TRAVEL

A STYLISH STAY IN MONTAUK, NEW YORK

by Michel Van Devender September 14, 2021

We didn’t want summer to get completely away from us without writing about our Montauk, New York visit. After all, it was one of the highlights of our trip. Our New York adventure was divided into two legs – one part beach and one part city. You can read more about our NYC stay at the Ace Hotel in our separate blog post linked here.

Back in June, we flew from Charlotte to NYC, rented a car and drove directly to Montauk. This was my second visit, but the first for everyone else in our family. It was a long travel day as I’m sure all New Yorkers would agree, driving from Manhattan to the end of Long Island is a haul, especially with the grueling traffic. Add in a couple of tired, grumpy kids in a car for four hours after a flight, and I’m sure you get the general idea.

Once we reached Montauk, referred to as the end of the world, the pace completely slowed and the stress of the travel quickly melted away. Ahh… vacation mode on! Arriving around 5 PM at MARRAM, we were immediately struck by the quite, tucked away location and close proximity to town (We were able to walk for coffee, lunches and some dinners.). We had heard Montauk can be a bit of a party scene in the summer and were looking for something a little more family friendly and low-key. I mean, we can barely stay up past 10 PM, even on vacation!

Checking in was a breeze. We were greeted by friendly, helpful staff at the front desk. Along with our room key, we were given written information about the hotel along with a list of Montauk restaurants and activity recommendations. As we embarked on the short walk to our first floor room, we were quickly lost in the natural, tranquil setting and lush, green landscaping. Exactly what we were looking for when we searched for lodging.

With a recent renovation, you forget the hotel was once an old-school motel, formerly the Atlantic Terrace Resort. With it’s own webcam and web-based surf report, this specific break has been a surfing mecca for decades. There are two long, two-story main buildings facing each other with a large center walkway, set back and running perpendicular to the beach. On the back side, there are additional buildings with a pool, restaurant and large indoor and outdoor common areas. There are areas for work and play, including a collection of outdoor loungy areas with fire pits where the nightly s’mores parties convene.

The overall vibe of the hotel is understated luxe, described by MARRAM as barefoot luxury. The design of the hotel and rooms is minimal, with texture taking center stage. The warm wood details, concrete floors, soft white walls and simple furnishings create a calm, serene setting, minimizing visual noise and maximizing unplugged relaxation. By the way, there are NO televisions in the rooms! We did not tell our kids this until we arrived. The layered neutral tones mimic the color palette of the Montauk surroundings, reflecting nature in all of the decor details. The Le Labo Santel 33 bath products are the perfect pairing for capturing the mood of the hotel in a singular, intoxicating scent.

From beginning to end, we had a fantastic stay at MARRAM. The accommodations and level of service are top-notch. The hotel was a quiet, serene escape from the chaos and hustle of the real world. Montauk beaches are clean and stunningly gorgeous, creating the perfect backdrop for this stylish hotel. We will definitely be back MARRAM! Thank you for such a magical experience!

TRAVEL

A STYLISH STAY IN NEW YORK CITY: ACE HOTEL

by Michel Van Devender August 17, 2021

Well, I think we’ve found our new favorite New York City Hotel… and a stylish one at that! Ace Hotel, we love you! But before we get into that, I can I just say, we have sooooo missed traveling!

THANKFUL TO TRAVEL, AGAIN

We are thankful to have the opportunity to travel, again, especially to New York. As a creative person, travel is such a powerful source of inspiration for my life, my creativity and my work. Being in different places, spaces and cities, feeds me in a way I’m not sure anything else does. It’s all about the people, the interactions and conversations, the fashion, the art, the food, the design, the architecture, the smells, all the nature and where we stay. It’s every bit of this and so much more. The sights, sounds, scents, tastes – the full sensory experience can give way to endless inspiration I bring back home. The experiences all become a part of me, woven and integrated into who I am, how I live, how I approach life, how I interact with people, and especially in how and what I create.

FAMILY TRAVEL – WHERE TO GO

A little on the backstory – back in May, we unfortunately had to cancel our Mexico beach vacation because of escalating COVID numbers in that country. Since one of our sons has moderate to severe asthma, we opted to play it safe. This was the first out-of-state vacation we had planned in over 18 months so needless to say we were all a little disappointed. Our kids were especially bummed by the cancellation as Finest Playa Mujeres had become their favorite chill vacation spot.

We were still eager to get out of our house and out of North Carolina so we regrouped and redirected our focus, in search of other travel destinations. We decided we’d only consider domestic travel and became interested in the northeast. If you’d like to read more about where we started and a new stylish lodging discovery, check out my blog post linked here, STAY IN STYLE: BLOCK ISLAND BEACH HOUSE.

NEW YORK HERE WE COME

After coming up empty-handed with several interesting destinations, New York seemed like a good choice for our June trip. Really, isn’t New York always a good choice? It’s a state with varied opportunities and options for the entire family because let’s face it, it’s hard to please everyone! Or at least that’s the case in our family. Inevitably, some part of our crew wants a beach vacation while the other half wants more of a city adventure. New York City is also a place my 15-year-old son had recently become obsessed with visiting. Since he graduates from high school in three years, it’s an experience we wanted to share with him while we have the chance.

A lot of our trip booking was last minute, not how we typically plan our vacations. We were a little nervous about accommodations and availability. I have to say, we were pleasantly surprised we were so successful in pulling together what turned out to be a fantastic trip, stylish lodging included. I actually think we just got lucky with our timing as New York had just reopened after recently lifting COVID restrictions. Considering New York is typically crowded, especially the city and popular Long Island summer beach spots, we were fortunate we experienced less than normal crowds and lines.

Our trip ended up being a combination of city and beach, spending some part of our week in Montauk and the other half in New York City. It was actually the best of both worlds – a little beach rest coupled with some busy city stimulation. I plan to do a separate post on our Montauk stay. Here, I want to write about our personal experience at the Ace Hotel.

OUR STYLISH STAY – ACE HOTEL NYC

I’ve been a big fan of the Ace Hotel brand for some time now and have been looking for an opportunity to stay in one of their stylish creations. I already knew Ace is the place (oh my, the rhyme!) for the design enthusiast, but I wasn’t super familiar with the Ace NYC location. It had been a while since I’d visited NYC. The hotel is in Midtown, a couple of blocks from the Flat Iron Building, and in the up-and-coming neighborhood, NoMad (north of Madison Square Park). The centrally location was the perfect home base for hitting both Uptown and Downtown Manhattan attractions. It’s also super accessible to local coffee shops, restaurants, cafes and neighborhood delis as well as the subway.

In terms of the hotel itself, from the popular bustling lobby to the quiet, well-equipped rooms, we couldn’t have had a better stay. I liken the hotel to sleeping with a hip, handsome man who’s not your husband! I think my guy is cool with that too. The design vibe is moody and soulful with masculine elements carried throughout. Think plaids, flannels and deep hues. I’m obsessed with the most perfect shade of dark green paint used throughout the hotel lobby. Ace Hotel – What is this color? Please do share. There’s also a vintage twist and a well-played nod to the past of the renovated historic turn-of-the-century building.

OUR ROOM, WITH MUSIC + A VIEW

We stayed in a double bed room equipped with a turntable and guitar. Imagine the delight of my musician husband and teenage son to have gotten so lucky. While the not so musical wife and mom got to experience the endless strumming and jamming in such close quarters. A major score we could all agree on was our spectacular window view of the Empire State Building. We seriously couldn’t believe our luck. Well, there was also a historic building across the street from the hotel with a modern rooftop addition. This designer quickly commenced some pretty intense stalking from our 10th floor room. You can read more about this modern masterpiece in the linked blog post – TRAVEL FINDS: NEW YORK CITY PENTHOUSE.

Back to our room though, which had a surprising amount of extra space to spread out. When you’re a family traveling with two growing boys, this is always a plus (We have a third older son who has sadly aged out of joining us.). There was a larger than what I usually experience entry area. On one side, there was generous space for our luggage, and on the opposite side, were shelves with snack options and a full-sized SMEG refrigerator stocked with beverages for purchase. The bathroom was long and narrow, but not your typical cramped hotel bathroom. Think vintage-inspired black and white subway wall tiles, dark green ceramic floor tiles, cast iron bathtubs and brass fixtures.

HOTEL OFFERINGS

Unfortunately, we didn’t end up spending much time in the hotel lobby bar area as we got our fill of stimulation from our full days roaming around the city. Perhaps next time. It was a pretty hip and happening hang out with amble seating for working and lounging. The lobby bar also serves food, more of a small bites menu. We did take full advantage of popping downstairs to the Stumptown Coffee Roasters to grab our daily morning cup of joe. And when I say we, I mean my husband gets dressed and does this for us… he’s a good man! There was also a Milk Bar (dessert bakery) entrance accessible from the hotel lobby. My sons thought that was a win. The hotel also has a small shop close to the front desk check-in stocked with cool, Ace Hotel vibe-inspired goods.

WE’LL BE BACK

The Ace Hotel NYC did not disappoint, and this hip and handsomely designed hotel will definitely be our go-to spot when visiting NYC. We’re also looking forward to exploring one of their other ten locations, many found in larger, popular cities across the United States. The Palm Springs, Portland and Los Angeles locations look especially interesting. Until next time, thank you Ace Hotel for a stylish and inspiring stay!

*Please note this is not a sponsored or paid post! We are not affiliated in any way with the Ace Hotel.

HOTEL ENTRANCE + LOBBY

OUR ROOM

ABOVE IMAGES FROM OUR STAY: BLACK HOUSE BLUE SKY

A FURTHER LOOK

ADDITIONAL IMAGES VIA ACEHOTEL/NEWYORK.COM

TRAVEL

STAY IN STYLE: NEW ORLEANS

by Michel Van Devender July 23, 2021

We’re those people who have been known to make travel plans based solely on stylish lodging. It’s no wonder the recent opening of the Hotel Saint Vincent caught our attention. Surely set to become one of the best hotels in New Orleans or at least in my design mind. In all of its spectacular wonder, grandeur, style and glory has got us itching to plan an excursion down to New Orleans for a visit. It looks like the perfect place to “pass a good time”. Disappointingly, we didn’t get our invite to the hip, it-krewe opening featuring indie rock singer, songwriter, St. Vincent, but hey, we’re not ones to hold a grudge. How about next time?

As an interior designer, this hotel is the very best kind of eye candy. Inspired by 70’s Italian design, Lambert McGuire Design (love me some Liz Lambert) put a modern mark on a NOLA historic property that originally opened back in 1864 as a children’s orphanage. In the renovation and design process, there was absolutely no attention to detail spared in creating the resulting eclectic, decadent, magical vibe. From the colorful, bold patterned Vousta wallpapers to the dark, moody Farrow and Ball painted walls to the mix of vintage and modern art and furnishings, it is an intoxicating, seductive expression of both the feminine and the masculine, and the intersection where the old and new worlds meet, in the coolest kind of way.

Hotel Saint Vincent, you’re on our radar and our where-to-stay list. Laissez les bon temps rouler… We’ll see you soon!

TRAVEL

TRAVEL FINDS: A STUNNING NEW YORK CITY MODERN PENTHOUSE

by Michel Van Devender June 23, 2021

Oh, hey there New York City neighbor! Well, not exactly… we don’t live in NYC, but this was our across 29th Street neighbor we had the best view of from our 10th floor room of the Ace Hotel. By the way, I would highly recommend this Midtown NoMad district hotel and will be sharing more about our stay soon.

When we checked into room 1012, we couldn’t miss our stunning view of the Empire State Building. It immediately brought back such sweet, fond memories of when my now 22 year old son was four and he called it the “Entire” State Building! Having this view was such a lovely surprise. Once I enjoyed a memory and my eyes moved beyond the iconic landmark, an across the street building, clearly an older, historic property, caught my eye. The ornate style, partially hidden by repair scaffolding, was juxtaposed with the coolest, modern penthouse addition, including a green rooftop terrace space. I’m completely smitten and my design curiosity goes into overdrive, wanting to learn more about this place.

Once we were out and about roaming the streets, I made it a point to look for the name of the building. The unassuming, lackluster building awning read – Gilsey House. A quick google search of the name revealed the story of this exact property I’d been studiously stalking from our room window since our arrival. By this point, my husband thinks I’m a bit hyper focused. Obsessed I am my dear! Dwell Magazine featured the Manhattan dream home back in March 2017, with all of the details on the renovation/addition, including interior and exterior photos. And, oh the delight of getting my very own little home tour from across the way!

The historic building with its cast-iron facade of the Second Empire style was constructed in 1869 and has storied evolution from its glory days operating as a posh hotel to at one point being in disrepair and falling victim to dilapidation and then being resurrected with new energy and life. The architect and penthouse owner, Jay Valgora, principal of STUDIO V Architecture, purchased the loft over 25 years ago. The reimagined space for his growing family showcases the successful, harmonious blending between the old and new, juxtaposing the zinc and glass rooftop addition with the white, historic building. For me, it is nothing short of NYC living perfection with an enormous wow factor!

And by the way, this home stalker departed the city without incident, although I’m often tempted to embarrass myself and my family in the name of my love for design! For the full story on this NYC reno/addition, check out the linked Dwell article.

All images via Dwell unless otherwise noted.

TRAVEL

GET OUT OF TOWN: HIGH POINT NC FURNITURE MARKET

by Michel Van Devender June 4, 2021

A little High Point Market shopping anyone? This week I snuck away from Charlotte and home for the day (woohoo!!!) in search of interior and exterior treasures. If you know me, you know I love a good hunt, not the outdoorsy shooting a gun or aiming an arrow type, rather the shopping kind. And please give me an antique store over a modern retail mall any day of the week, although in truth, I just enjoy shopping. It’s the thrill of the hunt!

I do love most everything about market, but my favorite is the quirky, one-offs and one-of-a-kind finds. From Schwung to Bobo to Gypsy Marketplace to the Antique and Design Center, there was much to be seen and many steps to be walked (12,548 to be exact!). Market doesn’t officially start until Saturday, but many vendors seem to be getting ahead of the game by opening early. We certainly weren’t the only ones with the early bird spirit. Some designers and buyers had even beaten us there by a day, hence the hundreds of sold stickers already marked on what we thought were our finds. The effects of the pandemic have hit many industries hard and furniture and gift markets are no exception. Though, there seems to be quite a bit of pent-up shopping demand and many inspiration seekers heading forth, ready and willing to line up in High Point for first dibs at the finds and deals.

We came, we saw… but after eight hours of non-stop walking and shopping (I ate while walking because I’m committed to my sport.), I sadly hadn’t seen everything I came to see. And honestly, it’s humanly impossible to see it all, even going everyday for the entirety of market. My feet always say stop, but there’s a small voice coming from my shopping soul, saying, keep going, keep going. This time my feet won, and I jumped in my car and headed back to Charlotte. Maybe I can head again another day this go around or maybe I’ll wait for the next market in October. Regardless, I feel inspired and energized by the experience… my shopping cup is full. And well, I didn’t leave empty-handed either!

Hope you enjoy the below highlights from my High Point Market adventure.

SCHWUNG HOME

Always a favorite for European and Northern African antique furniture, rugs and art as well as their signature lighting collection. Owned by a Belgian husband and Dutch wife team, Schwung is the place to get lost in the unique and beautiful. Think old warehouse packed full of goodies… wear your walking shoes and set aside enough time to stroll the isles to see everything!

MARKET IMPORTS

You’ll find walls and rows of vases, jars and bowls. We always love global-inspired pottery and dishware. The blue and white is a forever classic that mixes well with both modern and traditional interiors. And how about the black and white and brown and white versions? Yes, please!

ANTIQUE + DESIGN CENTER

It’s High Point Market’s version of the ultimate antique mall with some 75 of the best antique and vintage dealers from all over the country. This is where you’ll find a little bit of everything and some of my favorite mid-century modern art, furniture, lamps and accessories. I could easily furnish my entire house with all the goods sourced from here. Two vendors I absolutely love are Architectural Anarchy and Modern Love Furniture.

GYPSY MARKETPLACE

As always, this place was wall-to-wall packed with retail buyers and interior designers marking and tagging furniture, lighting and accessories. It’s good go-to for globally sourced antique and reproduction pieces for the home and garden. You’ll find more popular boho items as well as quirky oddities from Europe, Asia, India, Egypt and the U.S.

BOBO INTRIGUING OBJECTS

Outside of the fact this vendor is housed in one of the coolest buildings in High Point and said building happens to be black, these guys have been around for years and continue to be a source for one-offs as well as the best of old and new. Antiques from every corner of the world coupled with more contemporary, yet classic new production furniture and accessories. Hang around long enough and you may get a story or two about the history of the building from the owner, Mark Sage.

THIS + THAT

A little bit of randomness and the miscellaneous from places that weren’t “officially” open.

TRAVEL

STAY IN STYLE: BLOCK ISLAND BEACH HOUSE

by Michel Van Devender June 1, 2021

After days of deliberation, we just cancelled our vacation to Mexico. The one where we’re supposed to leave in less than two weeks… insert long sigh. Now we’re scrambling to pull together a replacement trip. Long story short – with Mexico’s rising COVID numbers and low vaccination rates coupled with travel requirements and restrictions, we decided to bag international travel and stick with something domestic right now. Oh yeah, and we’re traveling with an unvaccinated kiddo who has asthma. Just doesn’t seem worth the worry and risk. I think vacation is supposed to be relaxing,

The past couple of days we’ve been plugging away researching beach destinations that check all of our boxes. In the eyes of my ten year old, I’m not sure anywhere else will compare to a stay at the Finest Playa Mujeres so his little box may be harder to check. Our U.S. search started more broad, including Hawaii, both east and west coasts as well as the Gulf of Mexico, before deciding to focus on east coast destinations. Not surprising, booking a family vacation a couple of weeks out limits your options, especially when you have certain accommodation criteria/standards (code for designer who requires stylish lodging).

After coming up empty handed in the southern states, we shifted our focus to the northeast beaches. Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and Nantucket have been on our vacation radar for years. While exploring the possibility of Montauk, I stumbled upon Block Island. We’ve never heard of this place. Just 14 miles east of Montauk this Rhode Island barrier island is brimming with a deep, rich history and an interesting, diverse landscape. Formed by deposits of the lower edges of two glaciers over 120,000 years ago, the small island was discovered by a Dutch explorer, Adrian Block, in 1614. I won’t bore you with all of the historical details, but let’s just say I did a little deep dive into Block Island. Down the rabbit hole I went!

At this point, I’m madly in love with this romantic, idyllic little island. Next, I google lodging, quickly spotting the images of the newly renovated, stylish Block Island Beach House. This hotel has quite the history of it’s own dating back to the late 1800s. Beginning as a private residence for the island doctor, the structure has a storied past, having experienced additions, renovations and iterations over the years. With it’s eclectic mix of furniture, wall papers, lighting, art and accessories, the boutique hotel is the epitome of bohemian surf shack style. It’s exactly our kind of of place to hang and lose track of time. And, who couldn’t use all the casual cool beachy vibes?

After playing around with our dates, available rooms and ferry reservations, I sadly couldn’t get the stars to align for a last minute trip to the Block Island Beach House. I even stood on my head and said a prayer. Room availability for a family is somewhat limited so it’s duly noted this is one of those places that requires some advanced planning, perhaps six months to a year out. The hotel also operates on an abbreviated season and ferry service follows suit. Regardless, Block Island is now on our list of places to visit. And when we do, we will definitely be staying in style right here! In the meantime, the search for our vacation destination continues. Please wish us luck… we’ll be heading somewhere in less than two weeks. Let’s go!

All images via Block Island Beach House, unless otherwise noted.

TRAVEL

WHERE TO STAY: AUTOCAMP YOSEMITE

by Michel Van Devender October 31, 2019

Travel + Lodging – A Space

Oh, travel and lodging… I could write an entire blog post about how where we stay plays a big role in our travel experience. Honestly, it can make or break a trip for me. In the early days of our marriage, it was a point of contention for my husband and me. We would arrive somewhere and need to switch rooms or even hotels. And, by the way, it was not him! I so clearly remember when my husband and I were dating, and we travelled to Atlanta, GA, to see David Gray in concert (and wow, what a concert it was!). I was in charge of the concert tickets and my husband’s task was to secure the hotel. Easy, right? Well, what an experience it ended up being, in the process learning so much about the other! The room reeked of stale cigarette smoke, and there were soiled and stained textiles in most areas of the room… bedding, carpet, drapes, even the walls. Yuck…it was a stomach-churning kind of disgusting! This is a rather drastic example as we’ve also switched hotel rooms for lesser offenses. My husband could probably rattle off the list, recounting each instance with vivid detail. Spouses are always good like that, right?!

Interior Environments

Over time though, I’ve come to recognize that I am a person who is deeply affected by the spaces where I live and spend time. It’s indeed a real thing. There is a rather large body of research out there that has been conducted by behavioral scientists on how our interior spaces have a significant affect on how humans think, feel and behave. We are impacted, even if we aren’t consciously aware, by our surroundings. There’s also a continuum so some people are more sensitive to their environments than others. Where would you fall on the spectrum? I would fall in the “keenly aware” category. For me, it’s everything about a space – lighting (both natural and artificial), spatial layout, furnishings, textiles, colors, even the smell of the space. I have an awareness around this and try to plan as much as I can, especially when traveling. Out of necessity and the thoughtful, kind regard for those around me, I’ve also learned to be flexible when my surroundings are not working for me (and spend as much time outside of the space as possible!).

Our Yosemite Stay

Securing lodging in and near national parks can sometimes be tricky. Accommodations inside the parks are usually more limited and get booked pretty far in advance. Since our AutoCamp, Santa Barbara, visit several years back I had been following their social media accounts. Once they announced their plans to build a sister property outside of Yosemite, I hoped a visit was on our travel horizon. The property is located about thirty-five minutes outside of Yosemite in the historic town of Mariposa. I followed the progress and crossed my fingers that they’d be ready for visitors well before our summer visit. They officially opened in the spring and in plenty of time to work through any grand opening kinks before our July arrival. And indeed, we enjoyed a stylish, comfortable and relaxing stay! Thank you AutoCamp Yosemite! Now, if we can figure how to get to your other two properties, AutoCamp Russian Creek and AutoCamp Cape Cod! (recently announced as the first East Coast location and opening in the fall of 2020).

Lodging Style

We initially thought we’d stay in a beloved AirStream (as I’m obsessed with these metal bullet campers); however, with our middle and youngest sons being older and bigger, we decided we might be a little more comfortable in one of the modern cabins. That was definitely a good call… still small and cozy with a little extra room to move around.

Our Little Black Cabin

The Club House

Okay, in few words, I could live here! With its clean, modern, warm and dreamy interiors and exterior, I felt right at home hanging here. The clubhouse is comprised of a beverage bar, event spaces, a camp store and indoor/outdoor gathering spaces, including a pool.

A Look Around the AutoCamp

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