Last night we watched (well... re-watched) Spanglish. I'm not sure why, but I love that movie. While Adam Sandler is surprisingly good, think the star of the movie is the beautiful California weather, scenic beauty and that fabulous easy-breezy west coast lifestyle. And I realized it's been a while since I flew out to the edge of the continent and looked out over the edge of the world. It's time, baby! It's time!  So this morning, with my steaming hot mug of Starbucks Via in hand I began my search. A quick hop here landed me here...and before you knew it I was at Santa Monica's Huntley Hotel. My, my my! If memory serves I've actually blogged about this before. What does that tell you? It tells me I'm due for a long weekend on the Santa Monica shoreline to take in the view firsthand. If these seductive images aren't enough to lure you to the boutique hotel, you may need a swift reboot. I kept feeling a certain fabulous familiarity to the look. Sure enough, they are the work of Thomas Schoos - one of my all-time favorite designers. He has a very easy way of creating relationships between indoor and outdoor spaces - ideal for inhaling the fresh seascape and beauty that is the Pacific coastline. If you're not familiar with his work, Schoos is a lover of nature. I originally fell for his outdoor living spaces designed for many a Hollywood celeb. That's the beauty of the climate in southern Cali: there's no need to distinguish between indoor and outdoor spaces. I'm SUCH a fan of that lifestyle! *swoon*Here's a photo of the master of nature-embracing design, as well as a peek into one of his exotic gardens. Aren't those paneled wooded doors fantastic?! I can't wait to have a home that allows me to finally incorporate similar ones into the design. They are so fabulous. And look at those bulldogs! So cute.

But wait... back to the hotel. We've been plotting out or spring trip. As much as I adore the idea of Hawai'i, I have to admit I'm a bigger fan of the short flights out west. The Huntley is calling my name and would allow me to see the work of Schoos up close. I've been a fan for many, many years, so it would be a fantastic place to immerse myself in his work. 
The only question is... will I ever want to leave?