Category Archives: Travel & Places

CHALET CHIC – BRUECKE 49 VALS SWITZERLAND

20 December 2013

Grüezi*, I’ve been dying to write this post for you! Six days to go till Christmas and Brücke 49 in Vals Switzerland comes with the most wonderfully wintery and Christmassy (I’ve decide it’s a word) photography you can imagine. It was hard whittling down the almost 100 photos Mr Schacht, the owner sent me but I hope I’ve done Martin Kaufmann, the Danish photographer proud and selected just the juiciest ones for this post.

copyright Bruecke 49 via Stylejuicer

As much as I love Christmas a part of me wants to escape and spend the week in a quiet ski resort in the Alps, ideally in a warm, welcoming, modern, clean, stylish chalet with all mod cons and really nice hosts. Et voilà, Mr and Mrs Schacht provide just such a service in the charming resort of Vals in Switzerland. Actually, they call it a home from home and modestly claim Brücke 49 to be a B&B with a difference. Well actually, it’s a luxurious, stylish and understated abode with a personal and relaxed atmosphere judging by the photos.

I adore all the quirky little details like the traditional stag’s head, the old-fashioned china, the felt slippers and I love the custom upholstered chair in various fabrics. The dark grey walls in the entrance area are bang on trend (as discussed previously here) and it all comes together with the sanded floorboards, the animal skin rugs, granite stone slabs on the ground floor and heavy wooden beams. A superb interior design job sensitively combining rustic chalet chic with classic modern lines.

And, no, I’m not just writing this to get an invite. In fact I think Mr Schacht would never be so bold as to toot his own alphorn but I really feel passionately about this beautiful little gem tucked away in the mountains. Let’s hope the not too distant future will bring a trip to Vals for me and the crew.

*Traditional Swiss greeting {ahem, not just eye-candy, educational as well this blog #justsaying}

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Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

Annie Signature Stylejuicer

More information | Brücke 49, Vals, Switzerland
Photography | Martin Kaufmann

BABINGTON HOUSE – A LUXURY ENGLISH COUNTRY RETREAT

21 November 2013

Classically elegant proportions, understated and sophisticated but yet approachable and friendly.

Yes, that is a fair description of me and my character 😉 but no, we are talking about Babington House today.
A private members’ club, hotel and spa set in 18 acres of glorious English countryside just outside the beautiful Georgian town of Bath.

The setting could be straight out of a period drama but it’s modern comforts make it universally appealing. The styling is deliberately individual for each of the rooms and ranges from Downton Abbey dramatic in the main house to simple chic and rustic in the stable block. All with a feel of luxury and quality to the chosen fabrics, furniture and fittings.

Babington House opened in 1998 as a country retreat for the members of Soho House, a private members’ club for those in the film, media and creative industries. But don’t worry even non media luvies can book a stay and rub shoulders with the rich and famous.

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To stay on top of their game the boutique hotel has recently been updated and now includes details such as abaca rugs, polished oak flooring, antique tiles and hand painted wallpaper, sitting alongside reclaimed dressers and vintage wardrobes to create a warm, charming ambiance.

I love the bright turquoise colour palette in the bar area set against soft pinks and oranges. The walls are adorned with artwork, including pieces by Tracey Emin, Polly Morgan, David Salle and Paul McDevitt, which draw reference to Babington’s country-side surroundings.

One of the main attractions is the now world famous Cowshed Spa which originated in the grounds. The use of honest and natural products, made in England using the very best organic plant extracts and essential oils is still at the heart of the Cowshed philosophy and gives each treatment an added dimension and feel good factor.

A friend of mine who visits regularly (yes, I have posh friends!) tells me treatments are some of the most indulgent and heavenly experiences you can have.

Oh, how I’d love to scrub, soak, mud and unwind – just like any posh cow.

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Babbington, February 2013

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Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

Annie Signature Stylejuicer

More information | Babington House

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARIS BY ANNE DITMEYER

16 October 2013

Dear readers, today I’d like to inspire you with the wonderful universe that is Paris. After getting you excited with some juicy photography by Leela Cyd yesterday I’d like to introduce you to Anne Ditmeyer, the author of Pret A Voyager, contributing editor for Design*Sponge and the ultimate source for everything you need to know about Paris and France.

Anne loves to travel and is a swiss-army knife of a talent. She writes, blogs, designs, teaches, consults and gives guided tours around Paris. She started her blog on Bastille Day in 2007 as a creative outlet to explore the intersection of travel and design and you can read about her experiences from the mundane to the quirky, sometimes even extravagant.

As an American in Paris she has explored every corner of this city and I love the fact that she gives guided tours with a difference. If you’re a bit of a film buff you’ll be excited to hear that there’s an Amelie tour which explores key sites of the movie with lots of discussion of the film’s stylistic means. If you ask nicely Anne will even bring her gnome along. I’m sure to book a Design Tour with her next time I visit the city of love.

Her site is extensive but with Anne’s help I’ve picked some favourites for you below. Happy exploring and don’t forget to write me a postcard!

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From frugal to fancy, a list of favourite places to sleep, all with great personality and a sense of style.

French-Flag-icon TIP: Anne recommends to rent an apartment to get a real sense of the city and to get to know the neighbourhood as well as how other nationalities live. I’ve done this myself and couldn’t agree more!

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This is a budget friendly guide to Anne’s favourite places in Paris, handily divided by arrondissement. From sights, museums and gardens to markets, bakeries, shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

French-Flag-icon TIP: Picnic on the Champs de Mars when the Eiffel Tower twinkles every hour at night.

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With the help of some friends Anne has compiled a comprehensive guide to having a great time on a budget. Be it for city dwellers or visitors.

French-Flag-icon TIP: Go to your local outdoor market rather than the grocery store for fresh produce. Not only is it better, but it’s also cheaper.There are tons of markets around the city, so go explore.

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

Annie Signature Stylejuicer

HUGE thanks to Anne for letting me share her fabulous work and I’ll see you in Paris. 😉

More information | Anne Stark Ditmeyer
Anne’s blog | Pret A Voyager
Featured photo | by Cartier Bresson

CITY CRUSH: PARIS BY LEELA CYD

15 October 2013

Hands up who’s in love with Paris? Well, that’s nearly all of you which makes me think it’s about time Stylejuicer brought you some Paris love.

I have to confess that although I only live two and a bit Eurostar-hours away, I’ve not been for… phew, must be 10 years by now. Shameful, I know but I’ve found you just the right person to quench your thirst for Paris:
Leela Cyd! An American travel, food and lifestyle photographer who took a trip not too long ago perfectly capturing everybody’s favourite city.

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In her own words Leela was raised around a table full of artists and writers, about a block from the Pacific Ocean. So far so dreamy but wait, it gets better. Her home is in Santa Barbara, AND she gets to travel around the world for her assignments! Now, that’s what a I call a great set-up.

Today’s photo series features a mix of quintessential Parisian interiors and exteriors, culinary delights and of course the Eiffel Tower. My personal favourite is the very cute and very French apartment with it’s girlie details, white-washed beams, soft colours and beautiful upholstery. Isn’t that a bed you’d never want to get out of!?

Leela is also an incredibly entertaining writer and her food and travel blog Tea Cup Tea is a favourite of mine as well as having been awarded Saveur’s ‘Sites We Love’ last year. As the blog name suggests she loves a good cup of tea and meets friends, artists and like minded people around the world to have a chat and share a cuppa. One of which is fellow American and Paris-resident Anne Ditmeyer of Pret A Voyager who will tell you all you need to know about Paris on the blog tomorrow with some more wanderlust-inducing images.

For now, dive in to Leela’s photo story and I dare you not to buy a croissant on the way home.

PS: Leela, you can pop in for a cuppa any day!

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Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

Annie Signature Stylejuicer

More information & photography | Leela Cyd
Leela’s blog | Tea Cup Tea

MALLORCA, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

3 October 2013

If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter you probably noticed that I recently spent a week on one of the Mediterranean’s most prolific islands: Mallorca! Known for it’s British and German package tourists and larger louts I’m happy to report that it’s perfectly possible to avoid that side completely.

Mallorca Collage copyright Stylejuicer.com
Mallorca Collage copyright Stylejuicer.com

I wasn’t sure how going on holiday with extended family where the age ranges between one and 80 would work out but magically everybody was happy and we had no major dramas for a whole week – apart from losing little Usain Bolt Leo at the airport for what felt like a lifetime but was probably more like three minutes. Why can’t we microchip toddlers and track them on our smart phone?

Our apartment in Ciudad Jardin, a typically Spanish suburb of Palma, was perfectly located and the kids got lots of play time on the beach and various playgrounds. Grandparents got plenty of time to play with the kids and explore the town and thanks to said grandparents we had in-built baby sitters and managed to have seven date nights in a row!

Usually I’m not one for going back to the same place time and again but this was our third time in Palma and it still felt as exciting, cosmopolitan but totally authentically Spanish as the first time. There are of course the hordes of sun-burnt tourists in socks and sandals in the summer traipsing round the Old Town and Cathedral but you don’t need to venture far from the centre to find authentic tapas bars where they count up your pinxtos – skewers holding together your pincho or tapa – at the end of the night to see how much you’ve had to eat. One such place is L’Ambigú Pinxtos right in the Old Town tucked away at the back of Santa Eulalia, where we had the most amazing tapas (or pinxtos) sitting next to some locals.

Another fabulously authentic area is Santa Catalina, just a 15 minute walk west of the Old Town. It has a hip student vibe with a dense mix of bars and restaurants and eclectic shops. If you’re in the area make sure to pop into bconnected concept store for some quirky finds. One of the main streets for eating is Carrer de la Fabrica but to be honest the whole area oozes with little places that attract a mainly local crowd. We wondered around and stumbled upon ‘Simple’, a small restaurant on the ground floor of what looked like a recently restored town house. Totally gutted ‘Simple’ has a clean white minimalist look without feeling clinical and the added benefit of a small courtyard at the back, beautifully lit at night and perfect for some chillaxing Spanish style. Unfortunately I didn’t take a card but it’s next to the famous Bar Cuba on Carrer de Sant Magi.

Palma is certainly no hidden gem anymore thanks to it’s boutique hotels, sophisticated shopping and high-quality eateries. The main attraction still being the Cathedral which took 300 years to build and of course the beautiful Old Town. But for me the city still has lots more to explore and I’m looking forward to my next visit, be it with kids, a deux or with my girls – Palma is fab anywhich way.

Mallorca Collage copyright Stylejuicer.com

MY TOTALLY RANDOM LIST OF PLACES I CAME ACROSS OR EXPERIENCED

01. | View from Ciudad Jardin towards Palma Cathedral.
02. | Fundacio la Caixa, completed in 1903, this was the city’s first luxury hotel but has since been restored and now houses exhibition spaces, a design book shop and a cafe with floor to ceiling windows, perfect for people watching. Placa de Weyler.
03. | L’Ambigú Pinxtos, low-key tapas in the beautiful Old Town. Carrer de Sa Carnisseria.
04. | Placa Major, stunning but best to visit at night time if you’re allergic to tourists.
05. | Bar Restaurant Nicolas, fabulous watering hole, Plaça del Mercat.
06. | Yes, the beach really was that empty.
07. | Born 8, elegant and stylish all-day cafeteria on Passeo del Borne.
08. | Local bakery in Ciudad Jardin.
09. | Local ice-cream palour in Ciudad Jardin.
10. | One of many awesome Swedish style public playgrounds.
11. | THE best fresh fish restaurant in Ciudad Jardin.
12. | Gothic masterpiece Santa Eulàlia, Placa Santa Eulàlia.
13. | Hotel Cort, super central, hip and smart boutique hotel.
14. | One of many branches of upmarket coffee shop chain Cappuccino. This is definitely one of the best for location, setting and people watching. Cappuccino Palau March, Carrer Conquistador.
GELATERIA ITALIANA | No photo but THE best Italian ice-cream I’ve had to date and worth a special mention. Opposite Palma’s theatre, near the Placa Major.

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

Annie Signature Stylejuicer

More information | We booked our apartment through MallorcApart run by Mia and Adam, a Swedish/British couple who have got lots of nice properties in and around Palma on their books. They are absolutely lovely, extremely helpful and easy to deal with and I cannot recommend them enough. Drop them an email if you’re interested.

Contact | apartment[at]facilnet.es