. I promise I do have interesting post topics to blog about- San Miguel, meeting Jonathan Adler, Christmas wishlist, something cute I got in the mail, and color inspirations.... maybe tomorrow will be a better day. :)


xoxo,

 

Hotel Matilda

Our hostess at the Casa suggested we visit Hotel Matilda for dinner or drinks because it's new and fabulous. She said it is a very modern Mexican looking place and very chic. Katie and I made plans to see it and have a cocktail there early in the week. And guess who else thought it was a chic and fabulous place to visit? Martha Stewart. She tweeted that she visited Hotel Matilda for its Grand Opening just days before! Man, we are hot on Martha's trails! ha ha!

Really, though, the place was gorgeous!

photo from Hotel Matilda

 The spot on the left is where we had drinks.

I had a margarita
(The stylishly moody lighting was too dark for my poor iphone photos.)

photo from Hotel Matilda

This is a daytime view of the hotel entrance. The concierge desk straight ahead, a millstone fountain to the left, and the bar entrance stairs to the right.

 This is the view from the bar/balcony, that overlooks the hotel lobby.

Aren't these little side tables cute? I immediately recognized them from Oly. There was kind of a hands and feet theme in the bar- maybe it was a play on the expression "waiting on you hand and foot," ha ha. There were silver hands holding trays against the benches along the wall (see terrible quality photo below):

See the funny arms extending from the benches, holding trays?

photo from Hotel Matilda

This is that wall along the bar in the daytime

photo from Hotel Matilda

 This is the other side of the bar. It's a bit more loungey.

photo from Hotel Matilda

 Katie and I decided to go explore the rest of the hotel, while our husbands held down the fort at the bar. This room was like a hotel lounge. I loved the furniture!

I loved this funny portrait, prominently displayed (dang you, iphone camera). I like that the artistic focus in all the public spaces.

photo from Hotel Matilda

This is the view looking up from that lounge area. That big blue rectangle is a giant piece of artwork that reminds me of a bunch of heads of cauliflower dyed blue. There's a pink version elsewhere in the hotel. Those horizontal wood slats give privacy to the hotel room hallways above.

These images are from the bathroom. I adored that chocolate croc wallcovering! It looked like leather or faux leather.

photo from Hotel Matilda

This is the courtyard area with an infinity pool that trickles over the rocky wall.

photo from Hotel Matilda

I didn't actually get to see a private room, but this image from the website is beautiful, isn't it!?

photo from Hotel Matilda

A private balcony- the light is so beautiful

photo from Hotel Matilda

Another private room- I love the furnishings!

Don't you want to visit Hotel Matilda now!? Upon further investigation, I discovered that the fantastic interiors were design by none other than Nashville based famous design firm McAlpine Booth and Ferrier Interiors. Click here to read an article by Hospitality Design magazine.

If visiting San Miguel, I highly suggest you stay with or visit Hotel Matilda.

xoxo,

 

Hola from San Miguel

In the Mercado, doing some shopping.

 This was right after we met Martha Stewart (her majesty)! My friend Katie and I had seen on Twitter that she was in San Miguel, and that she would be in the Mercado the day we had planned to go. And who should we see right as we walk in, but the great Martha Stewart! We were giddy and Katie bravely ran over to her (and I followed) to invite her to a cocktail party. She was so lovely. I have loved her since I was a middle schooler and watched her show daily. So fun to see her in person! I so wish we'd gotten a picture!!!

From the Casa we are staying- Our rooftop view! It's incredible at night!

View of the 3 story courtyard- from the rooftop looking down

Husbands watching football (ugh).

My pewter turtle souveneir. In all seriousness, I bought him to be a pretty holder for the copious amounts of vitamins I take each day (I know, I'm a nerd). Katie suggested I name him Victor Vitalidad.

These are just some scenic photos.

I plan to check out some really cool design sources tomorrow, so hopefully I will get a post together on that!

Abrazos! Adios!

Walk This Way

 Walker Zanger. Fabulous tiles. Enough said. 

Have a peek at these images from the catalog.

 I usually don't love tile, but these installations are so stunning. Don't you think?

xoxo, 

 

Seeing Redd

Guess who I saw today?

"Miles Redd began his career as a set designer and his sometimes startling and always glamorous, playful mix of lacquered walls, leather-covered doors, painted floors and mix of high and low art has nailed him as a superstar. From Atlanta, he began work after graduation with NY antiquarian John Rosselli, then was hired by Bunny Williams. His mantra: “The best collaboration is a meeting of the mind and a shared sense of humor.” He is also Creative Director of Oscar de la Renta Home and is launching the Oscar de la Renta Home fabric collection through Lee Jofa."

 source.

He was so fabulous. His sunny Southern charm was so endearing. He gave a presentation on fashion and it's influence in interiors. I got to sit on the front row in a group of probably 70 at the Lee Jofa showroom to hear his presentation. I could gush over him all day- he was so darling.

My favorite story he told was how this image of Linda Evangelista from 1992 captured his heart. He loved how she effortlessly flew through the city.

So when the time came for a portrait (I think it was when he was featured in Australian Vogue...), he chose to have this photo taken:

Isn't he just so cute? That mirrored background is his bathroom in his apartment. He had it done in floor to ceiling antique mirrors- so fabulous! He said it's the biggest room in his NY apartment.

Apparently, his recent project in Houston was featured in Veranda magazine this month. Here are the images I found online:

 This image is so similar to the one of his own mirrored bathroom.

When asked what his favorite color is, he said powder blue and declared that every room should have a touch of powder blue, even a small blue box of some sort.

Jokingly, he said he loved lacquered walls so much because he can see his own reflection in them. But really, he professed his love of shiny surface as a means of adding that elusive light quality that he adores so much in old fashion photography.

 When asked if there was a color he didn't like, he said no. He said he likes all colors and all color combinations- one must just make sure the proportions of color are right.

 He is also a fan of little pieces of luxury, like small objets and statues.

 He also likes brown wood, as it can ground a room with lots of color in it.

In summary- I LOVE Miles Redd. He is so charming as a person, talented as a designer, and chic as a connoisseur of art and style. I can't wait til he comes out with his own book!

xoxo,