The Boulangerie at Sonya's Garden

What can I say Sonya’s Garden with her other amenities like the Bakery, Bed and Breakfast, the Apothecary and the Restaurant in the Conservatory are the stuff made of class. The interior here is like how I would like my every dwelling place to be. The white walls with the rough texture, the simple shelves and bold Spanish floor tiles that feel and taste like all the old rustic Mediterranean designs combined. 

Sonya's is in the details:
The crawling bougainvillea, bellflowers and other varieties on the exterior of the Boulangerie, the patterns of embroidered curtains, rich wood furniture, ornate tea sets and display case are tell tale of exceptional taste good planning and execution in design. 

The fare inside Sonya’s Panaderia are not wanting in quality; though I was expecting rustic breads like baguettes, sourdough, focaccia  and so on, the fare did still consist mostly of Filipino bakery items such as pan de sal with fillings of cheese or tuna, the bread locally known as the Spanish bread with sweet cream filling but with more intensity in flavors than the usual. 

All I can say is that it would be nice to have this very bakery or something so very akin to it was just around the corner from where I live. 
Do not you?

Your Own Über Cool Pad in a Day:

A Heijmans ONE Project, this modular houses by the Moodworks Architecture from the Netherlands  can be built in one day and are geared towards working singles.  In my book though, it's me, the husband and more room for a feline princess.  I plucked this article from Web Urbanist and it's worth re-blogging. 

exterior at night

living space

bedroom

layout

Time Stood Still at Gadsden

Quite a while back I stumbled into a hotel that time forgot in Douglas, Arizona. The town itself was very sleepy in that desert sense with tumbleweeds meeting you as you enter the town, (cue in a duel of quick draw between two cowboys). But I digress, turns out, this hotel named Gadsden which was built in 1907 has stood witness to quite a few historical events and historical people.

During my visit, the hotel was run by laid back staff which is understandable as Douglas itself does not have a lot of tourists anymore. Back in the 1900's, Gadsden was built for cattle ranchers to lodge in  whilst in Douglas when they were away from home. In 1929, it suffered a catastrophic fire but was restored. The style of architecture of the hotel is Renaissance Revival and I deem it as part of the Gilded Age as it was built during that era in America. Check out the rich-colored marble columns and grand staircase.

Lobby

  view from the 2nd floor

It is apparent that when Gadsden was built, no expense was spared for its quality materials, above is an authentic Tiffany stained glass situated on top of the staircase that depicts the Sonora Desert complete with a Saguaro cactus and other desert-scapes.

Just below the Tiffany-stained glass window is this preserved regal lioness in her full size and stateliness.  (Wanted to touch her just to see if she would bite).

Rooms...

It is often the case with hotels and Inns that with age comes the ghost stories. Legends have been spread all over that Gadsden has it's paranormal inhabitants and during Halloween season, this is a popular destination to test those theories. Hmm.

couldn't resist...

more Tiffany glass on the ceiling

Press:
Per research it is noted that Gadsden was used in a Paul Newman, Nastassja Kinski and a Tom Selleck movie. It was also visited by FL Eleanor Roosevelt and Arizona impressionist painter Effie Anderson Smith who resided and completed several paintings in this hotel in the 1940s. Lastly, Gadsden was featured in Travel Channel's Hotel Impossible in 2013 wherein more renovations were conducted.

Tiny Chic Rental

I stumbled upon this über cool blog called MessyNessy Chic which featured this cute and petite maison that's for rent for tourists in Paris at a price of $110 per night. Not bad huh? Also considering the location is right at the center of the highly favored city. 

interior shot (kitchen)

Living room

Bedroom

Sorry, no bathroom shot :(
photos are from AirBNB

Cool Shower:

photo from Apartment Therapy

How refreshingly cool is that!

Redecorating The House

Mostly from Ikea and a few hand me downs as well as flea finds - all around the house these days. 

sofa

Bookshelf

Hand me down piano

Blue Birdy

Dining Area

Cook!

Sleep 1

Bath 1

Sleep 2

Bath 2

Office

that one too...

This house in Bali:

Found this house featured in DTI to be stuff of my tropical dreams.

yep, product placement :)

This means they pick fruits and veggies and eat them raw instead of cooking incessantly.

Tiiinnnnggg. . . . Zen bath

I forgot the lady's name, but I recall that she's the designer, owner and muse of the house, 

you go girl!

Oh my Baby, it don't matter if it's black or white...

from Jimmy Schönning via DTI

I love how the black marries and white in this setting. The natural elements are used wisely here! very inspiring.

Lest I forget...

 

 photo from Made in Persbo 

...another white bedroom and white everything...

 

In This Man's Corner:

photo from a man named: Toby Scott

via DTI

 

What a sensible spot in a man's house! 

Blu Redux:

Been meaning to post the room I stayed in at the Radisson Blu in Edinburgh but have forgotten to do so.

For £250 per night, this spacious sleeping quarters for transient sentient beings housed all 4 of us traveling. That translates to £62.50 per night for each of us confederates while we imbibed and inhaled the city and the chilly air of cosmo Edinburgh. 

2 double beds, a queen bed, soft clean sheets, a knock out bathroom, a sweet Spanish hotel worker who had no idea how to work this ultra sophisticated coffee maker (like us) available in the room and 5 sets of giggles in 3 different languages because of this mishap. Priceless!

I do recommend it!