I told my friend that I want to design a hotel.  I wanted to buy a small motel and turn it into a cute small boutique luxury hotel someplace idyllic. I suggested that my friend find the project, find investors and then I get to designing.  I gave my list of preferred locations for this dream project. Ideally, I would like the property to be on Pacific Coast Highway here in Southern California…overlooking the water.  My friend listened to me…indulged my luxury boutique hotel design fantasy and then said, “I don’t know about finding you that hotel project on PCH but I can find you a duplex out in the desert in Yucca Valley.”  Hmmm…not quite what I was imagining.

Anyhooooo….that brings us to this lovely luxury boutique hotel in Brisbane Australia called Durham House…a little well appointed and designed resort hotel.  I love love love the adorable black + white cottage on the property.  So cute and simple…some good design inspiration inside and out.

Today I bring you a tropical garden gate and a bit of chatter about fashion choices and red pants of all things…

I am still here in the Dominican Republic on a dream vacation. It is so beautiful here and so relaxing being with friends.  I must admit, I fell off the early morning yoga regime a few days ago…I may get back on it this morning…”may” is the operative word in that sentence.

Anyhooo…I felt compelled to put on a bright color yesterday due to the fact that best of friend AM and power fashion blogger Jenn Lake of Style Charade, who are both here at the Playa Grande Beach Club hotel and resort, are two women who know how to wear a beautiful mix of patterns, texture and colors.  I am usually dressed in safe blacks or whites in Los Angeles…I haven’t quite got the fashion confidence of taking on patterns (yet) but I decided to take bright color from AM’s and Jenn’s fashion play books…

I am here.  Back in the Dominican Republic at Playa Grande Beach Club.  On my annual visit here with friends.  I am with my best of friend AM, her hubby JE, dear friend MR and all of their kids and then SFJ flies in this afternoon to join me!  Spring break of sorts – a tropical caribbean vacation dream really.  Every morning we have been doing yoga.  Starting out the day with a wonderful meditation with our very flexible yoga instructor!  Besides falling over a few times in yoga class, it has been so peaceful, calm, relaxing and beautiful…a dream…

Got a series of texts from friend VS the other day sharing a slew of pictures from some of her travels.  VS is known for hopping on a plane on a whim to international to places like Iceland, Scotland, Japan and any where a plane will take her.  She is one with a huge travel bug.  If a plane will take here there, she will go.  Having helped out at COCOCOZY for a bit, she knows I love great photos from her travels and all of her amazing adventures.

Two weeks ago, I got a marvelous text from her about her most recent travels – this time, she did not get on a plane.  This trip was a Sparrow’s Lodge staycation just outside of Los Angeles in Palm Springs.  She had a friend visiting from out of town, so they packed up her car and headed east to the desert.  Her description of the weekend stay…”camping rustic vibe! And it is very cozy – the people there were so nice.”  She described it as “a cool summer camp”.  All I know is that after seeing her photos of the hipster desert California casual decor and setting…I want to try out this little spot too.