On Tour in Spain - September 2010

I must apologize for my delay in posting as I am now on holiday with my 

mother and aunt in Spain.  Actually, it's more like a whirlwind tour (waking 

up at 6:30AM - 7AM every morning is not what I call not a leisure vacation...) 

In this post I wanted to just give all of you a taste of the places 

we are touring through including Cuenca, Valencia and Peniscola.

Cuenca is a gorgeous - ages old city southeast of Madrid.  It is 

famous for its' "hanging houses" as you can see above (houses 

built into a cliff so it looks as if it is hanging from the cliff.)  The

city itself is a gem and has fabulous houses and cobble stones.

These are not my own photos but I will share some 

of my own after I return from my trip. 

Here's a fantastic view of the old city of Cuenca (as with most older 

towns and cities in Spain, there is an old and a new portion to the city.)

Valencia built a series of gorgeous aquariums, museums, botanical

gardens, concert halls and more.  Stunning modern architecture.

Side by side with the old. Valencia is a very pretty city with

beaches and a port.  It was the site of America's Cup in 2007.

Peniscola is about 1.5 hours south of Barcelona (North of Valencia) and is a very 

popular Spanish seaside resort.  Many people from hotter areas of Spain such as

Seville go to Peniscola to escape the summer heat.  Peniscola is blessed with the

perfect weather for a seaside resort without it being too hot.  It comes complete 

with it's own fort which is where this image was taken from (from Google Images.)

If any of you have watched the 1961 film "El Cid" starring Charles Heston 

and Sophia Loren, it was filmed in Peniscola, Spain.  Some of the houses 

within the fort reminded me of the white washed blue window/rooves of 

the houses on Santorini (Greek Island.)

It's a wonderful place to relax on the beach and take a nice long nap.  

Definitely worth a visit.  I will try to post again soon but in case my posts

don't seem regular, it's because I'm away and will not be home for about

2 weeks. Any of you visited the places above?  

Photos from Google Images

Jet Set: Babington House

Just the other day, Oliveaux posted a few pictures from the idyllic Babington House in Somerset, England. I was instantly smitten and wanted more! This is the type of place you go to get away from the stresses of everyday life. The estate is located on 18 acres of pristine Somerset parkland and is comprised of a Main House, Coach House, Stable Block, Lodge, and a Walled Garden. You can spend your time playing tennis or cricket, or you can choose to relax at the hotel's famed Cowshed Spa. The small village of Somerset also has several area attractions including the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre, Glastonbury Abbey, Wells Cathedral, and several historic castles and museums.

Just this year, the Babington House was named to Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List for Best Ambience / Design 2009. The centuries-old estate is now home to thirty-two beautifully-appointed rooms, twenty-three of which are located in the Main House and Coach House. There are five rooms in the Stable Block, three in the Lodge, and three rooms adjacent to the Cowshed Spa with views of the walled garden. In addition, the property also features several dining options including The House Kitchen, The House Bar, and The Log Room. The beautiful Orangery is the most beautiful of the dining spaces and is frequently reserved for wedding receptions and other special events. In addition to its restaurants, spa, and outdoor activities, the hotel also features a cinema, library, pool room, and study for further relaxation. Like its sister property, the SoHo House in New York, the Babington House and all of its amenities are available to guests and members of the elite Every House Membership Plan
.

Another View of the Stately Main House

The Log Room

The Orangery

The House Kitchen

The House Bar

The Study

Cowshed Spa

A Second Look at the Cowshed Spa

A Lovely Room in the Main House

Main House Attic Bathroom

A Beautiful Room on the First Floor of the Main House

A Sleek Bathroom

A Romantic Bathroom in the Coach House

The Playroom is the premier guest room at the Babington House. It is located on the first floor of the Main House.

The Playroom's Luxurious Bathroom

I am not sure what would be more difficult; choosing a room or leaving at the end of one's holiday!

All images via Babington House

Jet Set: Château de Massillan

The Courtyard at The Château de Massillan in Uchaux, France

Do you have spring fever yet? Luckily, the weather has been quite warm in Houston lately. However, that doesn't stop me from daydreaming about beautiful places to get away from the daily routine. I recently came across a gorgeous hotel that had me wishing I could hop on a plane that very day!



The storybook Château de Massillan is located in Uchaux, France in Vaucluse region of Provence. It is only 10 minutes away from the cities of Orange and Avignon. There are also many important site nearby, such as the Palais du Papes, or Papal Palace, the Ancient Roman Theater, Pont du Gard, the Gorges de l'Ardeche, and the Vaison la Romaine.



The château was originally built in 1550 by Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henry II. The 24 acre manor was initially used as a hunting lodge, but the land surrounding it is now used as a vineyard.

The Gorgeous Grounds at the Château de Massillan:

The interior of the château is just as gorgeous as the fairytale-like exterior. It is presently owned by Peter Wylly and Birgit Israel, owner of the London-based interior design company, Birgit Israel Interiors. Naturally, Birgit designed the romantic interiors for the château.

Lobby/ Sitting Room

The restaurant at the château serves French International cuisine.

Notice the sunflowers, typical of Provence.

The hotel is filled with gorgeous architectural details and design elements.

Sitting Area

The 12 sumptuous guest suites are absolutely breathtaking:

Okay, I'm off to listen to Tori Amos' "A Sorta Fairytale". Seriously, isn't the chateau absolutely gorgeous? It would be perfect for a romantic getaway.

Images via Château de Massillan and Mr & Mrs Smith

The Art of Upholstery - L'Atelier du Cap Gris-Nez

I am honored to introduce you to my blogging

friend Pascale who lives in France. Her blog

L'Atelier du Cap Gris-Nez follows her work in

furniture upholstry. She follows the traditional

methods of upholstry and although her blog is in

French, pictures transcend works and it's true

that a picture is worth a thousand words. The

name of her atelier or studio is The Workshop of

Cape Gris-Nez.

I totally drooled over this plum chair!! Lacquered in

plum and velvet - I could squeal as it has all of my

favorite textures, finishes and color.

This headboard she made is to die for!

I totally want this for myself! Look at the fun colors and stripes!

The chair on the left is so fun with different patterns and the yellow chair

on the left would bring any traditional space a sense of warmth.

Bold stripes with stunning nail heads.

Her most recent creation is a sofa covered in Designer Guild

fabric. What a wonderul shade of turquoise!

Pascale really pours her heart and soul into her work and

you know that she is doing it out of love and passion for

what she does. Her motto is quality above all else and that

no detail is too small.

Aren't these miniature chairs the cutest thing ever?

Yummmm pink and chocolate stripes.

Another Designer's Guild fabric creation.

Isn't this the cutest pair of adult and child

chair one could imagine?

What's more fun than a red pineapple print!

Hope you've had some great inspiration from

Pascale's work and do visit her blog to see

her in action.

All photos from the blog of

L'Atelier du Cap Gris-Nez.