I'm off to Amsterdam!

Tomorrow I am flying to Amsterdam for a long weekend and I am beyond excited.  I am going to meet up with two wonderful friends that I studied with in London many years ago, so we go way back.  It's going to be great to enjoy the city with them!!

{citypictures.org}

I am also hoping to visit Zenza, which I blogged about here,
to see their fantastic products first hand!

I'll be back Wednesday with fresh ideas and inspiration from this beautiful city!

Volksbad

Yesterday my husband and I spent some time at the Volksbad ("People's Bath") in an elegant Art Nouveau-style building that was built in 1901 in the center of Munich.  The design was so elegant I thought I'd share it with you all. 

After our great experience at the Turkish Bath that I posted about here, we thought we should give the one in our own backyard a try!  This spa-like setting is definitely more for relaxation, exercise, beauty and pampering, whereas the Turkish Bath combined relaxation with a thorough cleanse.  We loved them both in their own unique way.  

I enjoyed soaking in the waters, surrounded by the beautiful design, and imagining all of the comings and goings of the Munich elite shortly after the turn of the last century.  It must have been quite the place to be seen at the time!

Photography by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler

A gorgeous tower...

Photography by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler

Beautiful Art Nouveau design welcomes you at the entrance.

{swm.de}

Their outdoor terrace is a great place to enjoy a refreshment after a dip.

Photography by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler

The lion is the symbol of Bavaria, so you see them everywhere.

Photography by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler

There were beautiful details set into the stuccoed walls...

a lot of surprises at every turn.

Photography by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler

Here we go...I love that font. 

I had to leave my camera at the door so the indoor shot below is from their website. 

{swm.de}

Not bad, eh?  I have been told that the placement of your changing room, which line the pool on both levels, was a reflection of social status.  Sounds about right given these surroundings and the people who would have frequented it at the time.

I hope you enjoyed the swim!

Kotor, Kotor...I love you so!

Last year we traveled to Kotor, Montenegro and loved what we saw!  It was such a fantastic surprise to "discover" this beautiful little town in such a stunning setting of fjords, turquoise water and rugged mountains.  Here's a little taste to show you what I mean:

Are you ready to take the next plane/train/car/boat to get there?  Me too.

Designer Envy: David Jimenez

A few photos from one of my favorite designers:  David Jimenez.  I love how he combines traditional with a bit of modern and some high and low design solutions. 

See what you think...

Fresh Air - Part II

Because I have so many beautiful images of outdoor spaces, I had to break up the intoxication a bit and make it a series.  :)  I posted recently here and I have even more, so keep an eye out for future posts!
 

{Elle Deco Magazine - German Edition}

{El Mueble}

{Flamant}

{via A Thoughtful Eye}

{Berner Suphin}

{TradHome Magazine}

{Brian Gluckstein}

{via Enchanted Home}

{House Beautiful}

{Jamie Garza via Enchanted Home}

{via Providence Ltd.}

Any favorites so far?

Globe Trotting

Happy Earth Day!

{Pinterest}

I love everything to do with maps and globes - I'm sure because of my obsession with discovering the world - so I always notice when they are used in a room, as a gift item, or in some other creative way.  In celebration of Mother Earth, here are a few beautiful images that use globes and maps beautifully!



{via Color Gypsy Blog}

I love the use of turquoise here - there is so much energy in this room!

{Jay Jeffers}

 Elegant and Traditional - lovely.

 

{via Love of Interiors Blog}

Using globes and/or maps in a family space or child's room is such an easy to

way to start casual, playful conversations about geography and history.

{Juxtaposition Home}

OK so this is JUST a globe, but I'd love to get my hands on it - it

looks like it would be a stuning one.

{Bobby McAlpine via Eclectic Revisited Blog}

A gorgeous room (I especially love the chairs) where the globe takes center stage. 

What a conversation starter that would be...

{Darryl Carter}

Old World-style rooms are an easy fit with globes.

{Kendall Wilkinson}

They are also killer as part of a tablescape.

What an inspiring setting for an office!

{source}

I discovered this great stationary on the French version of etsy.com. 

It would be great to use with faraway friends and family!

I'm wondering if this look could be recreated by framing some high quality map wrapping paper...just a thought.  I'm quite sure that's NOT what MetHome did.  :)

I'd like to grow my collection of globes, so they are always on my mental shopping list. 

I have my fingers crossed for my search at the markets over the next few months!

Monogram It...

A space always feels more unique and interesting when it is personalized.  Monogramming is a fun, easy way to do that...and can often be a great DIY to something you already have, not to mention a great addition to a simple gift that makes it really special.  Here are a few monogram ideas that I love:

{Habitation Inc on etsy}

{Tobi Fairley}

{Sunny's Paint}

{Emerson Made}

{via Can't Stop Making Things Blog}

{via Eclectic Revisited Blog}

{Elle Deco German Edition}

{Lulu Pom}

{Dabney Lee}

{Leontine Linens}

{via Gramercy Blog}

{Martha Stewart}

{etsy}

{Laura Casey Interiors}

{Luxury Monograms}

{Leta Austin Foster}

{via Gramercy Blog}

{Luxury Monograms}

{via Gramercy Blog}

{Julia B}