Vacation all I ever wanted

You know, Belinda Carlisle really sang her way right into my heart with all her talk of vacation business.  Do you think that the missing verse to that song mentioned anything about well appointed hotel rooms and amenities up the wazoo, like pillows of varying firmness upon request?  I certainly like to think that the Go-Go's would not have been willing to spend said dream vacation traveling across the hot desert in an un-air-conditioned car with nothing but a Howard Johnsons on the horizon.  Gross.   I digress, the point is, I want to go on vacation, I want to go to the Hotel Particular, and I want to steal every last gold leaf accessory in sight.  Behold:

The Vegetal Room

I know, right?  Do I really need to write a paragraph about how this wallpaper is the most mind blowing thing you've ever seen?  Do I need to point out that the sconces and table lamps make the forest look like it's glowing and only magnify the already awesome dramatic silhouette?  Do you really need little old me to tell you that the uber-minimalist crisp, clean linens are the perfect counterpart to the most perfect wall decor ever?  I didn't think so.

I will tell you that this room was designed by Martine Aballéa, an American artist working in Paris.  

You probably think that I blew my wad on the first picture, but just you wait.

Hair Curtain room

ta-da!  Artist and photographer Natacha Lesueur thought it would be the coolest thing ever to put gigantic glowing portraits on her suite's wall and I agree.  I showed this picture to Matt awhile ago hoping he would rush out and buy a large-format camera for this very purpose.  Funny thing, he didn't like the idea at all.  Does anyone know a good divorce attorney?  I mean, did he really take a good look at this room?  Maybe he thought our space wouldn't look as nice without the spiral staircase in the center of it all.  He would have had a point.  On a side note, I've always loved the idea of a free standing bathtub in the bedroom.  No, I've never been one for practicality.

More:

Hair Curtain Bathroom

When you're done bathing in the bedroom, you can cruise on over to the bathroom proper and adore the black and gold walls while brushing your teeth and using the bidet.

Bath 2

Another black bathroom.  This place is rocking my world.  I usually hate pedestal sinks (where do you put your stuff?  I guess I am practical sometimes) but this one is great because it has that other pedestal dealie right next to it for storing said stuff.  And it's a different shape, even better.

If you want to mingle with the other guests, here are some public spaces:

breakfast room

When I first saw this picture I thought that crazy giant angel was the coolest thing in the room, then I decided that the heavy red drapes might trump the crazy cherub, finally I came to my senses and realized that the crown over the mirror is the greatest gold accessory I've ever seen.  I really want to store it right next to my crunk juice goblet.

Still feeling social?  

social room

I will give a dollar to anyone who can tell me what is going on in that photograph above the stunning black tulip chairs.  I will give four dollars to anyone who will bring me the chairs.

Did you spot an American tourist in a starter jacket and need to race back to your room?  Go to this one:

Guest Room

Purple and gold... so regal.  I could wear my gold crown from the breakfast room in here! I have to admit that the distressed scribbly wallpaper is a little 2004, I bet I'll like it again in about 12 years, which works out great as I will have finally saved enough Euros to book this room by then.  (room designed by Pierre Fichefeux)

**Ok, everyone, this is important:  I want you to take a good look at the photo I just showed you.  Did you note the incredible gold bathroom?  Yes?  Got it?  Listen to this:  I painted my master bath in my last rental in the most luxurious (and insanely expensive) metallic gold paint.  Floors, ceiling all of it.  My landlord liked it (it was just a duplex not an apartment) he kept it when I moved.  BUT  the, ahem, stylish, girl who moved in after me is painting over it.  I am so grossed out.  I'm tempted to cut out all the UK magazine articles I've been reading about gold walls and mail them to her with a threatening letter.  Seriously, what is she thinking?  I bet she paints it beige.  yuck! yuck! barf city!**

sorry. back to the hotel.

Incase you're as in love with this hotel as I am and you want to find it, here's what to look for:

hotel exterior

so cute, right?  I couldn't find any information on the building, but I'm guessing it was originally a home built forever ago, like everything else in Europe.  Go there, let me know what it's like, bring me back a little scrap of wallpaper.

I Call Dibs!

I have a confession to make... last night I started working on a totally different post but got a tiny bit sidetracked by 1stDibs, and after ogling 29 pages (no hyperbole necessary) of end tables, somewhere around midnight my glassy bloodshot eyes and I realized that a state of feverish, red alert addiction had come upon us me. Great, like I don't have enough vices already (I'm talking to you, Craigslist!). Well, now I am also hooked on insanely expensive, completely unattainable vintage furniture. But, wait... just a little taste won't hurt, right?

end tables

(All photos in today's post are courtesy of 1stDibs)

What's that? You didn't realize until this very moment that you want some Moroccan spice in your life and Harvey Probber is just the man to give it to you? That trapezoids are FRESH and AWESWOME! That a gorgeously patinated two-tiered brass table by LaVerne is what you've been yearning for? That you NEED those 30's goatskin concave tables, because they are JUST like the ones Karl Lagerfeld used to decorate his apartment???

Yeah, I told you so. Oh, but people, this is just the teeny tip of the iceberg. Read on.

end tables

How about some wee triangles for a scaled down space, or some snaky black 70's resin for a little disco decadence? Maybe parchment and wrought iron gets you off, and you know you feel an urgent need to get a little French Maison Bagues Foux da fa fa, don't you?

YES! YES! YES!!!

Uh, excuse me. Moving on. Yes, there's still more, because 1stDibs defies all expectations. I swear even Target has fewer items for sale -- it just keeps going and going, page after glorious page, and once you start looking, you can't just stop. Friends, no one likes a quitter. It was exceedingly difficult to whittle down all of their amazing end tables to just a handful of personal favorites, but for you I set my teeth and did the deed.

end tables

Ok, so that's an handful... there's still another hand left, but what do you think? Those are some sexy red industrial tables, aren't they? What about the very urbane Milo Baughman zig zag tables? Or who knew that yellow lacquer could make such a statement? (I am stealing that idea, for sure!) And does the $6,800 price tag on that pair of brass wedge-shaped Tommi Parzinger tables make me want them even more?

I think it does. I feel so dirty, but I can't stop now.

end tables

Hey there, hot little red drum tables with brass bottoms! That orangey red is my color crush of the moment... it really does go with everything. And those white tulip/box tables designed by architect Paul Williams are from Beverly Hills circa 1950 -- so glam, but not fussy. No fussy for me. Chesty end tables are always a practical option for all the junk you can put in the trunk, but both of those pairs get a shot of major moxie from their shiny surfaces. The vintage Sarreid brass pieces are among my most drooled over furniture finds; I just love brass studs!

Ok, two more favorite favorites... can you see how this has become a problem for me?

black and gold balls

So, yes, those are two big golden balls, but they are SPECTACULAR! I just know DH can duplicate them for me with his new manly table saw...

industrial

Ok, this is my other top choice. What do you think??? Half as sexy but twice as chic? I think a little industrial edge would go a long way towards alleviating the bad case of Grandma Regency I've contracted through excessive thrift store shopping. Actually, it might take more than just an end table or two to counteract GR's ill effects...

If you need me tonight, you know where I'll be.

My Dream Life In Pictures

Ok, first things first, I owe a big fat apology to every single one of you for sitting out Monday's post.  We here at DC headquarters went ahead and pretended that the 4th of July was a 4 day weekend and the blog writing suffered without any warning.  We are bad bad horrible people.  Ok, mostly me, Erin had the day off anyway.   I have to admit that today's post is not going to be jam-packed with all the hard hitting wit I usually like to deliver because once again, you kids are getting usurped by my big giant closet project (we finally finished at midnight Monday, but now I'm so so sleepy and can only think of well organized clothes and matching hangers).  However, the meat of this post is still tender and juicy:  I've got some delicious pictures to share with you from a fantastic interior photographer, Paul Costello.  Paul also shoots fashion and lifestyle pictures but since I wear the same thing every day (beret and turtleneck) I just picked a few of my faves from his interiors portfolio.  Strap on your bib and saddle up to the table,  it's going to be a yummy ride.

Interior Shot 1

interior 2

interior 3

interior 4

interior5

There are so many amazing elements in each of these rooms that my head is spinning right now... sort of like that giant disco ball in the last picture.  So I'll leave you with this:  I apologize for the lame lame opening paragraphs today, I'll be back in full form Thursday (look for an awesome post from Erin tomorrow).  Until then, I salute you:

interior 6