An Asset to the Abbey

Architecture
October 7, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! Today I’m sharing an amazing adaptive reuse project located in France’s Loire Valley. Fontevraud L’Hotel is a restored thousand year old monastery that is a part of the Abbaye de Fontevraud, the largest Abbey in Europe and one of the largest surviving monastic cities from the middle ages. It was founded in 1101 as the ideal city – a place for work, prayer and reflection – and it has evolved over the years from its original mission to both a resting place for Richard the Lionheart and a prison under Napoleon. The Abbey was declared an historic monument in 1840, and a World Hertiage Site in 2000, so it is well worth visiting especially when you can stay at the Fontevraud L’Hotel. Completely re-imagined by architects Jouin Manku, every fixture and every piece of furniture was designed specifically for the hotel. I have often written about my appreciation for the juxtaposition between historic architecture and modern furnishings, or modern additions to historic structures, and Fontevraud L’Hotel is no exception. Not shying away from the modern, the hotel has even gone so far as to put in an iBar, where a huge digital library can be accessed. Oh, and did I mention that upon arrival each guest is provided with an iPad through which they can access hotel services and history about the Abbey? I am not sure which is the bigger draw, a visit to the Abbaye de Fontevraud and the tombs of Henry the 2nd, Richard the Lionheart, and Eleanor of Acquitaine, or a stay at Fontevraud L’Hotel. For more information on the Abbey and the Hotel, visit the Fontevraud website.

Images courtesy of the Fontevraud Hotel via Yellowtrace Blog.

Lost Charleston

Architecture
October 2, 2014

Good morning Lacquered Lifers. Today I’m going to hit you with a preservation post, because it honestly seems like it has been too long! While a city like Charleston may seem like a preservationists paradise, even Charleston has had its major architectural losses over the years. For me, one of the saddest and most ironic losses in Charleston was the Charleston Hotel. Sad because the building was absolutely beautiful, and ironic because now that Charleston is a top tourist destination there are currently at least four new hotels being built in downtown Charleston.
Located on Meeting Street between Hayne and Pinckney Streets, the Charleston Hotel was built in 1838 and its design was immediately praised by the local community. It was destroyed by fire soon after its grand opening, but was immediately rebuilt to the exact same specifications. It was a beautiful building both inside and out, featuring the corinthian colonnade at its facade and a stunning domed iron and glass atrium on its interior. After the Civil War, when the southern economy was in dire straits, the hotel fell on hard times. Rooms were rented to local boarders and during prohibition owners sold illegal whisky out of the hotel in an attempt to make ends meet. By 1950 plans were made to demolish the hotel in favor of a drive in motel (can you believe that?) and despite the attempts by local preservationists to save the building, in 1960 it was lost. If you were visiting Charleston today wouldn’t you have stayed at the Charleston Hotel?

For my recommendations on where to stay and dine while in Charleston, visit my Charleston Guide.

If I Can Make it There …

Life
September 23, 2014

Good morning Lacquered Lifers! Sorry for the radio silence over the last few days – Mr. B and I are just getting back from a whirlwind couple of days in NYC. Although we have adopted Charleston as our home and embraced the Lowcountry lifestyle, New York will always be where Mr. B and I grew up and thus holds a special place for us. When we venture up to NYC, we are typically running around catching up with friends and trying to visit some of our old neighborhood haunts. Here’s a little recap before I get back to all things Lacquered Life tomorrow. Sant Ambroeus, the best coffee in NYC. And the best biscotti. And the best little sandwiches on brioche. And gelato. Despite the fact Sant Ambroeus now has locations in the Loews Hotel, Soho, and the West Village, I am an Upper East Sider and thus frequent the location on Madison and 78th Street. You know what’s great about your neighborhood coffee place in New York? You walk in and it is like you never left – the regulars say “long time no see” and the baristas ask you where you have been and say you have been missed. It’s like we never left …
My dear friends L & R just moved into a new UES apartment that is absolutely wonderful … and it has a roof terrace. What a lucky couple and what a lucky girl I was to get to hangout with friends looking at the skyline. Friday meant venturing out of the city to see a new client’s c. 1903 home. Finding little treasures like this made my day, and I’m so excited to be involved with this project. The evening meant some music and martinis at Bemelmans with Mr. B before heading to our favorite neighborhood italian restaurant with my brother and his girlfriend. What I love about Bemelmans is despite the cost of the martini they keep bringing you nuts, cape cod potato chips, and cheese straws so you can effectively eat dinner for the price of a martini. Finally, what would a trip to NYC be without a burger and some cottage fries at Melon’s? It wouldn’t be much of a trip at all. As always thanks for following on Instagram and here at Lacquered Life. Come back tomorrow when we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming.