I’ve long been obsessed with the boutique design travel group MR & MRS SMITH. They are a company that specializes in special destination accomodations…. Conde Nast Traveler named them winner of ‘favorite travel websites’– and they have a great series of coffeetable books. So when they called asking if I would be willing to be a hotel review-which means stay in luxury boutique design hotels(on their dime)I did little cartwheels in my head.I could not say yes fast enough. THE ASSIGNMENT:Pick a destination anywhere in north or south america or the Carribbean.Bring a guest. Stay for 2 nights on the house. Take it…
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There are more gorgeous houses, cottages, cabins and fishing shacks in Beaufort than I’ve ever seen anywhere else in the world. As always, pulling a few ideas from them to take back to camp… (sort of a holiday- interest board for future projects). Old ivy on masonry- nothing could be prettier. Weathered cedar shingles. (Hmmm- possibly reclad an old bldg and make it a new sports equipment shed?) The inside of a post office that was converted into a marketplace- their bathrooms where so simple + humble + perfect. Love the large del-style wall tile. (Maybe for the kitchen project…
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There’s nothing like a holiday that inspires you to look at things a little differently- the southern coastal islands are dotted with seaside fishing cottages, cedar-shingled boat houses & a rich layered history of generations of oyster factories. (So don’t be surprised if you see a bit more navy gingham, roped handrails, taxidermy fish and white wainscoting at camp next time you’re up for a visit)! Charlie perched on a dock fish cleaning station. (We want one of these) A local (and our busboy) at one of the oldest family companies in the area ‘Hudsons’. Hudson’s kayak racks were impressive…
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This week, we are immersing ourselves in ‘low country’ – the Carolina islands.Daufuskie, Paris, Port Royal – and also inland, from Savannah to Beaufort. Here are a few scenes from this morning’s ride on a 1920s fishing boat- from the mainland to the island of Daufuskie- an old plantation island in a state of transition. On one had, in a state of intense poverty (the last remaining descendants of the original ‘Gulla’ African culture, trying to hang onto their ancestor’s original island cottages) juxtaposed to the country’s wealthiest folks. In the same few hundred feet you can see the remains of…
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Behomm.com is a home exchange program for visual artists. We got an invitation to join recently and became a inaugural member of a global community of folks who literally house swap. To participate, you ask a friend for an invitation, and if your home is accepted into the program- you can go anywhere in the world and live someone else’s dream for a few days or even a month (with another willing participant in the group). You can choose from swap homes in regions in Africa, Asia, Oceania, America & Europe.(Even cooler is that you can swap a flat in…
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I’ve been avoiding it for years. Tourist trap. Souvenir shop lined streets and overcrowded fast food joints. But when we had to take a trip there to pick up a vintage 50’s snow cone machine – I couldn’t believe that we didn’t visit earlier. The streets are lined with souvenir shops, yes. But many of them have been open for over 50 years and a few even have new old stock inside The main drag is dotted with hotels- but these aren’t your motel 6’s and holiday inns. They are amazingly preserved time mid century time capsules. We hit Paul…
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travel advice from PUREWOW.
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Not sure who was asleep at the wheel when Camp Wandawega snuck in the backdoor to be included in this– But whoa! are we grateful. (Well, equal parts shocked and gratetful.)We are in complete awe of this new book. HERE’S THE DEETS: “In this eighth annual edition of The World’s Greatest Hotels, you’ll find more than 700 significant properties, including: – Secret Hideaways in Mexico, Marrakesh, French Polynesia– Affordable Discoveries in Texas, Puerto Rico, Paris– Classic City Hotels in New York, Bankkok, Rome– Romantic Beach Retreats in Jamaica, Mozambique, the Maldives– Culinary Getaways in Belize, Tokyo, Sydney Along with over 250 images from Travel +…
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And… Some final snaps from the roaming venture.Cafes. Bars. Boutiques. And texture. Can’t wait to go back
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NEXT STOP: Tommy Guns A museum of epic proportions. My iphone pix will not do this place justice. (see their gallery shots at bottom). First off, the owner- Russell Manly (i mean, how could that name be any more perfect?) is a complete gentleman. We stumbling in, and found that we could not leave. He’s english, looks like a Harley Gang member, and is an insanely talented artist. the space is like walking back in time. a barbershop specifically- circa 1920. it’s outfitted with everything period. (down to the cash register) He sells new old stock toiletries that you cannot…
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