Intentionally Bl□nk

Intentionally Blank

4 Posts Back Home

SANTA CLARA 1728 – ELEGANT MINIMALISM IN LISBON

santa-clara-lisbon-3houses_35_2FM-AMA-SANTACLARA-LQ-10FM-AMA-SANTACLARA-LQ-0houses_38_1FM-AMA-SANTACLARA-LQ-11RK-SANTA_CLARA-280A8537RK-SANTA_CLARA-280A8573FEATURE_IMAGE

One of my birthday presents this year is a trip to Lisbon with my best friend, and while doing some sightseeing research I stumbled upon this enchanting, minimalist hotel in the historic city centre. The renovation of the 18th century building was carried out by the Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus, whose works have been my favorites for years. The aim was not only to respect the original heritage, but also add calmness and comfort through the building’s purity, characterizing Aires Mateus’ architecture.

Through a huge portal, guests enter a grand hall anchored by a Moon Pendant by Italian designer Davide Groppi, who served as the lighting consultant on the project. The center of the marble-clad room features a modular Extrasoft sofa by Piero Lissoni from Living Divani. The connected dining room with its long oak wood table by Carl Hansen seats up to 20 people, bringing together the various cultures of the guests and summing up the idea of unity in the hotel. In the dining room an antique oil painting is casually perched atop a floating shelf, while another huge one is standing in the entrance hall, both giving the space a special ambiance.

The hotel is furnished and detailed with a delicate touch: modern and clean interiors thoughtfully embracing guests’ comfort, while keeping the building ancient walls and features. The very large bathrooms have bathtubs and sinks made out of the limestone ‘Lioz’. The soft color of this special stone, combined with pine wood and white tiles, result in a warm, harmonious atmosphere. These traditional materials have been used in most of Lisbon’s historic palaces, churches and monuments.

via silent living

BERLIN CALLING

MaBerlin11_WEBMaBerlin16_WEBMaBerlin14_WEBMaBerlin12_WEBMaBerlin10_WEBMaBerlin08_WEBMaBerlin06_WEBMaBerlin03_WEBMaBerlin18_WEBMaBerlin21_WEBFRANK187003_webFRANK186976_web

I am in a complete awe by this stunning and absolutely unique space in Berlin, there are so many ‘things’ to be impressed by: the high ceilings, the concrete polished floor, the frameless floor to ceiling doors and the beautiful, matching stucco finish on the walls and closets are just a few.

In the living area, the architects replaced the old small windows with four high oak windows, brightening up the whole home. The central piece of the common space is definitely the concrete island, orchestrating all the main activities of the home. The height difference between the kitchen-dining area and the living room makes for a visual separation in an otherwise open plan. The back wall of the living room is covered in edge to edge closets, of which one of the doors lead to the more private part of the apartment- the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom is a clean concrete cube, where elements are hidden and visible surfaces rendered in microcement. The two open rooms that are connected by a glass wall towards the street can provide flexibility as commercial space or a living area extension.

via fantastic frank

NEVER FORGET TO LOOK UP

Ceilings are a commonly neglected space in room design, but when they are done well, they can be amazing. Sometimes, with the right shade of paint, ceilings can make for a stunning statement. The rich, dark blue ceiling adds sophistication to this dining and living room, creating the perfect backdrop for the contemporary furniture pieces. A nice compliment to the ceiling tone is the kitchen in a lighter blue shade. Subtle yet impactful, the pale pink shade gives the bedroom a brilliant glow, while not making the space too overwhemingly pink. Overall a very inspirational apartment which will constantly draw your gaze upwards.

via wrede

ALEA TULUM

182614575182614612182614631182614651IMG_2836182614645182614654182614501182614496182431044182614649Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Tulum completely blew me over and will see me back real soon!

One of the difficulties with visiting Tulum is deciding which hotel to stay in since the choices are endless, but we couldn’t have had a better experience in the newly opened Alea Tulum.

All of the rooms face the ocean, which means you’ll never miss one of the stunning sunrises. We decided for a swim-up suite on the ground floor, which was amazing being able to step out on our balcony and into the pool. The access to the beach is right at our doorstep as well, and is perfect for relaxing since Alea is a bit away from the bustling of inner Tulum. There are sunbeds scattered around and the use of paddle boards and kayaks is free (we enjoyed our little kayak trip very much, the water is perfectly clear and it gives you a nice view of the beach) or you can walk down their pier to swing on the hammocks.

As far as design, the architecture and interior details are both modern and timeless, and fit very well in the trendy upcoming vibe of Tulum. The facade is made of light stone, and I love the perforated concrete front facade, pairing perfectly with the balcony railings in the back. The restaurant is in an all wooden construction, providing a nice contrast to the heavy materials and allowing for a calming atmosphere (especially in the morning for jetlagged people like us ;)).

One huge plus goes to Alea’s included breakfast, which was probably the best breakfast I’ve ever had in a hotel; from a beloved cappuccino and fresh orange juice to delicious strawberry jam, and your choice from 5 different appetizers and 8 entrees, it’ll be sure to satisfy any flavor you’re craving.

Navigate