Marilyn Monroe`s house / Los Angeles / USA

Categories Houses, Stories

Los Angeles – Contributed by Jens Hoffmann House & Hotel Magazine features Marilyn’s last home, where she allegedly committed suicide. Located at 12305 5th. Helena Drive, Brentwood. First time visitors are surprised by the location and size of the property, it is certainly no mansion which you might well be expecting. Head West on Sunset Blvd to Brentwood, then just past Bundy Drive turn left into Carmelina Ave. On turning into Carmelina you will see the Helena’s on your left, there are a number of…Continue Reading “Marilyn Monroe`s house / Los Angeles / USA” →

Skhirat Hotel, Casablanca / Morocco

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Stories

Thats a new & nice hotel in Morocco. Its fun to sit in the manicured gardens, with its private Atlantic Ocean beachfront being one of the most picturesque in Morocco, L’Amphitrite Palace has provided a luxuriously isolated retreat for those in the know over the past decade. Remote, but easily accessible, its convenient proximity to Casablanca – 50 minutes, and Rabat – 30 minutes, makes its location an entrée to the best of both worlds. Both Casablanca and Rabat have international airports and its easy…Continue Reading “Skhirat Hotel, Casablanca / Morocco” →

Container House / Tron Legacy

Categories All posts, Destinations, Houses, Stories

In this age of carbon footprint reducing, environmentally responsible, energy saving responsibility, what better way to make your home than out of the detritus left behind by global industry? Sam has shown us how to make responsible use of waste by stacking up these empty shipping containers and turning them into a home. The entire walls simply roll up, creating either an easily accessible front door or providing a view across the harbour. All this and it comes with not one but two Ducati bikes….Continue Reading “Container House / Tron Legacy” →

36h stop over in Miami – Hotel Setai / Miami / USA

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Stories
36h stop over in Miami – Hotel Setai / Miami / USA

I enjoyed the “Rhythm of the South” in Miami. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann. A weekend in South Beach is truly fun. Do you long for the South Beach of frozen margaritas and electric neon? The South Beach of stylish new hotels like Gale, Lord Balfour, SLS South Beach and special restaurants like Yardbird, Southern Table & Bar, Khong River House, Tongue & Cheek? I like the the South Beach of yesterday with Art Deco buildings, museums and monuments? Perhaps you simply crave …the beach. Miami…Continue Reading “36h stop over in Miami – Hotel Setai / Miami / USA” →

House – Twilight Series / Vancouver / Canada

Categories All posts, Destinations, Houses, Stories

Great house, do you remember the vampire…The Cullen residence in the first film is a beautiful, modern building, all wide panes of glass, jutting steel and warm wood cladding, surrounded by tall conifers and gentle mist. This is actually the Hoke House in Portland, and was designed by architect Jeff Kovel. Edward’s room in this house is just beautiful. However, serious architecture lovers will perhaps be more familiar with the house used in the second film, Blue Moon. Designed by Arthur Erickson, this residence is…Continue Reading “House – Twilight Series / Vancouver / Canada” →

House James Bond movie “Diamonds are forever”, Palm Springs

Categories All posts, Destinations, Houses, Stories

wow, this home seems sprung out of a future movie. The correlation is not far away from the truth, since this residence designed by John Lautner was in fact the stage for the famous Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever” produced in 1971. Located in Palm Springs, California, the house amazes due to its unworldly architecture. A conical dome is the main recognizable structure that most Bond fans are sure to remember, even if this iconic building was built in the 60′s. The rocks in the…Continue Reading “House James Bond movie “Diamonds are forever”, Palm Springs” →

Paris mon amour – Reopened Hotel Ritz / Paris / France

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Houses, Stories
Paris mon amour – Reopened Hotel Ritz / Paris / France

Destination Paris. The Ritz is open again. The Ritz Paris has been shuttered since July 2012 for what is billed as the biggest refurbishment in its history, headed by architect Didier Beautemps of Paris-based Atelier COS and interior designer Thierry Despont. Founded by Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz in 1898, the hotel has hosted celebrities ranging from Coco Chanel to Ernest Hemingway, after whom the Bar Hemingway is named. Chanel plans to open its first spa named Chanel au Ritz Paris, dedicated to the brand’s skin…Continue Reading “Paris mon amour – Reopened Hotel Ritz / Paris / France” →

Things you must do in your life – Bonvecchiati Hotel / Venice / Italy

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Houses, Stories
Things you must do in your life – Bonvecchiati Hotel / Venice / Italy

If you’re looking for a luxury modern, fresh, minimalist hotel in Venice…check in. There are two ‘Bonvecchiati’ hotels in Venice, next door to each other: the ‘standard’ hotel (Bonvecchiati Hotel) and the deluxe ‘Palace Bonvecchiati’. Make sure you know which you’re going to, as it may mean arriving at the wrong entrance, our water taxi dropped us, quite literally at the front door, we climbed from the boat using the hotel’s handrail and were in. First impresson, nice interior design, the hotel gives travelers an…Continue Reading “Things you must do in your life – Bonvecchiati Hotel / Venice / Italy” →

We are at “Windy City”- Hotel Conrad / Chicago / USA

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Houses, Stories
We are at “Windy City”- Hotel Conrad / Chicago / USA

Nice downtown Chicago hotel, residentially inspired with a touch of sophistication. Chicago nicknamed Windy City, is the third most populous city in the United States. Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837, near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. Today, the city is an international hub for finance, commerce, industry, telecommunications, and transportation, with O’Hare International Airport being the second-busiest airport in the world in terms of traffic movements. The art deco–inspired lobby avoids feeling like a period piece…Continue Reading “We are at “Windy City”- Hotel Conrad / Chicago / USA” →

A week-end in Rome – Hotel de Russie / Rome / Italy

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Stories

Things to do in Rome & the lovely Hotel Russie. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann Why the hotel Russie? Its a luxury five-star hotel located in the heart of Rome between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo on the Via del Babuino. It offers spa fun pure. The hotel is within easy walking distance of Rome’s attractions, fashion houses and Via Condotti. The Vatican City, with St Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel, is not far away while Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain are also…Continue Reading “A week-end in Rome – Hotel de Russie / Rome / Italy” →

Future house / Tbilisi

Categories All posts, Destinations, Houses, Stories

Very special house, indeed! Designed in the 1970s by George Chakhava, who was both the lead architect and the client for the project, the building pioneered the ‘Space City’ method, whereby the building uses as little ground as possible, instead extending up into the air and allowing the landscape to flourish around the building. The concept was conceived from forest structures, where the trunks of trees have a relatively small footprint, but a large crown. As can clearly be seen in the above photo, nature…Continue Reading “Future house / Tbilisi” →

Stop over- Hilton Airport Hotel / Miami / USA

Categories All posts, Destinations, Hotels, Stories
Stop over- Hilton Airport Hotel / Miami / USA

We had a late arrival at Miami International Airport and we were waiting for a transfer to South America. Arriving in the sunshine state and waitin for a plane to South America sounds boring, but we got a nice compensation with pick up to the Airport Hilton. Check in here, situated on a private peninsula on Blue Lagoon, the Miami Airport Hilton, is embarking on a new voyage – a complete makeover of the hotel’s 500 guest rooms and suites, guest elevators and a new…Continue Reading “Stop over- Hilton Airport Hotel / Miami / USA” →