A girl can dream, can’t she? Think ocean, jetty, bandeau, big hat, Jackie-O glasses. There is only room for me and my guide on the boat, but all are welcome to join in my dark-days-of-winter reverie. (P.S. the days ARE getting longer. And, here’s to a swell weekend.)

I believe the magic’s in the mix. I love to shake it up. I wanted to share a little secret on how to make that happen. Do very usual, ordinary things in unusual places. It’s so fun. Throw away the guide book when you’re traveling and find out where the locals eat. Take a chance. It might be delicious. Take a pass on the famous out-of-town shopping district. Look for a neighborhood boutique or better yet a flea market (especially good when you’re in Paris!). And for my very favorite, when I’m traveling and feeling overwhelmed with so much to see and so much to do … I stop. I break for coffee, wine, conversation. Pretending you’re at home in a faraway place makes you a local. That’s a kick!

(P.S. How about vice-versa? Introduce something exotic and unusual to your 24-7!)

photos top to bottom: one, two, three, four.

We LOVE special occasions, long-planned exotic trips and shimmering five-star hotels. We admit it. But, here at Lisa Sherry Interieurs, we think luxury should be an every day occurrence. Thus, we are raising our collective hands to support the new Glamping trend. It’s camping, but with a piquant twist of luxury. Bring out the china, Belgian linens, lanterns, portieres, the caviar and crystal. Rarify a rural environment with finery. Think tents (Gypsy FaireTents is a fave), tree houses, airstreams, campers and yurts – with a new, luxurious flair.

Recreate Out of Africa luxury in your own tree house.

Clearly, wonderful things are happening inside this palatial tent.

Create your own Kasbah.

We love the reality of everyday life. Yet, we crave vacations. So when impatience and wanderlust start tugging at our coattail – often in the super market checkout line – one of our little tricks to satisfy the craving is (drum roll) … a smart phone fantasy. Won’t you join us for a virtual trip down the rabbit hole and meander through our latest find – a Brazilian getaway called Casa Lola? We are in the business of turning ideas into fabulous reality, so we may be booking passage soon. See you there?

A short walk from the quadrado or village square in Trancoso, Casa Lola is our idea of perfection. The perfect backdrop for our next stack of vacation photos and memories.

We love the juxtaposition of raw materials and modern lines and the blurred boundaries between interior and exterior. It creates a seamless living space.

Yes, it’s that time again. Most of us have been pretty lucky to have an oh so warm winter and maybe it’s not as crucial to “get out of dodge” this year.  In case you want to feel the sand in your toes or wear a straw hat, check out The Viceroy in Anguilla designed by the masterful Kelly Wearstler.
Driftwood and travertine are stunning, dramatic and perfectly mixed. Love the monochromatic feel of this place.  A must see destination, who cares if the winter has been pleasantly temperate!  A trip is in order asap, someone call my travel agent!  I imagine myself padding around in my own private world of neutral. AHHHH. With all this calm, who needs cocktails?  Well ok, may not need them, but they won’t hurt.

all images via The Viceroy

Ciao! Let’s travel!

So much to do and so little time! The last leg of of our trip was a whirlwind tour of London, and we made the most of the few hours we had.

“Impromptu” is our middle name, but we’re not vagabonds. One piece of pre-planned luck – terrific accommodations at Number 16 in South Kensington (a fab Firmdale hotel). Wonderful traditional interiors with a kick and a wink.

First stop, the V&A to see the Post Modern exhibit. We wondered if the charming and iconic fire-engine red phone booths might be an anachronism with ever-present cell phones.

Our next stop was non-stop. We walked and talked and shopped along the Brompton Road and Kings Road thoroughfares. Dusk falls early and for the first time this year it felt like Christmas – so many wonderful small shops subtly aglow. And, of course, Harrods was ablaze.

 We were in London so of course we had to eat Indian! Kudos to the Star of India. Delish food and drink. Near the end of our trip, we finally started to master the mysterious coinage – quids, farthings, pence and half-pences  — just in time to liquidate at the restaurant.

 There really no place like home. The “rub” (how can we not include a Shakespeare reference?) is to feel at home in faraway places. It’s a mindset and a skillset. We’re eager for the next adventure!

Getting there was half the fun

Time for a road trip. An excursion to Lyme-Regis came highly recommended. First by Jane Austen who set a crucial scene in Persuasion in this seaside retreat (we shudder at the consequences of Louisa Musgrove not taking a spill on the Cobb) and by local advisors, like Martin, our taxi driver.

Alas, Martin was not at our disposal to pilot the trip. No worries. Have Hyundai, will travel. The day was clear and bright. We were caffeinated and emboldened. We set out for the 40-mile drive to Lyme-Regis with Lisa at the right-hand helm. Joyce and Kathy navigated (after a fashion). The “cling to the left” mantra served us well, while the roundabouts challenged. The reward was a missed turn or two and a wonderful afternoon in Lyme-Regis. Our immediate goals were grand and modest: immerse ourselves in the town and get out by dark.

Our favorite Lyme-Regis experiences? The stunning beach, daunting cliffs,and sometimes-precarious Cobb.

Next, the landscape of the town itself with a maze of narrow streets, mini Venice-like waterways, and charming cottages. We now love thatched roofs, a special deeper-than-usual shade of cerulean blue, and Cath Kidson (albeit in small doses).

Our biggest success: we drove, we conquered, we returned to our Beach Haus to tell the tale.

We almost became squatters.

The Beach Haus is a thoroughly modern glass house paradoxically situated in the countryside of Burton Bradstock, Dorset, with seductive and relaxing views of the sea.

And, this combination of opposites – the modern and the bucolic – gave our trip special charm and personality. Cool, uncluttered, and angular the Beach Haus wowed us in three fabulous stories. The scenery is out of this world.

  From the deck, you can see the stretches of pasture, leading to the water.

More photos of the house, which we quickly referred to as “home”… Sunday morning, we awoke to this:

Outside our perfectly modern cocoon, we wandered through pastures with grazing sheep and cows down to the sea.

At Martin’s behest, we made our way to the Hive Beach Cafe, where the food and drink were delish and resplendent as he had promised. This Sunday we’ll endeavor to duplicate Eggs Benedict and Bubble & Squeak in our own kitchens (probably to no avail).

On our journey, we met wonderful people – dozens of locals (all seemingly with well-behaved hounds) who made us feel welcome and at home — away from home.

 To see more great Beach Haus photos, just go to the Unique Home Stays website (uniquehomestays.com) and search Beach Haus.

Again we’d like to thank Claire at UHS for giving us the opportunity to explore the southern end of England. To contact Claire regarding this or any other Unique Home Stays property, dial  +44 (0) 1637 882014 or email her at [email protected]

 For our next post- a tour of seaside situated Lyme Regis!

Now that we’ve returned to the States, we want to share with you the things we learned & inspiration gathered while abroad, along with pics of the beautiful scenery of rural England, and the design-y , “brilliant” bits from our brief London stay. Anglophiles take note! The next week of posts are for you!

But first, our rules for the road:

We love juxtapositions. And, what better study in opposites than a thoroughly modern glass house set amongst the sheep, the cows and the rolling hills of Dorset?

Defying authority is in our DNA, but rebelliousness has its limits. The TSA is serious about “no scissors.”Many thanks to the kind agents who confiscated Lisa’s sharp objects.

We loved Martin, our taxi driver, who offered a crash course on local eateries, animal and vegetation life, and the dicey future of the EU.

Imagine, a little sherbet-colored corrugated cabin by the beach. Oooops, we meant “sea.” We plan to duplicate this idea at home.

 No, it’s not a political statement. It’s about Yankee drivers in the UK. We white-knuckled onto a simple “bear left” principle to navigate narrow roads and multi-lane highways alike.

Simply put, there are no mistakes. It’s the wrong turn that can lead you to the right thing. Like a great meal.

 We are mesmerized and charmed by the patina of time and the easy use of natural materials in the UK – from thatched roofs to grouse walls.

 Dogs have status in the UK. Four paws up for a US movement to permit dogs in restaurants.

A travel strategy built on spontaneity takes planning! Unique Homes Stays careful attention to all detail made our trip a pleasure and whimsical delight. Props to the team, from our booking agent to our driver, Martin, for their attentiveness. We could not have envisioned a better trip.

SO. Want to see additional pics of the beautiful Beach Haus? Wednesday brings more, including breathtaking views of the prairie-meets-sea location and the charming streets of Burton Bradstock. Stay tuned!

We took a quick trip up to NYC last week and brought back some window inspiration.

Take a look at some of our favorites- first up, Club Monaco:

We still love a gallery wall:

ABC Carpet & Home is seeing red:

And White:

And a little bit deconstructed?

They make old colors look new- next up? Mauve:

In SOHO, a perfectly parked scooter sets off Cole Haan:

More pattern:

Bergdorf is taking a page from us designers- floor plans as backdrop:

Crazy fun with doll clothes:

Need we say more than “just beautiful”?

Feathers:

And reptiles:

And taxidermy. Oh. My.