Did I really get home from Hawaii only nine measly days ago? Because I could swear that I am already in desperate need of a getaway… apparently, funerals and sick babies aren’t that relaxing. Who knew? Sadly, the vacation days are all tapped out and our bank account is circling the drain, so I’m not going anywhere — unless you count sitting on our patio in sweltering 100 degree heat “going somewhere.” Which I most certainly do not.

But enough about that sob story. Let’s talk about Berlin. No, not the band (though they really take my breath away). Berlin, the city.

Doesn’t Berlin just seem like it would be the mostest? All kick ass German philosophy, with a little fringy Euro flair to soften the hard edges. Because there’s no need to be brutally serious all the time — even Nietzsche needed a little break from the angst (that syphilis didn’t come from nowhere, right?). Obviously a stay at the at the Soho House in Berlin would bring some sweet relief. Not that they have syphilis there, or anything.

No sir, all the Soho Houses are high class, high dollar establishments, available to an exclusive members only cadre of rarefied beings. All except for the newly opened Soho House Berlin, where 40 rooms are available to us regular folk, and for my mental vacay I plan to check in and sit for a spell.

Sit at the poolside bar, I mean. Well, I shall sit until I’ve drunk my fill and then I shall swim.

And then I will lie and lounge on the rooftop terrace, where I will pretend to contemplate the mysteries of life, but really I may just read an In Style or some other pedestrian crap because I’m deep like that.

Oh, and then I’m gonna get my nails did.

With my polished tips in tow, I plan to indulge in a giant meal, which best include some goulash and knodels. Anything else may put me in an existential tizzy, wherein I might be forced to jump off the terrace…

Or I will probably just watch a movie. I like movies.

Then I’m going to get my drink on at this jazzy establishment. I hope the pianist knows how to play some Eazy E.

Tuckered out by my long day, I shall retire to my Deco/Nouveau boudoir, ostensibly to meditate myself into a restful, dreamless sleep.

But more likely I will lie awake all night, wondering how I could fit that giant spider lamp chandelier into my purse. And who is in charge of upholstery at this joint? Holy expensive fortune — it must have cost a ton of knodels. Did I already mention how deep I am?

About as deep as a puddle.

I’m really not one for long flights but I have decided that I would like to spend the next several days in Singapore at this hotel:

Huh?  What?  Is that a cruise ship on top of a building next to a lake?  Maybe, but the newly-built Marina Bay Sands is home to the largest, and highest, infinity pool, which looks a little something like this:

I am such a sucker for a good swimming hole that pretty much all else falls by the wayside.  I don’t care that the outside of the hotel looks like this:

My concern lies only in that 150 meter infinity pool and it’s view

Not too bad for SD$379 ($277.40 USD).  For more info, check out the Marina Bay Sands Site here

This past Weekend If the Lamp Shade Fits posted soul-crushing pictures from a bed and breakfast in the south of France. The whole spread was just lovely and I strongly urge you to go check it out, but first I want to show you the room I just can’t get enough of:

Ok, so admittedly those suspiciously adirondack-like chairs have got to go, but the rest just warms my very heart. Of course, the designer utilized my go-to pallet of black white and yellow, so I instantly feel at home in the room but this house differs from mine in that it’s got a more sophisticated yet comfortable feel. When I grow up I’m totally doing this to my room.

Guten Morgen!  I’ve got the travel bug (read: hot burning desire to stay in a dreamy hotel with room service and fancy cocktails) and today’s fine destination ist das Vaterland.  Germany.  Germany, people.

Pack your baggies, we’re about to check out the only hotel on the planet that manages to make craftiness look chic.

The Michelberger hotel was designed by a team of friends who wanted a space that would “feel like an ad agency.”  Great.  But let’s talk about these book lights.

Yep, thems is handmade, let’s get a closer look

I see some sort of nut and bolt action and the previous picture shows some sort of wire support contraption holding the whole kitten kaboodle together.  If someone out there wants to attempt this at home, photograph your process, we’ll put it on the blog.  You’ll be a star and see your name in lights.  Maybe then you will have enough money to stay at the Michelberger.

Ha!  Joke’s on you, the michelberger only costs 54 Euros a night, which is a good thing because this blogging thing don’t make diddly.

Anyway, make a lamp, send me a picture, I’ll shower you with love.  Moving on.

The Michelberger continues the book theme into one of the guest rooms

Another view of the wall of books.  Ok, this needs to be discussed.  This looks pretty awesome but have any of y’all been in a used bookstore recently?  Newsflash:  those books get moldy.  Like crazy moldy.  Like raging headache dirty hands if you touch them moldy.  So, lovely, but the, ahem, shelf life is pretty short.

I’m not crazy about this picture but this may be my favorite use of books.  I love that just the ends are used to create texture with minimal color.

So the Michelberger isn’t all books all the time: here’s a view of the restaurant with it’s sexy concrete walls.  That wasn’t sarcasm, i really do like them.  And, bonus!  no mold.

From the restaurant looking into the bar.  Still lovely.

One of the 85 guest rooms.  I really love when beds are next to windows, especially in bustling cities.

Ok, so when you dudes get back from your stay abroad, remember to toss together one of those book lamps for me, I can’t wait to see your handywork!

News broke yesterday that Lil Wayne will pacing the cell blog for the next year simply for following the #1 rule of hip hop:  always stay strapped.  That’s right, apparently Lil Weezy was packing heat, some things happened, karly didn’t read the entire report and yadda yadda yadda, Wayne is going to the big house for a year.

When Erin and I emailed about the big news and the fact that it most certainly should be the topic for a blog post I think we both imagined solid gold bunk beds, diamond encrusted urinals, and swavorski crystal shanks.  Unfortunately, most of those items don’t exist.  I say most because I’m sure there is a urinal out there ghetto fab enough for this post and I bet some asshat has bedazzled a shiv and posted a picture online, but whatever.  Rather than hunting down a bunch of hood cell accessories, I thought I would show you a few simple ways you can live like your favorite tiny rapper for the next year.  Because we all want to live like the stars, right?

I would suggest a few choice nights at the Liberty Hotel in Boston.  Formerly a state prison, the Liberty’s lobby is very promising, however

the rooms are so normal-fancy I believe you would be insulting Lil Wayne by staying here in homage.

Instead, might I suggest the more appropriately styled Alcatraz Hotel in Germany.  Also built in a former prison, the Alcatraz promises it’s guests a true jail house feeling.  No word on lock down or mandatory girlfriend status.

I get the feeling that you could really compose a number one hit single there in the room on the right.

And the hotel bar doesn’t look like such a bad place to pour one out for your incarcerated homie.  Hopefully they dim the lights at night.  Afterall, this is fake prison and no one looks good with all that overhead action happening.

If you’re a Lil Wayne fan who also happens to find herself looking for a youth hostel in Ljubljana, Slovenia, well then, look no further than Hostel Celica.  This former military prison has 20 rooms to choose from and guests can stay up to 20 nights.  I really want to call the one with the twirly thing on the ceiling, but the soft lighting in room #1 is where I could probably feel most at one with my teeny tiny Wayne.

If you don’t have much time for travel this season but still want a taste of the prison life, you could always stock up your kitchen with the Sing Sing Tray by David Weeks.  An exact replica of the (oh, ah) trays used in New York’s most notorious prison.

And just to authenticate the experience, you could gaze at these photos of prisoner’s last meals by James Reynolds while eating off your tray.  Good lord, at this point you’re practically carrying Lil Wayne’s baby you’re so connected.

I’m telling you, everyone is trying to find their own way to relate to the soon to be locked up Wayne.  Even Calvin Klein debuted his spring line in a defunct Singapore prison.

Let’s just hope that CK had the good sense to tattoo some tear drops on his models faces lest he run the risk of showing poor form.

So, what do you say?  How will you be managing the tragedy of Lil Wayne’s prison sentence?

I really wish this weekend were some sort of long weekend.  I know there must be a president or poet laureate with a birthday right around now.  Let’s celebrate him for crying out loud!

Well, since it’s only a 2 day weekend but I really want to get away, I should probably try to make this as efficient as possible.  Maybe my plane could also double as my hotel?  Yes, that should do the trick

This plane used to seat 120 people, now it’s been retrofitted with a jacuzzi, 3 flat-screen tvs, a 24 hour hostess (hmmm…), a king sized bed and a Blu-Ray player

I’m pretty sure these are no longer air-borne, but it would be awesome if they were.

I’m sure someone out there has a bath / flying fantasy that this is really doing it for.

And there’s that king sized bed I was telling you about.  This is really the only part that seams a little creepy to me.  What happens at night?  Do you seal up that exit door so you’re just locked in the air-tight tube?  I don’t know about this part.

Although playing make-believe-fighter-pilot does sound pretty awesome.

That’s all for today, dudes, you go have yourselves a mighty fine weekend

I really need to clean my house, but instead I’m busy trolling the new Lonny, and bam! Kelly Wearstler’s overhaul of the Avalon Hotel is featured. I have to have to share:

Who’s ready to go on vacation with me?

Good morning, Monday! Thankfully I am ignoring your lame ass by vacationing with my good buddy Shohreh, who’s down from the Big D to show Austin who’s boss. Should I hang my head in shame and apologize to all you fine readers out there, feeling more than a wee twinge of guilt because I know you’re busy rubbing the sleep from your eyes while typing away on coffee stained keyboards, or should we all go on a vacation together? I think I know the answer to that “question,” so let’s get going on our fantastic voyage. Next stop: Milan. Who’s with me?

The five star Boscolo Excedra Hotel, should meet our needs, right? It’s just a humble little establishment of 154 rooms, but I think we can make do.

Ok, so the Boscolo’s custom made Meritalia furniture, 4,000 led lights, and Gio Ponti-esque design, make a drag queen look demure, but since we’re hoofing it all the way to Milan, I figured we should go for broke.

Silly me, did I neglect to tell you about the ginormous harlequin sculpture in the middle of the hotel? Well, it is easy to overlook, but I know how much you love a good carnival, so I thought I should mention it.

So here’s the plan: after we check in, we head up to our rooms to check out the accomodations.

It looks flea free — I think we can make do.

Then we head to the spa to unwind after our long trip. I say Marco! you say Polo! Whatever, you can’t hide for long with all those mirrors keeping tabs.

Oh look, there’s a champagne bar beside the pool… tank up, ladies (and gents), it’s going to be a long night. Be sure to check your reflection in the Tom Dixon pendants for cute hair and lipgloss on your way out.

Downstairs we’ll dine on Italian delicacies… and more booze.

Wheeeeeeeee, riding the merry go round is fun! Wait? That’s not a ride? I could have sworn it was moving.

I suppose we could retire to our rooms to sleep off the booze, but let’s not kid ourselves — sleeping is for old people.

The night is young, and who knows what it will bring? No, really… what will it bring? Apparently the Boscolo urges you to leave with a lasting souvenir of your stay.

It’s ok. I won’t judge.

(via Yatzer)

Hidey Ho everyone and welcome back to me!!  Thanks so much to Erin, Chromie, AB, and Pillow Mint for holding down the fort while I was gone.  You guys rock my soul!  It has been a lovely 2 week blog vacay, part of which I spent on actual vacay:  The hubby (and Jeff and Diana) and I cruised down to Mexico for 5 days at a big, Disney-fied all-inclusive resort just south of Playa Del Carmen.  Our hotel was lovely.  And Big.  And filled with yummy food, but it wasn’t really exciting enough design-wise to share with you.  

We did manage to pry ourselves away from the beach and free cocktails long enough to pop our heads into town to check out the 2 dreamy hotels we did not stay at.  (Some of you may remember that I was waxing and waning on all inclusive vs. boutique hotel)  Here are some shots of the pads we declined.

The entry to the Hotel Basico.  Just off of the tourist trap that is 5th street, the Basico is a sight for sore eyes after declining offers to have my hair braided for $10.  I’ve drooled over the Basico website several times and was anxious to see the hotel in person.  

The pictures from Basico site promise a shmorgusboard of fresh fruit and make-your-own cocktails.

The roof-top space has since culled the wheat from the chaff and simplified the offerings to the bare essentials:  booze.  The addition of a mirror delights me, as does the adorable bartender and his yummy, yummy, expensive cucumber martinis.

What the website has not shown me is this lovely lounge area, fitted with hand-made wood and rope seats and mirrored pots. Sorry for the craptastic photos, I was filled with sugary booze and veggies and high on:

the handmade seat you can see in the left side of this picture.  Welded steal frame powder coated white and topped with wooden slats and a cushion.  It was handmade without being crafty.  Matt and I made mental blue prints and hope to duplicate the beauty for our back porch.  That is, once we finally do the back porch.   

I’m glad we didn’t stay in this hotel.  Why?  See those 2 tubs at the top of the picture?  That’s the only pool offered at the Basico.  Here’s the shot the pros offer:

When I saw this online, lovely as it was, it was a deal-breaker.  I need to swim around like a fish, and then swim to a swim-up bar.  As you can see, that is not happening here.  (The pools at our hotel rivaled the ocean in size, btw)

The best part about the Basico (aside from the cucumber martini) was the way the designers repurposed used materials.  This rocker was wrapped in, what used to be, intertube rubber.  Awesome, yes?

But look closesly, the bestest bestest thing was the floor.  Oh, I curse myself for not getting a better picture!  The entryway flooring was made from used tire tread.  The tires were cut and laid side-by-side just as you would hardwood.  The result (not really shown here at all) was spectacular.  All 4 of us swooned.

After a couple of drinks at the Basico, we walked 2 blocks over to the Deseo, the other hotel on my radar.  The website promised me this:

And here’s what I saw:

Ok, actually, it looked a lot like the first photo, I just didn’t get one from that angle.  Or one that wasn’t blurry.  That’s the back of Diana’s head in the red.  Hi Diana!  Drinks here were good, but not as good as the Basico, btw.

The pool at the Deseo is much bigger than the Basico, but there is no ocean view when sitting poolside, instead you are left to consider “away from you” over and over and over again.

My traveling buddies all preferred this space, while I strongly disagreed:  Basico was better, hands down.  Of course, they may have been swayed by this:

Vintage Mexian Wrestling Vampire movies projected on the hotel after dark.  It certainly does help to tip the scales.

So, there you go, my tour of Playa del Carmen.  Sorry the pictures were junk, but, well, you see, for a few short days I didn’t obsess about design, instead, I did this:

In these tough economic times, who’s got the money to travel? Plane tickets, cab fare, food, and hotel accommodations, will have you hemorrhaging cash faster than your dizzy and already depleted pocketbook can handle. Diagnosis: dead on arrival. But what if you could stay somewhere for free? Now, I know what you’re thinking: who wants to stay on smelly Aunt Francis’ pull out couch, the one with the stabby mattress and those pilled up sheets topped by questionable pillows that probably haven’t been replaced since 1987? Well, when in Stockholm (for the Nobel Prize ceremonies, of course), do as the Swedes do and stay at the Creators Inn:

What’s that? How very refreshingly anti capitalist and not in the least money grubbing of them to offer such nice accommodations for free? Well, there is a catch — you have to be cool enough to get in.

Creators Inn is a conceptual hotel within a hotel presented by Swedish clothing brand Elvine that offers free short term accommodations to people in creative pursuits. You have to apply, and unfortunately they state that clubbing is not a creative pursuit. Facists.

But stylish facists, no?

The Creators Inn is a constantly evolving free room, moving from location to location, and open for a short time only. This one was located inside the Scandic Malmen hotel, which is not too shabby itself:

But sadly, the Scandic is very unfree. So I’ll be keeping an eye on the Creators Inn blogsite for new openings, just in case I think baby Ike Mama needs to brave a bazillion hour plane ride to see Scandi design in situ. I’ll also have to get more creative and stuff, so I can be cool enough to get in.

Oh, and sorry to whip up your expectations for an awesome post by AB Chao today, but tune in tomorrow to see her shine. Here at DC we like to do a switcheraroo every now and then, just to keep you peeps on your toes.