A Favorite Blog: Alkemie

As long as we’re “Sharing the Luv,” let me share one of my favorite blogs, Alkemie. San Francisco-based Karen Olivia started blogging on a whim, and chose design to focus on.

Karen's profession is very technical in nature, so the blogging world lets her experience her creative outlet which includes; travel, books, dance, fashion, movies, photography, shopping, language, culture, and of course, design.

{Karen's living room}

Karen is not afraid of color. One of Karen’s favorite colors is purple, which is beautifully displayed on her blog. Her living room is painted purple and her sofa is upholstered in lilac. “Purple is the color of royalty. It is majestic and has a sense of mystery at the same time.”

Fun Facts: Karen speaks 4 languages and can play at least 6 musical instruments (more but there are some that are rusty). She can speed read, and has been to about 35 countries. Pretty impressive!

Wild for purple!

Some of my favorite posts of Karen's are of the hotels she explores. From small boutique hotels to the grandiose, she covers many of them, their designers, and includes beautiful photos for the best “eye-candy."

(above) The Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City...


...and the Haymarket Hotel in London (above).

Karen loves taking old pieces of furniture and having them reupholstered or redone in a new way. Her blog features a gallery of repurposed furniture. If you have a chair or piece of furniture that would like to show off, send Karen photos with information and she will post them!

BEFORE: Fellow blogger, Katiedid, found this faux bamboo table on the street and took it home to give it some TLC.

AFTER: The end result after lacquering the table white with an aqua top. Beautiful!

BEFORE: A tired pair of vintage caned chairs that Karen picked up...

...and AFTER: Redone in a faux leather-like material with a black lacquer finish for a modern twist! Beautiful job Karen!

There are so many wonderful posts on Karen's blog, so grab a comfy seat and enjoy perusing the fabulous Alkemie!

Photos courtesy of Alkemie

Thanks Washington Post!

Was I surprised to find out that Paris Hotel Boutique was featured in today's Home & Garden section of the Washington Post, alongside other lovely shops that sell French decor. I had no idea about it and then the hits starting coming to my website. What an honor.

I hope Michelle Obama is reading the Post today and in need of some fancy hotel china or silver for the White House. Wishful thinking, huh?

You can read the article here.

Finding the Perfect Dubai Hotel for All Budgets and Styles-hotel

Finding the Perfect Dubai Hotel for All Budgets and Styles-hotel
by Sunil S.

Finding the perfect Dubai hotel for your need and budget is not as difficult as you might think. However, if you are looking for something that is a bit out of the ordinary then Dubai hotels may be just what you are looking for.

Dubai has turned into a paradise for travelers that offer the most luxurious hotels with eye popping views that will give you memories that last a lifetime. That said, there are a ton of hotels in Dubai to choose from. The City certainly caters to people with all different budgets, interests, and tastes.

As the second largest city in the UAE, Dubai runs the gamut on hotels. With ultra modern architecture, trendy fashion districts and a very happening nightlife, you can choose from a number of hotels in Dubai that can put you right in the middle of the action or you can choose a hotel that will allow you some peace and quiet.

Many of the hotels are set right on the beautiful beaches of Dubai to give you a sense of being away from the hustle and bustle. These are usually the most luxurious hotels giving you plenty of chances to be pampered and treated like royalty.

However, the hotels in the city center are just as deluxe and are more affordable. No matter whether you want to lounge on the beach, relax at the spa or be a walk away from the nightlife you have many options to choose from.

There are many Dubai hotels that are considered to be top rated, not just in Dubai, but in the world. They provide outstanding service and yet you can get some great deals there as well.

It is one of the reasons the tourism is so popular in Dubai because whether you want to live the pampered life or find a budget friendly Dubai hotel you can literally find it all. Many of the typical Dubai hotels are rated four or five starts, and even the three star hotels will rival any five star hotels in the Western World.

The Burj al-Arab is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. It is an all-suite hotel that is one of the finest that the world has to offer. With private check in and a brigade of butlers at your beck and call you will receive 24-hour attention that is geared specifically to your high style life. However, if you want something more moderately priced you always choose a hotel that still offers deluxe service without the high price such as the Ascot Hotel or the Avari Hotel.

If you want just a comfortable clean room to sleep in you can choose from the Gulf Pearl Hotel or the Panorama Hotel which both offer great service at inexpensive prices. There are more and more hotels under construction as we speak so there are quite the choices when it comes to finding somewhere to stay.

Keep in mind that if you get a Dubai hotel on the Jumeirah Beach Strip you are going to pay more money, as most hotels range about $200 per night, but you will get amazing service at the same time. However, no matter what your income you can certainly find something to suit your taste and price range.

Most of the hotels are within an easy drive from the airport and are very conveniently located to shopping, nightlife, and historic monuments. The customer service at most hotels are beyond what you ever expect, and no matter where you go you are only within a short drive of the beaches and restaurants.

Most hotels also have restaurants within so you won't even have to drive if you want to get something quick to eat. Dubai is all about tourism so it really caters to the visitors. Whether you choose a budget friendly Dubai hotel or a luxurious paradise you certainly won't be disappointed. Visit http://www.Dubai-Information-Site.com for the complete 411 on Dubai hotels, where you should stay, what you should look out for and how much you really should be paying

About the Author

Sunil is a co-founder of the Dubai City Information Site, the first & only comprehensive website on Dubai City presented from a fresh, practical & first hand perspective. Read about the culture, history, religion, currency, jobs, hotels, entertainment, tours, transportation, flights, controversies, book reviews, guides, investing, business, sports, etc. you name it.

Read on for more information on the Dubai Information Site

Dubai Hotel Guide - Hotels in Dubai For All Likings and Budgets-hotel

Dubai Hotel Guide - Hotels in Dubai For All Likings and Budgets-hotel
by Sunil S.

Planning a stay in Dubai for your business meeting or family vacation? Not a problem! Being the newest and preferred business and tourist destination of the world, Dubai offers a wide variety of hotels and accommodations.

Hundreds of hotels ranging from cheap hotels to the world's only 7 star hotel (Burj Al Arab) are scattered across Dubai. More are still under development in the everyday ongoing construction such as the Burj Dubai. All the Dubai hotels comply with the unified system set by the Dubai Tourism authorities to ensure quality service and facilities.

The most famous Dubai luxury hotel is the Burj Al Arab, which is the only seven star hotel in the world. It is built in a form of a billowing sail. This luxury hotel soars as high as 321 meters above the Arabian Gulf.

Situated in the Jumeirah Beach area, this hotel is currently one of the world's finest luxury hotels if not the finest. This high-rise building that dominates the coastline of Dubai is seen from different sides of Dubai and offers amazing color sculptures of fire and water at night.

The special services of this hotel include luxury chauffer driven limousine airport transfers in Rolls Royce, private golf cart rides when going to adjacent properties, and private hotel staffs for all rooms. The hotel was designed to serve the International Elite class with its excellent facilities that offer complete privacy and security for their top-rank customers.

The Burj Al Arab also offers sporting activities such as kayaking, surfing, sailing, paragliding, windsurfing, and deep sea fishing. Those who can afford to have a luxurious stay in Dubai can book online at the Dubai Tourism or at the Burj Al Arab websites.

Those who want luxury at more affordable prices can try other luxury hotels in Dubai such as the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Raffles Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah, and many more. The Five Star Alliance, the alliance of luxury hotels recommends in their website the 27 luxury hotels in Dubai including the previously named Dubai hotels.

A cheap hotel in Dubai (or should I say discounted hotels) is more affordable for budget conscious tourists and are also available in all areas of Dubai. Shopping for these hotels can be done online where you can book one right away when you find it.

Aside from the current hotels in Dubai, more hotels are still to be completed in nearly halfway developments such as the Burj Dubai and in Bawadi. The Burj Dubai will be home to more luxury hotels such as the signature boutique Armani hotel. Bawadi, being one of the biggest entertainment walkways in the world will give way to the construction of 51 hotels more in the Bawadi projects.

These hotels are available in boutique, themed, and resort hotels that include the prospected world's largest hotel, the Asia-Asia Hotel. Theme hotels will include Universal, Asian, American (countries), African, European, and Middle Eastern.

And with all that said, don't forget the Dubai hotel apartments. The Bur Dubai area is loaded with these. These are like the extended stay hotels you are used to seeing in North America (Residence Inn's and Towne Place Suites), except they are MUCH better.

These hotel apartments are truly luxurious with most of them with marble flooring. I suppose it is meant to give you a taste of what it would be like to live in a Dubai high rise apartment or condo. I have stayed at many of these and definitely recommend it as an alternative. I mostly recommend this if you are traveling to Dubai with your family (kids).

Dubai will be much more worth visiting if you book in one of its quality hotels. Hotel booking will be made easier and safer when done with the Dubai Tourism accredited hotels whether a luxury hotel or the more affordable ones. Dubai hotels will surely give you the services and amenities that will make you feel completely at home. Once you get there, you will see how easily it is to call Dubai your home (at least for the time being).

Visit http://www.Dubai-Information-Site.com for the best deals on Dubai hotels. The site has partnered with hand-picked agencies in Dubai to offer the best deals at the lowest prices up to 60% off!

About the Author

Sunil is a co-founder of the Dubai City Information Site, the first & only comprehensive website on Dubai City presented from a fresh, practical & first hand perspective. Read about the culture, history, religion, currency, jobs, hotels, entertainment, tours, transportation, flights, controversies, book reviews, guides, investing, business, sports, etc. you name it. Read on for more information on the Dubai Information Site

Tea, Poodles, & Greyhounds

What a great way to spend a Sunday--San Francisco’s famous Ghiradelli Square. Usually for tourists, it is now becoming a destination for locals. On my way to a doggie meetup group, I stopped by my friends’ tearoom, Crown & Crumpet. The proprietors, Amy & Christopher Dean have been friends of mine for years, back to the days when they owned the charming La Place du Soleil in Russian Hill.

Amy, a native San Franciscan, and Chris, from England, merge their talents as antiques dealer, prop buyer, and set dresser, to create this gem of a tea shop.

This tearoom is like no other -- so much style and wit. It’s officially a “Doily-Free Zone,” no granny-thing going on here. It’s cheerfully decorated with Cath Kidston prints, which grace the walls, chairs, tables and aprons. The pink & white checkered floors are scrumptious!

{Antique "Tea Merchant" sign that the Dean's shipped over from England}

Their menu is amazing with finger sandwiches, scones, salads and yummy organic crumpets. And of course, the wide variety of teas to choose from.

Such wonderful details including their custom china pieces that can be purchased in their gift shop

Small touches like antique silver water pitchers add to the character of this shop.

Can't help but love these vintage signs...

A cozy seating area if you just want to relax and sip tea...

and fancy sherrys and ports to compliment your lunch...

{Lest not forget the yummy candy for sale in their adorable gift shop}

or these fun party hats!

{Exterior of Crown & Crumpet}

If you're visiting San Francisco, be sure stop by Crown & Crumpet!

Crown & Crumpet
207 Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.771.4252

What a beautiful view of the Bay from Ghiradelli Square

After visiting Amy & Chris, I mosied on over to Yap Wraps, across the way from Crown & Crumpet. They were hosting a miniature Italian Greyhound meetup group and our Poodle meetup group was invited.

20 Italian Greyhounds and 4 Poodles attended the meetup at the Ghiradelli Square Terrace. Wine & cheese was served for the owners.

It was a little chilly, so they had a nice little fire going...

Vito & Maxie, the poodle crashers of the event! whew...I'm tired!

A Favorite Blog: Hollister Hovey

I don’t know where to begin to describe one of my favorite (and “coolest”) blogs, Hollister Hovey. Even her name, Hollister H. Hovey, is cool.

Hollister is a former reporter who now works in healthcare PR. She has always been obsessed with pre-war 20th Century style, practically from the womb, so she spends weekends collecting eclectic and quirky things for her home.

Hollister lives live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with her little sister, Porter, who is a photographer and has her own fabulous blog, Porter's Polaroid Project.

Blackbook.com describes Hollister’s style as, “taxidermy and Audubon prints, tweedy, slightly Goth-prep with an outdoorsy ephemera and loaded with turn-of-the-century relics and keepsake colonial Britannia. Her antique finds, designs, art, and fashion are from a bygone era—a simpler, gentle time of eccentric tradition and well-heeled adventure.”

Hollister’s eclectic blog covers everything from history, vintage finds, fashion, travel & adventure, family & friends, to her beautifully “collaged” gift guides. I am always excited to see what she posts about next. This gal has her own unique style!

Love this collage on her acquisitions...

or "Princely Pieces for Plebes & Proletariats" from her 2008 Holiday Gift Guide!...

and sublime stocking stuffers from her Holiday Gift Guide...

and what a great collage on travel...

Two major requirements for entry to the Hovey's unconventional Thanksgiving feast are specs and two first names. Well, I have the specs, not the first names.

I love some of Hollister's vintage eBay finds like these motorcycle boots...

basketweave flask...

1923 Leica camera...

and this vintage leather Polaroid camera that she bought for her sister, Porter.

Take a peek inside Hollister's living room (above) filled with her favorite curiosities.

So, get comfortable and visit Hollister Hovey. You'll be glad you did!

All photos from Hollister Hovey