Simplicity

Hello! This hotel is gorgeous!

This past holiday weekend, Mike and I slept in 4 different places in 4 days. Our compensation for night # 3..... was night #4. Poor Mike, on night # 3, fixing the running toilet in the Super 8 with a plastic bag over his hand because he was soooo heebed out! Thankfully, the Hilton was just as lovely as the Super 8 was skanky. With the running toilet, the brillo pad of a blanket and the 9000 slamming doors in the hallway a distant memory....we enjoyed every corner of well appointed and comfortable hotel.
I am usually not a fan of 'theme' decorating...but being located directly across the street from Lambert Airport, a "TWA through the years" theme seemed apropos.


On each floor of guest rooms, there are framed photos of celebrities (mostly 40s and 50s) deplaning. I found Kim Kardashian's inspiration....although I think Maria Callas does it better!



The 'aeronautical' theme was carried throughout,although subtly in some cases, as in these lights over the lobby bar. ( And not so subtly, as in the photos of the 'ugly' side of Lambert Airport in our suite.)

Speaking of lighting, this Hilton was all about it. Most of the decor just whispered, whereas the lighting shouted from the rooftops "Look at me, I'm fabulous!"

Here in the main lobby.... (giant drum shades and blue neon)

In the ballroom lobby.... (mercury glass)

near the elevators ( stacked ball chandelier)


and in the wine bar (repetition on wood panels).
The lighting everywhere was great, even in the bathrooms and weight room.

The other predominant 'theme' in the lobby of this hotel was the use of white as an accent.
These ceramic sculptural plates behind the check in desk were inspiring yet soothing. White makes everything seem pure and clean ( so needed after night # 3!).

White flowers on a elliptical, marble topped and quite masculine looking table. I believe these are Amaryllis, a beautiful winter bloom.


I loved these gigantic white urns, which were in several places in the hotel. Here they create a screen between the Lobby and the Restaurant.

Small touches on an end table....if they weren't glued down....

Most of the art was vintage TWA propaganda, however there were a few abstract paintings that I loved, although mainly in hidden places.
In a back hallway to the ballrooms...
...entrance to the women's restroom! I love how this painting picked up the chunkiness of the pattern in the carpet.

This hotel was very 'me' on many levels with the mix of silver and gold, the white accents, the Venetian glass mirrors, the abstract art and vintage travel posters....I wish I would have designed it.
Please, somebody! Give me a hotel to design!

I'm mildly obsessed with.....great lighting

When I was a student in design school, my least favorite class was lighting design. Mind you, this was the late eighties and it was all about the cans.....however I find myself more and more often wishing I had paid more attention, because for me now, it's all about that ONE GREAT FIXTURE. I even wish I could BE a lighting designer! In restaurants, hotel lobbies, casinos...look around. It's all about the lighting. Without it, well to be dorky...we'd be in the dark. The lighting can make or break the room. Even the most simple room becomes a stunner when it's all about the light, as in these 3 photos. Look at the rest of the room. Pretty plain and simple.





This is my in my sun room, it's sculpture when not lit and a total conversation piece when the lights are on. Flower shaped shadows are thrown around the room when it's lit! I purchased it for 54.00 at Ikea ( yep, that's right....54.00!!!)



.....and at night!


I am personally drawn to super contemporary lighting, but I also like the vintage look. I love the way this fixture has been personalized with a strand of beads and a crystal beaded bulb cover.



In my breakfast nook, I took an old brass chandalier that a client discarded. Added some extra crystals and beads, and then spray painted the whole thing with my favorite Farm Implement Yellow paint! I'm thinking about painting some black details on the shades, but I'm torn about it.


I am on the hunt for a great light fixture for over the dining room table. My dining room is my most difficult child...It's more of a passage way than a room and it lacks any architectural feature at all. I know that the right light will bring this room to life. Stay tuned!

file under: Why didn't I think of that?

I am so exhausted from this weekend. We got so much accomplished, but sleeping wasn't one of those things. My brain is fried so tonight I am offering something kind of fun: repurposed stuff from the paint store. Have a great week everyone!