We’re in the last dog days of summer and now that the weather is starting to cool I’m already longing for a warm beach getaway! One of my favorite warm weather destinations is Turks & Caicos where there’s plenty of sunshine, white sandy beaches and the most beautiful, clear turquoise water I’ve ever seen. When I visited in the Winter of 2010 I stayed at a luxury resort called Amanyara which is definitely on my top list of hotels in the world. The property is ultra secluded, with modern, zen-like interiors and plenty of amenities including a fabulous spa, tennis, yoga and more.  It also boasts a gorgeous, private beach located directly in front of a five mile stretch of barrier reef that is full of life and ripe for exploring. It is the perfect place to relax and get away from it all! Below are photos of the resort taken during my trip. Wishing I was back there already!

_{All photos except top picture by Nicole Gibbons for So Haute}

 

Street style fashion blogger Vanessa Jackman recently posted a recap of her trip to Spain and I was captivated by these images of the Hotel Iturregi where she stayed. Located in Basque Country, a scenic region of Northern Spain bordering France with beautiful rolling landscapes, vineyards, wineries and some of the best food in the world, Hotel Iturregi features just 8 well-appointed rooms with with a mix of traditional and modern decor. The property looks so peaceful and magical…I would love go there some day!

 

_{Two colorful front doors in Kensington…}

 Last month I spent a week in London with a quick jaunt to Paris at the tail end of the trip and I had such a wonderful experience! I took a ton of photos so I thought I’d share a few here. The architecture is quite stunning and there’s so much history and charm in these two beautiful cities! Here’s a quick photo tour of my adventure! 

These little red phone booths are so charming!

The Regent Street shopping area by day…

And by night…

The fabulous home decor shop Graham & Green in Notting Hill…(I have a weak spot for bone inlaid furniture & I loved this chest!)

Portobello Market…

The crowds at Portobello Market…

Flea market finds…

Crepes!

Colorful houses in Notting Hill…

The best culinary book shop I’ve ever seen! It was so charming and it has a little cafe in the back…

The Eiffel Tower by day…

And by night…

Flowers for sale on Rue Cler

A colorful newsstand on Rue Cler…

The Louvre

Jardin des Tuileries…

A statue of Joan of Arc…

Intriguing architecture…

_{Photos by Nicole Gibbons for So Haute}

This past summer my girlfriends and I packed our bags and headed to Palm Springs for a relaxing long weekend where we enjoyed a fabulous stay at The Parker Palm Springs. Designed by Jonathan Adler, the Parker is full of personality and makes you feel as though you’ve been transported to a retro 1960s movie set. The vibe is colorful, whimsical and the entire guest experience embraces Adler’s “happy chic” philosopy. Every second of our stay was perfect…from the amazing breakfasts at Norma’s and refreshing poolside cocktails to one of the best massages I’ve ever had at Psych – the Parker’s incredible spa. Below is some eye candy from The Parker that I captured on my trip. I can’t wait to go back to this magical little hideaway!

_{The lobby…}

_{The lobby bar…}

_{Another lobby sitting area…}

_{The lemonade stand!}

_{PSYCH, The Parker’s spa, stands for Palm Springs Yacht Club and has a nautical vibe…}

_{The lobby at Psych…}

_{The relaxation room at Psych…}

_{Our room…}

_{Photos by Nicole Gibbons for So Haute} 

A few weeks ago when I visited Palm Springs we spent our first night at The Colony Palms which is a beautiful old Spanish style hotel with a storied history. In the 1930s the property was owned by an alleged member of the mob and was equipped with a basement casino, a speakeasy and a brothel! It was Hollywood’s golden area the hotel, called The Colonial House back then, was a glamorous retreat frequented by legendary stars like Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard and many more. Over the next several decades the hotel changed hands a few times before reopening in 2007 after a 3-year $16million renovation which included stunning interiors designed by “million dollar decorator” Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The decor infuses Moroccan, Spanish and Mediterranean influences with classic colonial style, old Hollywood glamour and a touch of the exotic. The property is lush with palm trees, fountains and beautiful gardens which create a laid back and sophisticated ambiance. Here is a peek at some photos I shot during my stay…

This is the elegantly appointed lobby that greets you when you check in. I loved the presence of the framed suzani on the wall behind the desk which creates a beautiful focal point. Framing delicate antique textiles is a great trick for allowing you to beautifully showcase them while still keeping them in tact.

Framed black and white photography with fashion and old Hollywood imagery adorn the walls. There are also more suzanis everywhere…

I loved the addition of subtle contrast welting, nailheads and  fringe detail on the plush velvet sofas  in the lobby. I always say that good design is in the details!

All throughout the property you’ll find beautiful old Spanish tiles like this covering the floors…

This is the hotel’s amazing restaurant, The Purple Palm, which is situated right by the pool. The food is Mediterranean inspired and totally amazing. Our dinner there the night we checked in was one of the best meals we had in Palm Springs and the next morning we had the most incredible breakfast ever.

We stayed in a standard guest room with two double beds and the decor was simple but lovely. The beds were incredibly comfortable and I loved the suzani covered headboard which provided an energizing splash of color.

Here’s a view of one of the hotel’s courtyards overlooking the pool and The Purple Palm…

And the chic pool surrounded by wrought iron lounge chairs with rust colored cushions which play well off the colors in the terracotta roof tiles and the natural elements…

And finally, a shot of the property just after sunset. For more information on The Colony Palms click here.

_{Photos by Nicole Gibbons}

_{Interior design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard}