The Maidstone

In just a few more days I'll be on my way to the Hamptons!! I've been obsessing about it and researching for a while now, and one of my favorite discoveries has been c/o The Maidstone, a chic boutique hotel in East Hampton. Unfortunately staying there is out of my blogger's budget, but luckily for us, drooling over their images is free! The Maidstone was purchased a couple years ago by Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg. She infused the hotel with a free-spirited Scandinavian vibe, inspired by the wonderful fabrics of Josef Frank. For more on the design as well as more droolworthy photos, visit The Kitchen Designer. And be sure to check out their official site for more information or reserve a room (lucky duck)!

La Samanna Villas

Wow! You guys gave us some amazing ideas yesterday!! Thanks a million for all of your feedback, we so appreciate it! So many of you said how incredible the Caribbean is. I'd die, I swear to you, being somewhere like the La Samanna Villas on the island of St Martin. The extraordinary view of the Caribbean Sea would be the end of me! Not only is the view breathtaking, but the interiors designed by Marc Michaels are so elegantly comfortable, I can't believe it's not someone's home. I love how our favorite color is paired with oranges, reds, pinks and greens...for "a true Caribbean spirit"! If that is the spirit of the Caribbean, I'm so there!

Honeymoon??

Right now it's -10 degrees outside here in Minneapolis (but feels like -30). And this weekend we experienced a record-breaking blizzard.....with over 17 inches of new snow. Fun. Stuck inside, we couldn't help but daydream about our upcoming honeymoon in April. We haven't decided on a destination yet. The only requirement: turquoise water. (Shocking, right?) How absolutely fabulous would it be to stay in the Maldives, at the exquisite Anantara Veli Resort & Spa?! My goodness.

I'm dying to ask you guys...where have you been with dazzling turquoise water?? I'd love your two cents!

Stella Cadente

I loved this post on Down and Out Chic dedicated to striking purple and blue interiors. Among the collection was this way cool guesthouse located in Provins, France. The rooms in La maison de Stella Cadente were actually designed by fashion designer Stella Cadente. Each room has its own unique personality, but my favorite is the jewel-toned "non-smoking" room above. She also designed the Salon Beaujon in the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe. The turquoise ceilings are tres fabuleux!

Shinn Estate Farmhouse in New York

During part of our 10 day stay in New York, Chris and I spent two nights on Long Island's North Fork, a lovely area filled with vineyards and cute little villages. I discovered the Shinn Estate Farmhouse in Mattituck when researching places to stay. Not your typical bed and breakfast, this place is seriously stylin'. Modern and elegant, I didn't see a granny floral print anywhere! This was our room above. The walls!! Cameras just don't capture how fab the color was. And the wooden floor was painted blue!! How lucky could I get?! Boy was I excited. The bathroom was amazing too. The glass shower, basket weave tile, vessel sink...I wanted it all. And the furnishings were just the beginning. The restored farmhouse is located on a beautiful vineyard, all so peaceful and quiet. As guests, we were given a complimentary tasting of their wines, which were fantastic. And the breakfast...wow...gourmet all the way and made entirely with local ingredients. The owner Barbara was awesome too, really went out of her way to supply us with resources for when we were in NYC. If you guys are ever on Long Island, I definitely recommend touring the vineyard or staying at the B&B. Head here for more info, and to see photos of the other gorgeous rooms!

Bed of Flowers

Images of this delightful countryside bed and breakfast in Holland aptly named Bed of Flowers have been showing up everywhere in the blogosphere, so I apologize if you've seen them already. These were just too beautiful, too perfect for me, I had no choice but to share a few here too! Can you believe a room here costs only €95 per night for two people, which includes breakfast! Visit their website here to view a ton more yummy images.

the Nines

My heart went pitter-patter when I discovered the Nines, a new luxury hotel that opened in the fall above Macy's in the old Meier & Frank building in downtown Portland, Oregon. The Nines' design themes came from SERA Architects of Portland and interior designer ForrestPerkins. The gorgeous rooms use a turquoise called Sonoma sky and an espresso brown. What's especially cool is that the hotel is as eco-friendly as they come. According to a press-release:

Eco-consciousness has been a key element to the development of the Nines, which anticipates LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. To achieve this prestigious designation, conservation-focused plumbing, including low-flow faucets, have been put in place in order to save 400,000 gallons of water each year. All products used in daily housekeeping are “Green Sealed,” and the hotel retains 50 percent of its energy from renewable sources including wind power and carbon offsets. Low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets were used during the renovation to secure optimum air quality. Throughout the building process, 24 million pounds of material was removed and 90 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills for reuse or recycling. -Source

Beside the Point

I know I just got home from vacation, but after seeing images in Coastal Living of the seaside rental cottage "Beside the Point" in Harbour Island, I immediately wanted to pack my bags again and head to the Bahamas (who am I kidding though, I haven't unpacked yet...!). I did a little search to find more images...this coastal cottage is way too cute! (Images via Coastal Living, John McCardy Architect and Island Real Estate).