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Inn Heaven

Last week I went over to my friends Steve Werndorf and Gisela Marin’s home in the Hollywood Hills to check out their Moving Sale.  I’ve only been to their house a handful of times, but I have to say the 1926 Spanish Hacienda has such a magically quality to it I felt a bit sad knowing that this was most likely the last time I would be there since it was recently purchased by someone else.  As I walked out empty handed,  I felt compelled to snap a few pics shown above. I think you can tell it’s not just the property alone that makes it special, but their unique mix of mid-century furniture, antiques, art, and original photography that spin a “rustic meets modern” homey vibe.

Lucky for you and me,  the same vibe has been created at Inn Paradiso, the property that Giesla and Steve bought a few years ago.   Surrounded by old growth oak trees and wildlife, the Inn is located in Paso Robles, California’s Central Coast, and sits half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Inn Paradiso has earned “Sunset Magazine Editor’s Choice” and a recent mention on T magazine here.

Find more info on Inn Paradiso here.

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Home on the Nile

Last night I received the Jan/Feb issue of Elle Decor in the mail.   When I saw the lovely cover photo of a seaside cottage in Portugal, I had to wince a little.  I’ve already seen this photo many times online, perhaps on Tumblr and Pinterest.
Ok, I do understand how hard it must be to get content into a magazine and considering how long it takes to get it published, it is just not as fast as it would be as something posted online.  But when I saw 2 or 3 other homes inside this issue that I have already seen before,  well it kinda bummed me out.
BUT, one home I haven’t seen before and really fell in love with is Shoe Designer, Christian Louboutin’s private retreat in the Egyptian desert near the banks of the Nile. I love how it is not overly decorated, the clean and interesting lines of the architecture and the traditional furniture that DOESN’T fill up the space..  Nice.
See more photos and read the article here.

~Images via Elle Decor
~Photographer: Ivan Terestchenko

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PALIHOTEL

I heard last night that PALIHOTEL on Melrose was opening today and thought I would stop by after having lunch at Cecconi’s.  I drive by this spot all the time and when the facade was completed, I just couldn’t believe how quickly it was done.  One day it’s a Hostel, the next a Boutique Hotel.  That PALIGROUP works FAST!
Check out curbedla to see the inside.
The Palikitchen will be up and running soon (it’s OPEN for coffee/cookies program), but you can get your Thai massage on now.
Thank you to Kirsten of PALIGROUP for the tour!

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The Empire of Death

I was at a gallery in Silver Lake about a week ago for a friend’s art show.  I happened into a side room and on the walls hung the most amazing photographs of skulls and bones.  One photo had stacked bones  arranged in incredible layouts inside a tomb, another was a skeleton adored in jewels and one showed shelves of painted skulls. When I inquired about them, the curator showed me this book “The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses” from which the photos were from.
The cover of the book was in itself so fascinating to me and I had never heard of an Ossuary. I had to find out more.  So I took a flyer home and looked it up online.
The book by Professor Paul Koudounaris is a photographic journey and the written history of the religious movements from his visits to seventy Ossuaries and Charnel Houses over  4 continents.  
Taken from his Empire de la Mort site Paul writes: “this is not a book about the macabre or death.  It is a book about beauty and salvation.  If you understand that when looking at these photos, then I hope you will chose to read the book.”

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Hôtel Americano

Oh, a new spot to check out in NYC! 
Located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, Hôtel Americano is the first US hotel from Mexico City design hotel chain – Grupo Habita.  The mesh clad building was designed by Mexican architect Enrique Norten of Ten Arqitectos and the restrained interiors that nod to mid-century with a Japanese touch were designed by MCH-Arnaud Montigny.
As with the other properties from Gropo Habita,  I’m sure Hôtel Americano will not disappoint.

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Chinati

Donald Judd Untitled -15 works in Concrete

 
Claes Oldenberg & Coosje van Bruggen

 
Donald Judd Untitled –100 works in Mill Aluminum

Lots of talk about Marfa, Texas these days. Besides wanting to stay @ El Cosmico, I would love to check out the Chinati Foundation; the contemporary art museum based upon the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd. The 25 year anniversay of the Chinati Foundation coming up this October 7th-9th and would be a perfect time to go see Donald Judd’s 100 works in Mill Aluminum and 15 works in Concrete set amoung this 340 acre compound. Other artist works to be seen there include Dan Flavin, Ronnie Horn and Carl Andre among many others.

Find out more here.


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ssshhh…

photo by Tim Street Porter

According to David Netto’s recent “Shangri-La in the Dust” article posted in WSJ Magazine, the Hacienda de San Antonio is a must visit SECRET located less than two hours inland from the Pacific coastal city of Manzanillo, deep in the highlands of Mexico.

Well, I’m hear to blow the top off this little secret cuz I’m in LOVE with the beauty of this place.
The isolated hotel was renovated and restored to its original glory by French interior designer Robert Couturier.

Read David’s article here.

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Kismet Tile







Excuse me for being M.I.A., but I’ve had a late start to 2011 (and I like it). Just spent a FAB long weekend in Ojai at Caitlin’s Agave House. I highly recommend it if you want a chillax getaway that’s not to far from LA. Inquire here.
Caitlin told me to check out the tile she started installing in her back yard while I was there. And WOW, this stuff is RAD!
Kismet Tile by Tracey Reinberg, is Moroccan-made cement tile crafted according to traditional materials and methods, but with bold, modern motifs which highlight the beauty, materiality, and geometric harmonies of these classic tiles.
I love this tile so much I just wanna rip up my kitchen and use it right now.