Hotel Luna Mystica

 I've been dying to post about Hotel Luna Mystica, a vintage trailer hotel and campground located just outside Taos.  Following on the heels of my review of Tin Can Homestead seems like a good time to share our visit there, last summer.

Our daughter Ashley was hired to design the interiors of these vintage travel trailers, so I have a special interest.

She had a vision for each trailer and was excited to take her dad and I on a grand tour.

I acted as a consultant from afar, advising her on sources for fabrics and leather, as well as just someone to bounce ideas off of.

I love how she used shibori fabric pillows on a leatherette dining bench.

The American flag adds a special touch.

I really love the kitchen in this trailer with the stainless steel countertops and blue accent walls.

All units feature high quality bedding and linens.

Real down duvets, all white.

In another trailer, she used Mexican blankets to make pillows.

A friend made the table and shelf.

What a difference it makes to paint all the cabinets and paneling white.

Subway tile and wooden counters lend a light touch and make the space seem larger.

The interior of this trailer got a coat of plaster, which reminded me of the typical adobe cottages in New Mexico.

  

For more glamping inspiration, check out Hotel Luna Mystica's website here.

It's packed with photos of all the trailers, their history as well as things to do in and around Taos.

Thanks for indulging me with my travel trailer obsession!

Tin Can Homestead

Many of you already know of my obsession with Airstreams.  

I hope to someday buy a vintage one and completely renovate it top to bottom.

My inspiration?  The couple who did just that!

Natasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw actually bought a vintage Airstream, renovated it and made it their permanent home in Seattle for a year and a half before selling the Tin Can and moving to Vermont.

I discovered their Instagram, Tin Can Homestead and was instantly hooked on their journey.

I love their style and am so inspired by the design.
No dark paneled walls here, but white tongue and groove paneling and pine accents.
It feels Scandinavian in design.  Light and airy.

This isn't your grandparent's Airstream!


Their new book also by the same name is now available.  I received an advance copy for review and have been devouring it since.
It's a great DIY book, detailing their renovation and all the issues along the way that comes with a 1971 Airstream.

I had not considered all the negatives like mice, leaks and rotten floors when buying a vintage trailer.
Not that they had to deal with too much of that, but I learned so much about what to look for and what to expect if buying an old trailer.
They bought theirs already gutted which is a good idea.
Then they added the electrical, plumbing and walls.

 I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this process.
The before above and after here are so dramatic!


Of course, their dogs were there through it all.
How adorable are they?

This book not only documents Natasha and Brett's amazing year and a half living and renovating their tiny home, the Tin Can Homestead, but it's also quite romantic to read about their adventure.

They have since sold their Airstream and the Tin Can now lives in California.
I actually thought about buying it when they listed it on Instagram!
Natasha and Brett are now in Vermont on another adventure.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram at @tincanhomestead and @sugarhousehomestead.
You can buy their book at www.runningpress.com.

Happy May Day!

"Sweet May hath come to love us,

Flowers, trees, their blossoms don;

And through the blue heavens above us,

The very clouds move on."

~Heinrich Heine, Book of Songs

"When April steps aside for May,

Like diamonds all the rain drops glisten;

Fresh violets open every day:

To some new bird each hour we listen."

~Lucy Larcom

Happy May Day!

Window Coverings Can Make Or Break A Room

Window coverings can make or break a room, and while curtains aren't for everyone, I have found that it's a very individual preference for each house and each person.

Practically speaking, every house, every room has its own unique situation to address when it comes to window coverings.

For instance, here are the Roman shades that came with the house.

I tried to live with them, but lovely as they may be, they weren't very practical.

 When they were up, there was absolutely no privacy.  It's like living in a fishbowl!

Down, they removed all light from the room and it felt like a prison.

Keith is my blind man!  And drapery man!

He is soon retiring after 40 years, so I am maybe one of his last customers.

Here he is with his protege, ready to hang my new woven shades from Presidio Classics.

The new woven shades filter light and add privacy during the day, yet allow me to see outside.

The linen drapes add to  the elegant, yet simple look I was going for.

These are the same shades that I put in our San Francisco house.  

I repeated the same layered look in our master bedroom.

The linen drapes were repurposed from our San Francisco bedroom.

I like how the woven shades are the same color of the grasscloth on the bookshelves.

Now that the new woven shades and linen drapes finally arrived, I feel like this is now my room.

My look, my design.

Backyard Reveal

 The backyard project finally came together a month ago with the arrival of the outdoor furniture and rug.

 The wicker sofa and chairs are a little more traditional than a lot of the wicker furniture available.  

More of a Nantucket style.

 In fact, I could even use the furniture inside.  

Especially the chairs as they're wingbacks.  

The tent arrived a week later.

Needless to say, it was not easy to put together, even though the directions said assembly would take a mere 30 minutes.  

Right.  More like two hours!

Even Mr. A got involved!

Here it is all set up and ready for some serious summer relaxation.

Even though this area was fine without the tent, I love how the tent creates a room.

 Sitting out here in the evening is magical!

I can see why the previous owners built this elevated area.

It's been fun shopping for accessories like pillows...

...throws, plants and lanterns.

It's a private retreat to enjoy our morning coffee or a glass of wine when the sun is setting.

Sources:

Wicker furniture, rug, coffee table and side table from Pottery Barn

Tent from Safavieh, through Amazon 

Pillows and throw from Homegoods

Brass lantern from Pottery Barn a few seasons ago.

Other lanterns from OSH

Spring Projects

 Happy first day of spring, and do I ever have some outdoor projects up my sleeve!

I've been patiently waiting until I can start digging in the dirt and make the garden more to my liking.

Unfortunately, the playhouse has to go.

I thought about replacing it with a potting shed, but instead will plant a large olive tree in the corner.

The stepping stones will be replaced with white hydrangeas, while the planting area at the rear will be planted in white roses.

In the right corner of the yard is an elevated stone patio.

Now I wish I had brought our old outdoor sofa and chairs on the roof deck of our City house to put here.

But time for a new look!

So today, I ordered a wicker sofa and two club chairs!

I've had my eye on this style from Pottery Barn for a while, called "Saybrook."  It's a little different than what I've been seeing out there and it goes with the dining chairs that I've had for a few years.

I think it may be phasing out, so I got a deal!

 

I also ordered an outdoor rug.

It's a flat weave eco-friendly rug made from recycled plastic.

I think it will hold up to the elements.

To top it all off, I found a tent!

Not sure if it's going to work, but we'll see...

In the courtyard, I'll add a matching umbrella over the dining table.

New cushions for the dining chairs in navy and white will spruce things up a bit.

I've got my eye on some at Homegoods!

Speaking of Homegoods, I found a few blue floral and textured outdoor pillows last week that will look great on the sofa and club chairs.  

So happy that florals are making a comeback!

I can't wait to create this backyard retreat.  

I envision having coffee on summer mornings and wine on warm summer evenings while enjoying a yard filled with blooming white roses and hydrangeas!

Let the project begin!