Very classy, very warm & elegant, very English! I don't know how it looked like before, but hotel websites are raving about it. I find it incredible how the rooms have slightly varied looks but they all imprint the same comfy & elegant theme of the hotel to the client.
I spent a good hour daydreaming about how I'd spend my hours here when I do get to go 1 day.
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| The Stafford Hotel, London |
the back courtyard in winter
Oh, to sit by that fire with a good book & a cup of tea.
sidenote: I love that the center table is high and not the usual coffee-table height. We did something like this for a residential project in Cagayan de Oro back in 2007, see here:
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| 2/F Family Room, CDO Residence, 2007. Grupo Santamaria Interior Design |
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| Residence in Cagayan de Oro, 2007. Grupo Santamaria Interior Design |
Ok sorry allow me to indulge in that little pleasant flashback. It was a great project, that one. My first time in Cagayan de Oro--- client was trusting, easy to deal with, and gave us absolute free reign on what to do with their house. Since the theme was very English mansion (but w/ a touch of the tropics), I went ballistic on the Ethan Allen & the Old Asia pieces. I also tapped the best Filipino furniture manufacturers who exported to Europe--- from Pampanga to Cebu to Manila.
My favorite part was choosing & designing the curtains--- Austrian shades, remote control blinds for the stairs, yards upon yards of soft, beautiful, luxurious fabric! Remember, this was the glory days of Zen design in the Philippines and the start of "Modern Asian". I was so sick of it back then. This project landing on my lap was the perfect balancer. It was just awesome.
I really wish I could go back and have it photographed professionally, but they are very private about their properties and I have to respect that.
Oh well, back to my London fantasy...
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| one of the restaurant lounges at The Stafford |
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| I would like to do sit by this table & have my tea, cakes & sconces, please. |
Oh and the bedrooms, omygoodness.
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| I'd love to go home here. |
the lamps, the wallpaper...
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| the pleated shades, the cornice... |
Imagine touring London the whole day, wowed by its sights & sounds, and coming home to a bedroom like this? Beats any modern "cookie-cutter" hotel room, right? The light-gray paneled walls, veneer furniture, flat weave rug...oh my. I sigh a dozen times!
And while fantasizing, I can't not include the details.
OF COURSE I already planned what to wear... haha!
Burberry PRORSUM Spring 2012
And of course for that one tiny, final touch...
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| Valentino Gloves. It's either this or DVF's. From Vogue Glove Guide |
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| yup, my fave scene in 101 Dalmatians |
It's not because I just watched Sherlock Holmes a few nights ago, nor was it the King's Speech on HBO last night. Dreams of London (and Paris, but that's another story) have been on my mind since I was 14 when my mom brought me to Europe. There is something about London...I hope to visit it very soon.
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Enjoy the 1st long weekend of the year!
love the pink gloves!
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