Living In A Mill

Not all designers are lucky enough to have the chance to take an aged oil mill from the 19th century and transform it into a warm and charming refuge. But interior designer Marie-Laure Helmkampf didn't think twice about embarking on this fantastic project in the French city of Nimes. The rehabilitation was complete. Most of the almost-ruined structure was demolished and built up again respecting the mill's original style. Her idea was to create a fluid floor plan which she likes to refer to as a “barn-loft”. Her recipe: a soft palette consisting of white, beige and light wood mixed with a strong evidence of retro furniture and mid-century classics. The result: a cocktail of pure essence and cosmopolitan charm. Mill like it!

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A Bench With a Twist

No need to throw away those old chairs in the garage. How about giving them a new lease on life by transforming them into a neat looking bench, just like the Brooklyn-based furniture company 31 & Change did? They create one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture with a twist, a wink and a smile in mind. Each of their creations is hand-crafted with American hardwoods and built in their Brooklyn studios. Founder Kurt Lenard's graphic design background influences the colorful nature of their work. I love how their pieces have their own unique graphic expression, whether seen through the wood grain, the juxtaposition of color or the combination of materials. Brilliant!

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Paradise Found

Did you miss me? I certainly missed you. But after eight days of relaxation and living the island life, I'm back in town all rested and recharged. I don't mean to brag, but it was a splendid week filled with sunny days, delicious Mexican food and amazingly friendly people. Isla Mujeres lived up to my expectations and then some. It is quite a charming place I highly recommend to anybody who's looking to get away and enjoy nature at its best. There were plenty of adventures to keep us busy and our minds stimulated with all the breathtaking experiences the island has to offer. Between traveling mainland to see phenomenal Mayan ruins, going underground into the spectacular cenotes and snorkeling around the island's coral reef, the week went by really fast and left me wanting more.

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Paradise Bound

Image Istockphoto

Once a year, we make it a point to meet our best friends somewhere around the planet for a week-long vacation, a ritual we have been doing for some time now. Since we're all spread out, we deem it important and necessary to get together and catch up on our lives. We like to travel to fun and exciting destinations, so it's always fun planning each year's trip. Some past destination include Paris, Alaska, Buenos Aires, North Carolina and Vermont. I know, we try to cover a little bit of everything. But since we haven't done the beach scene yet, this year we decided to head down to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula –specifically Isla Mujeres–to catch some rays and well-deserve R and R. One of the things I'm most excited about is visiting the cenotes since I've heard they're just breathtaking. So my dear friends, I'm off to this spectacular part of the world to enjoy some time off and recharge. I will try my hardest to keep up with my posting, but my travel companions (and margaritas) might keep me from it. I'll try. I promise!! 

Feeling Presidential

There's nothing like working on a good looking desk, especially when you have space for one. This particular handsome piece of furniture does need the room to breathe and showcase its elegant and aerodynamic lines. The Goggle Desk is the new and innovative interpretation of the presidential office by Danny Venlet for the Italian furniture company Babini. Successfully mixing functionality and elegance, Venlet designed this beauty with future oriented managers and executives in mind. It's an elite presidential design for those who love to set themselves apart from the crowd and recognize the importance of having an object of design in their office that leaves visitors and guests pleasantly surprised and breathless. If you would like to know more about the designer, you can virtually meet him in this video where he talks about his impressive work. Enjoy and have superb weekend!!

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An Irresistible Guest Room

Image by Emily Gilbert

Having family and friends stay over is always a treat, so why not spoil them to death with a cozy and welcoming place to crash in. If you are lucky to have an extra room in your pad just for them, here are some lovely touches that will make your guests feel pampered and special — just like if they were staying in an exclusive boutique hotel. 

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Breaking New Ground

New York City's skyline is constantly changing, so it's hard to keep up with all the new buildings sprouting in every corner. But this bright purple neon façade in Hell's Kitchen would catch my attention every time I passed by. Just two blocks west of Times Square, Yotel made its debut in The Big Apple just a couple of weeks ago offering a new and innovative way of lodging: a smart and flexible space to suit its guests' needs, a destination for sleep, relaxation, entertainment, and rejuvenation. The mod and futuristic design includes a new airport-style check in assisted by their crew 24/7. With 669 stylish rooms, or cabins as they prefer to call them, Yotel features New York's largest rooftop terrace, as well as bars, restaurant, studio and gym. As part of their progressive vision, they also created Mission Control, their version of a concierge desk for a one-stop shop for services, stores and snacks.

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Style Aloft Madrid

This magnificent penthouse apartment in the middle of Madrid is quite the place. Its interiors, defined by the sobriety and strong personality of concrete, are filled with light, elegance and a surprising yet balanced mix of forms and styles. With various hues of green sprinkled throughout, the designers successfully created a sense of visual flow in this vast open floor plan. What's not to like about this place?

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