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Bonjour, I am Si from the FrenchByDesign blog. France is my home country, so it’s only natural that when sweet Christina asked me to guest post in her “Design Traveler” series, I chose a bed and breakfast located in Southern France. Ready? Pack your bags, we’re heading to the beautiful Cathare country, a few miles away form the gorgeous village of Carcassonne. 

 The lighting is amazing too.  Just as it should be the perfect compliment to the space and it's surroundings.

As you know a few weeks back we had a chance to visit Puerto Rico, it was amazing.  Amazing in a few different ways, it was the first tropical vacation that my husband and I have been on just the two of us since the kids were born (10 + years).  So relaxing!  The main island of San Juan was beautiful in it's own way, which I will show you in a later post, but the small island of Vieques was gorgeous.  We decided late in the game to head over to the smaller island and spent less than 24 hours there which is surprising considering the number of photos I managed to take.  I made a quick reservation at the W Spa and Resort on the island.  It was perfect!  

I am a fan of the W Hotels and have stayed in a few but this was really one of their best in my opinion, very much the Anthropologie of hotels.  The room was fun and well done, the bed as always super comfortable, but all in all it was the property and the view that impressed me the most.  They have snorkeling and kayaking right off the beach, 2 pools, a great bar and restaurant and they make the best peach smoothie I have ever tasted.  I am trying to figure out how we can go back and spend a little more time there!  The design in the lobby and reception was really cool, I am pretty sure that they thought I was crazy when I came in with my camera to take more photos of the space, which I will share with you too.

Also, a big THANK YOU to all of you who recommended this beautiful Island to me, I never would have gotten over there without your help!

I ran across these pictures here and was reminded that I had read an article on the design style of this hotel a little while back.  I cannot remember where I read it but the gorgeous photos are just another great story in the book of the great collaborators that created the Ace hotels.  On my next trip to New York I am going to have to see if I can stay at the NoMad.  I love the down to earth styling that makes you feel like you are in an apartment rather than a hotel room and that is my favorite type of accommodation! Take a look at the detailing on those leather headboards just beautiful.

 "The NoMad Hotel is housed in a turn of the century Beaux-Arts building that has been fully restored to its original grandeur with interiors by French designer Jacques Garcia. The hotel is intended as a fresh take on the classic grand hotels of Europe with a distinct New York sensibility. The design of the hotel was inspired by the Parisian flat of Garcia’s youth. The 168 rooms are residential in feel and decorated in his classic, timeless style. Each room is appointed with hand-selected, richly textured custom-designed furnishings and original artwork. The soaring ceilings throughout the public spaces provide a fine gathering place to enjoy dining, drinking and socializing."