WANDERLUST // ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB

There's something about the combination of palm trees, baron mountain ranges and a hazy sun that makes Palm Springs really appeal to me. I also have a weird love for 1960's style roadside motels, so it's not easy to see why I need to visit the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs.

According to Mr and Mrs Smith, this "hipster canyon commune" is a motel that died and went to hotel heaven. Originally a 1965 Howard Johnson Motor Lodge, the hotel was brought back to life by the Ace Hotels group in 2009 with a mix of mid-century decor, mojave desert inspired textiles, concrete, timber, canvas and leather to create a laid back oasis in the middle of the californian desert.

Like the other hotels in the Ace family, it's the little quirks like the retro caravan pool bar, lobby photo booth, communal outdoor fire places, vintage record players, bingo nights and vespa hire that make it ooze understated cool.

 

Image Source: Ace Hotel,  Wallpaper, Lane Dittoe and Jessica Claire

golden state of mind

While on our Santa Monica shopping spree, my friend Sara scored some super cute floral denim by Insight from Californian retail chain PacSun (yes, I know, why go all the way to the States to buy something from a Sydney based label). While in the store I was mesmerised by the imagery for their Golden State of Mind campaign.

The campaign, shot by Andrew Kuykendall, Nick Maggio and Harper Smith, centres around the amazing diversity and unique sense of adventure that California has to offer; from San Francisco to Big Sur and Los Angeles.

And in true California fashion, the campaign was kicked off with a pool party at the Ace Hotel, Palm Springs back in February. Here's just a sample of what Golden State of Mind has to offer.

chalking it up

Those of you who get shivers at the sight or sound of fingernails on a chalkboard might want to skip this post.... but skip at the risk of missing some of the most amazing hand drawn typography to ever grace a chalkboard.

While at a friends house warming party, Dana Tanamachi, a New York based graphic designer and custom chalk letterer, accidentally stumbled into her new career after sketching the word 'Brooklyn' on the freshly painted chalkboard walls of the new apartment. The drawing was a hit amongst the party goers and word spread amongst friends which eventually led to commissioned works for Google's NYC office, Ralph Lauren, West Elm, The Ace Hotel and now the cover of O magazine.

Dana's secret... apparently the cheaper the chalk the better. "it's more hollow, so it goes on smooth. the more expensive stuff is denser, and that's what makes those bad noises".

To find out more about Dana and her process check out The Wall Street Journal's article Evoking the Past with Dusty Letter's

A custom wedding design and The Ace Hotel, NY

The Ace Hotel

Kings County Jerky Co

Google's NYC Office

Rugby Ralph Lauren Window Display

The February 2012 cover of O magazine

O Magazine spread

West Elm 2011 Holiday Catalogue

Nagging Doubt Wine Label

Custom Wedding Design for fellow ADC Young Gun Andrio Abero

The queen of the chalk herself, Dana Tanamachi