Happy Weekend

This container arrangement at Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, Texas is by Mark Word Design.

Have a great weekend!

Everything She Needs

All she needs is... a sunny morning carried in on a soft breeze; a few magazines...French of course; cool water... from the tap will be just fine; a favorite old pillow for her head; and fruit to keep up her strength for such a grueling schedule.

Vintage binoculars for birdwatching or closeups of butterflies.

And of course...a hammock swaying beneath a couple of tall trees, where mocking birds sing above her shady nest. Ahh...bliss!

Austin's Hotel Saint Cecilia

This over-the-top Victorian bed, sitting casually on a porch and piled with inviting pillows, so says Hotel Saint Cecilia.

My Old Bemer at Hotel Saint Cecilia, snuggled up to the hotel's wonderful classic Citroen.

Click on photos to enlarge.

When Tall Husband and I were invited to Austin, Texas to cover the Design Within Reach Austin Studio's M+D+F 2009 juried exhibition, we decided to stay at Hotel Saint Cecilia. This seemed fitting, as the famous developer and owner of this hotel, Liz Lambert, was a juror for the M+D+F competition, and my youngest grandchild is the famous Cecilia who holds forth in either English, French, Russian or Spanish.

Hotel Saint Cecilia, named for the patron saint of music and poetry and not my polyglot Cecilia, opened last December after a year-and-a-half renovation of its historic Miller-Crockett Mansion and the addition of studios, bungalows and lap pool. The gardens are exquisite and at night the entire place turns magical when the night lights come on.

The staff at Hotel Saint Cecilia are the best I've seen the world over. They are knowledgeable about the hotel and city. They knew all the designers and architect of the hotel by name and website. Also, when Tall Husband asked about the name of a plant he had seen on the grounds, a staff member found the specimen in question in the hotel's photographic catalog which contained all the plants used in the landscaping.

Here's the part I love: You can shop right in your room! In the bathroom there is a tray of personal products from all over the world, including Austin. And the bar in your room contains all sorts of gourmet items you can purchase to consume there or take home as gifts. In the closet there are spa robes and funky French slippers to purchase. Below, see the French item I could not resist.

If you're travelling to Austin, I recommend Hotel Saint Cecilia. Whether you stay in a suite, studio or one of the bungalows, the experience will be magical.

Seen from our private balcony in Studio 7.

Unique details are everywhere.

The old refurbished mansion as dusk descends.

The pool and bungalows as seen in the distance.

The studios are in the structure on the right, next to the mansion. We were in Studio 7, second floor, left in the photo above.

A view from Studio 7's private balcony at dusk.

The pool at dusk.

Hotel Saint Cecilia at deep dusk. Landscape lighting was installed by Quentin Hughes.

The entrance to Hotel Saint Cecilia in the glow of its neon sign.

The sign says it all.


Hotel Saint Cecilia's bar where you can have a night cap or breakfast the next morning. We loved their continental breakfast with coffee and fresh juice.

And I came away with that bottle of French Cote Bastide's Tilleul Bain.

Links

Emily Little, Architect
Mark Word Design, Landscape
Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, Texas, USA
Posting and photos of Hotel Saint Cecilia's Studio 7 on My Ranchburger Blog
My Ranchburger's coverage of DWR Austin Studio's M+D+F 2009

A Final Glance at Last Weekend

A drive-by shot of Bluebonnets on a rainy morning in Chappell Hill, Texas

Ha, and you thought you had escaped the obligatory look at Texas Bluebonnets!

Trees at Stagecoach Inn, Chappell Hill, Texas

Tall Husband censored my lurid comments about the birds and the bees and the trees. So you are left to your imagination while viewing the trees, above (think, "Rorschach Test.")

An Excellent Weekend Adventure

Under an overcast morning sky: the tiny Coach House at Stagecoach Inn, in historic Chappell Hill, Texas

The weekend weather reports: They told us more than they knew: "Warm, dry, sunny." So, Tall Husband and I booked a weekend in the old carriage house at the Stagecoach Inn in Chappell Hill, Texas...just an hour by car from The Bunny Bungalow in Houston. But as you can see in the photographs, it was overcast with a constant drizzle. And cold. How did we feel about that? Delighted! The drought was ending here in Texas.

Steve and Eileen Evans are wonderful hosts and the famous innkeepers of the Stagecoach Inn. In October 2003, Country Home magazine published an article about them. Recently, Texas Highways: The Travel Magazine of Texas did a story about Historic Chappell Hill which featured Steve and Eileen's Stagecoach Inn and their Antiques shop. They live in an 1850 Greek Revival home on the highest hill in town. On their three-acre property, behind that Greek Revival, is the historic Weems house, in which they have their antiques shop, and behind that is the tiny, two-story Carriage House.

Many houses in Chappell Hill began life elsewhere and were moved to their present locations. That's how the Weems house, an 1866 Greek Revival, ended up in Steve and Eileen's backyard. It seems that folks in Chappell Hill prefer to move a house than to ruin the historic architecture of their homes with additions. "Your Mom's coming to visit? Well, let's just move a house out back." I like that!

How did they know that we love bunnies? This one welcomed us to the tiny Carriage House.

This is the first time we have slept in an antique, four poster. It was so cozy falling asleep under the quilt, hearing the welcome rain outside. (The quilt is handmade of cotton fabric in a small brown check.) But when I awoke, I didn't know where I was; looking up and seeing the canopy netting, I thought, "I'm in a cage! How did this happen?"

From the front porch of our weekend digs, we could see the antiques shop. What could be better? Just one thing...which you will learn tomorrow. Plus, you can see the great antiques that Eileen has in store.

Also, later in the week, you can read about great finds at Beadboard UpCountry in Brenham, Texas, which is just down the road from Cappell Hill.

Hold the Door

Hold the door for a lazy, do-nothing weekend at The Bunny Bungalow. Saturday: French roast coffee in bed with biscotti and Tall Husband; breakfast out; lunch out; dinner out; promise to self: start back on diet come Monday. Sunday prediction: ditto.

P.S. To whomever bought the new potatoes and tossed them in the grass next to our picket fence: Why? I don't intend to pry into your personal habits but you took one bite out of one of them; why? Just curious.

Squirrel Away Another Great Weekend

A squirrel met near The Menil Collection, Houston, this weekend. The little creature is so attentive because Tall Husband is speaking with him in squirrel talk. I wonder what they are saying.

Ahh, An Extra Hour!

Small porcelain bunny spoons from Sur La Table, Houston. After all, what's time to a rabbit?

The end of daylight saving time means we have an extra hour. What to do with it!? I have "spent" that hour a dozen times this weekend. So, now I think I shall spend it yet again, visiting blogs I love. See you Monday, an hour later, of course.

Wow Weekend

Lavender arrangement by floral designer Felix Hernandez of Behind the Garden Gate, Houston
Felix knows all about the wow factor.

My twelve-going-on-twenty-one twin granddaughters searched for things with that wow factor this weekend. It's so invigorating and interesting seeing the world through the eyes of youth.

Weekends: Time in Your Nest

Nest at Beadboard UpCountry

Enjoy your nests this weekend! Look around you and find five things you love living with.

First Saturday: June

Antique Bunnies, Grace Heart Antiques, Houston, Texas; first bunnies to arrive at The Bunny Bungalow

Tall Husband is, at this moment, planting large pots of white hydrangeas for the front walk of the Bungalow. He is also putting in a watering system for each of the large pots. For my part, I'm staying out of his way.

Today is First Saturday, a big day in the Heights. As we are invited to a good friend's surprise birthday party tonight, I will not be covering the Heights events, but will probably have news from the party, as there will be physicians, musicians, actors and other interesting guests there.

We will attend an antique/classic car show tomorrow. I love old cars, so look for some great shots on Monday's blog.

The Weekend

Bumper Sticker on my old bemer.

Have a Great Weekend

We are off to hunt for antiques!