---After Adornment---

The Color Of Love

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day is upon us.....and nothing says Valentines like red and pink.....

......and of course, cards, candy, and flowers :)

Hope everyone is spending the day with the one you love.....or doing what you love!
Happy Valentines.

Images: Living Etc., Unknown, Unknown, Apartment Therapy, House and Home, Alessandra Branca, Dylan Thomas for British Vogue, Unknown, Unknown

Monday Mind Dump

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

I promise this will not be a blog full of just Monday Mind Dump posts. This has been a busy past couple of weeks and one must do what they gotta do. Back on track this week both at home and at work, and boy does that feel good. Ready to keep on keepin on.....

#1 On Saturday I had the first of two wardrobe consultations. I had a great time and learned all about my proportions and how to work them in different ways. I went to visit Ann Mashburn at her store and to say she was wonderful would be an understatement. Working with her one on one was so great. I also spent way too much money.....but wisely I might add. The store is impeccable and I wanted to walk away with one of everything!

#2 Is everyone ready for Valentines Day tomorrow? We don't really go all out but did have an amazing steak dinner last night and a great bottle of Amerone. I also have a surprise for him to be delivered to his office tomorrow (don't worry he doesn't read the blog). I'm okay with just dinner. I am spoiled with the fact my husband is a great cook......and he makes the best steak in town!

#3 We have been doing some major clearing out at home the past couple of weeks. Many trips to Goodwill have occurred and this weekend we piled up even more. It feels so good to clean out.....now time to organize what we have left.

#4 Watched 50/50 this weekend......it's good so I definitely recommend seeing it!

#5 I am totally loving this end table Sherry posted about from the Atlanta Mart. This would be a great DIY....If I did DIY that is.

#6 We finally are seeing a bit of winter here in Atlanta. We had snow flurries on Saturday and they are calling for more this week! I am happy with whatever we can get....and glad I get to finally wear my sweaters this week.

As promised, more design posts are on the way this week. I hope everyone has a great week, and if you have temps like us here in Atlanta stay warm.

Images: Heather Clawson-Habitually Chic, Me, Real Simple, 50/50, Sherry Hart, Tunderliget

Monday Mind Dump

2012-02-06T23:13:00.000-05:00

#1 Time Management is just not my thing lately. Sorry to have dropped off. Travel got the best of me and I just didn't prepare for how busy we were. I did have a great time though and saw some great new places and hotels

#2 I am loving my forced forsythia blooms on our mantle. They have already lasted a little over two weeks and don't look anywhere near ending soon. A little bit of spring early....except that flowers are starting to bloom outside here in Atlanta too. What is up with that!

#3 Feral cats have been fighting and getting busy in the woods behind our complex all week....we haven't gotten good sleep in what feels like months. I have called to see what we can do with some capture/spay-neuter/release...but they say I would have to do it......see #1. Just can't right now.

Okay...so they don't quite look like this.....but cats are cute no matter what

#4 Had my first In-N-Out burger last week in LA. The burger was good, but the fries not so much. Still have to say I'm a Five Guys fan.

#5 We have been looking for coffee tables for the living room. I think this one might be the winner. It spins!...and doesn't give Wallace the wonder pup a place to hide :)

A week of some catch up ahead....I hope all goes smoothly and nothing else is added to the fire. All done one step at a time. I hope everyone has a great week!

See Ya.....

Images: Me, Me, Google, Me, Arhaus Furniture....p.s. using instagram and its fun

Monday Mind Dump

2012-01-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

This week will be light around here at After Adornment. I am traveling and have limited access to a computer (compared to a normal day anyway). It should be a busy week ahead but I love to travel so it should be fun.

#1 Off to Seattle and SoCal this week. Lots to see and do.

not me...but I do have a pink suitcase :)

#2 I had a great day yesterday (Sunday) watching my sister and cousin scuba dive at the Ga Aquarium. It was so cool to see here in the big tank with the sharks and fishes! Yeah, that's right...sharks!! And to top it all off we got a great behind the scenes tour as well.

me on the outside...the two of them in the water

Here's to a great week!

Images: Skontent, Elaine Daly

Art Addiction {Kate Boyce}

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

On a recent art hunt through Etsy I came across the fabulous pieces of Kate Boyce.

Crimsworth Dean Beck

I was instantly drawn to her linear style and colorful cityscapes.

The River Irwell, Manchester UK

Autumn Sunset, Crimsworth

Portland Street, Manchester UK

Slow Lane 4, Midgley

Snows Up Over Old Town

The colors make me happy and I'm thinking I need one of these for my living room gallery wall. Now, the issue is which one??!

____________________

Hope everyone has some great plans for the weekend. Nothing much going on here. I actually have plans to get some pantry organization done. I went to Container Store the other day and spent way too much money on some things that will help us find our food better. It's bad news when I go in there. Like Target, I can't get out for under $100. Small price to pay for an organized life huh.

Happy Weekend!

Our House: Living Room Progress

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

The living room is another spot that we did a quick spiff up before our Christmas party in December. We already pretty much had everything shown, it just needed to be placed and put up.

The one thing I have kept in mind for this townhouse is that I wanted to keep it light and bright. So, I have used lots of white and punched with colorful art and accessories. It's a great departure from our last house that just felt dark. Here is what that house looked like....

I love the bright feel of the new place and have plans for even more color through some new pillows etc. I still don't have all the yellow I want throughout the room. We also have a chair to get for my husband that goes on the other side of the sofa (not in the picture). That is next on our list as well as a new coffee table. The Ikea lack tables are a temp set up because we were tired of not having anything to put a drink on...or to eat dinner off of for that matter.

I also love the bookshelves! They really help fill up that wall as well as provide an additional architectural feature to the space. The accessories on them change all the time and will most likely change again (probably as you are reading this). Can anyone set up shelves and keep them that way? I just can't keep my hands off and always rearrange things.

I'll also get some pics of the opposite side with the TV. I'm still adding art to that wall as well as have to get a pot for my new find. That should come soon and then I can get pictures of the rest, and I'm still in the process of learning my camera as well.

Week almost over! Hope everyone is having a great one.

P.S. I spent forever taking these two pictures while learning some things on my camera...like pulling in light. It has been such a dismal grey week here in Atlanta so I had to do some crazy things to even get them this light. I learned so much just by setting up on a tripod and taking the same picture 100 (or so) times while changing the settings. Wallace (the pup) was even running around playing with his ball. He didn't understand what I was doing and kept pausing to look at me with his head tilted to the side. After awhile he got tired and just laid there and looked at me....haha. I actually got him in the last shot with that cute face.

Color Theory

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Color theory was one of my favorite classes in design school. I loved how colors would change as you used them in relation to other colors. Depending on how they were used it would create different feelings in a space.

Here are some of the basic (and not so basic) color schemes and examples of how they are used in spaces:

Analogous

Complementary

Split Complementary

Triadic

Rectangle

Square

I also remember having to as a class put together a Munsell color tree as one of our assignments for color theory. I had to do a green leaf. It was a beast of an assignment and I remember to this day how many paint chips I had to do to get enough to form my one leaf. I still have it though. Anyone else have to do this in school?

Images: Via Apartment Therapy, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine, Unknown, Windsor Smith, Studio ten 25, Via Apartment Therapy

Monday Mind Dump

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

So I was thinking that I would start a new feature on Monday's where I just did a mind dump here on the blog. I always have so many little tidbits that I have in my head but aren't enough for a full post. Here I can compile them all together so I can get them out of my head and keep track of them.

#1 This wreath just kills me. I need one....but not sure I would hang it on the door.

Via interior design musings

#2 I think I might give this a go for our dining room rug. The puppy has wreaked havoc on it and if I can't get the stains out this would be my next step to save it. Not to mention add a great element to the dining room!

Pudel-Design via Pinterest

#3 We finally got our Christmas decorations down this weekend. I know, kinda lame....but we couldn't get to the storage boxes because of the flood and everything sitting in the garage. We feel so out of place and just want to get things back to the way they were.....hopefully soon. Christmas coming down is one step closer.

#4 I love this idea of corralling everything on a nightstand on a tray. I'm thinking this would look great on my husbands side of the bed and keep things looking neat.....oh, and I love that headboard....and lamp.

Scott Meacham Wood via Eclectic Revisited

#5 I have a trip coming up to Seattle and Southern CA. I'm excited cause I have never been to any of these places. It will be for work but it's always fun to see someplace new!

San Diego

Seattle

#6 I got lost in a blog worm hole this past week. I checked out the lists of some blogs that I frequent and found tons of new blogs to check out. I can't wait to dive in. Anyone have any suggestions that I shouldn't miss? Better yet, comment with your blog address so I can check it out!

Busy week ahead. Hope everyone has a great one!

Just a Touch....

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

So I know everyone has jumped on the bandwagon....

But how can you not! It's just too fun.......Neon Brights!

Have a great weekend :)

Images: Via Pinterest

Our House: Entry Progress

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago I started thinking of ways to help get my husband and I in and out of our house in an organized way. I posted some inspiration and developed a mental plan on what I needed to do. It's a tiny space so I always knew I didn't want or even need that much down there. Keeping things simple and neat would help us get in and out yet still give people a sense of arrival when they came over.

View from the top....tiny entry

We went with a wall mounted shelf since the space is so small. Initially I was thinking a slim streamlined shelf but when I saw this shelf with drawers at Ikea I jumped on it. It's the perfect amount of storage for the dog leash and other small misc items that we want to keep there for easy access.

I found the print on Etsy through seller Siiso (Yangyang Pan). It's the perfect shot of color for the space and brings in the yellow that is going to be throughout the house. I ended up doing a custom order so I could get a larger print and Yangyang could not have been more helpful. I used a simple white Ikea frame but had a custom double matt cut to fit the piece....and add a touch of turquoise. Keys are kept in the wood bowl so that we always know where they are.

The turquoise rug is from crate and barrel and I think it really helps ground the space with all of the white. I had plans for a striped rug but decided that the solid darker color would mask the dirt brought in a bit longer than a stripe with white in it. I'm glad I went with the turquoise.....it's a nice cheerful color to come home to. The basket under the console is used for shoes. They always seem to accumulate down there even with just two people and it's great to have a pair handy when we need to let the pup out.

At the top of the stairs you can see the other bookcase (and my vacuum) that we plan on using for everything else. I hope to set up a system for in and out mail etc to keep too much junk from coming much farther into the house. So far I have baskets in place but we absolutely suck at actually using them...user error so far on the system. Hopefully we can get with the program soon. I'll post more on that when I have that set up and my new mirror hung!

Progress and almost done. It's such a hard space to photograph as well and hopefully when I learn my camera more I can get some better photos where I can manipulate the light.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! It's been a short one for me but busy non the less. I'm ready for the weekend. You?

Images: Me

Symmetry vs. Asymmetry

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

When I meet with new prospective clients or even just discuss design with friends I always try to determine whether they prefer symmetrical or asymmetrical design.

Most of the time you can find out just by looking at their home, or by showing picture examples and asking them to choose preferences. Most people will have preferences towards one or the other.

Symmetry

Asymmetry

But, then there are always some who prefer a mix. Symmetry with something to throw things off.

How about you? Do you prefer one or the other? Or do you like a good mix?

Images: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Thornton Designs, Unknown, Sarah Richardson, Elle Decor, Unknown, Country Living

House Update

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ages ago (or what seems like it) I posted a Master List of items that needed to be completed for our house. It's for the whole house and is long, but I am a list maker so having something constant that I can work from helps me a lot....even if it gets really long. I also love to cross things off, even though that rarely happens (until now).

After I posted that list I did absolutely nothing and spent months just thinking about what I was going to do. We continued to live in our place looking like we had just moved in.

Then, fast forward to December and we had friends asking us if we were going to have our annual Christmas party. Initially we had decided not to since the space was smaller, the parking was difficult, our place looked like we had just moved in.....yada yada yada. But, when people kept asking we just decided to go ahead and have it. (We had a blast by the way)

What! Ahhhhh!

So, in a matter of two weeks time my husband and I tackled a few items on the list that were easy and that would make the biggest impact.....and make it look like we didn't just move in.

THE MASTER LIST:

Entry
- ~~buy and hang shelf~~
-~~find art/mirror~~ – ~~frame and hang~~

- Find slim coat rack

- ~~basket for shoes~~

Living Room/Kitchen
- ~~gallery wall (find and hang)~~
- ~~buy bookshelves for behind sofa~~
- find coffee table
- buy "the chair" for hubby
- find and buy throw pillows
- ~~drapery - find fabric~~
- find ~~pair of~~ small chair
- ~~get cabinet shelves for kitchen storage~~

- hang new mirror over entry shelves

- buy lamp for entry shelves

- get plant and pot for corner

- recover armless chair seat cushion – find fabric

Dining Room
- buy and hang chandelier
- ~~finish painting console!!!!~~
- find lamps
- ~~hang art~~ ~~and mirrors~~
- ~~drapery - find fabric~~

- switch out chest for armoire in guest bedroom

- find pedestal for between windows

- get plant and pot for pedestal

Powder Bath
- ~~paint???~~
- ~~find new mirror~~
- ~~hang small shelf~~
- ~~find art~~

Master Bedroom
- ~~drapery -buy fabric~~

- have drapes made and hung
- buy bed
- find nightstand for me
- ~~find lamp for dresser~~
- hang art
- ~~paint my dresser~~

- have accent pillow made for bed

- find small bench for foot of bed

Guest Bedroom
- paint bed? find new? (headboard only)
- find and hang art
- drapery - find fabric
- buy reading light
- find nightstand and lamp
- buy shower curtain

- switch out armoire for chest in dining room

Office
- buy bookshelves
- diy pin-up board
- paint desk
- drapery - ~~buy more fabric~~
- buy frames and hang art
- buy more shelving for closet

- find lamp for desk

- find lamp for dresser

- Paint and redo dresser???

We pretty much did everything that has been crossed off so far. I have also added some new items in RED where I made changes to the plan, or grayed and crossed out if I felt maybe it wasn't needed anymore or might not be worth the effort (my lists are ever evolving). A lot of these were quick fixes and just gave the place a more lived in look. We are in a rental so I have never had plans to go all out in this place. I am saving all of that energy for our home when we buy some day soon. I do however feel that you should put some effort into your place....even if it is just a rental. You do live there after all!

I plan to have some actual pictures soon of some of what we have done....progress photos if you will. And, as you may know, the office is on the top of the list for spaces to get some work done. We need to get the shelving in there first and then get things organized. Then comes the pretty.

Lots to do, but like I said before....this is the year to do it.

Art Over The Bed

2012-01-10T07:00:00.002-05:00

Art on the bed wall has always been a tricky concept for me. I have never been a fan of hanging art above the headboard but recently I have seen many images that made me rethink my decision.

See, much of my hesitancy stems from hotel rooms. A single piece hung over a wall mounted headboard. Blah art, blah concept, and just a way to get something on the wall. I conjure up images of a too tall headboard with art just stuffed above it. Blech. But even in hotels times have changed and if art is hung over the headboard it is being done well.

This has also got me thinking about possibly hanging something over our headboard in the Master. I still am on the fence and will see about the final composition of the headboard nightstands etc. I think it's important to take the headboard shape into consideration and also the height with the height of the ceiling.

With all the great examples I have seen, I can definitely say my opinion has been changed on this.

What about you? Do you have art hanging over your bed?

Images: Ann Rue Interiors, Lonny Magazine, A Country Farmhouse, Cary Bernstein Architects, Phoebe Howard

Our House: Office

2012-01-06T20:17:00.000-05:00

So this has been an interesting week for us at Chez Pierce. The other night I can home from work to find that a pipe had burst upstairs and water was flooding through our living room and into the downstairs office.

Not Our House

Thankfully there was no real damage to the living room furniture as most of what we have is on legs and so the 1" of water didn't reach any upholstery. And commercial dehumidifiers are in place to remove any water that hit the bottom of the wood legs. Whew. I do however have a sisal rug that is being dried as I type this but will need to be cleaned. Anyone have any tips, do's and don'ts for cleaning sisal rugs? I plan to use a professional but want to know what I am in for.

The office however did not have a similar fate. At this point lets just say the crews have been in and stripped the room down to the concrete and studs. My husband and I are also sorting through wet piles of papers, books, and other misc office items. It's a mess. All of the water traveled down the wall as well as through the vents in the living room floor directly above.

I unfortunately had stuff everywhere in the office as I was beginning to organize down there and get the room in shape. I was at the point where I had things divided into piles all over the place. Organization has been fast tracked now, and we are really being ruthless as to what stays and goes (primarily because what stays will have to be dried out and flattened). That also means this project has been put at the top of this list!

I have long thought of ways to get my office looking great and being organized not only for personal business projects but also for the paperwork and things that come with life in general. Below is an inspiration board for how I want the space to look. Bright and inviting....

I plan to get this space set up in the next month or so (depending on the construction schedule for the walls and ceiling). I also will be doing some major research on organizational solutions that will keep things safe and dry. I had lots of storage boxes but once the water hit they were soaked through. I even had water get inside plastic bins with tops! Thankfully we had a water tight and fireproof box for our most important papers, but lesson learned on some things and I will be moving forward with an "anything can happen" mindset. Anyone have any great products they use?

Otherwise, All is well. We are all fine and will survive. I hope everyone has had a great week and some fun plans ahead for the weekend!

See you next week!
Lissa

I'd Stay Here: Public Chicago

2012-01-04T07:00:00.003-05:00

Ian Schrager is at it again with a fabulous boutique hotel......and this time, it's a brand. Brand meaning...expect more locations in the future.

Schrager is known for amazing boutique designs under the Morgans Hotel Group with such hotels as the Hudson, Mondrian Los Angeles, Clift, and the Delano...just to name a few.

Now, branching out on his own, he has formed the new brand and opened the first outpost in Chicago. Public is a new concept that Schrager calls boutique simplicity.

Entry

The simplicity reads as if you were in your own home. Simple comfort in a luxurious setting. Simple luxury where you can relax and pretentious is a dirty word.

Lobby

Living Room

Library

As part of the brands core values, the restaurant spaces are relaxed. A nice place to hang out, have drinks, even a leisurely meal. Schrager states that service is the center of the guest experience at Public. Service that goes above and beyond yet still is comfortable and casual. Where better to feel this than at one of the restaurants and bars. Social and carefree.

Pump Room Bar

Pump Room

Library & Coffee Bar

Even the rooms are simple and serene. Clean and crisp where nothing can clutter the mind visually. All the bells and whistles are there but one feels like they are not being shoved into the next big thing.

Guestroom

Suite

Bathroom

And if spending time in your room is not the plan all of the public areas are meant to feel comfortable and accessible. To mix and mingle, or even just sit quietly with your computer.

Library

Screening Room

Meeting Room

Rooftop

I'm going to pack my bags...see you there!

Images: Public Hotels

Just Do It!

2012-01-03T07:00:00.002-05:00

With the start of the new year many people put down their list of resolutions for the year ahead. A list of ways to better themselves or accomplishments that they will strive for.

Well, this year I am not making such a list. I only have one resolution this year, and that is to actually do it. By "it" I mean everything. Everything I say I will do, I will do.

That linen closet I am always saying I'm going to organize....will be organized. This blog that needs a new look.....will get a new look. My wardrobe and style that needs a revamp.....will be revamped! Too many things have been stated and never started. No longer will I let this continue.

For too long I have talked the talk. It's now time to walk the walk. I am the only one who has been holding myself back, and in 2012, I'm getting out of my way. So even though it's a pretty loaded resolution, just doing it will be the best thing I have ever done.

Stay tuned, lots to come!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

What a year 2011 has been (much better than 2010 if I do say so myself), and boy am I ready for a great 2012. Here's to all the great things that have been and the many great things to come.

Happy New Year! Now, let's begin......

Image: Pinterest via deborahvelasquez

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

2011-12-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

Christmas In NYC

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

We are off to spend some time in NYC this weekend and take in all the Christmas sights and cheer.....

I love New York but have never been during the Christmas season. I am looking forward to a great weekend!

Pictures to follow.......Merry Christmas!

Images: Wikipedia

Modern Cabin

2011-12-07T16:01:00.000-05:00

My husbands family has a cabin in the North Carolina mountains. It's the best place to disappear to and unwind. We try to drive up as often as possible.....but you know how it goes when you get busy.

As the weather starts to get colder and the snow starts to fall in the mountains it makes me want to escape there even more. Supposedly they are getting some snow now! I would love to be there instead of sitting in my cubicle.

Someday I would love to have a little A-frame cabin that we would add a modern twist too. Don't get me wrong, nothing is better than a rustic cabin in the woods with the traditional cabin look and feel......but don't you agree that streamlining the interior makes it all the more relaxing! Take a look......

I love the juxtaposition between the exposed wood and the clean lines of the furniture. Such a calm feeling space for a place where relaxation is on the agenda. Someday......

Images: Elle Decor, Elle Decor, Style At Home, Vogue Living, Carney Logan Burke Architects, Living Etc., Vogue Living

A View From Above

2011-12-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

I know everyone goes gaga over herringbone floors....especially wood.

Well, what do we think of the carpet version???

Unfortunately there is a catch (Boohoo). This is a new product from Interface FLOR which is the commercial carpet sister of FLOR tiles. This is from their hospitality line and is not available to the public. Darn. Maybe the residential side of FLOR will move in this direction in the near future. Here's hoping!

Image: Interface Hospitality

Getting Back On Track

2011-12-04T08:41:00.000-05:00

So, yes I know I have been gone for months. Even after I said I would be back. Bad, bad, Lissa.

Well, I'm actually back this time and ready to get things back on track.
I've been busy yes, but I have also been doing a lot of relaxing and just doing the normal everyday thing. More of the everyday than anything cool really. And I miss blogging!

We have been living life. I am getting settled into my new job and now feel comfortable with what I am doing...you know, new job integration. I have been futzing around the house looking at it but not doing anything about it (sad state of affairs). And, we added a new member to the family in the form of a furry beast.

Wallace

His name is Wallace and he has been taking up most of our time and attention, as he well should. He is a Norwich Terrier and has the most spunky personality. He definitely keeps us on our toes and has been a long awaited addition to our lives. Let's just say if anyone has questions about going through a breeder let me know....I spoke with lots of them :)

We have spent lots of time doing this.....gotta love the husband for taking pictures like this :)

So, other than that all is well. I just wanted to put up a post letting everyone know that I am still alive, and that if anyone is still reading I am back to post about design, inspiration, and what ever else I fancy. I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to getting back into the blog world and talking to all of you guys!

See Ya,
Lissa

Images: Ornamelle, me, me

Lost

2011-09-02T17:28:00.000-04:00

Sorry to drop off the face of the blog this past month. I got a little lost in my life. I have just been enjoying my time and didn't want to have really anything to do (like decide what I was going to post about). I took advantage of this time and caught up on reading, and just life in general.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful end of the summer/winter (depending on where you are)! I always look forward to the time when the seasons change. I figure another week or so and I'll be back to taking part in the wonderful world of blogging.

It's Labor Day weekend here and I am looking forward to that extra day of sleeping in and enjoying time at home. No plans this year...just laying low. Hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll be back soon.

Image: Kate Spade New York

Weekend Wishes 7.22.11

2011-07-22T06:00:00.002-04:00

This has been a great week and I got so much accomplished. I am also starting to feel more comfortable with what I am supposed to be doing at work. It's taken some time but I am starting to get the hang of it. I've had a great week, but I'm sure ready for the weekend......

Relaxing and catching up on reading

Hitting up the farmers market

A much needed pedicure

Spending time with Family

And getting my beauty sleep.....

Hope everyone has a great weekend....doing all the things you love!

I'd Stay Here: Soho Beach House

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

Since I am in the business of hotel design I have recently gotten some comments from friends and family about why I don't have anything on the blog about hotels. Duh! Why have I not done that yet? I am constantly looking at great hotels for ideas of my own, so I thought why not show you guys some as well. These are the hotels that get it right.

First up is Soho Beach House in Miami Beach.......

Lobby

What!!!! Loving this, and even loving this more in Miami. The fact that it's so NOT Miami makes it even better. I am a huge fan when design pushes the envelope. Especially when they break out of the box on a look that is typical for the area. Why not have rustic wood planks in Miami.

Spa Reception

Spa Changing Area

Spa Relaxing Room

Even the spa is a different world. Nice and homey. I am positive I could relax there!

Club Bar

Cecconi's Restaurant

Cecconi's Bar

Outdoor Seating

And all these amazing spaces to relax, eat, and have a cocktail. Great way to end a busy day running around Miami.

Guestroom

Guest Bathroom

Guestroom Balcony

And amazing guestrooms where I would have no problem getting my beauty rest. And then waking up in the morning with coffee on that balcony...taking in the view.

Images: Hospitality Design Magazine