Scottsdale and Santa Fe

So I’ve been on a bit of travel tear lately. It all started with the college roomies trip to Scottsdale (we try and take a trip once every 12- 18 months, if we can swing it), while a friend here in Atlanta offered up the opportunity to visit Santa Fe – all in the same week. Santa Fe has been on my hit list for years so I somehow finagled both (the Hubs is really rocking that “hubby of the year” crown I coronated him with last post ;-)). And away I went for ten days. No one to take care of or worry about but me???? Glorious. Admittedly I was a little bit intimated, worried I’d get homesick, but alas, I returned a recharged, grateful, wife, mom, designer and sold the whole fam on returning to Santa Fe again someday soon.

Here are all the great colors and inspirational pics, starting with Scottsdale, great climate, great hikes, great views, including this one of Camelback Mountain from our rock star rental.

IMG_3682

Hit some well-designed, trendy spots and the spa at the Fairmont.

IMG_3691 IMG_3701 IMG_3705 IMG_3708

IMG_3714 IMG_3711 IMG_3712

Shopped in Old Town Scottsdale and discovered an amazing vintage clothing boutique, maybe the best ever. You can follow her HERE.

IMG_3718 IMG_3719 IMG_3754

I had a day to kill in between so the hubs scored me a rental car and I shared a few laughs with strangers – rolling dirty with my smart cart, into the airport car rental…”going somewhere?!”  The Sparty girls sent me on my way with all the leftover food and wine.

IMG_3724

The views were absolutely amazing. Such a beautiful country we live in! It was a great road trip. Took me back to the days Mike and I drove from San Fran to Atlanta. To think about what life was like back then, pre-children, no worries, jobs waiting for you in the next city, just rolling.

IMG_3731 IMG_3750

Once I made it to Aunt Betsy’s house in Santa Fe, I had an entire day to kill before the Atlanta/Birmingham contingent showed up. I was absolutely enamored with Aunt Betsy’s home! So collected and styled to a T!

IMG_3757 IMG_3759 IMG_3760 IMG_3761 IMG_3762 IMG_3763 IMG_3764 IMG_3765 IMG_3766 IMG_3772

Every time you turned around, something new and shiny to catch your eye…

IMG_4053 IMG_4050 IMG_4054 IMG_4048

IMG_4049

IMG_3791

IMG_3790

So much awesome color, texture, architectural elements. The home reminded me so much of Papa Maurice’s and Grandma Jan’s first cottage on Torch Lake. Cozy, collected, loaded with textures and colorful patterns, all weaved together so eloquently. I have to dig out some pictures, you all would love it. I still dream about it and wish I could bring it all back, but with a little of today’s twist thrown in.

Then it was time to investigate one of the most amazing, charming and unique towns this country has to offer. Truly!

IMG_3776 IMG_3777 IMG_3778 IMG_3780 IMG_3781

IMG_3774

The lobby of The Saint Francis Hotel. Amazing cocktails.

IMG_4011

the most beautiful drinking fountain I’ve laid eyes on…

IMG_4015 IMG_4018 IMG_4019

The shopping in Santa Fe, to use a beaten-down term, SICK.

IMG_3831 IMG_3830 IMG_3829 IMG_3828 IMG_3826 IMG_3825 IMG_3824

This guy’s candy shop was off the chain. Such an artist!

IMG_3832 IMG_3833

IMG_3835 IMG_3836

Mom had these awesome beaded ornaments from the 70s! I wish they would make a comeback.

IMG_3838

IMG_3822

These boots! What a dream. Too bad they were the price of a small car. I just can’t help but think how many people you could feed for the price of something like these. You hope whoever buys them, spends ten times that amount helping others. Luckily for us Americans, they probably do. We are a very philanthropic nation, thank God. Let’s keep it up! We can always do better. Too many babies hungry. I keep telling myself to set aside a day to investigate and research philanthropies that are near and dear, and get those donations set up on automatic draft. Ten, fifteen, twenty, any amount makes a difference.

IMG_3821 IMG_3815

The floors in this studio were magnificent!

IMG_3812

I spotted this ribbon in the studio and it had actually come from the candy shop above?! Does that man have a great eye or what? Folks like him set my world on fire. God bless the creatives, the artists, the renegades.

IMG_3807 IMG_3808 IMG_3809 IMG_3810 IMG_3811

Pretty much every building and home looks like this, unreal.

IMG_3919

Highlight of the trip was hitting the rail yard flea market and farmer’s market. Total party!

IMG_3933

Just take a gander any which way for beautiful vistas.

IMG_3934 IMG_3935

We met fashion designer Randolph Duke and his business partner Tracy. Two of THE most fashionable, colorful and fun people I’ve ever met. They were an absolute blast. Every time I rock one of their necklaces or piece of clothing, I think of them and wish good things for their adventures in Santa Fe.

IMG_3936

This mirror, all disco. I told Randolph if you lived in Atlanta, I would bring every single client I had to your shop or warehouse. Such great objects to layer in that little bit of sass, texture, authenticity to any space, style.

IMG_3939 IMG_3940 IMG_3941 IMG_3942

Jesus! My savior!

IMG_3943

I should have asked how much the sunglasses were. Dang it. They are awesome.

IMG_3945

Found another great booth where everything was half off (it was the last week of the flea, feeling even more lucky having known this). Did I mention my suitcase weighed in at 68 pounds? Yikes.

IMG_3953

Really wanted this Last Supper painting and wishing I’d made room for it in my suitcase…its the Last Supper Jen?!

IMG_3952 IMG_3951

Grabbed this killer ashtray for the hubby and his cigars. He LOVED it. Good call mama.

IMG_3950 IMG_3949 IMG_3948 IMG_3946

The Farmer’s Market…so good! So fun! Great music and amazing food.

IMG_3954 IMG_3957 IMG_3958

And if that wasn’t enough goosebumps and goodness for one day, we came across this amazing home store…

IMG_3932

Again, one of the best I’ve been to. So well curated! Immediately I started firing off pics to my designer babes back home. Every one see inspiration and details differently, you just never know how you might inspire someone else. Hence, why blogging and sharing these pics is so fun and a lovely art form. Even as I add them to this post, I’m spotting new colors, patterns, (sunglasses?! arrrr)  I didn’t noticed before.

IMG_3927 IMG_3931 IMG_3928 IMG_3929 IMG_3930

IMG_3960 IMG_3961 IMG_3965 IMG_3964 IMG_3963 IMG_3962 IMG_3968

IMG_3969 IMG_3970 IMG_3971 IMG_3972 IMG_3973 IMG_3974 IMG_3975 IMG_3976 IMG_3977

IMG_3979 IMG_3980 IMG_3981 IMG_3982 IMG_3983 IMG_3986 IMG_3985 IMG_3984

IMG_3987

 

IMG_3988

This type of fence is EVERYWHERE in Santa Fe and a gorgeous, affordable option. So much great texture and crust…two of our favorite words! And so functional too. The perfect axis of design.

IMG_3992 IMG_3993

Fell hard for this table, what a great bar table it would make!

IMG_3995 IMG_4006 IMG_4007

And last but not least, some beautiful hiking at Bandelier National Monument. Incredible! If there is one thing our government does really well, its our national park systems.

IMG_3845

IMG_3851 IMG_3853 IMG_3863 IMG_3864

Overcoming my fear of heights! ;-))

IMG_3866

Last night in paradise!

IMG_4042

It was a beautiful tour of the Southwest. A great, chicken-soup-for-the-soul trip in such a scenic, artistic part of our country.

I hope you have a great week! I spent this past weekend with hosts Shaw Floors at the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival and some of my design sisters from the Southern Living Designer Network. It was fantastic to see them again and the folks from Shaw were hyper generous and so informative and passionate about their products. A great collaboration. I will be back to share those details, a Charm School update and my tour of London town for my birthday! Cheerio!

Jen

2 comments

Comments are closed.