Hotel Bel-Air - Old VS New

The Hotel Bel-Air has been around since the 1940's.  Set on 19 acres, it has been an famous oasis for the Hollywood elite for years.  It has recently undergone a TWO YEAR renovation.  It will re-open in October 2011 and I cannot wait to see how it looks! 

I am not going to lie, I am a little nervous that the update will take away some of the romantic, old Hollywood feel.  Take a look at the before and after photos!

Lobby - Before

Guest Room - Before - they were all individually decorated.

Another Room - Before

Dining Room - Before

Now for the Afters...

Lobby - After

Dining Room - After

Guest Room - After

Bathroom - After

Bar - After

Guest Room - After

Lounge Area - After

I am really loving the Lobby, Lounge area and the Bar...they look very California/Hollywood Glam!  The rooms might be too modern for me though!  I do think the before needed an update but I feel like the dining room and bedrooms have gone too modern...where did the warm romantic feel go? 

I do know that the hotel is still pink and they kept the swans...thank god!  I think I will have to take a stay-cation in October so I can check it out and give them a chance to prove me wrong!

Living Room Inspiration

This room is one of my all time favorites.  I have had it saved for a while now and I cannot remember where it is from.  I think it came form a magazine spread about a home in New Orleans but I am not sure.  Please let me know if you remember where this is from...I would love to see the whole house again.

Anyhow, I love this room.  Love the mirror over the painting over the fireplace, love the two chandeliers, love the zebra rug, love the cane back game chairs, love the furniture arrangement...especially the pedestal table used as a coffee table with the two ottomans underneath.  I see something new I love every time I look at this room.  I love how it looks so elegant but so inviting and comfortable at the same time.  Did I say...I love this room?!

Farmer's Market Find

How cute are these farmer's market baskets? They are cast in stoneware from real containers.

I just picked up some blueberries and raspberries from the market and they would look so cute in here.  Perfect to go from the fridge straight to the breakfast table!

They also come in a large size.  I think fresh peaches would look so pretty on the counter in this large white farmer's market basket!

The Farmer's Egg Crate might be my favorite!  We have glass refrigerator doors so I am dying to get one to put my eggs in.  And from $14 - $20, they make great gifts!

BLT Steak West Hollywood

We ate dinner at BLT Steak in West Hollywood on Saturday.  I had not been yet and was excited to try it but a little weary since there are so many locations and I was not sure it would live up to the hype.  Well, let me tell you...it was delicious!

We started with the tuna tartare, caesar salad and shrimp cocktail. 

Then we all had the filet which were cooked perfectly and very flavorful.  Everything was fantastic.

I think my favorite thing from the whole meal was the Gruyere Popover.  To die for...really!  They were so flaky and crisp on the outside and warm and soft on the inside.  Delicious with a little butter!

You can go to Williams Sonoma to get the recipe and they also sell the popover pan that you need to make them with.  Can't wait to try and see if they are as good at home as they are at BLT Steak!

Christian Dior does Blue and White

via

I can't believe that I haven't done a post on Blue and White yet...it is by far my favorite color combo!  I want to decorate one of our bedrooms in blue and white and while looking for inspiration last night, I came across this image.  I am soooo in love with this dress...I cannot stop looking at it! 

Have a great weekend!  Wish me luck in surviving Carmageddon out here in LA!!

Mary McDonald Dining Room - 2 ways

via House and Garden

via Domino

Are you watching Million Dollar Decorators on Bravo?  One of the designers on the show is Mary McDonald.  I have been a fan of Mary McDonald for a long time.  Some of her designs are a little over the top for me but a few of my favorite rooms were designed by Mary McDonald...like the two dining rooms above.  Isn't it amazing how she can transform the same room into an entirely different feel?

The gray and green dining room at the bottom was an inspiration picture for our dining room but it got nixed by my boyfriend...we do keep books on our dining room table sometimes though.  I do sill love that room and love the combo of green, gold and gray!

Do you like one better than the other?

Loving Juliska Lamps

I am really obsessed with Juliska lamps lately.  I don't really even know where I would put one but I want one!

Actually, I think I could find a place on the kitchen counter for one of the last two.  We could use a nightlight in the kitchen so it would really be something we need and a pretty lamp I want!

These above lamps are from Manor House and Home.  You can mix and match the lamp shades and finials.  You can also buy them directly from Juliska.

Light Blue, Red and Black

I have been running into the color combo of light blue and red all over the place!  First I saw the above  dessert with red raspberries and light blue cake stand on pinterest.   Then I ran into above  beautiful light blue invitation with red Greek key border from Calliespondence.  When I finally saw the Atlantic Pacific post with the black and white DVF dress combined with a red Greek key belt and light blue vest...all I could think of was doing a bedroom in light blue with red and black accents. 

 Greek key pillow from Trina Turk, light blue headboard and red Greek key bedding by Williams Sonoma,

Black and white zig zag rugs from Madeline Weinrib and West Elm.

The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch

We recently had dinner at The Stonehouse restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch.  It was one of the best dinners I have ever had.  We got there early to take a few pictures of the amazing property.

Walking around you feel like you are in a fairy tale!

Plow and Angel is the restaurant downstairs. They were using their patio for more seating for the Stonehouse the night we were there so we felt really lucky to be seated outside on the patio.

 I started with a delicious martini topped with a fun little flower.

The happy couples enjoying our drinks and excited to be eating soon!

We started with the burrata and tomato salad, crab cake and the tuna tartare.  They were all sooo good but I think the tuna was my favorite!  Yummers!

As usual, after my martini, I only get about one picture of the food in so here is the burrata...

View of the patio at dark.  The picture really does not do it justice!  It was so beautiful.

Two people at our table ordered the lobster, I had the scallops and the final dish was baby back ribs!  We were able to order off of the Plow & Angel menu since we were seated on their patio.  The Plow & Angel menu is more casual and that is where the ribs came from...I am dying to go back and try their burger! 

Everything was delicious, I wouldn't change a thing.  The lobster was definitely the best dish and at $70 for the lobster entree...I would hope so!  It is a pricey place for dinner but definitely worth it.  San Ysidro Ranch is a special place...I would love to stay at the resort one day!

San Ysidro Ranch Wedding

We went to Santa Barbara over the Fourth of July weekend and enjoyed the most wonderful dinner at The Stonehouse restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch.  I was looking for photos since my camera died when I got there and I came across this wedding at San Ysidro Ranch.  I had to hold everything and do a post on these beautiful photos by Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty.

You can see more of the gallery at Style Me Pretty.  Just amazing!  I will will do a post on The Stonehouse once I get some pictures from my friend.  Thank goodness we had one working camera because it was the most beautiful dinner I have ever experienced!  Stay tuned!