Lovely Places to Stay

Danielle Oakey, author of Danielle Oakey Interiorsblog, found inspiration the other day at her local Gap store. She asked where do we find inspiration?

It got me thinking how this past summer we stayed in two fabulous hotels that were such a design inspiration. I realized I forgot to share those photos.


Where has the time gone?

Our first hotel, The Intercontinental in San Francisco, we reserved through Hotwire {have you ever tried Hotwire? Smoking deal we got in this place} was decorated with such a modern vibe.

I couldn't help but ooh and ahh around every corner. My family was quite annoyed.

I did manage to snap a few photos.

{This one is from the hotel site} Loved the floor to ceiling wall of windows.
Dreamy looking over the Bay.

The rest are mine ...

I loved the end tables in the lounge area. There was also a grand piano. Whenever I see a grand piano I feel the urge to lay across the top and just start singing show tunes. 

{Ack! Did I just say that out loud??}

The service at this hotel was superb as was the buffet breakfast! My son was told to not piles heaps of food on his plate, so instead he went and half-filled 3 plates!

********

In Santa Monica was stayed at the Sheraton Delfina Hotel.

It was situated a few blocks from the beach and next to what I thought was odd, a derilict old motel. Made the Sheraton feel out of place.

But the interior was so up my alley!

I couldn't help but take photos. 

My only complaint was the lighting was too dim, reminded me of the Hollister store {if you have teenage daughters, you can't avoid going into that store - which drives me crazy, all dark and over perfumed}

The outdoor lounge area.

A gorgeous tufted leather sofa. And looking down to the lobby from the 3rd floor

I want a convex mirror.

My favourite vignette was this fabulous gallery wall!

{Lovin' the Ikat and the gold trimmed end table}

Hoping to utilize my tall wall up my stairwell by creating a gallery wall like this!

I just love staying at beautifully designed hotels! Sure was a treat after having to sleep one night in our car. Yes. That is another story for another time.

This weekend I need to get my butt in gear and finish some projects. My daughters' room is at a standstill until I can get to Ikea. If you live in the Lower Mainland you will understand why I would procrastinate driving to Ikea on our "forever-under-construction-always-crazy-traffic-freeway."


What is up with all of you this weekend?

XO Barbara

California Chronicles

A few weeks back we took a adventurous {I stress the word: adventurous} road trip to sunny California. I am just now getting around to writing up a post because we went on another family vacation shortly after.

I know, hate me, I lived the life of leisure for a few weeks. Now reality hits and hubby has put a halt on spending--What? No Anthropologie shopping spree?

Sigh...

{That's ok, I am good at making something from nothing}

Now we are home, getting geared up to go back to school  - yikes - only one more week of vacation left! 

Time flies when you are having fun, no?

So for your viewing pleasure a few photo highlights from my trip: 

Agate Beach...

  Me searching for agate.

Tall Redwood trees.

After a night sleeping in the car {first for us} because we I failed to book a hotel in Sonoma, we ended up riding bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge to kill time before we headed to our amazing hotel.

Chinatown, San Francisco

The BEST panini sandwiches...

Driving the car down Lombard Street...

Cable car rides...

The Big Sur, one of the most gorgeous coastlines in the world. My husband stopped the car every 5 minutes to take photos.

Elephant seals at San Simeon.

Beverly Hill, Wiltshire Hotel {where we are pretty sure we saw Paris Hilton in the bathroom!}

The girls and I shopping at Coach, my husband starting snapping photos and that drew several onlookers to see if there was a celebrity in the store - ha, it was only us!

Hollywood at night {interesting place when the sun goes down}

El Capitan, the most exciting part was...

Seeing Lady Gaga perform live at an impromptu concert behind the El Capitan!

She sounds amazing live!

And eating at In-N-Out Burgers on the Sunset Strip at 11:30 PM. That place was jam packed.

Universal Studios as the sun sets.

Santa Monica Beach.

It was such a fabulous trip, one we won't forget {especially the sleeping in the car part}.

Next week I will show you photos from two fabulous hotels with stayed at.
My husband wondered why there are random photos of lamps, walls and furniture amongst our travel photos - where has he been for the last 18 months, doesn't he know I write a blog?

Silly guy. But I love that silly guy, today is our 20th wedding anniversary!

I got married,
ehem,
a bit young, at 20ish.

Happy Anniversary to my better half! 

He puts up with random thrift store finds and spray paint projects in the garage.
My half finished rooms around the house.
Piles of fabric and samples laying around.
Paint samples taped to the wall.

Thanks for
 for putting with me for the past 20 years.

Love you.

**edited Aug 25.  I should note that is was my guy that took most of the photos - he has a good eye!

XO Barbara

Hello! I am back...did you miss me?

I am back from our 12 day road trip down to Southern California!

 We had many adventures exploring the California Coast which I shall share once I get ALL our photos uploaded and sorted. After coming home from a long drive home, to piles of mail, I was excited to see a stack of magazines waiting for me {we had a postal strike and a few were LONG overdue} 

But another great magazine that was waiting for me to read was the latest issue of House of Fifty! YES! I love this ezine by the FABULOUS Janell Beals. This one is even better than the first! I have glanced at it quickly and all I can saw is WOW!

Enjoy reading, since there is nothing exciting to read on my blog - such a slacker I am.

XO Barbara

Enjoying Some Sun

For this past week our family has been enjoying some sun down south! Our summer in Vancouver has been so disappointing, cool, cloudy and rainy. We decided to escape to sunny California where we have been enjoying the sun!

source

Bear with me as I most likely won't be posting again until Sunday when another stupendously talented Canadian comes to visit! There are so many amazing Canadians, my list is long!

**edited Sunday, August 31. Finally got some free wi-fi and my So Canadian eh? post isn't quite ready. My family is waiting for me to grab breakfast so we can head on the road back home!
What a long drive home!

Hugs to all.

XO Barbara