The next time you find yourself wading through the crowds at a museum, think about staying at La Colombe d’Or in the French village of Saint-Paul de Vence and enjoy the art of the modern masters in the spirit in which it was created.

Just outside the walls of Saint-Paul de Vence, a medieval village in the South of France and perennial haven of creatives, sits La Colombe d'Or, a small restaurant and hotel with a rotating art collection that rivals any small museum. Legend has it that the likes of Picasso, Chagall, and a few other talented notaries paid for their lodgings and meals with their paintings. Anyone interested in starting an art collection might want to take note. 

Above: La Colombe d'Or sits just outside the wall of the medieval hillside village of Saint-Paul de Vence. Image via CNTraveler.

Above: The reception area of La Colombe d'Or. Image via Flickr.

Above: A black and white photograph of a famous former guest. Image via CNTraveler.

Above: Modern masterpieces hang on the walls of the restaurant. Image via Best Eating Out in Languedoc.

Above: Uplights for the paintings are concealed behind fixtures shaped like shells. Image via Stenaroadtrip.

Above: Dining with a Picasso at La Colombe d'Or. Image via Vankata. 

Above: A ceramic mural by Fernand Leger presides over diners outside. Image via CNTraveler.

Above: Fernand Leger's mural is surrounded by the ivy of the walled garden. Image via AutoEurope. 

Above: A Calder mobile brings sculptural interest to the hotel's swimming pool. Image via The Daily Meal.

Above: A Sean Scully ceramic mural adds a strong graphic background to the pool area. Image via The Daily Meal.

Above: A mosaic mural of the "Golden Dove" nestles into the surrounding verdant foliage. Image via Flickr.

Above: The multi-colored terracotta roof tiles display a painterly palette. Image via BozAround. 

Above: A view of Saint-Paul de Vence from the multi-colored roof. Image via Louise Candlish.

Above: The exterior of the La Colombe d'Or. Image via Flickr. 

Planning a trip to France? See 74 of our favorite French design haunts in our City Guides. 

Below: A map showing the location of La Colombe d'Or in Saint-Paul de Vence. 

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Once July comes along, it seems as though everyone you know is running off to a fantastic rental that they lucked upon via a friend of a friend. You want in. But with all the online clutter, it's hard to zero in on that rustic Cape Cod beach shack or chic Parisian pied à terre of your dreams. 

Here at Remodelista we've done our share of vacation renting (from shoestring to full-on luxury). We look for places with local character that are thoughtfully pulled together inside and out. It's a combination that's elusive but not impossible to come by, if you know where to look (and if you're careful to scrutinize the photos and details before signing on). Here are the rental sites that we turn to most often:

Above: Sarah's favorite source for Northern European finds is Urlaubsarchitektur. "This German company does a great job sourcing what they describe as 'architecturally outstanding houses,'" she says. The business was founded by German architect Jan Hamer, who decided he wanted his vacation rentals to be as well designed as his own home. Urlaubsarchitektur lists 297 properties, most tending toward the modern. If you're looking for somewhere to rent this summer, here's a list of houses that are still available. Photograph of an Urlaubsarchitektur house on the Danish Island of Mon from our post Vacation Like an Architect.

Above: Julie recently discovered luxury vacation rental site Homeaway, featuring higher-end offerings such as Parliament House, a restored historic Nantucket retreat.

Above: Julie also likes Unique Home Stays, a UK rental site that caters to travelers with specific interests, such as surfing retreats, eco rentals, and dog- and kid-friendly getaways. Photograph of the Selsey Beach House in West Sussex.

Above: Meredith and Alexa have both rented through Airbnb on many occasions, and all were great experiences. Alexa stayed in a small flat in the 15th arrondissement in Paris and recently in a two-bedroom apartment in Condesa in Mexico City; both were humble living spaces, clean, and just minimal enough. Meredith has booked Airbnb houses in Tahoe and Sonoma, and is about to stay in Airbnb places across Italy this summer, plus a house at Sea Ranch for the Labor Day weekend. "What I love is that Airbnb rentals are the antidote to sterile hotel rooms," she says. Photograph of a West Hollywood apartment designed by an architect at Commune and available through Airbnb, via Design Tripper.

Above: Another option is Haven in Paris, which lists luxury villas and apartments—and has expanded its reach to include London, Provence, and Tuscany. Photograph of the Eiffel Tower Loft in the 15th arrondissement.

Above: A resource for exotic locations, Spaces 42 offers rentals across Asia, Africa, Australia, and more. A favorite of Justine's is Dar Beida in Essaouira, Morocco (see the full interiors at Midcentury Modern Meets Medina).

Above: Izabella recently came across this Modern Houseboat in Berlin for rent through The Modern House site, and she's been perusing their offerings ever since. The site is all about architect-designed vacation rentals at affordable prices—everything from the aforementioned houseboat to St. Columbia's converted church in Scotland.

Above: Francesca has had both good and bad experiences with rental sites, and she cautions against agencies that list a banner property as a lead generator for other options—"sorry that's booked but we can offer you this property"—that are far less desirable. Two recent finds she recommends are Boutique Homes, with offerings like the Sea View Villa in Sicily, Italy designed by Maria Cannizzo (shown above), and Welcome Beyond.

Above: While working as an editor at Travel + Leisure, Margot discovered the astonishing collection of historic rentals offered by the UK's Landmark Trust. "The Landmark Trust leases restored properties not just in Great Britain but in Italy and France. And there's a similar, smaller organization, the Landmark Trust USA, that rents Rudyard Kipling's family house in Vermont," she says. Also worth looking into: the UK's National Trust, "an organization offering holiday cottages in restored old buildings throughout the UK with names like Woolley Lodge. Hitch: the exteriors tend to look more charming than the interiors." Photograph of the Music Room in Lancaster, an 18th century garden pavilion from the Landmark Trust.

Above: Our group is of divided opinion about One Fine Stay (some of us have had good experiences, others not so great). That said, the site offers a wide range of luxury vacation stays across London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. Photograph of the Carriage House III rental in New York's Harlem.

Above: For those traveling as a family, Janet recommends Kid & Coe, a vacation site that "focuses on family-friendly rentals—those that also translate into liveable. And their options aren't limited to travelers with children," she says. Photograph of the Wouwermanstraat Residence in Amsterdam.

Above: Specializing in the rustic, boutique agency Luci Di Casa offers five large villas across Tuscany as well as two villas in Mexico. Photograph of the Domus Civita property in Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio, Italy.

Above: Last year Michelle had great luck with El Sol Villas, a company focused on villas and vacation houses in Italy and Spain. She stayed in an apartment in Barcelona called Casp 74. "It was well priced, in a fantastic location, super clean, and the kitchen was outfitted with almost new appliances. Plus, there were great city views and a concierge office on the main floor where you could ask questions like: 'What's the best subway to take to get to the train station?' "

Above: Destination BCN is a collection of 15 apartments owned, designed, and rented out by Miklos Beyer and Anme Nijstad, a design-minded couple. Margot, who rented the company's Figi apartment, says, "In addition to being great looking—simple, modern, and impeccably clean—their places are detailed with art books, movies, Barcelona's underground cultural magazines, and annotated lists of neighborhood places worth knowing about. And did I mention that they have great little kitchens, plus washing machines and dryers?" Photograph from our post Live (of at Least Lodge) Like a Catalonian. 

Above: Christine is a fan of Living Architecture, a company that describes itself as "a social enterprise dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of world-class modern architecture" (Alain de Botton is the creative director). Photograph of the Dune House in Suffolk designed and built by JVA + Mole Architects.

N.B.: All this week we'll be featuring design-worthy vacation houses in our Summer Rentals issue.

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Chris and Oliver Laugsch, the design-minded brothers behind boutique rental agency Welcome Beyond, are the masterminds of Berlin's most aquatic accommodation. Located on Lake Rummelsburg, a small inlet in the Spree River in the artsy eastern part of Berlin, the 645-square-foot Modern Houseboat features a wall of glass doors overlooking the city, sleeping accommodations for two adults and two kids, a chic streamlined kitchen, and a pair of bicycles for exploring the area.

Above: The houseboat is fronted by a wall of glass doors.

Above: The interior opens onto a wooden deck (good for watching the swans swim by). The dock is next to a nature preserve.

Above: The kitchen is anchored by a concrete island.

Above: A wood-burning stove heats the space in the cooler months.

Above: The custom-made wooden seating in the living room can also accommodate extra guests.

Above: Maritime-themed reading material.

Above: The bedroom overlooks the river.

Above: A streamlined bath.

Above: Wrap-around windows provide unobstructed views of the city. The center of Berlin is about 15 minutes away by public transport.

Above: The houseboat is moored off a narrow dock.

Above: A pair of Bella Ciao bicycles are available for getting around the city. The boat rents for €250 a night, minimum stay three nights. For more details, go to Welcome Beyond or The Modern House.

We're exploring standout summer rentals all this week. For more ideas, go to Editors' Picks: 15 Favorite Vacation Rental Resources.

Interested in life on the water? Have a look at the Ultimate Seattle Houseboat, An NYC Houseboat, and Gardenista's DIY Cobalt Blue Planters (Houseboat Optional).

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New York architectural designer and builder Tom Givone is on a mission to explore "the contrast between historic and modern and play these extreme elements against one another." Case in point: Givone's four-year renovation of a dilapidated 1820 farmhouse in the Catskills that he describes as "a study in contrasts—fully restored to its period grandeur while featuring purely modernist elements." 

The Floating Farmhouse is situated at the edge of a waterfall, two hours from New York City, near the hamlet of Narrowsburg, and the good news is, it's available for rent.

Above: The kitchen resides in a modern addition that echoes the roofline of the original house. The 22-foot-high glazed curtain wall is skyscraper glass in a steel framework; it overlooks a brook and a gazebo.

Above: The kitchen's hand-hewn beams were salvaged from a Pennsylvania dairy barn.

Above: Bluestone countertops and lacquered cabinetry contrast with a vintage concrete sink. The floor is polished concrete.

Above: The kitchen has a wood-fired pizza oven faced with oxidized Cor-Ten steel.

Above: A look at the kitchen's oxidized steel framework. 

Above: The open-plan living room/family room/dining room has its own steel-front fireplace and original wide-plank floors. The wainscoting and ceiling coffers were built from pine trees felled and milled on the property.

Above: In the master suite—one of five bedrooms—the bed is floated in front of an antique mirror and alongside a wood-burning fireplace. 

Above: A shingled eave (featuring the house's original cedar roof shingles) adds an outdoor touch in the master bedroom.

Above: An 18th-century Italian marble sink seems to hover, thanks to angled supports concealed in the wall. The house has 2.5 baths.

Above: An austere bathroom combines old and new elements. 

Above: Faucets from Hudson Reed contrast with a 19th-century wood and zinc bathtub, salvaged from a Lower East Side tenement and encased in stainless steel.

Above: An old cast-iron bed frame and a minimalist layout in a farmhouse bedroom. The windows have their original wavy glass.

Above: Another bedroom is well-suited for children or a pair of single travelers.

Above: A simple outdoor shower. (If you love outdoor showers, have a look at Bathing en Plein Air, our roundup of 29 inspired examples.)

Above L and R: New (steel-framed skyscraper windows) and old (traditional rockers on the cantilevered front porch). The house is available to rent from Homeaway; its sleeps nine and costs $600 a night. To see more of Givone's work, including dramatic Before shots of the Floating Farm, go to Givone Home.

Looking for more rustic-modern inspiration? Browse our Farmhouse Style posts and have a look at Barn-Like Living (Only Better).

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 12, 2012 as part of our Harvest issue.

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Designed by prolific Cape Cod architect Charles Zehnder in 1970, the Kugel Gips House—once slated for demolition—is the first in a series of restoration projects by the Cape Cod Modern House Trust, a group dedicated to documenting and preserving Bauhaus-era houses on Cape Cod by architectural luminaries such as Marcel Breuer, Nathaniel Saltonstall, and Eero Saarinen.

The house, which overlooks Northeast Pond, is available for rent during the summer months (a portion is tax-deductible); in the autumn and spring, artists and scholars can apply for a residency program. 

Above: The Kugel Gips House is a reflection of Zehnder's interest in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his time spent with the architect during his years at the University of Virginia.

Above: The structure is surrounded by a series of long cantilevered decks and roof overhangs. 

Above: The living room features a minimalist brick hearth. Photograph by Yorgos Efthymiadis. 

Above: A view of the modest kitchen partitioned by a shingled wall. Photograph by Yorgos Efthymiadis.

Above: The kitchen is sectioned off by a long island with a cooktop. Photograph via CCMHT.

Above: The living room overlooks Northeast Pond, one of Wellfleet's many freshwater kettle ponds.

Above: The modest sleeping quarters have concrete brick walls—according to the Cape Cod Modern House Trust, Zehnder was influenced by the geometric concrete bunker formations in Normandy.

Above: Concrete walls continue into the bathroom.

Above: The deck overlooks a forest of scrub pine and the Northeast Pond.

Above: The clear waters of Northeast Pond. Visit Cape Cod Modern House Trust for booking information about the Kugel Gips House and two more CCMHT rentals.

Above: Well worth a read: Cape Cod Modern: Midcentury Architecture and Community on the Outer Cape ($32 from Amazon) by Peter McMahon and Christine Cipriani, with photographs by Raimund Koch. And worth watching: our friend Malachi Connolly's feature-length documentary, Built on Narrow Land, the story behind the Outer Cape's modern architecture of the 1960s and 70s. 

To learn about the Hatch Cottage, another Cape Cod Modern House Trust property that's available for rent, check out The Outermost House: Modest Modernism in Wellfleet. And in the New York Times, Penelope Green captured the vibe of my own Cape Cod childhood in A Childhood Home, and Poets' Muse.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran August 9, 2010, as part of our Cape Cod Modern issue.

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Over the years, we've featured dozens of design-worthy rental houses on Remodelista. Here's our roundup of our greatest hits. (You might want to bookmark this post.)

Australia

Above: Ellis House in Kyneton, Victoria.

Above: Byron Bay Holiday House.

Bahamas

Belgium

Above: Belgian Guesthouse in West Flanders.

France

Above: Casamidy's Rue Michel le Comte in Paris.

Above: Casamidy's Rue Conde in Paris.

Above: Villa Solaire in Haute Savoie.

Above: A Holiday House in the Languedoc.

Germany

Above: Freunde von Freunden Apartment in Berlin.

Above: A Modern Houseboat in Berlin.

Greece

Above: An Aegean Idyll on Tinos in the Cyclades.

Italy

Above: Alexander Waterworth's Masseria in Italy.

Above: La Pedevilla: A Holiday House in the Italian Alps.

Portugal

Above: Baixa House in Lisbon.

Scandinavia

Above: Hotel Magazin 1 in Gotland.

Above: Black and Bright House on the Danish Island of Mon.

South Africa

Above: A Whitewashed Villa in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Spain

Above: Alemany 5 in Girona.

Above: El Cancho Beach House

Switzerland

Above: Huberhaus in the Upper Valais.

United Kingdom

Above: A Seaside Loft in Cornwall.

Above: Midcentury Seaside Rental in Hampshire.

Above: A Seaside Cottage in Cornwall.

United States

Above: A Midcentury Modern in Wellfleet. Photo by Raimund Koch for Cape Cod Modern.

Above: Hatch House in Wellfleet. Photo by Raimund Koch for Cape Cod Modern.

Above: Kugel Gips House in Wellfleet. Photo by Raimund Koch for Cape Cod Modern.

Above: William Brown Project in Upstate New York.

Above: The Floating Farmhouse in Upstate New York.

Above: A Woodsy Cabin in Echo Park, Los Angeles.

Consult our City Guides for shops, restaurants, hotels, and other design-worthy destinations wherever you go.

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Last summer I met up with French designer Clarisse Demory in her Paris apartment during the only two days of the year that she happened to be in the city. Clarisse had been living deep in the flowery hills of Tuscany for the past year (she brought bunches of dried flora back with her), working on a complex and somewhat veiled project.

Villa Lena is, as the owners describe it, "a new kind of retreat"—an estate featuring a hotel, rental apartments and villas, and a not-for-profit art foundation surrounded by 1,200 acres of woodland, olive groves, and vineyards. The center was masterminded by the villa's three French owners: art consultant Lena Evstafieva, musician Jérôme Hadey, and restaurateur/night club owner Lionel Bensemoun. The main house and the surrounding buildings date to the 18th century and were renovated in the mid 1990s, but the property needed another update to turn it into a creative hub. Having hired Clarisse to design his three Nanashi bento restaurants in Paris, Lionel enlisted her as art director for the project. Clarisse's easy-chic aesthetic was the right fit for the undertaking, which required creative use of recycled and vintage furniture to stay within a tight budget.

Along the way, Clarisse ripped up old upholstery, sanded wooden floors to a matte finish, and chopped off bed legs. "When I did have to purchase furniture," she says, "I opted for reliable, vintage pieces by Danish designer Børge Mogensen along with vintage Italian designs from Superstudio, Ettore Sottsass, Vignelli, and Achille Castiglioni." The latter lot she sourced with great luck from Florence's secondhand stores. While Clarisse got creative with available materials, the owners made the decision to splurge on small luxuries: custom bed frames from Milan, high-quality mattresses, natural bedding, and a Santa Maria Novella terra cotta potpourri for each room.

Villa Lena fully opened in the spring. Accommodations consist of two rental houses, six self-contained apartments, and a converted stable, plus hotel rooms in the villa. The Villa Lena Foundation also hosts two-month artist residencies. Have a look around.

Photographs courtesy of Villa Lena, unless otherwise noted.

Above: At the heart of the property is the old villa built by the Ferrini del Frate family in the 18th century and now the Villa Lena hotel, which is where guest artists stay. French chef Hélène Bouchardaud and her team grow produce for the restaurant on the estate, which has an Italian-French menu.

Above: In her design of the rental apartments, Clarisse's first order of business was to bring light indoors: "The apartments had dark wood ceilings and fake ancient-looking pictures; the whole property had a gloomy atmosphere in a clichéd Tuscan agriturismo style."

Above: In Fattoria, an old stable remodeled into the reception building, the apartments have tall brick furnaces. Clarisse paired them with design classics like a tan leather Børge Mogensen sofa and a vintage Italian coffee table (designer unknown). Photograph by Frederik Vercruysse.

Above: Where space was tight in the apartments, Clarisse designed wall shelves as an alternative to armoires and fashioned clothing rails from black metallic plumbing pipe. Photograph by Coke Bartrina.

Above: In most of the apartment kitchens, Clarisse painted the cupboards a pale, dusty green (sourced from a local hardware store) and introduced floating shelves, recycled tables with painted tops, and a mishmash of vintage chairs. Photograph by Coke Bartrina.

Above: Donald Judd–style sofas and chairs were fashioned from wooden boards found in a warehouse on the property. "My designs can be recycled, but they should never look recycled," Clarisse says.

Above: À la Maria von Trapp, Clarisse made sofa cushion covers from old hotel curtains by bleaching the fabric to create interesting patterns before stitching it. Guests quickly began asking where to purchase the pillow covers, so she put together a collection that's available at the small Villa Lena store.

Above: Clarisse painted dark wood armoires in a wash of "superlight pink or bright, matte white." 

Above: A candle holder found in the old villa is paired with a thrifted basket.

Above: The living areas in many of the apartments are furnished with vintage wicker. Photograph courtesy of Julie Ansiau, originally taken for Elle Decor.

Above: "This is a once-super-tacky sofa that I found in one of the houses," Clarisse says. "I removed its heavy upholstery, sanded the wooden frame, and added my own sofa cushions." Photograph courtesy of Julie Ansiau, originally taken for Elle Decor.

Above: Paintings by British artist (and Villa Lena residence alum) Kate Groobey hang in many of the apartments. Photograph courtesy of Julie Ansiau, originally taken for Elle Decor.

Above: Dried Tuscan flora (with a few leaves painted a cool blue) are displayed in ceramic jars. Photograph courtesy of Julie Ansiau, originally taken for Elle Decor.

Above: Artists in residence work in a group of converted farm buildings with individual studio spaces. Visitors so far have included paper artist and designer Julie Ho of Confetti System, lighting designer Ana Kraš, fashion designer Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava, and the creators of Calico Wallpaper.

Above: A map of the 1,200-plus acre estate; note that there are three swimming pools. For more information and reservations, visit Villa Lena.

Traveling to Italy? See our Florence City Guide for other design-worthy hotels, restaurants, and shops. Also have a look at Hipster Paradise: Hôtel du Temps in Montmartre, a Paris boutique hotel partly owned by the Villa Lena's Lionel Bensemoun. And tour Clarisse Demory's own rustic getaway in A Parisian's Pied-a-Terre in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Below: Villa Lena is in the Tuscan countryside, an hour west of Florence by car.

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In Berlin's artsy Neuköllna neighborhood, an über-cute hostel awaits the adventuresome.

Huettenpalast owners Silke Lorenzen and Sarah Vollmer set out to create a business where they could fully exercise their passions for design, art, cooking, and socializing. They found a home base in a former vacuum cleaner factory and soon started dreaming of rooms within rooms.

Huettenpalast now welcomes visitors to its six creatively refurbished campers and cabins nestled closely together in an indoor campground, replete with birch trees, picnic tables, and lanterns. Bedrooms are private but bathrooms are shared. Lorenzen and Vollmer host what they describe as "wild mix in generations and nationalities," and the two often join guests in the evenings over a bottle of wine. If privacy is a priority for you, Huettenpalast also offers six hotel rooms that the owners say are "really quiet." To book, visit Huettenpalast.

Photography by Jan Brockhaus.

Above: The Kischwester (or "Little Sister"), a 1970's Mercurial Junior that came from East Germany. The yellow lightbox atop the camper supplies a starry night sky (pictured below).

Above: The interior of the Kischwester was designed by Yoraco Gonzalez, who lined it with handmade wooden bricks. Kischwester's nighttime sky is strewn with flowers, seahorses, and musical notes amid the stars.

Above: Huettenpalast's vegetarian cafe is open to guests and nonguests alike for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea; dinner service is in the works.

Above: The cafe bar is built from discarded glass blocks that Lorenzen and Vollmer found in the building.

Above: The cabins and caravans are all close neighbors. From left, the Alterpalast, Kischwester, Berghuette ("Mountain Cabin"), and Talhuette ("Valley Cabin").

Above: The Schwalbennest caravan (or "Swallow's Nest"), built in the 1960s, is the only West German camper of the bunch.

Above: The Heartbreaker needs no translation.

Above: Each unit features its own "patio" lounge area.

Above: Once a storage space for factory refuse, the garden makes good use of reclaimed bathtubs and old furniture.

Berlin seems to lead the pack in novelty overnight digs: See The Urban Rental: Berlin's Most Aquatic Accommodation. Go to our City Guide to see more of our Berlin discoveries, including A Hotel Built from Salvaged Materials and, on Gardenista, A Moveable Feast: Berlin's Portable Garden.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 30, 2012, as part of our Beyond Bauhaus week.

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Designers Martin Raffone and Bill McIntosh's house, Dar Mahjouba, is like hundreds of other riads jammed cheek by jowl in the dense quarters of Marrakech’s medina: a traditional Moroccan house with rooms ringing a central courtyard, and a roof terrace that provides the only view of an outside world. And yet the resemblance ends there. Amid the cacophony of the medina, the tranquil house is an elixir, a cool glass of milk surrounded by mounds of spice.

Having rented a riad myself only a few alleyways over at the northern edge of the souks, I know the relief of ducking through a low doorway to step from a world of overstimulation into a center of calm. Of late, Marrakech’s popularity as a destination has soared, as has design interest in all things Moroccan. Now there are dozens of riads to rent, most of them packed to the roofs with design clichés. Not so the riad reimagined by Raffone and McIntosh, each of whom has his own interior design firm in New York City (see Martin Raffone and William McIntosh Design.) The good news: They rent out their house when they're not there (for information, scroll to the end).

“We simplified and modernized,” Raffone says, “and grayed everything down.” He and McIntosh also turned to the best local resources, the artisans themselves, and had almost all the interior furnishings made to their own design. Here and there, traditional pieces such as tea tables and wooden stools make an appearance, but rather than swallowing whole the busy array of native Moroccan craft, as so many other transplanted homeowners do, they've opted for only a soupçon. All of which makes their riad more than just palatable. It’s the ideal home away from home in Marrakech.

Photographs by Martin Raffone.

Above: The house isn’t so much whitewashed as dipped in cream. Nearly every surface is tadelakt, a traditional plaster treatment involving integral color and buffing that produces a soft sheen. Window frames, doors, and shutters are all painted a complementary warm, soft gray. The courtyard is shown here. Candle lanterns are ubiquitous in Marrakech; for ease of use, Raffone and McIntosh electrified theirs and wired them to wall switches. The curlicue motif of the wrought-iron rail inserts and window guards is a common pattern in Marrakech.

Above: Off the courtyard a lounge area, commonly referred to as the bhou, is the most traditional room, and Raffone’s favorite spot. Lined with a banquette in a slate gray cotton and furnished with shutters as well as curtains from West Elm, it’s a cool place to retreat from the heat and intensity of the sun. Raffone and McIntosh designed the iron lights, which were made locally; the black paper lampshades came from BHV, in Paris.

Above: A fig tree dominates the courtyard, providing the relief of shade plus greenery. In a corner a wall fountain replaces what was once a well.

Above: Wood and rush stools from the souk neatly tuck under a stone-topped iron table designed by Raffone and McIntosh. To open up the living room to the courtyard, they enlarged a pair of windows flanking a shuttered doorway. Leaning in the corner is a baker's bread peel, a sculptural reference to the riad’s address, Derb el Ferrane (Street of the Oven).

Above: Raffone designed a collection of linens, including this table runner, for Alnour, a local co-op that enlists the embroidery skills of women with disabilities. The name of the house, Dar Mahjouba, is monogrammed on Linen Napkins, thanks to stateside Etsy seller BetsyGrace. The ceramics and glassware were sourced locally, the flatware is Dine Noir from CB2, and the hand-shaped platter is the Como Aluminum Tray by Paola Navone from Crate & Barrel.

Above: As is traditional in riads, the rooms are long and narrow—a mere seven feet wide. That constriction meant dispensing with typical furniture arrangements and instead introducing a uniform of sorts: Mattress-topped wooden banquettes of varying heights and sizes appear in each space. “We used systemization to make the house feel quieter and more modern,” Raffone says. Fireplaces are uncommon in Marrakech, but the designers wanted one for visual and physical warmth. In the living room, shown here, ribbed plaster tops a hearth with a wall-to-wall ledge of firebrick. A painting by Raffone hangs over the banquette. The leather-studded side chair, campaign chair, and Beni Ouarain rug are from Mustapha Blaoui, a favorite local source. (See High/Low: Beni Ourain Moroccan Rugs for sourcing ideas.)

Above: At the opposite end of the living room, concrete shelves finished in tadelakt echo the horizontal ribs of the hearth. A higher banquette is paired with the Raffone and McIntosh-designed dining table of oak and marble. The patterned pillow textile is mud cloth from Mali. The striped tablecloth is from Zara Home, which has a local location.

Above: The use of only three materials—local black marble for the counter and backsplash, black floor tile, and tadelakt (creamy for the walls and ceiling, black for the counter base)—make for a streamlined and graphic kitchen. Three metal downlights, two white and one black, light the space. (Learn about the benefits of downlights in Remodeling 101: How to Install Flattering Lighting.)

Above: A wall of steel and glass brings light to one end of a long guest room, and introduces a note of modern architecture to the house. A double set of curtains, sheer and opaque, from West Elm, modulates light and privacy. The forked branch is a ladder from sub-Saharan Africa.

Above: A narrow slot, beveled to admit more light to the interior, captures a slice of the painted wooden screen of the mashrabiya, a traditional oriel window enclosed by latticework.

Above: A view from the second-floor loggia of the mashrabiya.

Above: Sheer linen curtains soften the posts of the loggia. Simple iron tables topped with wooden slats flank a double banquette, all designed by Raffone and McIntosh. The carved posts elevated on wire bases are tent stakes used by the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara.

Above: The loggia's lights are a Raffone design of oxidized brass that hangs from hooks affixed to steel plates.

Above: In the master bedroom, the designers introduced open shelves in place of a closet that occupied a niche. The top shelf turns a corner and widens to form a desk. The embroidered bedspread is from India; the whip-stitched linen throw came from Lilah Spirit in Marrakech. The earthy throw rug comes from the natural wool of local sheep. The linen slippers are from Muji.

Above: A painting by Raffone stands next to a banded wooden tray used in the souks for serving tea (sometimes elevated on legs as a portable table) and at home for holding rising bread.

Above: A built-in tadelakt ledge with a niche serves as a headboard for a banquette used as both sofa and bed in a narrow guest room. The traditional painted tea table matches the ones in the bhou. 

Above: The riad's bathrooms are all seamless formations of gray tadelakt. The mirror was made by a man in the neighborhood who hand carves the frames and stains them with shoe polish. The taps are by Roca; the shower curtain and towel are from West Elm.

Above: Uplit olive trees in terracotta pots set the rooftop terrace aglow. Raffone and McIntosh elevated a section of the terrace with an ipe deck, added an iron rail to the parapet, and created shade for the dining area via a triangular sail from Ikea supported by wooden poles from the souk. The black lounge chairs and white dining chairs are also from Ikea. (For more ways to keep the sun out, see Design Sleuth: Shade Sails.)

Dar Mahjouba is available to rent starting at $325 a night via Airbnb. It has three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and sleeps five. It's located in a quiet neighborhood in the Riad Laarousse district of the Marrakech Medina.

Source Moroccan design in our archive and tour La Mamounia's Royal Gardens on Gardenista.

Planning a vacation? We've found standout rental houses all over the world. For ideas, peruse our recent Summer Rentals issue. Or go straight to 33 Top Rental Houses Featured on Remodelista.

And don't forget: Today is the last day to vote for your favorite finalists in the Considered Design Awards. Vote now, and stay tuned: We're announcing the winners on August 9.

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Imagine a Scandinavian seaside fishing village in cool and casual Byron Bay, the historical and spiritual home of surfing in Australia. You'd want to linger in a place like that. And if you did, you’d be following in the footsteps of Kimberly Amos and Stephen Eakin, ex-Sydneysiders who decided after a year’s sabbatical in Byron Bay that they'd settle permanently. She's an artist, he's an ex-banker, and together they founded Atlantic Byron Bay, a boutique hotel with several types of beach cottage accommodations that the pair renovated themselves. Our favorite is an enclave called Driftwood. We’re not sure whether it’s the charcoal gray cottages with their white trim and striped awnings that we're most drawn to or the Airstream trailer set against a backdrop of palms. We propose spending a night in each to find out.

Photographs via Atlantic Byron Bay.

Above: Each room at Driftwood has its own private entry off the deck. A striped awning adds to the crisp aesthetics and keeps the sun at bay. Have you ever considered using awnings on your windows?  In 10 Easy Pieces: Window Awnings, we show you some of our favorite examples. 

Above: A set of hooks in an entry hall provides convenient organization. (See 7 Space-Saving Hallway Solutions for more ideas.)

Above: An all-white studio with its own kitchen is light-filled and airy.

Above: Food and surf are the primary concerns at Atlantic Byron Bay.

Above: A white bench with black-and-white cushions works well against the charcoal gray cottage and white window trim. Shaker pegs stand ready for wet bathing suits and towels. (See more in Remodeling 101: How Shaker Pegs Saved My Summer Sanity.)

Above: The cottages on the grounds are connected by a series of bleached wood decks and boardwalks. (If you're looking for the perfect shade of gray for your house, see Expert Advice: Architects' Top 10 Gray Paint Picks.)

Above L: A surfboard matches the Driftwood black-and-white palette. Above R: Painted bowling pins add colorful beach decor.

Above: Large potted plants on the deck tie into the native tropical floral and fauna.

Above: A perfect outdoor shower comes with the territory.

Above: The glint of the Airstream trailer can be spotted just beyond the Driftwood deck.

Above: The Airstream comes with its own private deck area, striped awning, and surfboard. For more stripes, see Object Lessons: Classic Summer Stripes.

Above: Compact and efficient, the refurbished interior is kitted out for sleeping, lounging, cooking, and bathing—and is air-conditioned.

Above: A view of the adjoining rain-forest reserve.

Above: Some beachside accoutrements.

Got the Airstream bug? See Wanderlust: 10 Airstream Trailers for Living Small and Luxe Urban Camping: The Hotel Daniel Airstream in Vienna. On Gardenista, visit A Modern Farmer and Her 10 Acres in Australia.

Atlantic Byron Bay is located in the surfing community of Byron Bay, just south of the Gold Coast of Australia. 

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Small-space-living aficionados, take note of the versatility of the shepherd's hut, the UK's rustic answer to the Airstream. Last week we presented a vintage version converted into a traveling kitchen. Today we're visiting The Shepherds Hut Retreat, a "glamper's hideaway" on the grounds of an organic farm, pond included, in South Somerset. The four cabins in the compound are built in the style of Victorian shepherd's huts, which originally offered refuge to herdsmen during lambing season. Each of the 20-by-8-foot-wide units comes with its own compact kitchen, bathroom, double bed, and private deck. Inside and out, a natural and neutral palette keeps things simple while the thoughtful design maximizes efficiency. And if you're ready to try another version of nomadic living, check out the owner's Yurt Retreat down the road. 

Images via The Shepherds Hut Retreat. 

Above: Each hut comes with its own private garden area. The structures are clad in vertical wood siding and horizontal shingles, and have corrugated tin roofs.

Above: Painted wood paneling adds a vintage feel to the kitchen, warmed by wood countertops. Compact backsplashes of stainless steel and tile protect the paneling above the stove and sink. Thinking of using wood counters yourself? Get the intel at Remodeling 101: Butcher Block Countertops. 

Above: All set for tea and toast—a small platform built into the corner of the countertop holds appliances.

Above: Vintage finds from the nearby market town of Bridport decorate the walls. 

Above: The platform bed cleverly combines a place to unpack and stash your bags.

Above: A flat-screen TV is perched on a ledge beside of the bed with storage underneath for books and sundries.

Above: Each hut has its own private eating area with views of the water.

Above: A slate sign marks the name of each hut. 

If you're looking for other unusual places to stay, there's an Airstream trailer in the Boutique Lodging on Byron Bay and another at The Hotel Daniel in Vienna. And on Gardenista, take a look at a Tiny Retreat Built on a Boulder. 

For more Small-Space Living ideas, peruse our archive. 

Below: The Shepherds Hut Retreat is in South Somerset, near Devon and Dorset, a 2 1/2-hour train ride from London. 

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Lyon Porter, the mastermind behind Williamsburg, Brooklyn's first B&B (by day he's a managing director of Town Residential, a Manhattan real estate company), calls Urban Cowboy "the definition of a passion project." Porter worked with designer Renee Mee on the interiors, which he says feature "an industrial Williamsburg/Adirondack cowboy sensibility, complete with scavenged potbellied stoves, exposed joists and brick, and wide-plank, rough-hewn white pine floors." 

Above: The facade features a cheery red door.

Above: There are four bedrooms in the main house as well as a parlor floor that's open to all guests.

Above: The parlor floor features operable garage doors that open to the courtyard; at the rear is a cabin with additional bedrooms for rent.

Above: The pristine kitchen is available for guests to use.

Above: Another view of the communal living room space.

Above: A Chesterfield sofa.

Above: A dreamcatcher.

Above: A graceful staircase leads to four second-floor guest rooms.

Above: The Lion Master Den has an en suite bathroom/dressing room.

Above: The Lion Master Bath is detailed with a porthole window in the shower.

Above: The Kanoono cabin in the rear is an Adirondack-style space "with a bit of Western American Indian flair," Porter says.

Above: A staghorn chandelier illuminates the Kanoono cabin bedroom.

Above: In the Kanoono bath, the sink's plumbing pipes are wrapped in rope. 

The B&B is at 111 Powers St., in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. For booking information, go to Urban Cowboy. 

See more New York City hotel tips, as well as recommended restaurants and shops, in our City Guide. On Gardenista, have a look at an Aussie Cafe in Brooklyn.

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Discovered on The Common Pursuit: A rustic cabin in Echo Park worthy of Henry Thoreau (and available for $115 a night). Photographer Brian Ferry of The Blue Hour spent a week there and says: "I had my coffee in the morning on the porch, sent some emails or read at the table, and later in the day, watched the sunset from the back deck. Simply done, but really thoughtful and tasteful." To see the listing, go to Airbnb.

Photographs by Brian Ferry. 

Above: The kitchen includes a hot plate, refrigerator, electric kettle, and assorted teas and coffee.

Above: A collection of vintage tableware.

Above: Everything is within easy reach in the tiny cabin.

Above: A table for two.

Above: Vignettes.

Above: There's a postage-stamp-size deck with seating.

Above: The shower floor has Moroccan tiles.

Above: Morning coffee on the deck.

Heading to LA? Consult our City Guide for places to stay, shop, and eat. And go to Rental Houses for standout recommendations the world over.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 3, 2012, as part of our Cabins & Camping issue.

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The perfect summer chaser: Brew master Sam Calagione's new boutique hotel, the Dogfish Inn, is set in a former motel on the harbor in Lewes, Delaware, not far from beaches, pretty coastal towns, and his own Dogfish Head brewpub and distillery. Catering to design purists and beer fans alike, the motel's overhaul was masterminded by Studio Tack, a Brooklyn team with impressive hospitality creds—partner Jou-Yie Chou is a former brand director and "cultural engineer" of the Ace Hotel Group.

Photography via Dogfish Inn, unless otherwise noted. 

Above: The 16-room motel was completely transformed inside and out.

Above: The lobby is located inside what was formerly a single family house.

Above: New features include green-painted doors and slatted wooden panels for added privacy.

Above: The Dogfish Inn lobby has a high-style seaside vibe, copper diver's helmets included. The couch, which has a blue powder-coated metal frame and khaki canvas cushions, is the custom work of LA designer Stephen Kenn and his wife, Beks. The leather and oak chairs are by Ben Erickson. Jeremy Bennett of Black Point Mercantile designed canvas rugs for the lobby and for all the guest rooms.

Above: The motel teamed up with Woolrich to create the Dogfish Inn signature green blankets; they're on each bed and for sale at the front desk. The white sheets are by Mascioni and the comforters are from Lewes, Delaware's own Midwest Feather & Down. Las Vegas lighting company OneFortyThree pulled individual details from designs in their inventory to create custom lighting for the inn. 

The hotel comes complete with a treasure hunt: Somewhere on the walls of each room, Delaware artist Steve Rogers painted a portrait of the Lightship Overfalls, a National Historic Landmark (and one of only 17 remaining lightships). The actual lightship is docked just a few hundred feet away, in Lewes Harbor.

Above: The rooms have a clean-lined midcentury feel. 

Above: Guest-room amenities include a large wood peg board stocked with a retro beach chair by Lawn Chair USA, and a custom Apolis market bag designed to hold several 750 ml bottles of beer. Each room also has a Fort Hanger mobile closet made by Jacqueline Sharp of Fort, and a bleached ash desk by Austin Robbins.

Beer isn't for sale at the hotel, but guests are encouraged to bring it back from the Dogfish Brewery and Brewpub, and barware (plus a mini fridge stocked with locally made snacks) is provided. Photograph by Morgan Hungerford West. 

Above: The bedside tables were designed by Eric Trine and each is equipped with a Tivoli Audio radio. Photograph via Selectism. 

Above: Named after the old motel that the inn occupies, the guest library features a collection of 50 great American novels curated by the City Lights, the famous San Francisco bookstore. Photograph by Morgan Hungerford West. 

Above: Behind the inn, there's a gathering spot with a bonfire—the Cowboy Cauldron—surrounded by picnic benches and tables with metal trays in the middle to hold ice and beer. Here's how you can build your own DIY Picnic Table Wine Bar. To learn more about the hotel and its surroundings, visit the Dogfish Inn. Go to Dogfish to learn about the company's craft ales and brewpub.

 Below: The Dogfish Inn is on the harbor in Lewes, Delaware, a short walk from Lewes Beach. Rehoboth Beach, home of the Dogfish Head Brewpub, is six miles away (35 minutes by bike).

Check out our CIty Guides to explore more design-minded hotels and restaurants. Graham & Co. in the Catskills is another revamped motel you might want to learn about. Gardenista's got you covered when it comes to Backyard Fire Pits and Bowls.

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Brooklyn-based British fashion photographer Glen Luchford first visited Venice Beach in 1993 to photograph Dennis Hopper and fell in love with the grittiness of the neighborhood (it reminded him of Brighton, England, his hometown, he says). With his newly opened Rose Hotel, located on Rose Avenue near Abbot Kinney, Luchford has created a place to stay when he's in town with his crew: a low-key spot near the beach, nothing fancy. Working with his partner, Doug Bruce, he bought a down-at-the-heels property last spring and embarked on a whirlwind rehab, enlisting his friend Katerina Tana to help with the interiors. The team spent a total of $80,000 on the project (it was all they had to work with) and created a calming oasis with rooms starting at $155 a night. 

The Lobby

Above: The low-key gathering spot, with Noguchi lantern and salvaged furniture.

Above: A dining table with Falcon enamelware.

Above: Built-in seating in an alcove.

Above: Simple wood venetian blinds cover the windows.

The Queen Room with Shared Bath

Above: The Queen Room with Shared Bath features crisp linens (for something similar, see 10 Easy Pieces: Striped Sheets) and is $155 a night.

Above: A vintage writing table painted a soft blue.

Above: A ticking stripe shower curtain.

The Pacific Penthouse

Above: A seating group is unified with unbleached natural Belgian linen from Katerina Tana's Loom Collection (the fabric is Dream Solids in flax).

Above: A suite has its own dining area.

Above: A white canvas director's chair.

Above: The bedroom in the Pacific penthouse; Tana sourced the Indian kilim rugs from a dealer in Los Angeles (for information, contact Katerina Tana directly).

The Simpson Suite

Above: Double doors divide bedroom and living room.

Above: A vintage dresser with a framed photo by Luchford.

Above: The linen headboard slipcovers are made from unbleached natural Belgian linen from Katerina Tana's Loom Collection (the fabric is Dream Solids in flax).

Above: A view into the bedroom of the Simpson suite.

Abbot Kinney Suite

Above: The 700-square-foot suite includes a queen bed, a kitchenette, and a large deck with ocean views.

Above: The queen bedroom in the Abbot Kinney Suite.

Above: The dining area.

Above: The Abbot Kinney Suite deck.

The Rose is a stone's throw from the beach. Go to The Rose Hotel for booking information.

For all our LA haunts, go to our City Guide, and have a look at A Whitewashed Restaurant in Venice Beach and a Pedal-Powered Ice Cream Parlor. On Gardenista, visit The Greenest House in Venice, CA.

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If you've ever eyed the houses on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, in Venice, California, and fancied moving in, now is your chance. The just-finished Casa Shelter Half, a two-bedroom bungalow, stands ready to rent—surfboards on hand.

The project is a collaboration between Shelter Half, a lifestyle retailer owned by Davide Berruto and LA designer Heather Heron in conjunction with Safehouse Collective, a Southern California real estate and hospitality group. The trio wanted to create a space based on the Shelter Half brand that, as Heron explains, “touched on its core elements of commerce, community, and collaboration” and “was both personal and public at the same time." With its repurposed materials and easy-living vibe, Casa Shelter Half succeeds in the mission: It's both intimate and accessible. Better still, you can book it on Airbnb.

Photography by Carlos Quinteros Jr., except where noted.

Above: The black-and-white kitchen is detailed with subway-tiled counters and backsplash, leather drawer pulls, and an over-the-windows plant shelf. The floor tiles were repurposed from a previous project. (To make your own leather pulls, watch our DIY video.)

Above: The vintage stove was a Rosebowl Flea Market find. 

Above: The low-key living room has a handmade Almond surfboard on the wall. The Drift Chair is from Environment, where Berruto serves as creative director.  

Above: A well-stocked bar made from a trunk stands ready for guests. Photograph by Sinuhe Xavier.

Above: Driftwood as art in the bedroom. Many of the house's materials, including textiles, wood, and tile, are reclaimed. 

Above: The two-bedroom bungalow houses four people. 

Above: Casa Shelter Half occupies the second story of the house. Downstairs neighbor Fiore supplied the plants for the terrace.

Above: Straw roofing with the Casa Shelter logo provides shade and adds a beachside feel to the bungalow.

Above: Herron and Berruto used oversize curtains on the terrace overlooking Abbot Kinney to provide shade and privacy. Photograph by Sinuhe Xavier.

Above: Low furniture and a hammock for lounging. The big curtains were sewn together from different types of Shelter Half tents, including a rare 1940s one with a camouflage pattern. For more information, go to Casa Shelter Half and Airbnb.

For another recent Venice Beach find, check out The Rose Hotel. If you're looking to dine nearby, see our posts on Axe and Gjelina, two of our favorite neighborhood haunts. And on Gardenista, have a look Inside the Secret Gardens of Venice, CA.

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Robert De Niro fell under the spell of Belgian design impresario Axel Vervoordt after discovering his work at the NYC Winter Antiques Show (others who have succumbed include Sting and Kanye West, as well as legions of deep-pocketed, under-the-radar patrons). So when De Niro was casting around for design ideas for his 2,800-square-foot penthouse suite perched atop New York's Greenwich Hotel (which he co-owns with Ira Drukier), he made the pilgrimage to Vervoordt's 12th-century castle near Antwerp to discuss the project.

The result is the several-years-in-the-making TriBeCa Penthouse, unveiled last spring, an apotheosis of the rough-yet-refined Belgian look that has captivated the design world in the last decade (Gary Friedman of Restoration Hardware, are you reading this?). Vervoordt and his team, in collaboration with Japanese architect Tatsuro Miki, have created a calming sanctuary based on the principles of wabi-sabi, using a refined palette of scavenged architectural elements, luxe textures, and muted colors. Breathe deep.

Photography via The Greenwich Hotel, unless otherwise noted.

Above: The penthouse suite, which floats atop the Greenwich Hotel on the corner of Greenwich Street and North Moore Street, is surrounded by a bi-level, 4,000-square-foot roof garden.

Above: In the living room, the fireplace is a focal point; the iron fire grate is fashioned from joist hangers that, in a previous life, served as the original structure of the Louvre, in Paris.

Above: The small chef's kitchen was constructed from reclaimed wood. Photograph by Francois Halard for the New York Times.

Above: Vervoordt is adept at mixing primitive elements (a rough-hewn table) with luxe pieces (a green velvet chair).

Above: Original ceramics and vases by Japanese artisan Shiro Tsujimura are featured throughout the penthouse. Photograph by David Prince via Vanity Fair.

Above: Vervoordt designed the drawing room, with its small oculus window, as a meditation space. The glass doors lead out to the gardens on the lower terrace.

Above: Throughout the penthouse, furniture is slipcovered in linen, a fabric that acquires character as it ages. Photograph by David Prince via Vanity Fair.

Above: In the master bedroom, a 19th-century walnut tabletop is repurposed as a headboard.

Above: A 17th-century stone water trough, weathered and smoothed by time serves as a soaking tub with a companion fireplace in the master bathroom.,

Above: In the guest room, a sofa is made of two twin beds. The ceiling is lined with wood planks salvaged from the nearby Union Square Farmers' Market.

Above: The two smaller bedrooms are connected by a bath.

Above: Light filters in through a Belgian linen window shade. Photograph by David Prince via Vanity Fair.

Above: In the second bedroom, a display shelf is made of reclaimed wood and oxidizing metal.

Above: A two-story hall with atrium connects the downstairs living spaces. The skylight in the entry was assembled from reclaimed beams sourced from upstate New York.

Above: On the roof terrace, multiple seating and dining areas sit beneath wisteria-wrapped pergolas.

Above: Hanging lanterns in the shapes of gourds beside the spa pool were fashioned from the original copper roofing of the hotel building.

Above: Lush greenery surrounds the penthouse.

Above: A detail of the wabi-sabi garden.

In Required Reading, we recommend two books that explore and explain the underpinnings of wabi-sabi—Wabi Inspiration by Axel Vervoordt and Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren.

On Gardenista, visit a Hidden Japanese Garden.

The Greenwich Hotel is located in TriBeCa, in downtown NYC. 

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We've been longtime fans of High Road House, a London hotel and member's club (it's part of the Soho House group), so when we noticed that it had recently been overhauled by Alexander Waterworth Interiors we took note. Located on the site of the historic Fouberts Hotel in Chiswick, West London, High Road House opened in 2006 with a whitewashed, color-accented interior by Ilse Crawford. The team at Alexander Waterworth has taken it in a moodier direction, with a midcentury vibe and an art collection featuring works by London artists. 

Club Bar

Above: A seating area in the club bar; the mix of materials—black-and-white tiled floors, whitewashed brick fireplace, and polished pine floors—adds warmth to the high-ceilinged space.

Above: A view into the club bar.

Above: "The brass detailing adds a refined element to the design," according to the team at Alexander Waterworth.

Club Rooms

Above: The team sourced many of the midcentury pieces from Mar-Den, a London purveyor of twentieth century furniture.

Above: On display: the High Road House art collection features works by Elizabeth Price, Ryan Gander, Mark Wallinger, and emerging British artists.

Above: "Velvet upholstery and traditional rugs keep the atmosphere warm," according to the designers.

Above: A private meeting room.

Tiny Room

Above: The tiniest rooms start at $250 a night and include an ensuite bath with shower; the Shaker peg rails provide ample storage opportunities.

Small Room

Above: Jielde reading lamps flank the bed.

Above: A view into the tiled bath.

Above: A pair of yellow-upholstered lounge chairs add a dash of color to the space.

The Playroom

Above: The largest rooms feature freestanding bathtubs.

Above: A seating area with midcentury pieces.

Above: A roll top bath and Cowshed toiletries.

Below: High Road House, a combination hotel and member's club owned by the Soho House group, is located in West London. For booking information, go to High Road House.

See High Road House in its original incarnation in our post Steal This Look: An Ilse Crawford-Designed Bedroom.

Alexander Waterworth Interiors is a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory. Have a look at their work on a farm estate in Italy in our post Italian House Tour: Pastels Go Rustic.

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One of the Loire Valley's great landmarks, the 12th-century Fontevraud Abbey, burial place of Richard the Lionhart and Eleanor of Aquitaine, has played many roles over the years, from monastery to prison. It's now a cultural center with a priory transformed into an ascetically luxurious new hotel and restaurant. 

The conversion is the work of Canadian-born architect Sanit Manku and French designer Patrick Jouin of Jouin Manku. Their greatest challenge? They weren't permitted to touch the ceilings and walls of the UNESCO World Heritage site—"everything is built from chalky, white limestone, and when I say everything I mean everything," says Manku. Take a look at how they employed what they call "microarchitecture" and their own minimalist furniture to create a setting that gracefully celebrates past and present, simplicity and grandeur. Wool monk robes available for those who want the full-immersion experience.

Photographs by Nicolas Mathéus.

Above: Fontevraud L'Hôtel is located in the abbey's Saint-Lazare priory. The lobby, with its minimalist oak-paneled desk amid original stonework, sets the hushed and hallowed tone that permeates throughout. The glass-and-metal front door borrows its geometric pattern from stained glass. "We quietly slipped into the Saint-Lazare priory, immersing ourselves in its history," write the designers. "We tried to capture its essence, from its monastic simplicity to its prison austerity. Then we had to fine-tune our approach to give life to a contemporary vision that would respect and preserve the spirit of the building. We don't want the visitor to forget where they are."

Above: A place for contemplation—and perhaps a cognac. The designers used alter-like freestanding black screens to create intimate spaces within the vast chapel, a meeting place intended as a combination bar and "digital mediatheque." They warmed the chilly space with furniture built from old beams, some of which have touchscreen tabletops and built-in tablets. There's also radiant heat flooring—and for further warmth, those monk robes hang nearby on wall hooks.

Above: The simple benches and stools reference traditional ecclesiastical design. The standing screens are made of oak covered with a stretch-knit fabric by Innofa.

Above: The 54 rooms are simple yet sybaritic. Located in three parts of the priory, each has its own shape defined by the existing architecture: Some are tall-ceilinged duplexes, others sloping attic rooms, and this one has its own arched window wall and entrance to the garden.

Above: All of the furniture and accessories, down to the wastebaskets, were custom made for the project. Padded walls with built-in angled headrests help soundproof the rooms.

 Above: Discreet bedside lighting and detailing, including notebook holder—worth copying at home.

Above: Art, lighting, and coat hooks hang from steel rails that pay homage to what Manku terms "monk tech": "The monks didn't have a big budget, but they were incredibly crafty," he told the New York Times. "They wouldn't have six light sources in the same room. They'd have one and a little mirror that reflected the light. And the mirror would also be something you could hang your coat on. We said we need to do the same thing."

Above: Modern-day torches, the steel hanging lights are designed to be easily portable.

Above: Guest rooms have shuttered windows and sinks with incorporated towel rails.

Above: Like all great abbeys, Fontevraud comes complete with winding stairs, which the designers illuminate with a contemporary light tree.

Above: Fontevraud Le Restaurant is furnished much like the hotel—"inviting one to consider life's essentials," Manku says.

Above: Herb-enhanced water in a beaker.

Above: Padded seating and monumental lighting lend the dining room comfort and drama (and good acoustics).

Above: A modern monastic dining experience—with 130 LED candles running down its center. When it was an abbey, Manku explained to the New York Times, "you'd go in as an individual and become part of the community. We're trying to do subtle things to get people to understand a little bit of what it was like to live here." Extra folding chairs hang from church-style stalls (which also hide heating and lighting elements and Wi-Fi terminals) along the perimeter of the banquet hall.

Above: Throughout, the designers adhered to a palette of pale, natural colors, which extends to the soft blue, glazed stoneware made by ceramicist Charles Hair, whose workshop is near the abbey. The bread plates double as covers for the bowls. 

Above: Italian-made beechwood and leather seating designed by Patrick Jouin in the cloister.

Above: There are plenty of tranquil places to get down to work at Fontevraud.

Above: Manicured gardens and an apple orchard surround Fontevraud, which was founded in 1101 by iconoclastic preacher Robert d'Abrissel, who welcomed men and women to his monastic community—36 abbesses went on to run the abbey. In the 19th century, Napoleon had Fontevraud converted to a prison, inadvertently saving it from destruction.

Above: The hotel's courtyard surrounds an 18th-century physic garden devoted to the cultivation of medicinal plants.

Fontevraud Abbey is located in the heart of the Loire Valley, between Touraine and Anjou. For more details and reservations, go to Fontevraud L'Hôtel and Fontevraud Le Restaurant, and for visitor information, see Fontevraud.

Looking for a getaway? See our Hotel & Lodging recommendations around the world, and for something closer to home, consider New York's Gothic High Line Hotel, designed by Roman & Williams and located in a former seminary.

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A first in a city packed with corporate chain hotels, The Dean, in Providence, Rhode Island, is an Ace-inspired gathering place with a playful vibe and a flair for applying a fresh spin to old New England design. 

The hotel was created with the hope of becoming a local point of pride: Most of the furnishings and accoutrements are the work of designers and artists in and around Providence. The fact that it was developed by New York real estate and interior design firm ASH NYC might be damning—except that ASH founder and CEO Ari Heckman is a Providence native and cheerleader.

The Dean's interiors are the perfect draw for parents of students at Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, but the hotel is also young and ready for fun: a coffee bar and Hofbräuhaus-style restaurant are the tamer of the four in-house establishments; a karaoke bar and seductively decorated cocktail lounge are the more risqué. And waiting in the lobby for those ready to explore Providence is an army of fixed-gear bikes.

Photography via The Dean.

Above: The Dean is set in a 1912 brick building, originally an Episcopalian social services center, and later a brothel turned strip club. The lobby displays the original tiled floor, which was uncovered during the renovation.

Above: The lobby also hosts a cafe modeled on traditional Italian stand-up espresso bars. 

Above: A bench-seating table at Faust, The Dean's Bavarian restaurant.

Above: Furniture in the 52 guest rooms is a mix of custom-designed and vintage pieces. Developer Ari Heckman told Sleeper magazine, "We asked ourselves if we could use local artisans for everything, and it turns out it was actually more affordable to do so."

The light fixtures are by Will Cooper, creative director at ASH NYC. They're the first products in ASH's soon-to-launch furnishings line.

Above: The top-floor suite has four connected rooms and sleeps up to 10. 

Above: A revealing shower in a double room is described as "ideal for voyeurs and exhibitionists." 

Above: Artwork is a mix of vintage European portraits found in Paris and contemporary photography by RISD students and alums.

Above: Classic rugs—some Persian, some Turkish—add color to otherwise neutral rooms. 

Above: Instead of closets and dressers, rooms are kitted out with simple hanging hardware. (Pack lightly.)

Above: Another staple absent from guest rooms? Phones. The hotel's general manager told the Providence Journal, "We find that passé; everyone has a cell phone these days." 

Above: Bathrooms are in black and white with brass hardware. The mirrors were designed by ASH's Cooper and Heckman.

Above: Beds have linens by Matouk of nearby Fall River, Massachusetts, and custom-woven blankets by Brahms Mount of Maine, both longtime Remodelista favorites.

Above: Bunkbeds, anyone? The Dean's blackened steel bed frames and desks are by Providence artist Nate Nadeau.  

Above: A bathroom off the Magdalenae Room, "an intimate and discreet" cocktail lounge modeled after European hotel bars. 

Above: Pink walls and overtly romantic lighting nod to the building's past.

Above: Basic needs—plus karaoke. 

Above: Kite Architects of Providence restored the building's original architecture, including the facade. For more information and reservations, see The Dean.

Swear off dull hotels, once and for all. Try:

• A Midcentury Classic Is Reborn in Acapulco
• Casa Angelina in Amalfi
• The Thunderbird Hotel in Marfa
• The Original Vertical Garden: Hotel Raphael in Rome

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