NYC

The blog world is very forgiving… I’ve been MIA (missing in action) for a whole week now. I’ll spare you the details, but will highly recommend this: a weekend get-a-way minus the kids. Just want the doctor would prescribe, I imagine! My spontaneous husband decides Saturday at 1pm that we should go to NYC & at 5:25pm we fly over flat Florida towards our beloved Manhattan. Thank God for credit cards. Don’t do it every weekend, but at least once, DO it. Thanks to Twitter & various tech people we ended up at The Roger Smith Hotel. Budget friendly, nicely located. No, we didn’t run into Mark Zuckerberg (creator of Facebook) or Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple), but we would’ve loved to. The word “tech” to my husband is like the word “decor” for me… explains why he picked this hotel. Altogether good experience though. Only one complaint which you’ll read in my “Dislikes” list…

Roger Smith Hotel Likes:
Room size  – fairly large for Manhattan!
Price – very affordable, especially on a last minute whim.
Location – Corner of 47th & Lexington, pretty much walking distance to everywhere we wanted to go to.

Roger Smith Hotel Dislikes:
Decor – Eek! Something out of an 80’s movie! Our junior suite had no headboard with ivy green wallpaper & green carpet! None of which I would ever pick to use in my own home. I must confess that the did like the tufted chairs in the hotel lobby as well as the framing on the suite doors. (Photos below) Other than that all else was blah!

The entire time I was in our room I brainstormed about how I would redecorate it to my rustic, slightly country yet new liking. Come to think of it, I have yet to stay in a hotel where I totally like the decor. I just dream of redecorating all the ones I’ve been in… and I’ve stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (NYC) & the Boca Raton Resort & Club. That’s to say that even the most expensive accommodations don’t promise the most stunning decor. I want to stay in a hotel that looks like a page out of an Anthropologie catalog mixed with a little Pottery Barn & even some West Elm. Or better yet, I would so love to make that hotel room happen some how, some day.

The additional photos above were “must photograph” moments:

1. Random residential entrance on Park Avenue – stunning red chandelier, white marble walls. What a beautiful sight.

2. Near ground zero. Random jewelry shop with a sign out front that read: “WE ARE PROBABLY THE LOWEST PRICED IN THE CITY” – LOL! Too clever & funny!

3. Inside a Chinese restaurant in The Village – I bought this exact chandelier a month ago at the Goodwill for $2.92. Haven’t found a place to put it yet in our home & had never seen it lit before, hence this photo. Very pretty shade shape. I was thinking to spray paint mine white… still deciding.

4. Urban Outfitters – First store I’ve ever seen with such a large home accessories/decor section. Loved this ladder, multiple trash bin light fixture that my hubby spotted out. Had to photograph! Urban always thinks outside of the box. Love it!

5. Tribeca Decor – mostly modern furniture, more than I am able to tolerate all in one room. But I did spot a lovely Eames lounge chair – like the one Dr. House uses in his office in the House TV show. Can you tell I’m a fan of the show?

Looking forward to our next Manhattan trip…