LIKE TO HAVE: MINIBAR FOR THE MIND

I love a well stocked mini bar – especially with funny items in it. At the Ace Hotel in Portland I felt like home when they offered me Stroopwafels – a Dutch delight. The Morgans Hotel Group teams up with the School of Life and if you’re staying in one of their hotels you get this Minibar for the Mind set. In it you’ll find Conversation Starters (speaks for itself), Collective Thoughts (inspiring thoughts written down by members of the School of Life), Dreams & Fears Notebook and a set of really great pencils. I love it! Oh, you can also buy the set via their website for 40 euro.

Check out: www.morganshotelgroup.com

(Images via Selectism – a cool online men’s magazine)

NEW SPOT: FREECITY LOS ANGELES

3 reasons to go there:

1. If you like bikes
2. If you love a bit of an eco vibe – locally produced food and organic clothes
3. If you’re in Hollywood and want some place other than Gucci, Prada or Chanel

Check out: www.freecitysupershop.com

(Via Cool Hunting – if you never heard of that site, please click here, because it’s part of your design education)

NEW SPOT: A-FRAME LOS ANGELES

3 reasons to go there:

1. If you like Korean food.
2. If you like to eat with your hands (not necessary though).
3. If you like to order wine with the following name: Dollar Bills Only Pinot Noir 2008.

Check out: www.aframela.com

(Photos via Interior Design – a website worth following)

LIKE TO HAVE: AN ALLSAINTS WARDROBE

I fell in love with All Saints when I was in London a couple of years ago. I visited their flagshipstore in Spitalfields and loved the soft fabric and the twisted details. For a moment I thought of Rick Owens – but that’s impossible for that prices. It’s a bit rough – not for the girly, girly type of woman. On this wednesdaynight I did some online shopping and these are my favorites:

Clockwise, from left to right:

1. Jumper (cool with a leather legging): 295 euro
2. Scarf: 47 euro
3. Top: 55 euro
4. Denim short: 59 euro
5. The most beautiful purse ever: 59 euro
6. Leather skinny jeans: 177 euro

Check out: www.allsaints.co.uk

NEW SPOT: TAVERN LOS ANGELES

3 reasons to go there:

1. Open from breakfast till late night dinner – so you don’t have an excuse not to come.
2. To celebrate an anniversary.
3. To bring your kids – they are welcome too.

Check out: www.tavernla.com

NEW SPOT: PALIHOUSE HOLLOWAY LA

3 reasons to stay here:

1. To live the celebrity life: Victoria Beckham, Eva Mendes, they all stayed here.
2. If you’re in LA for a while: the suites all have a kitchen (if you don’t to eat at their restaurant).
3. To check out their fabulous rooftop.

From 285 euro per night. Check out: www.palihouse.com

LIKE TO HAVE: LE LABO CANDLE

First of all I like the simplicity of the design. Second of all I like their philosophy: who want to smell like everyone else? I mean I really like my Jean Paul Gaultier 2 fragrance but if someone else is wearing it, a part of the magic disappears. The same goes for your home. Isn’t it fabulous if your home, the place where you relax and be yourself (even without make-up and sweat pants on) smells like Paris? Well that’s where le Labo comes in. For example with Figue 15 (my favorite). The newest le Labo is located in London in Marylebone Village. But you can find shops worldwide.

Price: 50 euro. Check out: www.lelabofragrances.com

NEW SPOT: MONOCLE NEW YORK

3 reasons to go there:

1. To buy the latest issue of Monocle.
2. To buy one of their travel friendly products like notebooks or a blanket.
3. To see their limited editions.

The newest Monocle shop is now open in New York, but you will find them in London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Tokyo as well. Check out: www.monocle.com

NEW SPOT: CUSTOM HOTEL LOS ANGELES

3 reasons to stay here:

1. If you need to be close to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport).
2. If you like airplanes: some of the rooms have superb views of the runway.
3. If you want to eat in a cool restaurant: Bistrotek and Hopscotch are their two restaurants.

From 110 euro per night. Check out: www.customhotel.com

NEW SPOT: EARL’S GOURMET GRUB LA

3 reasons to go to this übercool deli:

1. To get yourself a sandwich or a Popeye breakfast
2. To get yourself inspired by the beautiful architecture (cheers up for Free Land Buck)
3. The interior is inspired on the Swiss Alps – so if you don’t have the money to go skiing there, you might as well take a good look at their wall.

Check out: www.earlsgourmetgrub.com

Photos by Lawrence Anderson