The Art of (Hotel) Living
My earliest memories of hotels were of family road trips, where we would stop at different hotels on our cross-country voyage to visit family heading from San Diego to Charleston, South Carolina. The excitement of discovering a new place, if there was an indoor pool or not, and the snacks in the vending machine tickled my little heart. I savored exploring and the idea of home sparked something in me, even at such a young age.
I’ve made a career seeking out special properties that combined wonder and the concept of home. This is why, The Art of Hotel Living, was created. My personal list of recommendations I felt carried this magical combo. And I don’t mean home specifically resembling the one you grew up in or living in now. But that spark that makes us feel illuminated and curious, tapping into when we were children and life was unexplored. These curation criteria are mainly small properties with charm, personality, and storytelling. I tried to stay away from the big or “cool” hotel groups, even though I love them too. It’s more of a list of the unexpected, one that culminates in an overall feeling of discovery. I included the playlists that I usually make for the trip. From one hotel-obsessed junkie to another. Happy hotelling.
When you need a moment of peace outside the city.
Catuçaba Hideaway, Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Technically a four bedroom house, not hotel, is an award winning modernist country home available for rental when you want to head out of Sao Paulo (which you want to often) and get into nature. Set in the beautiful UNESCO protected area of Serra do Mar, landscape of rolling hills and farmland. The design is the kind you can’t stop awing.
A Balinese movie set hidden on a Belizean peninsula.
Turtle inn, placencia (Belize)
I was working on a few projects in Belize and this was the nearby luxury hotel owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola that we frequently treated ourselves to. I enjoyed being transported to Bali. Thatch roofs with beautiful carved wood furniture. A “shell phone” which was a conch shell and a speaker to call the front desk. Even the cobble stone was imported from Bali. The outside porch which I used for reading and meditating. It felt like fancy glamping since there wasn’t any air conditioning and the windows did nothing to protect from outside creatures. Even with all this, the set design was so special, everything was placed strategically, light in the perfect cinematic spot, I was beyond content pretending to Eat, Pray, Love.
Taking the creepy out of road side motels.
Ojai Rancho Inn, Ojai (California)
I’ve been hearing about Ojai for a while now. Is it the new Portland? Does it have the spiritual vortex like Sedona? And on the drive up the California coast, we made a pit stop to this lovely revamped 1950’s retro roadside motel. Greeted with a palo santo smudge stick, I knew this place was right up my alley.
A childhood dream come true.
Ka Bru Forest, Bahia (Brazil)
A tree house is a childhood dream we all can relate to. And Ka Bru Forest indulges just that, but in a grown-up-good-taste-adulting kind of way. The owners handcrafted a beautifully designed property nestled among an ancient rainforest in Bahia, Brazil. Specifically eye level to all the animals living among the trees like sloths, monkeys, and hummingbirds all ready to say hi. So much consideration was put into the making of this space. No trees were cut down only using refurbished wood, taking them 3 years to build. There’s no walls, encouraging guests to “live outside.” My favorite was sitting in thoughtfully placed viewing areas, listening to sounds of the forest at sunset, alerting us night was coming. On top of being served the best açai bowl and Brazilian baked goods for breakfast, one feels reenergized by the connection to nature, maybe inspired to write a series of vampire books or ponder life choices. And in a time when the world feels uncertain, something we can all use more of.
As unique as their guests.
la VALISE HOTEL, Mexico city (mexico)
As soon as I was shown to my room in this lovely home-converted-to-hotel property I knew it was going to be hard to leave. Was it the ridiculously comfy king size bed that could be also slide outside for nighttime stargazing slash sleeping? Or the huge clawfoot tub complete with bath salts? Or the locally design textures that hung on the walls. Maybe all of the above. I lived here like it was my own place, I meditated and did yoga on the terrace. Had coffee and reading in the living room. A bath in the evening. The cherry on top though was delish coffee brought up from the place downstairs along with a healthy breakfast of fruits and yogurt, finished with this incredible lavender cookie. Way to win over my heart.
Living my best (modernist) life.
lauTNER house hotel, palm springs (California)
When in Palm Springs, once must stay in a mid century modern home and pretend to be Michelle Pfiffer from Scarface. Or at least that’s what I like to do. Lautner House, originally a home by American architect, John Lautner, is a tasteful time warp to a time of the Hollywood Rat Pack era.
A gem among Kardashians.
petite ermitage, west hollywood (California)
I don’t want to play favorites, but this is in my top 3 favorite hotels. It’s hidden in the middle of West Hollywood. And isn’t what you expect from an LA hotel. Plus, there are Dali paintings in the hallway that you can admire while waiting for the elevator. Rarely these days we find interiors where it feels like it’s coming from one person’s point of view, not a big design agency looking at Pinterest with some Tracy Ullman neon light affirmation. All this and a rooftop pool with a crowd of sexy interesting people. Everything about this place feels organic in its vibe, curated taste, and energy.
Sleep while doing good.
The good hotel, Antigua (guatemala)
Hotels are finally taking the sustainability movement seriously. And the Good Hotel to a next level by opening schools in the local community, sponsoring students, and hiring parents of the students to help educate and improve their economic situation. The rooms are styled with a Scandinavian meets Guatemalan design, think clean furniture with indigenous textiles and ritual details. Each room has a portrait of a student and named after them too, reminding us we can all do more good.
The crazy aunt you want to stay with.
casa antonieta, oaxaca (Mexico)
First off, Oaxaca is my favorite place in Mexico. I can dedicate and entire blog to my obsession with this area, it’s a design lover’s paradise. Casa Antonieta, the perfect place to come home after all your treasure hunting. It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city, being built in the mid 1500’s. It’s designed as if you are staying at your eclectic aunt’s house, who traveled the world, partied with Frida, and has an incredible collection of moo moo’s. The architecture is swoon worthy and the rooms are huge with great bathroom selfie opportunities.
Discover a life unscheduled.
villa santa cruz, todos santos (Baja)
When in Baja Sur, you do like the locals and follow unpaved roads to the beach. Down one of these unpaved roads, you will find yourself at Villa Santa Cruz. A property that is literally in the middle of a palm tree oasis. A husband and wife team, who added so much personal character, plus resort amenities like a massive salt water pool and hot tub, rooftop complete with fire pit, and a crow’s nest on the beach (where the couple got engaged). The beauty of this property besides the obvious, is the ability to truly disconnect and fall into the pace of the surroundings. Nature’s time we called it, when I woke up at sunrise ready to conquer the world. And with just 6 rooms, you feel like this is your villa away from home.
I miss old new york.
lafayette house, NYC (New York)
When I first when to this hotel, it was for a birthday party in 2008. My friend rented a room here for the weekend and I was shocked that it was in the middle of the east village and wasn’t just another brownstone which you would expect just walking by. To this day, even my most knowledgable New York friends never heard of this place. It’s a sister property to the fame Bowery Hotel and is as if hotelier Sean Macpherson did an apartment building. Each room spacious and different, some with fireplaces, or terraces. There isn’t any lobby or guest services, so it’s really like you have your own apartment NYC apartment. Unfortunately, now only long term stays.
This is definitely not Old Macdonald’s farm.
blackberry farm, knoxville (Tennessee)
Although this is the most expensive property on the list, it falls within criteria. I don’t want to say anything and let this picture speak for itself.
Some Victorian Charm.
simpson house inn, santa barbara (California)
I was doing that scenic drive down the PCH from San Francisco to San Diego. I knew we were going to stop in the charming town of Santa Barbara. And was so surprised to discover this gem. Nestled within downtown was this hidden English garden and historic landmark. A Victorian estate built in the 1800’s. Simpson House Inn captures the English charm coziness, with fireplaces, lush gardens, and extremely comfy beds. They even have an afternoon tea service with fresh baked cookies. Of course I made sure I was around for the carb loading.
When good taste smacks you in the face.
casa azul, oaxaca (Mexico)
This hotel plays like an arthouse film. Expanding your visual senses and delighting with high taste wonder. Even returning after 6 years, I still loved how this space reveals itself to you as you wander through each room and into the grand courtyard. Their store and gallery is well curated and worth stopping into too.
Tastefully elegant.
mason panza verde, antigua (Guatemala)
For years I’ve had a love affair with Antigua and particularly this hotel. From the moment you walk in, you feel something is different. They nailed allowing the guest to discover its many nooks. That and the backdrop of volcanos is always a win.
When pictures can’t quite capture.
El Convento, Antigua (guatemala)
Hidden near the center of Antigua, sits this once convent turned boutique hotel. It’s one of those place where you take a picture and shrug your shoulders because you can’t quite capture “it.” And by it, I mean the holistic experience that encompasses El Convento. So many details are sprinkled throughout, like a signature hotel scent made by my favorite local body care and vegan ice cream maker, Dona Gavi.
Marrakesh is a designer’s dream.
villa l’orange, marrakesh (Morocco)
Glamping, Berber Style.
La Pause, Marrakesh (Morocco)
I’ve been slightly obsessed with the Berber tribe for years, a nomadic tribe from North Africa. So the opportunity to post out in the desert, an hour outside of Marrakesh was a dear diary moment. La Pause is part desert camp and part luxury experiential hotel. Full of oversized tents and rooms made by stucco huts inspired by the tribe traditions. It had all the Moroccan details like a hammam, patterned pool tiles, jute rugs, and a gift shop that I wish outfitted my home and wardrobe. The owner is french with a hospitality background from Paris. And you could tell. I loved all the hang out nooks and tents everywhere. The views are still burned into my brain. Since this place had no wifi or electricity, every night thousands of candles were light for such a dramatic effect. My room was sprinkled with floorsize candleablras while I sat on the floor pillows high fiving my life choices. This place is worth the disconnect and seeing the show of shooting stars every night.
A (hot) surfer hideaway.
SWELL HOTEL, EL PAREDON (GUATEMALA)
This opened in a secret surf destination of Guatemala, El Paredon. The 8-room property sits on a volcanic black sand beach, with its dedication to design and defines the term barefoot chic. My fondest memory from here wasn’t that I could literally swim back to my room or that a handsome german surfer was staying next door to me, but one evening when I was watching the sunset (ahem, surfers), I witnessed people from the community cheering them on. The feeling left me with awe and it melted my cold black heart.
A hidden farm on an island of fist pumping.
La Granja, Ibiza (spain)
So this is where all the cool, chic Europeans are in Ibiza, was my first thought. Hidden and tucked away deep in the center of the island, far from the electro vibes at Pacha is La Granja, spanish for the farm. It is incredibly tasteful with the perfect balance of rustic. Needless to say, their food and beverage program was on point.
Roughing it in the wilderness.
Autocamp, russian river (california)
I am not a roughing-it-in-the-wilderness kinda person (or else we wouldn’t have this little list would we?) so when I learned that I could stay in a new airstream, among the Redwoods, with Malin + Goetz products I was all in. Also, thinking for the lazy bbq-er, if you wanted some fire roasted s’mores, they bring you everything you need for a bbq so you don’t have to do any shopping. Roughing it indeed.
Down the rabbit hole.
HOTEL VIURA, RIOJA (SPAIN)
On a trip to Rioja and basque country, I picked this hotel because it was a contemporary building built along anold gothic town. As you can already tell it’s totally modern and has an Alice and Wonderland meet modernist thing going. How could I say no, I was curious how they made this design contrast work. They did!
My Miami dream home.
The standard spa, miami (florida)
I moved to Miami because of this hotel, literally left NYC because I was convinced life would be better if I lived here. And since I couldn’t technically live at the hotel, due to closet space, financial practicalities, etc. I moved across the street and became a member. I still treated this place like it was my playground, as Andre Balazs, the hotelier behind this fun hotel group, intended. I mean, they did the custom scent thing at a time no one did. Rumors even having an employee with the title, Vibe Coordinator. That’s how serious they take it here. I haven’t even gotten into the hammam situation, if you’re unsure what that is google it now. Every part of this hotel is to promote fun and relaxation. It’s a rare juxtaposition to capture, the ability to join a sound meditation class, then go skinny dipping at 2 am in the pool (which also have underwater speakers). Also, the team of people working there feel as though hand picked from the United Bennetton ads from the 90’s.
Wine o’clock.
North block hotel, napa (california)
Yountville is the heart of Napa’s fancy scene and this place is a well design charm in the center of town. Convenient and tasteful, I may have seen the Beckham's crossing the street as I was pulling in.
My other taco basecamp.
Deco housing, roma (mexico city)
This is part of the new crop of hotel models, where it feels more luxury apartment than hotel. No lobby or common area, but a front desk and hotel concierge amenities, each unit unique and spacious. It’s a fancy building on a lovely corner in Roma across the park, all designed with mid century modern furniture from Mexican designers. I felt like I was in mad men, Mexico City edition. Everything was thoughtfully styled from that time period, so needless to say my IG was put to work.