Urban Cool at Hotel San Jose, Texas

It seems that when a holiday break beckons that hotels and holidays spots are very appealing to me as I browse through my interior design research.
Hotel San Jose, located in the heart of Austin, Texas, was built in 1936 as a motor court - it has now been transformed into a stylish bungalow-style hotel. Look at those lush grounds and outdoor leather chairs! The hotel rooms are kept minimal and fresh with gorgeous custom sheets. Oh, dogs are welcomed as guests too. Two thumbs up.

Photographs via Hotel San Jose.

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Summer Lake House

Phew, it's seems summer has arrived. It's hot and humid - which is unusual for Wellington, and along with madly running around to wrap up the year before the Christmas break, I think people are feeling flustered. Hence the attraction to this calm and simple summer home, designed by Robert Young Architecture and Interiors, located by Montauk Lake, USA. Cedar shingled houses have always appealed to me and this sprawling family home does it so well. Some colour in the interiors wouldn't go amiss, me thinks.

Photographs via Remodelista.

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Last of the Holiday Photos

The window display at Converse retail store, Santa Monica.

To finish off the week, here are some highlights from my trip. And as from next week, we'll be back to all things interior design. I hope you have enjoyed my images as much as I have re-living them.
On the way to Italy, I stopped over in Los Angeles for several days and stayed with a friend and fellow architect in Santa Monica. We had lots of fun.

This is how they advertise MAC make up in Santa Monica.

Bamboo forest, Huntington Gardens

We visited Huntington Gardens and I cannot recommend it enough. If you like gardens and landscaping, this place is worth a visit. Just stunning.

Desert Gardens, Huntington Gardens

Lots of gorgeous trees at Huntington Gardens.

Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry, downtown Los Angeles.

Jacaranda trees were in flower all over LA and Santa Monica.

The double helix staircase at Vatican Museum.

While in Rome, I spent one of the days at Vatican City - there is lots to see and take in. It was amazing to be inside the famous Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms at the Vatican Museum. Be prepared to look up a lot - incredibly detailed ceilings. I also did a lot of looking down - lots of cool tiled floors.

Frescoes are everywhere - so detailed.

Lots of cool tiles

Looking up the domes at St. Peter's basilica

Climbing up the high dome of St. Peters and looking down

View from behind at the top of St Peter's Basilica.

The view from the top - Piazza San Pietro and Rome beyond.

The detailed Duomo - Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.

While staying in Tuscany, we visited the nearby towns of Florence and Siena. Beautiful.

Looking over the famous Piazza del Campo, Siena

I do like angels and there are plenty of them in Rome.

Passionfruit flower in the Villa Borghese Gardens, Rome

Near Galleria Borghese, Rome.

A well deserved gelato on a hot summer day in Rome

I was captivated by draped fabric on statues - so realistic. This lady was at Piazza del Popolo, Rome.

I came across this vintage carousel on the way to Vatican City, Rome.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

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