Scandinavian web shops

 
: : these are currently my two favorite Swedish/Scandinavian web shops, offering a wide array of products from the best of Scandinavian design .

.Swedishness. I came across just recently, I love the layout of their shop that allows you to browse products without having to navigate through categories necessarily. It's a much more visual way of navigating. And I appreciate their selection of very unique and recent Scandinavian design products. They carry several items that I have been looking for for a long time.

.Huset. has a great collection of everything from housewares to clothing. I particularly like their coffee& tea category since I've started collecting coffee and tea cups in Swedish vintage patterns.

Happy Friday!

Wishlist item no. 3 IKEA PS SVARVA lamp

: : love the quirkiness and the character of .this lamp.

wishlist item no.4


: : I found this beautiful tray by designer Maria Holmer Dahlgren on .from Sthlm. I'm so disapointed that it's already sold out. I need to be checking their site more frequently. Hopefully I can find it somewhere in Sweden though. I think it would be the perfect breakfast tray for bringing my breakfast with me out on the balcony.

IKEA fest (party)

: : my lovely friend .erica. is celebrating her birthday this weekend (Grattis på födelsedagen! Happy birthday!) and got in the mood to throw a party when she found this IKEA website focused on different party decoration themes. I love how they created drastically different themes and put their own products in context. And I am completely in love with the white .PS Svarva floor lamp. in the second photo. It's going to have to go on my wishlist. Happy Friday!

The Colors of San Jose del Cabo

The Colors of San Jose del Cabo 

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Patricia Gray Inc
is an award winning Interior Design firm  in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT  in the world of Interior Design.
2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Gotland house

: : Beautiful traditional Swedish country home on the island of Gotland off the Swedish east coast. Found via .husligheter. Such soft, welcoming floors and I really appreciate the simplicity of the interiors. Wonderful!

Wine Spa Treatment

"Come! I am tasting the stars!"
  --Attributed by legend to Dom Pérignon (1638-1714)

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Outdoor Wine Spa Treatment cabana overlooking ocean  

I had my first wine spa massage today – it is the hottest new trend in the spa industry. Grapes, grape seeds and grape vines contain some of the nature’s most powerful antioxidants. The French have known the rejuvenation properties of grapes for centuries, and recent studies are showing that the French suffer less heart disease due to a regular intake which confirms that wine not only tastes good - it’s good for you on the inside, and now on the outside.  

To start off the wine spa massage treatment you arrive 45 – 60 minutes before your appointment for your ‘guided relaxation sequence’: 10 minutes in the steam room or sauna relaxation; pressurized rain shower cooling-off and rinsing; 10 minute Jacuzzi immersion; cold plunge immersion for blood pressure stabilizing; 15 minutes in the relaxation lounge. The “La Vin” Massage is a personalized anti-stress massage using the unique therapy of Chardonnay oil containing antioxidant grape seed extract oil. The Merlot massage claims to treat sunburn and extreme dehydrated skin. After the wine spa massage I was escorted to the relaxation lounge where the Wine Spa Sommelier had designed the perfect pairing between “Haute Signature” canapés, and a perfect glass of wine from Valle de Guadalupe. 

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Wine Spa Therapy Relaxation Lounge / Wine Spa Therapy Facility

Patricia Gray Inc is an award winning Interior Design firm  in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT  in the world of Interior Design.
2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Welcome to the Hotel California

Yesterday I set off to visit the legendary Hotel California in Todos Santos, Mexico.  The Eagles made this song famous in the 70’s|(listen to it here on YouTube as performed at the 2007 Grammys.)  According to the locals - Todos Santos was a town that the Vietnam draft dodgers escaped to in the late 60’s.  When communicating with home they would discreetly say they were staying at ‘The Hotel California’, hence the words of the song:

“We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device……
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave……”

The drive to Todos Santos from my Hotel (on the Los Cabos Beach corridor) is approximately 1 hour, on the two lane Highway 19.  I bravely rented a car for the day and set off on my adventure only to get lost before I left Cabo San Lucas.  It turned to to be an interesting diversion, as I got to see the area of town where the locals live, which I might not have seen otherwise. Back on Highway 19, which is undergoing construction, the speed limit is posted at 60 km per hour or 80 km per hour.  I soon found out that was only a ‘suggested’ speed limit, as I had huge semi transport trucks right on my bumper and passing me on this narrow highway on a solid yellow line.  Once I sped up to the going speed of 110 – 120 kms per hour I fit in nicely.

There were two stops that my Mexican Personal Assistant told me that I had to stop at:  Art & Beer for their famous drinks & decor,  and Miguel’s for authentic Mexican food.  Visiting the Hotel California was the anti-climax of the trip as it was very touristy, but the Pina Colada and appetizers at Art and Beer, and the Chili Reno at Miguel’s were unforgettable.

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The bartender at Art and Beer making his famous Clamato drink (above.)  It has 17 ingredients and could constitute a entire meal.  These are the ingredients, if you want to give it a try: Tomato juice, orange juice, worchester sauce, soya sauce, lime juice, hot sauce. wasabi, dijon, horseradish, oyster sauce, small scallops, clams, cracked shrimp, celery, celery salt, Vodka, ice. 

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Me with my Pina Colada - it was sooooo good / Appetizers of squid & scallops and clams on the half shell

The Pina Colada was served in a pre-frozen half pineapple, with appetizers of fresh clams on the half shell, and a separate plate of baby squid and the smallest, tenderest scallops – both were topped with Mexican hot sauce.  In Mexico when you order a drink you automatically get something to eat with your drink.  This time I got a full meal with my Pina Colada.  The seafood was fresh caught locally that morning.

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Art & Beer on Highway 19 – Todos Santos in distance
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The seating area at Art & Beer / Umbrellas from drinks along with business cards placed on the posts throughout Art & Beer

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You can lounge in hammocks while enjoying a Margarita 

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The view from Art & Beer towards the Sea of Cortez

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Cactus and Succulent at Art & Beer
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Hotel California Todos Santos / Mannequin in lobby of Hotel California 

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My final stop of the day before heading back was at Miguel’s Restaurant in Todos Santos to try one of his acclaimed Chili Reno’s.  Miguel and his wife started their restaurant 9 years ago with two tables and it has grown into a renowned establishment with recent press in the NY Times and LA Times.  The food is authentic Mexican – Miguel’s two sisters and aunt were cooking in the kitchen, and I was lucky to get to see my Chili Rellenos prepared. The decor is traditional with dirt floors and typical thatched roof.

Miguel's Chili Relleno
Fry the green chilies in a fry pan to brown the skins to make them easy to remove. Discard the seeds and pulp inside.  Dip the chilies into boiling water (to remove the hotness).  Stuff with cheese.  Beat up an egg white and dip the chili into and then coat with fine bread crumbs, fry until golden brown and the cheese inside melts.  Serve with rice and brown beans. 

Patricia Gray Inc is an award winning Interior Design firm  in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT  in the world of Interior Design.
2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™