International Boutique Hotel #29: The House Hotel in Istanbul

One thing that inspires me the most is Architecture, especially seeing how different countries interpret it while injecting their own personalities.  I think that is extremely smart and I'm so happy that that's being the case.  The House Hotel in the hip Beyoğlu area of Istanbul was renovated in 2010 and Autoban, the firm responsible, preserved the 1890's building by keeping its structure as untouched as possible and also maintaining its beautiful parquet floors, hexagon coffered ceilings, boiseries, and Mosaic. 

Part of the ceiling of this hotel is a hexagon coffered ceiling which is repeated on some areas of the floors.  Please note how the small sconces have the room numbers on them which then reflect on the walls.  How cool!

If it weren't for the glass table the size of this room would be perfect for kids to play around.  The beam ceiling is loudly calling my name.

The white curvy side table works as a space for the eye to rest from the rectilinear of the elaborate boiseries and headboard.  Love the scale of the lamp and the simple detail of the brassy dove on the wall.

The TV of course had to be white.  If I live in Istanbul one day, cross your fingers, I'll be knocking the doors of Autoban. 

Love, love the excess of molding and the appliques used to make the boiseries.  Everything is about continuity in this hallway. 

In the bathrooms hexagon shaped mirror again mirrors the ceiling.  The two leg sink, by the way, deserves a post of its own. 

In both images above we can see clearly how beautiful architecture does not need much to reign.  Someone said that a good room should be able to look beautiful naked.  I agree!

Apparently the hotel has a "butler" style service but I would much rather be at the roof top enjoying a delicious Turkish breakfast overlooking The Galata tower.

images from Autoban and THH

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Spring is blooming in John Derian's ballerina for Repetto

What comes after the showers of March? well, the flowers start blooming everywhere and why not cover your feet with them in these John Derian's more than cute limited edition ballet flats for the French house Repetto. It's cheaper than a flight to Istanbul to see the more than half a million tulips they have planted throughout the magical city.

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Most coveted skylines

Via

Most of them are centuries old and constructed in perfect and steady ways that even today is hardly explicable, thick of Gothic ached ceilings. They are still today standing graciously and elegant like only they can do. My friend Vyna asked me the other day which country I would like to live in if I ever have the chance to relocate. My answer was straight forward "anywhere in Europe, where there are antique buildings to admire and cobble stone streets to stroll on" That be Paris, Munich or Istanbul I could move tomorrow in a heartbeat. How about you where would you like to live in?

Munich via.

The magical Istanbul.

London via.

Photographs by Liz Rusby Via

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