The Stylish Bungalow Hotel

I recently heard about the opening of the new Bungalow Hotel at the Jersey Shore. This charming 24 room luxury boutique hotel is just steps away from the ocean! (don't you just love this gigantic tulip in front of the guest room?)

This stylish hotel was designed by the talented Robert and Cortney Novogratz of Sixx Design.

They mix vintage and modern for a truly whimsical look.

Great news! Fellow blogger and shop owner, Ruth Harsham of A Beautiful Life, was recently commissioned to make 24 of her "mathematic pillows" for the Bungalow Hotel's guest rooms. How clever is that? Each pillow was done specifically for each of the guest rooms, with the number specific to each room. Of course, the hotel fanatic that I am, I rushed over to Ruth's website to buy one for myself! You can check out Ruth's pillows here on her website.

The Bungalow Hotel's rooms are oversized with king beds, flat screen tvs, ipod docking stations, kitchenettes, cafe tables, expansive window walls, and fireplaces. I'm liking this...

The hotel has 50 works of original art. Love the framed British postage stamp print and those fabulous settees!

Cocktails anyone?

Ahhh, so close to the Jersey Shore...

For more info on the Bungalow Hotel, visit their website here.

Photos from bungalowhotel.net
and thebeautifullifeblog

Brrr.... Summer has Arrived!

Summer arrived in San Francisco today, a bit early, with thick fog and wind. People that haven't been here assume that all of California is sunny with warm beaches. Oh, not here in San Francisco. As Mark Twain was famously quoted, "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco." Yes, no sandals or sundresses for me!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend with lots sunshine and fun! I'll be thinking of you all while I sit in front of my heater with my down jacket. Don't worry about me...

Grand Opening: OBSOLETE, San Francisco

Last night I attended the grand opening of Obsolete's new showroom in San Francisco's Design District. I'm thrilled that they opened a second location in Northern California.

Obsolete has the most eclectic and unique objects d' art...

Luckily I took these photos early on, as it became jam-packed with people...

The grounds surrounding the showroom are beautiful....

Quotes from the likes of Eames and Chanel painted on the walls...love it...

My friend Karen enjoying the opening...

What a great quote from Aretha...

Always the most eclectic objects at Obsolete...

This vintage wing back chair in the corner is upholstered with vintage Army tenting. What a unique idea...

an old cabinet filled with my favorite, Santa Maria Novella potpourri...

If you're in the San Francisco area, be sure and visit Obsolete. You'll be in for a treat!

Obsolete
411 Vermont Street
San Francisco, CA

(they also have a shop in Venice, CA which I posted about recently)

And the Winners Are....

Sincere thanks to all of you for your participation in the Etiquette Giveaway.

I enjoyed your wonderful comments, and your reciprocal blogs posts were greatly appreciated. I will be posting about your etiquette tips real soon!

A click at random.org selected the winners...

1st Prize - Bonjour Madam (Vintage Etiquette Books)

2nd Prize - Brayton Home Interiors (G. Lalo writing tablet with matching envelopes)

Thanks again!!

Photo credit, Tom Palumbo

Grey Gardens Online!

For all of you Big & Little Edie fans, I just received an e-mail about the newly revamped Grey Gardens online site. Perhaps I'm the last to to hear about it, but thought I'd post anyway...

The site has great historical data, never-before-seen photos, and even a section of collectible memorabilia, such as this envelope (above) with an October 13, 1970 postmark addressed by Big Edie with the P.O. Box number for Grey Gardens printed on the rear flap....(love the liver pate...obviously for the cats..!)

An actual pair of Little Edie's shoe clips that she wore on her shoes, head scarf, and clothing. (from a private collection)

...a note to Little Edie from Jackie Onassis with a newspaper clipping...

Check out the site here...

Bygone Fashion Photography: Tom Palumbo

I'm captivated by the beautiful photography of Tom Palumbo. Born in Italy in 1921, Palumbo was highly recognized for his photography for Vogue & Harper's Bazaar in the 1950's and 60's.

Tom Palumbo in the early years...

I love his black and white photography...Evening Gowns, Bazaar

One of my favorite photos of the great model, Anne St. Marie in San Francisco, 1964 (Palumbo was married to Anne St. Marie at the time the shots were taken)

An outtake for Bazaar, mid 1950's. "Velvet jacket. Velvet shoes."

Bazaar outtake, July 1958. Great colors...

Harper's Bazaar, 1956/57. "Perfect for Sailing"

Outtake for Vogue...fabulous!

Outtake for Sak's Fifth Avenue...

The Lady and her Butlers...

Outtake for Bazaar...

Anne St. Marie, outtake for Vogue, circa 1960

Palumbo died in 2008. Prior to that he set up his own Flickr gallery. In over 100 fashion photographs, you can peruse outtakes from professional magazine assignments. They are all organized in separate galleries. Extraordinary! He even gives descriptions of the photos, and includes his early and later work. You can view them here. Someone needs to publish a book on this man's work!

Photos from here

You Gals are Awesome!

I'm loving reading your comments on the "Etiquette Giveaway!" So well thought out...I will be posting them after the contest is over. Keep 'em coming!

Photo credit, Tom Palumbo