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Travel

One of my favourites hotels EVER in Geneva!

I’ve almost finished writing about all the fab hotels I was lucky enough to experience during our six-month trip to Europe and the States last year (one more to come!) and this one, in Geneva, is right up there. In terms of both interiors and impeccable service, we are talking about something very special, boutique and personalised. Behold the view from the roof of the Hotel d’Angeleterre in exclusive Geneva (we felt pretty special when the manager let us have a look up there)!

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Every room is different here thanks to an owner who is a bit of an interiors addict too. Here are just a couple of them. Many, like ours, have views of the famous Jet d’Eau on Lake Geneva.

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I was lucky enough to be shown around many of the rooms and they were all so different and so gorgeous!

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Read my full review on the Expedia blog.

Read all my destination reviews for Expedia.

Disclosure: Expedia compensated me for my writing with hotel accommodation to an equivalent value.

Categories
Travel

Interiors Addict’s London Design Guide

Liberty of London

It’s been almost six months since we returned from our trip of a lifetime to Europe and America but I still get to re-live it by writing my regular travel pieces for Expedia’s blog. Today, I’ve shared five must-visit destinations in the big smoke for interiors lovers. Most of you know I’m a Pom and I love the UK, but I’m more of a country girl than a city slicker (despite having lived in London for five years). But you can’t deny how amazing this city is, especially when you go back as a tourist.

abigail ahern interiors addict

I have a bit of everything for you, from Abigail Ahern’s fabulous little shop (above) to the legendary Liberty of London, West Elm (where they have coffee) and the surrounding homewares stores of Tottenham Court Road, the Design Museum and more.

Liberty of London
Liberty of London

Read the full post.

Categories
Travel

Addict Abroad: The Molitor Paris by MGallery and THAT pool

Amazing hotel alert! I mean it this time! I spent the week reminiscing about our most recent stay in Paris, without doubt one of my favourite cities in the world. I think I have chalked up 16 trips there now (admittedly it was a lot easier when I lived in London!). Our last visit was short but very sweet. We stayed at the amazing Molitor Paris by MGallery which had just opened. This hotel is all about the pool, which you may recognise from the movie The Life of Pi. It’s also where the bikini was launched in 1946. Oh, the history and stories of this refurbished twenties beauty!

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We also enjoyed a rooftop drink then dinner with our friend Marie (it pays to know a local) at the achingly cool Le Perchoir, where the menu is a surprise. Amazing. Rooftop bars are few and far between in the city and this one has amazing views. It will stay in my mind for a long time.

On the roof of Le Perchoir, Paris, with Damian
On the roof of Le Perchoir, Paris, with Damian

You can read all about the hotel in my review for Expedia.

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Travel

My stay at the Karl Lagerfeld designed Sofitel So Singapore

Right at the very end of our recent six-month trip, we were lucky enough to stay at the new Sofitel So Singapore to break our journey from London for a few nights. It is most famous for being designed, in part, by fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld.

Sofitel So Singapore - Standard room

Not only are the interiors very cool (despite the rather small size of the rooms) –a nice mix of classic and modern– there are all manner of great free inclusions like wi-fi, mini bar snacks and soft drinks and a golden (yes, you read right) rooftop pool! It’s very high-tech too with pretty much everything in the room controlled via Apple technology. I never got tired of opening the blinds from my bedside iPad!

Here’s the lobby bar, which was often full of cool young things! I loved the design.

Sofitel So Singapore (Bar at Lobby)

Read my full review and my top five places for design lovers to visit in Singapore on the Expedia blog.

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Travel

Addict Abroad: A road trip and my love affair with Scotland

The thing about going off on your travels for a whole half a year is that you have plenty to write about your trip and it’s a great way to reminisce now we’re home! This weekend I was reliving our five-day road trip around the Scottish Highlands. Despite some of the most miserable and wet weather I’ve ever encountered, it still managed to be one of the best parts of our trip!

Scotland is just stunning. The scenery is vast, craggy, misty and just awe-inspiring. Wow. We travelled from Edinburgh through Loch Ness, Inverness and on to the Isle of Skye then back on ourselves again. There was rain, there was haggis and there were sheep. It was very Scottish.

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You can read all about it (including my favourite hotel of the entire six-month trip!) and see more of our pictures on the Expedia blog.

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Travel

Addict Abroad: it’s all white at the Boscolo Exedra, Nice

It’s been three weeks since we returned from our six-month trip and while I’m surrounded by boxes having moved house last week, and the reality of home and routine is kicking in (mostly in a good way!), it’s nice to reflect on some of our adventures from back in Australia. One of the most ‘designy’ hotels we stayed at in Europe was the five-star Boscolo Exedra in Nice, France. Have you been to Nice? Gosh, the water is so beautiful and blue. You see why they call it the Cote d’Azur because azure is the word for it!

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The Boscolo was definitely a memorable hotel. You walk in and the first impression is pretty wow. It’s white, white and more white, with striking huge horse sculptures and more fresh flowers than you could shake a stick at. Oh, and an amazing cloud-like pendant light.

The white theme continued upstairs in our very nice room. It’s not for those who prefer a cosy vibe but on a summer’s day, it’s light, bright and breezy, and refreshingly different from other, more traditional European hotels.

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Here are a few holiday snaps from our time in Nice and nearby Monaco…

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Read more about the Boscolo Exedra and see more pix on the Expedia blog.

 

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Travel

Addict Abroad: The Thompson, Chicago

We’ve been back from our trip for two weeks now and it’s good to be home, and to have moved into our own place at the weekend. But I’m still dreaming about some of the amazing hotels we were lucky enough to stay in while we were away. One of my favourites was The Thompson in Chicago. This hotel’s comfortable, luxurious, stylish decor made us not want to leave!

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It’s gorgeous, don’t you agree?

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Nothing about it felt like that cookie cutter kind of hotel decor. While the lobby was amazing, our room didn’t disappoint at all, showing that the same care  had been taken with the guest rooms as the communal areas.

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Read my full review of the Thompson, and other posts about our trip, on the Expedia blog.

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Homewares Travel

Vancouver: the unlikely homewares shopping mecca

The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown

I absolutely loved our recent trip to Vancouver. It’s my husband’s favourite city in the world (high praise indeed) so I couldn’t wait to see what he was on about and Damian couldn’t have been keener for a return visit. Well, it’s beautiful. It really is. We had a great time. It’s such an easy place to hang out and feels so relaxed and totally different from America, where we’d spent the preceding three weeks. What I didn’t expect though, was just how many great homewares and furniture shops I would find, and the majority of them independent and just brimming with stylish and colourful finds.

The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown
The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown

The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown topped my list but there were many more to tell you about.

The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown
The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown

Read my definitive guide to homewares shopping in Vancouver on the Expedia blog.

Here are a few more shots from our trip. We were there for my birthday, which just happens to be Canada Day, so there were fireworks and even a surprise seaplane ride courtesy of Mr Francis. Memories to treasure!

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vancouver seaplane

vancouver grouse mountainThanks to reader and Vancouverite-turned-Sydneysider Donna Vercoe for her shopping tips!

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Travel

Interiors Addict’s adventures in New York

There is so much to do in the Big Apple and this month, my second trip to NYC, despite being a generous nine days long, passed in a flash. I had a fantastic time though, sightseeing, eating, drinking and shopping. As far as homewares shopping goes, you just can’t beat it and I had so much fun and left super inspired.

Jonathan Adler Soho 9 by Homer Parkes
Jonathan Adler, Soho

I want to share with you everywhere I shopped, ate and explored. And of course, the Sex and the City tour! Want to know more? Head on over to Expedia’s blog, where I share all the details! Happy reading!

ABC Carpet and Home
ABC Carpet and Home
Categories
Travel

Addict Abroad: The College Hotel, Amsterdam

On our trip to Amsterdam last month, we stayed in a really cool coverted school called, not surpisingly, The College Hotel! But it was much more stylish and comfortable than the name might suggest!

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I love a bit of hotel luxury but I’m more interested in boutique accommodation than the predictability of international hotel chains. The College ticked all my important boxes: interesting interiors, a very large and comfortable bed, friendly and attentive (but not over the top) staff, coffee-making facilities (don’t roll your eyes, caffeine is important!), free wifi and a full size tub!

Sadly, there was no snow on our visit but the sunshine was very welcome!

With just 40 rooms, the four-star hotel feels intimate and cosy. I can’t fault the location, 15 minutes door to door by tram from Centraal Station in the leafy, quiet and fashionable Zuid (south) area, and even closer to the museums.

Read the full review on the Expedia blog.

Read more about what we got up to and what we recommend in this great city, in the Interiors Addict’s Guide to Amsterdam.

Categories
Travel

Interiors Addict’s guide to Amsterdam

Well, all I can say is wow! Sign me up for a bicycle, a houseboat, life around the canals and the cafe culture, tout suite!

amsterdam tram

Following my recent first trip to Amsterdam, it has swiftly became one of my favourite European cities. I expected to like it of course, and was keen to visit, but I didn’t really think I’d love it and feel like I could live there. Leave your preconceptions about the seedy red light district at the border!

amsterdam canal sunset

Read all about why I loved Amsterdam and what I suggest you check out (shopping, museums, tulips, canals, architecture and plenty more!) if you’re visiting, on Expedia’s blog.