Take Me Away: Oohla Bean Inn & Retreat

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably noticed I got to slip away this past Memorial Day Weekend to a lovely inn in the Texas Hill Country.  Having opened only a few months ago, a friend told me about Oohla Bean and ever since I had been dying to check it out.  I am a big fan of boutique hotels and resorts that not only provide a place to sleep, but also a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.  Located on 85 acres in Driftwood, Texas (about 30 minutes outside of Austin), Oohla Bean provided just that- a complete escape from the busyness of life and a chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the natural surroundings.

There are only 6 guest suites total (pictured above), and my roommate Katy and I stayed in #3.  As an interior designer, I especially loved the architectural details and decor of the rooms.  As I've said before, I am a big fan of steel-framed windows and doors, and the window panes in the suites could open to allow in natural light and air.  Each suite also features a lovely patio that overlooks the acreage:

{instagram snap of our patio and room}

When Katy and I checked in, we ordered a bottle of Oohla Bean's house red wine, Slingshot.  The robes were so comfy I didn't want to take it off all weekend!

The eco-friendly property features rooms with sleek decor and a decidedly minimal, mod feel.  Each room has a beautiful rug or piece of furniture that adds a splash of color to the serene whites and grays.   How fun is the pink velvet chair I'm sitting on?!  The showers have dual rainfall heads and use water that is collected in a rainwater storage system. Here is another room, shown on their website:

Saturday we woke up to a bit of sunshine, so we took advantage of it by lounging by the walk-in pool and hot tub:

First of all, any hotel that uses gray-trimmed Peacock Alley beach towels is a gem in my book.  Secondly, how can you get over this view!?

Saturday night, we went out to dinner in Driftwood at Jobell.  I had Katy take my picture before we left along the trail outside our room.  Each night, the staff would sprinkle lavender along the walkway which smelled amazing.

Sunday, we woke up and went to the dining room to eat breakfast with the other guests.  Robin Garrison, the owner of the inn, is an amazing cook and prepared a delicious farm-to-table breakfast for us all, complete with eggs from the chicken coop on the property.  

After breakfast, we walked down to the fitness center and took a stretching class with Oohla Bean's trainer.  

{Oohla Bean's fitness center}

Spending an hour stretching can do wonders for your body.  I still feel so good.  Afterwards, we tried out the infrared sauna:

Infrared light has the ability to penetrate our tissue which in turn produces a host of anti-aging health benefits.  I don't think I've ever sweated so much!  Sunday afternoon, we sadly had to leave the property and return to real life.  Nonetheless, Katy and I both felt so well rested and rejuvenated that we considered it a very successful 3-day weekend.  A big "thank you" goes out to Robin and her staff for the hospitality and fun.

Be sure to check out Oohla Bean's website and stay tuned, because there just might be a giveaway coming soon to the blog that includes a weekend stay for 2 at the gorgeous property!

Color Crush: Saffron Yellow

Happy Wednesday!  I love that we are already halfway through the week.  Did you have a good Memorial Day?  I came back so relaxed and rejuvenated after a weekend stay at Oohla Bean.  I can't wait to share pictures and recap the trip for you, but before I dive in to that I just want to take a moment to enjoy a little color.  Although I have never before been particularly drawn to yellow, this year I can't seem to get enough of it.  I love seeing interior designers use the hue in fresh, contemporary applications that don't feel stuffy.  One of my favorite shades of yellow is saffron- a golden yellow that resembles the color of the tip of the saffron crocus thread, from which the spice saffron is derived. Houston-based designer Eleanor Cummings infused this sunroom with a mix of bright colors, but the golden yellows really stand out:

{Eleanor Cummings}

To me, yellow always mixes well with blue.  I love to see various tones of one hue in the same room.

{Architectural Digest}

{Bailey McCarthy}

Yellow can also make a statement when standing alone. How fabulous is this glossy yellow front door from a house in Palm Springs?

{Lonny}

{Elle Decor}

{Charlotte Lucas}

Are you a fan of saffron yellow?  If so, what color do you most love to see it paired with?

Friday's Worthy Links

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I'm so ready for a long weekend of rest and relaxation, and probably a few glasses of Rosé.  Before signing off and headed to Driftwood to stay at Oohla Bean for the weekend, I wanted to share a few things I found interesting and/or worth sharing from around the internet this week.  

Friday's Worthy Links:

-Absolutely obsessed with this before and after of a cute Cali home by designer Amber Lewis.

-How to make the best sweet potato fries I've ever tasted.

-This video, which includes stick figures and cups of tea, perfectly explains consent.

-This instagram post literally made me laugh out loud. 

-In honor of Father's Day coming up, Domino shares their favorite TV dads.  Mine is definitely Phil Dunphy.  Who's yours?

-So excited about the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale.  I am thinking this dress is perfect for work and this one is perfect for summertime.

Any big Memorial weekend plans?  Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy it and get to relax a bit!

{image via wit and delight}

Show Some Shoulder

A few weeks ago, I attended a party at Cakewalk Style Shop and walked away with this navy off-the-shoulder Tibi top.  I always love going in to their store because the girls are so helpful with pulling l things for you to try on that you might not normally pick out for yourself.  

 I love wearing off-the-shoulder dresses and tops during the summer because they are so easy and seem to be universally flattering.  They show the perfect amount of skin without taking it overboard.

Lyndsey also recently wore the same Tibi top as I shared above, and I love, love, love the gladiator sandals!

 

{L. Avenue}

 {Atlantic-Pacific}

The always-chic Jenna Lyons does not disappoint in her off-the-shoulder sweater and neon heels.

                 And I adore Blaire's white sunnies + yellow sundress combo.  So effortless!

{Atlantic-Pacific}

Blogger Sonya sported a flirty off-the-shoulder number at New York Fashion Week this past fall and even went so far as to pair it with sneakers. 

{Class is Internal}

 What do you think of showing a little shoulder?



My off-the-shoulder picks:

New Bedroom Accessories

Happy Monday!!  Are you ready for another week?  It is rainy here in Houston, but I'm looking forward to the weekend and I think that will help the week go by fast.  I've recently added a few accessories to my bedroom to zhush it up a bit, and it's crazy how a few little changes can really make a difference.  As I blogged about here, I recently replaced my dresser with a vintage white one, so I decided to also add these white Lucille lamps to my bedside tables to tie in the white.  I've also become obsessed with Antica Farmacista products, and love burning their Santorini candle + prosecco diffuser when I'm working around the house.  What I love about their scents is they are fresh and clean, rather than overly masculine or sweet/flowery, like most candles I seem to come across these days. I also love their soaps and hand lotions and have them in all my bathrooms- so yes, it's safe to say I've become their biggest fan!!  Here are a few more things I've added:

Shop This Board:

Antica Farmacista Candle in Santorini $44/Pierre Frey: Inspired Interiors Book $40/India Hicks: Island Life Book $34/Lucille Table Lamp $441/Linen Leopard Throw Pillow $82/Minted "Calculation" Print $100/Antica Farmacista Diffuser in Prosecco $26/

Minted's art marketplace has so many interesting and beautiful prints and photographs that are perfect for gallery walls.  They also make it easy by framing your piece for you!  I loved the simplicity of the "Calculation" print by KC artist Stephanie Nowotarski.

Next up for a refinement and update is my closet!  I've been inspired by this article and Meg Biram's Life Edit book (she was kind enough to send me an advanced copy and will be releasing book 1 soon!).  I'll have to share a full before/after post on the process.

Have a great week!!

Kitchen Light

One of my favorite things to discuss is kitchens.  There are so many individual decisions that are made when designing a kitchen (what style of cabinetry, what paint color, what cabinet finish, what style of hardware, etc) that each one often feels very unique.  While all-white kitchens were desirable for the last 5 years (and to be honest I still love them), we are starting to see designers and homeowners infuse more color and pattern these days.  For instance, how lovely is the hexagon tile pattern in this butler's pantry?

The soft gray tones give a little variation to the space while still maintaining the overall neutral, calming feel.  Another element we are seeing become more popular in kitchen design is the use of only lower cabinets.  Most kitchens still have upper cabinetry along one or two walls for storage, but I love the variation when paired with a wall of just lower cabinetry- especially when natural light is allowed in through windows above.

Steel-framed windows always look so crisp and clean against a white kitchen.  I'm a sucker for them. 

 {Dungan Nequette Architects}

And I love these steel framed doors with a black paint trim.  They add dimension to the white galley-style kitchen:

{Ashley Goforth}

 And how neat is this steel-framed window above a chic kitchen work table?  The handles make it easy to open and allow light in on pretty days:

{Living-Home Construction}

I love that this kitchen incorporated natural light in several places, and built the cabinetry around that.  I also love the work top in the right side of the picture, built with a nook for a stool.

{Rachel Halvorson Design}

And how gorgeous are these beadboard cabinet fronts, that tie in to the door shown in the attached butler's pantry?

 {Ruard Veltman Architecture}

What kitchen trends are you loving these days?

Sam Loves: Shades of Green

So I suppose if we are being honest this is a mood board of sorts (I don't think I'll be acquiring a green Porsche anytime soon!).  While in Atlanta, I was so inspired by how green everything was, despite being a large metropolitan city.  That's one thing I wish Houston had more of!  Nonetheless,  I'm excited to get back out to the hill country for Memorial Day weekend to get a dose of nature.  My roommate and I are staying at the new Driftwood inn and retreat,  Oohla Bean.  I can't wait to check it out and decompress for a few days.  In the meantime, stocking up on a few green accessories wouldn't hurt!

Shop This Board:  

Natalie Bandeau Mint Bikini $395/New Traditionalists Chair $5,335/Milly Notecard Set $63/Phoenix 54" Bench $2,399/Acid Fringe Bib $44

Atlanta Recap

Hi guys!  Sorry for the radio silence last week.  As I mentioned in last Monday's post, we spent this past week in Atlanta for an installation and photoshoot at a client's house.  I figured I'd be able to blog each night once we were done for the day, but we ended up working until 10:30ish each night, and by that point, I just wanted to fall in to bed!  However, we got to see a lot of the city and try some amazing restaurants, so it's safe to say I fell in love with Atlanta.  From a design perspective, they have seemingly endless resources and the ADAC is unreal.  Here's a collection of my favorite decor stores we visited in ATL:

1.) Bungalow Classic

Bungalow Classic has been a favorite resource of mine for a long time, but seeing the store in person for the first time was special.  They have beautiful furnishings, decor, and art, and now have a line of whimsical textiles with Clay Mclaurin Studio.

2.) BD Jeffries

BD Jeffries is located in Buckhead and has a mix of decor, furniture, and clothing items.  I loved that they had a lot of African pottery and relics.  I also loved their coffee table book selection!

3.) SWOOX

 SWOOX is also located in the Buckhead area, and the store is a treasure trove of designer goodies that have been consigned.  Which means that not only is the store's collection incredibly unique, but also affordable.  How incredible is this Gone With the Wind sign?

4.) South of Market

5.) Mrs. Howard/Max & Co

Visiting the Mrs. Howard showroom and their neighboring store, Max & Co, was sensory overload.  The design of the store itself features beautiful wall paneling and elaborately designed ceilings.  The furnishings are lovely, and the showroom is arranged in a series of vignettes that make it so exciting to walk through.

Although every meal we had was pretty delicious, I will be dreaming about our dinner experience at Umi for weeks.  We sat near the bar, which was beautifully designed:

The yellowtail jalepeno appetizer was to die for, as was the rock shrimp tempura.

All in all, it was a successful week when we ran in to Usher at lunch one day.  I look so tired in the picture, but how could I not share a snap with Usher?

Atlanta readers- you have it made in the shade.  I loved your city!!

Pool Season

It's Monday again, and after a long getaway weekend in Austin, I'm still craving more pool time.  I spent yesterday morning reading and swimming at the Barton Springs pool.  Have any of you Texans been there?  I love it!  It's such a fun spot and I love that it's a natural pool and home to the endangered Barton Springs Salamander.  As we begin another work week, I thought it would be fun to share a few beautifully-designed pools and their surrounding landscapes.   Architect Nick Noyes designed this lap pool in a client's backyard, and the waterfall and surrounding greenery are lovely.

{NN Architecture}

And what could we expect from Tory Burch other than a stately pool house with trelliswork details?  

{Vogue}

I love the minimalist feel of this pool, with it's cast-concrete walls and steps.  The shape of the pool is interesting, as well! 

{House and Home}

Located in Southern France, this 80s residence was given new life by ML-H Design.  The clear water is calling my name.  Now, if only this house was listed on Behomm.

{Home Adore}

Taking in to account the details when designing a pool can be just as important as designing an interior.  I love the pattern of black and white tiles surrounding the edges of this one, as well as the adjacent chic cabana.

{Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles}

I could definitely lounge in this picturesque outdoor space for hours.

One of my all-time favorite designers, Suzanne Kasler, has a stunning backyard with a serene pool at her Atlanta home.  I love the Janus et Cie bench, too!

{Suzanne Kasler}

Speaking of Atlanta, I am heading there tomorrow for work.  I can't wait to visit the city and maybe have time to do a few fun things and reconnect with a few friends.  Atlanta people- any store or restaurant recommendations?

Happy Monday!!