>> eating and sleeping in a wigwam

Although some of us may still think that driving across the country is an American rite of passage where Keroac-esque drum beats guide your youthful adventure that will surely and profoundly change you, the reality is you're in a below-ground room at the Days Inn in Creep Fest, Utah eating Wendy's while searching basic cable with a plastic-covered remote control. Once you crack the window, mis-ratioed chlorine wafts in from the pool and seduces the stale yet sweet cigarette smell that has been blanketing the furniture since 1977. You take a few Tylenol PMs and try and forget.

But chlorine aside, at a certain point in our country's young history, maybe this wasn't the case. Because at a certain point, there were tee-pee motels. In fact, there were seven, all built between 1936 and the 1950s which spread from California to Florida. Two remain as hotels (one in San Bernadino, CA and one in Holbrook, AZ) and they both offer FREE in-teepee WiFi.

>> deer path inn

I recently heard my hometown hotel, The historic Deer Path Inn, was being renovated— and not just new carpeting and thinner TVs, but renovated by Monica Pedersen, an HGTV Designer. I emailed her a few questions about how she would take on such an quaint hotel that people love for its charm and refusal to modernize.

The hotel opened in 1929 and quickly grew to become one of the most popular pastoral escapes for Chicagoans willing to make the 30-mile drive north. Modeled after the mid-15th-century Manor House, a half-timbered and stucco Tudor home in Chiddingstone, Kent, England, the inn features authentic detailing, including stone fireplaces, leaded windows, beamed ceilings and an extensive collection of antiques and artifacts that evoke the atmosphere of an English country estate. But to me and my family, it's all about heading downstairs to the White Hart Pub for a beer and burger.

LG: Have you done hotel design before?

MP: No, this is my first leap into hotel design.

LG: What is the plan for the hotel and why the renovation now?

MP: The plan is to update the hotel’s guest rooms, bathrooms and some of the public spaces not only through décor but also by offering guests updated services such as WiFi. We are doing it now for a couple of reasons. 1 – It’s long overdue – the décor is feeling a little tired. 2 – We need to stay competitive with the other hotels that have recently popped up in the area.

LG: Any modernities that are going to be added to the British Country decor/design? And if so, how do you walk that fine line of upgrading in style/technology without downgrading the classic integrity of such an old hotel?

MP: The design will still reflect the classic look of an English Country House. Given the architecture and history of the Deer Path Inn doing anything but that would be a crime.

LG: One of my favorite things to do when I’m in town visiting my parents is to go to the White Hart Pub in the basement of the Deer Path Inn, any changes in order down there? (Please say the cast-iron baked feta will still be there, it’s my favorite!)

MP: Yes, the cast iron baked feta will still be there. We also have sushi from the former sushi chef from the Peninsula Hotel. Next time you should try the Pub Burger, it’s the best burger on the North Shore. Nothing is changing about the White Hart Pub (did you know it has a sister property in England that it was modeled after?). But the Hunt Room next door has been completely redone – tufted leather seating, nailhead trim, lots of bar space, great energy – it’s getting great reviews.

LG: What items will you (the hotel) be splurging on and where can you cut corners on such a large project--and how can that be applied to any home renovation/remodel?

MP: We splurged on bedding from Anchini, natural stone in the bathrooms and durable grasscloth wall coverings. The bedding is extremely comfortable and luxurious, the tile work gives the bathroom instant luxury and everybody appreciates a great bathroom when they are traveling. Since the hotel is old, the weighty grasscloth wall covering hides some of the unwelcome signs of aging. You can always find a deal on art frames – if a frame is beautiful, the artwork inside will look more expensive. Also, you don’t have to have different art for every room. Once great piece can be digitally reproduced on the cheap. There is also this great website that I am working with, MasterCard Market Place, which is open to all MasterCard cardholders. The site offers deals and coupons from thousands of merchants I love like Home Depot and Target.

LG: Will you be adding any vintage/found/flea market sourced items to the hotel? If so, do you have any strategies when looking for those sorts of objects d’art, etc.?

MP: Yes, I have filled many of the bookshelves with old pewter pieces, serving trays, and antique books that I’ve found at these kinds of places. When I shop at thrift, flea market or garage sales, I keep three things in mind. Is the item something that I can cash and carry? Is it versatile? Meaning, can it be moved into different spaces? Is it priced right? You would be shocked at how many people walk off with property that belongs to the hotel like pewter jugs, plates and old books. If I don’t spend a lot, the loss isn’t as great.

LG: Do you have an absolute favorite possession in your home? What is it and why?

MP: My four poster California king Farmhouse Collection bed. The distressed finish takes the pretentious appearance out of a four poster bed and the fact that it is California king makes it comfy for me, my tall husband and cat Hal.

>> the canary hotel santa barbara

Speaking of Suzani fabic...Matt and I took a weekend away to Santa Barbara and stayed at the newish (18 months old) Canary Hotel located right in town, just about two blocks away from The Hungry Cat! We LOVED this hotel, it's owned by the guys behind Shutters and Casa Del Mar, and we were totally digging the beachy/Spanish/Moroccan design vibe. The walls are papered in a cheery teal blue sea grass which we thought was great too. The roof top pool isn't a bad place to perch either.

Spago Bachelor Gulch

Just yesterday I had the delight of checking out the two-year-old Spago in Bachelor Gulch, CO located inside the Ritz. The food was of course insanely good, but to be completely honest with you, if I had to choose between Spago and a hot buttered rum by the lobby fireplace, I'd opt for the latter—that lobby was just too damn cozy for words. The design at Spago was pretty great though, I especially loved the use of Zanotta Sciangai coat racks ($1,064) designed in 1973. Totally and completely functional. People just tossed their coats and hats and sat down to a potato leek soup while wearing their ski boots. Not exactly Spago Beverly Hills!

Garden Buenos Aires

Matt and I just got back to reality last night from two weeks of insane over stimulation and way too much fun. I'm going to get into the wedding posts soon, but had to start with the absolute coolest bed and breakfast we stayed in while in Buenos Aires, Garden Buenos Aires. It was recently featured in the New York Times. Luckily the owner, Pamela Murphy, is the first cousin of one of my bestest friends in the world, so we were pointed in the right direction. The B&B is located in a bohemian hood close to lots of antique shopping and great restaurants. The rates are very attractive too, our stay was $125 US and that includes free hangouts with their two enormous golden doodles. Absolutely worth a visit if you're planning a trip to BsAs.

The High Line

After our lunch yesterday Kim and I "walked off" the calories (yeah right) at the newish park, The High Line in the Meat Packing District. The park was created on top of an old above-ground train track. The linear walking park goes right under The Standard Hotel and then to CraftSteak and 'wichcraft. Not a bad little walk.

I'm off to Palm Beach tonight, back next week!

Pendleton Woolen Mills

I've posted (along with the rest of mankind) about how freaking dope The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is. Well, my friend Ashley recently checked out the Ace Portland and became so smitten that she wanted to find a blanket like the ones at the hotel. Not a bad idea.

Many of Ace Portland's furnishings are sourced from Pendelton Woolen Mills, a Portland company that's been around for over 140 years! They've got some great Native American and Pacific Northwest-inspired bedding, blankets and tabletop items. But, beware it's hit or miss...really hit or miss. Ashley said it best when she texted me while at the store:

It feels a bit like a west coast Orvis with a tinge of Talbots.

The Villas at Rancho Valencia

Here's an idea that makes sense: instead of spending five million big ones on a vacation home, spend $515K. The Villas at Rancho Valencia are a cluster of twelve haciendas on an Auberge resort in North County San Diego (five minutes from La Jolla) where residents can buy-in for a 1/8 ownership. So, that's 3500 square feet of your own space AND all the amenities of a five star hotel, that by the way, is the #1 tennis resort in the world.



Rancho Valencia has 18 deco-turf hard tennis courts surrounded by lush greenery and citrus trees.



Chef Barclay Dodge gives a quick presentation on how to make his airy gnocchi in one of the Villa kitchens. Imagine having room service access to this guy's genius from your own house.

All Villa owners also have box seat tickets to the Del Mar horse track, a San Diego instituion, where you might see a few fellows like these guys (William Quigley, Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien) and you might win a few bucks.

Chillin like a villa villain

I'm off to San Diego to check out The Villas at Rancho Valencia today. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it. Back later this week!

All Aces

So, the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs is officially going to be our winter retreat. I know I'm not the first blogger to rave about the no-fuss cool-as-ice hotel in the dessert that opened in February, and I'm no doubt not the last. But, wow, they revamped an old HoJo and Denny's and made it into one groovy spot.


Rooms are great! Comfy beds, nice baths, flatscreen TVs, and great patios. Did I mention this one was $85 for a night!?

I love the clipped on art.

The GMC party van is available to take into town, airport runs, and make-outs.

Adult snow cones. Enough said.

This is Linda. She's 71 and leads open-mic night on Tuesdays in the bar. I would describe what went on here, but I don't think anyone would believe me.

The old-school photo booth in the lobby not only rules, but also takes credit cards.

Thankfully the main pool is open 24 hours a day, because we needed a dip after riding a tandem bike back from dinner.

We only had time to grab a few to-go coffees from King's Highway, the Denny's-turned five-star diner—but I was wishing I could have had the chilaquiles. There's always next time.