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!

 

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}

Fashion designer and style icon Diane von Furstenberg can now add the title interior designer to her resume after the debut of 20 glamorous hotel suites she recently designed for Claridge’s hotel in London. In her first-ever interior design project, von Furstenberg developed bespoke fabrics, rugs, furniture and cashmere throws for the rooms in the historic art deco landmark hotel. The rooms are stunning with luxurious fabrics in bold geometric patterns, ikat prints and Chinese florals plus pops of bright color, lacquered surfaces  and – of course – plenty of animal prints, a von Furstenberg signature. The bathrooms are quite spectacular featuring rich marble surfaces and complete with plush DVF wrap robes. The suites also feature personalized touches like photos taken by von Furstenberg during her travels through Europe, Africa and Asia. I especially love the striking berry and chocolate colored ikat print sofa shown above which is covered in one of von Furstenberg’s custom fabrics. The DVF suites at Claridge’s are definitely fit for a princess. In fact the 5-star hotel is the only place where von Furstenberg (once married to German Prince Egon von Furstenberg) is still referred to as “your Highness!” Visit the Claridges website for room rates and reservations.



“Hotels are fantasy and they’ve just got to make you dream.” – Diane von Furstenberg

_{Photos: Claridge’s and DVF}