The O'Donnell House, Palm Springs, CA

If you've ever dreamed of getting married atop a majestic mountain while overlooking the entire panoramic desert valley view below, you'll love this property I toured recently while on my magazine writing media tour! It's The O'Donnell House, which is the sister property to The Willows Bed & Breakfast Inn in Palm Springs, CA that I just blogged about. Come on, let's take a tour!!

Now we've reached the top of the mountain via golf cart....

where you can enjoy both the mountain view and the incredible entire Coachella Valley as shown below.

The beautiful bougainvillea arch on the front of The O'Donnell House is simply stunning in all its fuchsia-colored glory....

as is the intimate patio to the side of the house that's snuggled right up to the mountain.

If historic rustic elegance is your chosen design style/ambiance, then The O'Donnell House is for you!

Filled with rustic furnishings and historic memorabilia...

combined with its private mountaintop setting...

there's a private and elegant coziness about the place.

And if you look outside from the living room, the view of the front patio (perfect for a wedding reception or dance), are simply "to-desert-die-for!"

I loved this old beautiful carved door....

and this sweet little green space is perfect for a wedding if you prefer to view the mountain instead of the valley.

Here's another quaint little green space for lovers to snuggle up! Or how about having a massage therapist work their magic up there in the fresh desert air?!

Did I mention the views of the entire Coachella Valley are to-desert-die-for?!

and that the sky is oh-so-very-blue up there?!

The bridal suite is sure to please...

with its stunning views, cozy fireplace...

and lovely furnishings!

And why not enjoy your honeymoon up there too after your wedding, where you and your new mate can sip an iced-tea, a glass of wine, or a lemonade, and...

from the covered balcony, further enjoy the desert view!?

That ends my tour of The O'Donnell House, sister property to The Willows Bed & Breakfast Inn in sunny Palm Springs, CA. I hope you enjoyed the tour!

'Til Next Time! "Keep your eye on design!"
Kathryn :) www.KathrynBechenInk.com

Photos and writing this blog post by Kathryn Bechen, www.KathrynBechenInk.com, Copyright 2010.

The Willows Bed & Breakfast, Palm Springs, CA

Photos and writing by Kathryn Bechen
www.KathrynBechenInk.com
Copyright 2010.

Continuing on with my "keep your eye on design" theme from my recent magazine writing trip to Palm Springs, CA, I'd like you to meet my beautiful new beau, The beautiful Willows Bed & Breakfast Inn. Yes indeed, I'm in LOVE! As a veteran B&B inn traveler, (my hubby and I have stayed in over 60 inns in 17 U.S. states,) I consider The Willows to be a very private and elegant grand old dame!

Let's enter through their beautiful wrought iron entry gate and take a look, shall we?

The Willows is nestled high into the beautiful desert mountains yet is within walking distance to downtown Palm Springs.

Flora and fauna abound to beautifully decorate the property on the outside.

And here we're stepping inside the front door into the spacious living room, with its lovely beamed ceilings and simple elegance for decor.

Comfy furnishings and botanical prints create a welcoming and restful aura for repose and retreat...

You can cozy up to the fireplace on a chilly desert night.

Don't you just love the beautiful architectural details?!

And the old black and white historical photos of the property...

as well as this gorgeous ceiling?!

If you prefer not to gaze into the fireplace in the living room, you can gaze at the beautiful mountains instead!

We were treated like royalty to a sumptuous breakfast feast...

including these lovely berries and other festive treats.

We enjoyed the soothing sound of the waterfall outside the dining room too.

I didn't get a chance to actually sleep in this gorgeous antique bed since I was on a media tour and didn't stay overnight at the inn, but I'd sure like to snuggle down into it, wouldn't you?

And I'd also like to partake of this lovely old-fashioned bathtub and the soft robes for two!

And from another room's tub, we can see the swaying palm trees as we soak our cares of the day away!

And speaking of soaking our cares away, their pool looks pretty "desertly-divine" too, don't you think?

I hope you enjoyed the tour of the beautiful Willows Bed & Breakfast Inn in Palm Springs, CA, where simple elegance and beautiful antiques are the order of the "desert -design -day."

'Til next time, "keep your eye on design!"

Kathryn :)
www.KathrynBechenInk.com

Riviera Resort WOW! in Palm Springs, CA

Photos and writing by Kathryn Bechen
www.KathrynBechenInk.com
Copyright 2010.

Continuing on with my recent "keep your eye on design" theme, today I am sharing with you the recent multi-million dollar renovation of the gorgeously glamorous Riviera resort in sunny Palm Springs, CA, where my hubby Steve and I stayed recently and were wined and dined when I was sent on a magazine writing media tour.

The Riviera's website bills itself as "Hollywood glam with a twist" and due to its bold and colorful glitzy mid-century modern design, and given the fact that stars like Frank Sinatra and his pals once played here, and modern celebs have been sighted, I agree with their description.

If glitz, glam, and big mirrors are your favored style of design, you'll simply LOVE the Riviera resort!

Its interior is boldly opulent down to every last detail...

right down to its red crystal chandelier and wallpaper on the ceiling!

After checking in, my first stop after our freeway ride in busy traffic was their gorgeous Spa Terre, and I was not disappointed!

The "retro design vibe" continued in their beautifully pristine full-service spa and salon.

I opted for an hour-long massage and sure enough, the knot in my back was totally gone after my therapist worked her magic, and I was as relaxed as a wet noodle! If you're headed here for your honeymoon, they offer couple massages too.

Of course, lounging a bit in their two spa tubs with water pleasantly cascading down the wall didn't hurt matters either!

Nor did being served a cool drink while I relaxed in their comfy retro-style chairs.

Notice the fun lighting here and the totally nifty "indoor palm trees." Ah, a serene indoor oasis in the middle of the desert!

Chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne greeted me and my hubby Steve as we entered our room, which was all decked out in more mid-century modern design.

Orange and brown seem to be the hot colors of the day!

Our room had a lovely view of the mountains and palm trees.

The 24 acres of the Riviera resort, which are set amidst majestic mountains, are all meticulously landscaped, with gorgeous fountains...

and more gorgeous fountains.

Elegant patio poolside dining is available...

after you take a dip in their amazingly huge pool!

Cabanas to shelter your soft ivory skin from the sun boast comfy sofas and nostalgic pictures of former California beauty queens!

Or perhaps you'd like to lounge with your sweetie in one of their cozy chaises-for-two?

Or sip a cool drink on one of the poolside retro chairs?

In any event, if you're seeking a relaxing desert getaway, a fun retro-vibe-wedding-and-honeymoon spot, or a place to celebrate your next big family event, and mid-century modern design, mountains, and palm trees make you swoon, you can't go wrong with the over-the-top glamorous Riviera Resort, Terre Spa, and Circa 59 fine dining restaurant!

'Til next time, "keep your eye on design!"

Kathryn :)
www.KathrynBechenInk.com