Room Gallery ~ Palazzo Margherita

The infamous movie director, Francis Ford Coppola bought a grand but decaying villa, and renovated it with the help of renowned French interior designer Jacques Grange.

I recently read a  piece covering the transformation, and I just fell in love particularly with suite no. 9 of the Palazzo Margherita.


{via WoI, March 2012.}

This suite overlooks the palazzo’s private gardens and it was previously a covered terrace.  Coppola installed glass into the windows and painted the vaulted ceiling.


{photographs by Tim Beddow}

The bejmat floor tiles were designed by Grange, as was the headboard’s inlay which follows a traditional Syrian geometric pattern.  Grange also designed the bathroom tiles, and the overall feel is one of a bohemian Morocco set in Italy. As Coppola says, it is “authentic, quality, pleasure with a dash of the exotic”.

What’s even more exciting is that Ford Coppola has opened the Palazzo’s doors to paying guests wishing to stay.  The next time I’m in Bernalda I shall certainly be booking myself into here as a treat!

What other beautifully designed location would you like to stay in?

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Posted on February 13th, 2012

Friday’s Breathing Space ~ Bali

I’ve recently heard a lot about some really amazing places to stay in Bali.  So if you are planning your year’s vacations and feel the need for some relaxation, calm and revitalization and a space to really breathe, then perhaps think about putting the kids into boarding school for 2 weeks, packing a suitcase and sneaking off to give your body and mind a vacation.

ALILA VILLAS SOORI 

These wonderful folks will completely customize your stay, even down to what kind of foods you’d like to eat (or not eat!), what sort of music you would like to listen to in your room and what sort of activities you’d like to do whilst staying with them.

Spa treatments, understated but incredibly cool architecturally designed villas and uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean sounds like heaven to me!

ALILA VILLAS ULUWATU

This eco destination is the sister to Alila Villas Soori.  If you stay here, you will also be treated with stunning views, cliff top balconies, and beautifully designed villas.

I gather the service is just incredible too, that the staff make you feel that you are somewhere quite special and you can feel doubly smug that they use sustainable materials and really care about what they do.

Can we go now, please?!

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Posted on February 3rd, 2012

Room Gallery ~ Apres ski, anyone?

I’m being massively spoilt by Mr B, and as a (impending) birthday treat, a gang of us are off today to his house in Austria skiing for the week.

Is it just me, but doesn’t skiing involve so much stuff?! If you’re going to pack the kitchen sink, you might aswell do it in style. I shall be packing the below for a little bit of on (and off!) piste chic.

This room of the week has me dreaming of hot toddies  in front of the fire….


{via Mr and Mrs Smith}

See you on my return!

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Posted on January 9th, 2012