The Bakery Cottage :: Whitstable, Kent

I am staying with family in Whitstable, Kent and one of my favourite past times is strolling along the beach and checking out all the beachside cottages.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful part of the Kent coast, Whitstable is still a traditional fishing village and renowned for its coloured beach huts and cute seaside cottages that line the pebbled beaches.

One such property is a beautifully restored Bakery nestled amongst a line of traditional terraced houses in Suffolk Street. To retain it's 1950's character the cottage is decorated with 50's and 60's furniture, wrought iron beds and white wash timber throughout.

It also comes with a private shingle and cobble stone courtyard garden. 

I miss those lovely courtyards!

If you are looking for a cottage in Whitstable you can check out prices here.

I did go wild with my camera and have loads more images on my beach finds for next week. Off to Grand Designs Live tomorrow.

Have fun.

The Royal Wedding :: The Goring Hotel, London

I am actually staying in the UK at the moment and along with many millions of people yesterday watched with delight The Royal Wedding.

Now when Buckingham Palace is full the 100 year old Goring Hotel is used as an overspill for guest accommodation. Yesterday the Middleton party booked out all of the rooms for their family and friends and held their own party there for those not invited to the Buckingham Palace bash.

The luxurious Goring Hotel opened in 1910 and was the world's first hotel with en-suite facilities and central heating to every bedroom. This was revolutionary for its time!

Here is a few pics of the it's luxurious comfort and glamourous interiors. 

spot the sheep...

images courtesy of The Goring Hotel

Have fun.

Cowley Manor Hotel :: Gloucestershire, England

This weekend is my wedding anniversary and I was thinking back to the places we have stayed to celebrate when I remebered Cowley Manor. Now this place would be in my top ten for decor, spa treatments, service and experience.

Cowley Manor is a contemporary-chic country house hotel and spa surrounded by 55 acres of parkland, lakes, woods and meadows in the idyllic Cotswold countryside. The weekend we visited there were gale force winds but we still managed to grab a few walks around the beautiful grounds before heading back to London.

The weather didn't really matter that weekend as the decor of this hotel helped us relax and settle in from a cold and windy winters day. With an emphasis on comfort, service and very few rules Cowley Manor was the perfect place to relax, unwind and indulge our senses.

Our room was a converted stable block (above) with the lounge, bathroom and bedroom set over three floors. The bedrooms are retreats themselves with bespoke textiles and furniture all designed by British artists and designers and oversized bathrooms complete with natural products from their C-Side spa.

The décor at Cowley Manor is colourful and eccentric. From brightly coloured geometric patterned carpets and yellow paintwork to leather padded walls and bizarre sculptures, the atmosphere is a combination of sophisticated know-how and relaxed informality.

We also had to try the C-Side Spa. It had two heated pools, a 17m green slate lined indoor pool and an elegant outdoor pool.

For an interior designer this hotel was real eye candy with its colourful decor, high ceilings, 19th-century manor house character architecture and beautiful views of the grounds

images from Cowley Manor Hotel

Though we were there to relax at the spa, lounge around the outdoor pool and sip cocktails in the bar I was still was in work mode and inspired by the beautiful architecture and how it works with the modern interior design, the use of colour, pattern, texture and all the quirky artwork.

It is an idyllic countryside experience not to be missed.

Have fun.