October 3, 2011
Mid-September
The Grand Hotel
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Recently I was invited to attend the Family and Friends weekend of none other than, Mr. Color himself, the famed interior designer, Carleton Varney. The lovely weekend took place at one of Varney’s vibrant bastions of glamour, the famed Grand Hotel on Michigan’s charming Mackinac Island. My husband, son and I took the [...]
September 6, 2011
Labor Day Weekend
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I just returned from a whirlwind weekend in Amsterdam to celebrate the marriage of my sister-in-law to an incredibly charismatic Dutch fellow. With unprecedented sunny weather and a joyous occasion upon us, the weekend was a total success. Not to mention, I was fortunate enough to stay at the newly renovated, [...]
July 17, 2011
July 12-15th
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
This past week I went down to visit the fabled, Greenbrier Resort. A bastion of American old-world glamor with enough pink, greens and floral prints to make Lilly Pulitzer feel like a knock-off. Designed by the beloved American designer and born Aristocrat, Dorothy Draper, the Greenbrier has a distinct look [...]
Continue reading about Greenbrier: the Definition of Glamour
June 14, 2011
St. Petersburg, Russia
It’s no wonder blackout shades were invented in Russia!
Okay fine, that’s not true – but the annual White Nights phenomenon in Saint Petersburg would seem to be an ultimate marketing angle for them. Given that the sun never really sets and the entire city is indulging in what appeared to be a month-long, [...]
June 10, 2011
Saint Petersburg, Russia
June 7 -12th
Lucky me was invited to the premiere of the new W Saint Petersburg, which was hosted during the city’s annual White Nights, which, is when the sun doesn’t really ever set and the sky goes from dusk to dawn without ever getting pitch black. In other words, it’s magnificent.
I can’t imagine [...]
June 1, 2011
Perched up on a hill with commanding harbour views the award-winning boutique property, Camden Harbour Inn puts a fresh, updated spin on Maine accommodations while preserving the beloved personable service and homey atmosphere. Owned and managed by partners and Dutch natives, Raymond Brunyanszki and Oscar Verest, the 18-suite hotel features a thoughtful blend [...]
April 10, 2011
April 9, 2011
Singapore
I just spent 24 hours in Singapore visiting my brother Bud. Although it was a blink of a visit, I was still able to draw a positive impression of the city. (A rarity, since most of my snap judgements lean toward the less-than-impressed). With Singapore, I liked the city right off the [...]
April 1, 2011
March 13th 2011
Frasnchoek Valley, South Africa
Recently I returned from a visit to one of my all-time favorite spots and location for my next Hideaways search; South Africa. I truly believe few spots on Earth have the ability to enchant the visitor as instantly as South Africa, and particularly, the Cape Wine lands. For me, the [...]
Continue reading about Babylonstoren – a Gardener’s Hideaway
March 17, 2011
Cape Town and Franschoek, South Africa
March 8-15th, 2011
This past week I spent a glorious, though somewhat hectic, time running between appointments and site-inspection tours in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands. Despite it being my third visit to the area, (I am ridiculously, hideously spoiled by this fact, I know), I remain as enchanted as [...]
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