Exotic Hotel Therapy Is Good for the Designer's Soul

(Hotel Amiris, Marrakesh, Morocco)Janet Ramin - One of my main thrills in traveling abroad is the hotel experience. Sure, tasting new cuisines and meeting the natives is always exciting but I look forward to kicking off my dusty shoes and just relaxing at my lodgings too. First, there’s the small but important detail – the room is already clean and neat – you don’t have to deal with personal messes. Then there are the amenities that you may not have in your own home – the powerful jet spray in the shower or the spa toiletries on that dual sink marble vanity. And of course, there’s that menu near your phone – cocktails and midnight snacks ready to be ordered in a moment’s notice. 

Besides service amenities, you have the lifestyle aspect. You may live in a cramped city apartment but for a few days or so, you can experience life in a lakeside rustic cabin or a petite villa by the sea. Then there are the grand old palaces that some enterprising soul converted into hotel rooms – borrowed luxury to be remembered for a lifetime. I personally look forward to checking out the hotel designs, especially those in foreign countries.

(Courtyard, Riad Amiris, Marrakesh)My first stop on my trip was behind the walled medina of Marrakesh. I opted to stay at a traditional riad, instead of a regular hotel. Riads are converted courtyard palaces – the word “ryad” comes from the Arabic word for garden. These traditional Arabic homes featured small windows on its exterior – to keep the hot sun out – and inner courtyards to maintain Islamic beliefs of privacy. 

Above are two photos of the Riad Amiris in Marrakesh. The courtyard has an opening above – with a retractable canopy - to let the light in but still allow for privacy for its guests. The walls and doorways are decorated with traditional Moorish carvings of intricate geometric designs. The low tables are also set with the traditional tea glasses and silver, ready to serve mint or verveine tea - a verbena-infused tea. 

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Celebrating My 26 Years in the United States

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - It's difficult to believe that I've been in the United States, from my native South Africa, for 26 years now. I think the coming year will be when I finally become a U.S. citizen (well, to be precise, I'll be claiming dual citizenship). To celebrate, I'd like to do some typical, All-American type experiences - and I just heard about the Hiltons of Branson and their special package deals. Lots of music, good food, family activities, and beautiful scenery. Just the ticket.

Here's a scoop for all Design2Share readers: you and your family can make it a long summer weekend at Branson with the Branson Best Value Vacation Package, which gives you the third night free. This package includes deluxe accommodations at Hiltons of Branson Convention Center. 

Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing Deal includes

• Deluxe accommodations at the Hilton Branson Convention Center
• Two adult and two children’s tickets to the Legends of Kung Fu show at the White House Theater
• Two adult and two children’s two-day passes to Silver Dollar City
• $25 gift card for shopping
• $25 food credit for Level 2 Steakhouse 
• On top of all that your third night is FREE

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Update on August 2, 2011 by Design2Share

Super King Size Leather Beds: We just found a great collection of sleek leather bed designs. They add sophistication, whether your bedroom decor is traditional or modern. 

Featured Project: DIY Painted Headboard

Now is the perfect time to think about freshening up your interior space. With a splash of color here and a new piece of furniture there, it's easy to redecorate. Here's a quick, budget-conscious DIY design idea to help get you started.

Paint Your Own Headboard

Chances are if you if you purchased your bed frame as part of a bedroom set, the headboard is already included. If you don't want to put forth the extra cash, especially after paying for a pricey mattress, no problem! Painted headboards are a great way to add a pop of color to your bedroom.

Step 1: Measure the width of the head of your bed and mark it with blue painter's tape from floor to ceiling. Now, choose your color based on your desired color scheme. You obviously don't want it to be the same shade as your walls, but it should complement that color.

Step 2: Once you have your color, paint the wall, staying within the blue painters tape. Once the paint dries, if you choose to do so, you can detail with paint or with some removable wall decals from a company like Blik. For as little as $40, Blik makes easily removable wall decals in fun shapes like bookshelves, chandeliers, birds, etc. If this sounds like too much work, don't worry and leave your wall a solid color.

Step 3: Simply position your bed up against the painted wall, prop up some decorative Euro pillows in coordinating colors and patterns, and you have yourself a headboard. You might want to take this opportunity to invest in a new comforter or duvet in fun, light, spring colors. You'd be surprised at what a little bit of paint and some new bedding can do for your space!

Contemporary vanities and more at Decor Planet for your bathroom needs.

Two Weddings: Minneapolis and Bali

 Jay Johnson - As luck would have it, when good news came to my family recently, it came in pairs. Both my daughter Meredith and my son Kyle were married (unplanned) the same week! My daughter married her partner Chriss on July 9th in a lovely Minneapolis, Minnesota commitment ceremony (see photo above; Chriss on the left and Mer on the right and below) and then they tied the knot officially in Vancouver, Canada in a civil ceremony.

But our son Kyle flew in from Bali, Indonesia two days before the wedding and announced that he and his Balinese girlfriend Meita had gotten married in a civil ceremony on July 4th (see next photo, below); they'll be married in a short religious ceremony in August and then the families will get together for an expanded Hindu ceremony, likely in Spring 2012.

Irwin and I can't wait to join with Meita (below) and her family in celebrating yet another wonderful wedding. I've run out of children and weddings, but now it's grandchildren and a trip to beautiful Bali to look forward to! In this Roger Uzun video, there are some beautiful highlights of what's in store on the magical island.

 

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Update on July 21, 2011 by Design2Share

Super King Size Leather Beds: We just found a great collection of sleek leather bed designs. They add sophistication, whether your bedroom decor is traditional or modern. 

Featured Project: DIY Painted Headboard

Now is the perfect time to think about freshening up your interior space. With a splash of color here and a new piece of furniture there, it's easy to redecorate. Here's a quick, budget-conscious DIY design idea to help get you started.

Paint Your Own Headboard

Chances are if you if you purchased your bed frame as part of a bedroom set, the headboard is already included. If you don't want to put forth the extra cash, especially after paying for a pricey mattress, no problem! Painted headboards are a great way to add a pop of color to your bedroom.

Step 1: Measure the width of the head of your bed and mark it with blue painter's tape from floor to ceiling. Now, choose your color based on your desired color scheme. You obviously don't want it to be the same shade as your walls, but it should complement that color.

Step 2: Once you have your color, paint the wall, staying within the blue painters tape. Once the paint dries, if you choose to do so, you can detail with paint or with some removable wall decals from a company like Blik. For as little as $40, Blik makes easily removable wall decals in fun shapes like bookshelves, chandeliers, birds, etc. If this sounds like too much work, don't worry and leave your wall a solid color.

Step 3: Simply position your bed up against the painted wall, prop up some decorative Euro pillows in coordinating colors and patterns, and you have yourself a headboard. You might want to take this opportunity to invest in a new comforter or duvet in fun, light, spring colors. You'd be surprised at what a little bit of paint and some new bedding can do for your space!

Contemporary vanities and more at Decor Planet for your bathroom needs.