Posts Tagged ‘interior design’
The second you step into the historic Union Station Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, you feel the grandeur of this luxury hotel’s 65-foot stained glass ceilings, rich woodwork, and timeless beauty. Situated within walking distance of the bustling honky-tonks Music City is famous for, Union Station Hotel is the perfect place to rest your head after a night out on the town. The lobby’s classic architecture welcomes you into this former transportation hub, and around every corner there is a set of colorful leather chairs that invite quiet conversation.
The baking heat of the desert greeted me when I stepped off the plane in Morocco. Welcome to Marrakech, a city of pink buildings drowning in a sea of satellite dishes. Imagine narrow winding streets filled with drivers texting and honking as they fly past on mopeds. Snake charmers. French-style pâtisseries. Open air butcher shops. Tea shops, full to the brim even in the sweltering heat of the day. Donkey traffic. Veil culture ranging from no veils to fully-veiled, showing off slits of almond eyes. The never-ending song of aggressive hawkers echoing from every souk.
Attention unicorn lovers! This chic hotel restaurant at the Faena Hotel in Buenos Aires is outfitted with white unicorn busts with ruby eyes. I love how this abundantly white room is accented with glass chandeliers and red accents, giving off a clean, modern vibe.
I’ve never set foot in a more beautiful hotel. Words to describe it? Timeless. Graceful. Opulent. Stylish. Unique. Palatial. Every last detail of this hotel is pure perfection. Consisting of 5 riads (traditional Moroccan residences centered around a courtyard or garden) with 28 individually themed rooms total, La Sultana is a shrine to Moroccan design and craftsmanship. From the minute you step into this hotel, filled with glimmering gold accents, you can feel the outside world of endless streets, honking mopeds, open-air butcher shops, donkey traffic, aggressive hawkers, and snake charmers melt away to nothing but a distant whisper.
Wow Factor: The Moroccan Riad
Instead of staying in a traditional hotel, experience a slice of Moroccan culture by staying in a riad, or small hotel converted from a traditional Moroccan home or palace centered around a courtyard or garden. Marrakech is bursting with stylish luxury riads, many of them European-owned. For a taste of something more authentic, check out Riad Kniza. This is one of the city’s most luxurious riads, which also happens to be Moroccan-owned. Dating from the 18th century and restored with traditional artisan-crafted materials, this 11-room gem is owned by a renowned Marrakech antiques dealer, who also doubles as a tour guide whose client roster includes former American presidents and celebs like Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman.
Wow Factor: Antique Meets Modern Chic
This hotel is simply beautiful. Small artisan details abound at each turn, such as wood carvings, paneled ceilings, alcoves containing Roman busts, and stained glass doors. The interior design fuses traditional and contemporary design elements perfectly, creating a stylish interior space inside a former 18th century church vestry. The fashionable interiors combine the best of classic Andalusian design, including decorative painted tilework and rooms surrounding a multi-story courtyard accented by a Moorish fountain. One of a kind antique furniture, restored with modern fabrics and bold accents, can be found throughout. The staff is friendly and helpful, and with only 25 rooms, the hotel has a cozy, boutique feel.
Verdict: Fabulous!
Moroccan design meets modern luxury at Sofitel Fes Palais Jamai. The hotel is filled with corridors accented by colorful stained glass windows and Moroccan lanterns that give off dancing patterns of light. French-inspired chandeliers showcase high artisan-crafted ceilings, and much of the furniture features carved gold accents and deep jewel tones. Abundant tile and woodwork fill the halls of this distinguished hotel, which used to be a palace, dating back to 1879.
Add a splash of color to your room with these beautiful contemporary rugs from Sonya Winner. Her rugs are filled with geometric shapes and colorful bursts of energy throughout each of her collections.
For those seeking a unique place to sleep in Spain’s capital, look no further than Casa de Madrid. This boutique retreat in an upscale 18th century building is located in the heart of the city, just steps from both Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol square and the Royal Palace, as well as a metro stop and some of the city’s top dining spots. Facing the Royal Opera House and situated in what is arguably Madrid’s best neighborhood, Casa de Madrid is surrounded by countless architectural gems.
Staying here is like rooming at a friend’s house, that is a friend with impeccable design taste. You’ll have plenty of privacy, as there are only 7 rooms, each individually decorated down to the smallest detail. With stylish touches like painted wall murals and custom furniture, most of the rooms are travel-themed. There’s an “Indian room” and “Spanish room”, as well as the standout “Greek room”, with its painted murals showcasing panoramic ocean vistas, adorned with Greek columns below a bright blue ceiling painted with gold suns.
