At Home at The Huntley

Admittedly I stay in a lot of hotels.  I look forward to the small boutique hotels in particular.  They tend to be designed really beautifully with an out of the box aesthetic.  The Huntley Hotel checks all those boxes.

It was home to Blogtourcali when we were in Santa Monica.  The Huntley, with its prime location: steps from the beach, restaurants, and shopping positions it as a MUST if you find yourself in the area.


You know you are in for a treat when first you pull your car into the parking garage (if you can even call it that.)  Never in my life.  Between the curtains and the potted containers I could have spent more time there.

But a feast for the eyes awaits ~ Designer Thomas Shoos sexy, organic meets glam lobby with ethnic touches had me at hello!  The owners wanted something special for The Huntley, not just another sea inspired coastal haut hotel, but a conversation between sand and sea that unfolds itself slowly.

The piranhas are at once playful and become an important focal point, especially with the way the light dances and the shadows fall.

The difference is in the details.  As I was checking in, I was checking out the leather and shagreen inlaid counter top ~ a thing of beauty!

Orchids, manzanita branches, and succulents lend a dramatic, naturalistic vibe.  Schoos delights in what he describes as, "Bringing together flavors that don't match.  It begins a conversation."

Coral fans were a theme throughout

I did not have the pleasure of a suite but the standard rooms were very nicely appointed and plush beds are a must!

loved the light fixtures in the bathroom

The 360 degree view in the Penthouse restaurant lounge is spectacular day or night.  The etherial  feeling either makes you think it is an extension of the beach or you're up in the clouds.  The intimate banquette seating (in the 1st picture and below) was inspired by beach cabanas with their wispy sheer curtains and ocean view.

while at the same time a clubby vibe anchors the space at the other end of the restaurant

The view out towards Malibu is intoxicating.  SIGH ~ and people call this home.

Steam Heat

It's hard to believe I was in California on Blogtour 6 weeks ago.  Yikes!  Time is flying and I am wrapping up my coverage by talking about steam, Mr. Steam to be exact.  Miele extols the virtues of cooking with it and Mr. Steam, as the name implies, wants you to understand the benefits of incorporating it into your bathing ritual.   

Steam baths have deep roots and a long tradition starting with ancient civilizations.  While bathing is no longer communal, it is still felt to benefit us in much the same way.  Great rooms, home theaters, and wine cellars in our mcmansions may be reserved for a lucky few, but a well thought out spa room (bathroom) is the new upgrade people are desiring, and steam should be thought of as integral part of the perfect shower experience.

There are SO many benefits to incorporating steam into a shower ~  

~ improved breathing and circulation 

~hot mist is good for sinuses & allergy sufferers

~opens pores for a healthy glow/nice complexion

~ makes shaving a breeze, helps lessen ingrown hairs

~ removes toxins, detoxifies

~ increases circulation, increases flexibility 

~ increase the length of REM sleep cycles

~ helps with arthritis & achy muscles 

~ relieves stress

~ fosters a sense of well being

If all the reasons I just mentioned weren't motivating enough ~  on average a shower with steam burns 150 calories in a 15 minute session on a 114 degree setting.  How could I not have known this?? 

 It can be added  to an existing shower, but admittedly it looks easier to incorporate into a new one.   By adding chromatherapy, music therapy, or aromatherapy you just increased the experience ten fold!

Mr. Steam is raising the bar on its own sleekly designed shower interface with the new STEAM 2.0 model.  It has mobile control technology.  You can control your home security system, lights, and now shower experience as well, all from your phone!

Mr. Steam ~ Take me away

Inspired by the ancient baths or Hammams of Morocco, we were privileged to try  TALA  products, Mr. Steam's answer to a deeply enriching experience with the addition of the clay, soap, and argon oil.  All I can tell you is, after I used TALA, I slept like a baby

It just feels good!

Zephyr: Visionaries in Ventilation

Since 1997, the San Francisco based leader in ventilation design and technology has challenged the perception of what hood ventilation means to kitchen design.  An awareness was stirred by visionaries, reimagining and creating cutting edge residential range hoods.

From the simple and sleek to artistic and highly individualized, there is something for everyone.  Again, seeing a need for elegant fashion forward hoods (they can be sexy too), Zephyr set out to prove high style should extend above the range!

The more impressive, slightly less glamorous, but truly important "inner workings" of the ventilation system is what sets Zephyr apart.  They are performance driven but aesthetically pleasing!  The best of both worlds.  Zephyr, along with their collaborators, raised the bar when it came to designing high end kitchen hoods that were not only energy efficient, filter free, and LED lit, but were quiet, as in silent.  I witnessed it firsthand.  I hate when my hood is on in my own kitchen and I can't hear myself think, it's so loud!

Energy Star certification on selected hoods translates into a cost effective way for consumers to lower their carbon footprint while taking advantage of great design and the latest technology.

There is a wide range of stainless hoods.  These are some uniques standouts ~  The Padova hood designed by Fu Tung Cheng, provides a virtual plaster canvas for full customization.  It was inspired by Italy's timeless architectural design.

I died over this hand painted hood.  I see it in an Asian inspired, clean lined kitchen.  It becomes an unexpected focal point, a work of art.

The Plane Arc and Tilt hoods are elevated to sculptural status by designer Robert Brunner.  He challenges what we think a hood should look like while giving us all the bells and whistles we demand.  Each is available in black, white, and red glass and stainless steel.  Etchings are also available ~ there are infinite possibilities.

Fu Tung was on hand and gave us a rundown of one of his projects.  He's an innovator in the use of concrete and described for us how he conceived of and executed a rounded water feature bookcase for one of his clients.  Nothing like it has ever been done before (to my knowledge)  Truly unique!

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Mr. Cheng shared his fabulous book with us, Concrete At Home, where he illustrates his love and use of this ancient material in innovative ways, forging new techniques along the way.

Thank you Zephyr for introducing me to your remarkable ventilation hoods.  These are not necessarily things you think of first when designing a kitchen, but they become not only the workhorse of the room like any of your major appliances, they do it elegantly and efficiently.  Isn't that what great design is all about ?

Zephry ~ tini's for everyone!

* ph: Cheng Designs

DXV ~ Raising the Standard of Beauty

We had some fun with the nice folks at DXV.  They sponsored a beautiful get together at a restaurant nestled in the Hollywood Hills where we spoke about the American Standard brand and came to the realization that almost all of us had an American Standard product in our home.

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"DXV by American Standard is a new luxury bath and kitchen brand celebrating the storied plumbing company's rich history, now in its 15th decade."  The company believes if you design with a purpose along with performance and strive for perfection of product, you are raising the standard of beauty.  Therefore, well designed products become beautiful, and beauty becomes timeless.

The DXV collections, 70 carefully curated products in all, are distinguished by what would be considered the most influential design movements throughout the company's long history beginning in 1872.  They used this as a framework to give relevance to each period.

The Classic Movement (1890-1920) is stately, sculptural and well rounded.  Utilitarian objects were adorned with flowing lines and fanciful details as the industrial age landscape was changing.

The Golden Era (1920-1950), defined by a period of peace and prosperity, centers around a collection that has a subtle  attitude with a refined organic simplicity.  It reflects a modern society on the move in a time of prolific growth in art, design, and invention .

The Modern Movement (1950-1990) is all about artful forms and angular planes, displaying a playfulness and joy that this country was feeling.  Experimentation and growth in technology created contrasts that helped pave a path for the future.

The Contemporary Movement (1990-present) is represented by more of an individualistic approach. Pure form and a minimalist aesthetic, rich texture, and natural material.  The aesthetic is ever changing, the juxtaposition eclectic, and has a global appeal to reflect our fast paced lifestyle.

Fixtures, both kitchen and bath, are the cornerstone of the company's brand.  Like accessories or jewels that accompany the little black dress, these fixtures convey a design message when paired with the more utilitarian tub and toilet (but no less design driven).  These collections can certainly be mixed and matched for a look as individual as each of us.

DXV ~ stands for Decade 15 (clever, right?), is a brand that has artisanal character with a forward thinking, technology driven, performance powered sensibility.

I wonder what period the next collection will be called as we take stock of the fast paced, tech savvy world we are living in now.  Futuristic?

Miele: A Leap of Innovation

As one of our generous sponsors on Blogtourcali, Miele spoiled us rotten.  They generously wined and dined us incorporating their new "state of the art" generation 6000 technology.

The Miele team and celebrity guest chef  David Shalleck honored us with another scrumptious meal.

Years in the making, Miele's innovative, user friendly appliances continue to be built on the foundation of beauty and functionality, keeping in mind the need for ease in today's lifestyle.  The Miele brand imbues a sense of passion for product with purposeful design and energy efficiency.  A family owned and operated company since 1899, they operate on the single promise of "forever better."

When I first saw their built in coffee maker at a trade show some years ago, it was love at first sight!  I remember thinking, this is genius!  Why hasn't anyone thought of this sooner?  Their new feature incorporates a cup sensor.  This recognizes the size of the rim of your cup and alters the position of the spout accordingly.  A milk system clicks in and out of place, then rinses itself after use.  That is a well thought out design feature!

Minimalists will love the new brilliant white design that is chic and cool.  I, myself, love the truffle brown color.  It would be at home in a transitional or contemporary kitchen, as would the pure line or contour line handles.  Either of these new designs are so timelessly elegant and simple that any combination looks perfectly balanced.

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Some of the incredible features of the Generation 6000 are ~ their exclusive moisture plus oven sensor  technology with 100+ presets and your own programmable ones.  The easy touch, user friendly touch pad with wifi capability makes preheating the oven when you are away from a home a blessing.

We became familiar with convection ovens that have a fan in the back to help uniformly circulate hot air and cook evenly.  The steam or combo steam technology goes further by raising the humidity in the oven ~  you optimize the outcome and healthy benefits of your food!

Meats are more succulent, baked goods are incredibly moist.  I LOVE banana bread.  When I tasted theirs after being made in the new 6000 series oven, I swore I had never in my life tasted anything so moist and delicious!  Everything is at the peak of flavor with the addition of steam technology!

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Miele strives to improve upon their own innovative technology and assures us this is only the beginning.  I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeves.  Oh, and I am gonna need a need kitchen now….

*photo: Chasen West