Staying in Florence? The Most Beautiful Bathroom in the World!

A while ago, my sons and I stayed in Florence at the most wonderful boutique hotel E*V*E*R! It wasn't that it was so chi-chi or uber-designed or architecturally astonishing. It was just so fully realized and immaculately presented.

I love living in a world knowing that lovely hotel is in it.

I remember in a previous post, I waxed poetic about my pink dogwood overhanging my back terrace saying something like I have complete confidence that the path into heaven is lined with pink dogwood eternally in bloom (or, something like that.) Well, if God or any of his heavenly hosts were staying in Florence, they would certainly stay at The Lungarno.

First of all, it's across the bridge from Palazzo Spini Feroni ~ the Palazzo Ferragamo and shop. Nice neighborhood! I mean, really now, how horrible can that possibly be? Right! Not at all.

We had taken the train down from Milan and arrived in the mid to late afternoon. Well, the Bear (my adored oldest son) is all about Prosecco when we visit. So, we hung out in the lobby toasted each other and laughed up a storm.

The lobby is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! The seating is extremely comfortable and everything is upholstered in cream/white linen with navy blue fringe piped around the cushions and a generous deep navy border around the bottom of each piece. Quiet, summery, inviting.

For me , the art is the showstopper. All original, pen and inks, charcoals, black and white water colours. All interesting and wonderfully presented. It also feels personal. Like the person who curated had an intelligent eye. Each piece felt selected on its merits. Handsome.

When we went up to our rooms, the wonder continued. My bedroom was not large but so immaculately appointed it left me breathless.

But, the bathroom! Oh, dear God, it was so exquisite. First of all, it was small. I mean weensy. Not that one would swing a cat, but, well, there wasn't room for that. As I've mentioned in my other posts, my bathroom is weensy, too ~ 5' 0" x 8' 0". Shower, toilet, vanity. My bathroom at the Lungarno also included a bidet so it was slightly larger than mine at home. And, that is where all comparisons end.

Marble! Marble wainscot. Marble floor. Marble moulding around the door frames. Marble base. Marble shower. Marble vanity. Beautiful. Heavenly. Marble.

Not certain of the kind but reminds me of crema marfil. It's deeply creamy. If you ever think of marble as edible. This is the one!

The towels thick and white. The linen towels crisp and white. The spa robe? You get the drift . . . yah, thick and white. The fixtures and fitting? Matte nickel ~ either by age or by design.

 



The bedroom walls were a true butter cream. The mouldings, wainscot and millwork were white. Did it have the best view in Florence? No, but I loved looking out at the old ivy covered walls. It was very much like a secret garden. Romantic and atmospheric as hell!

So, if you are planning a trip to Italy and Florence is on your itinerary, think about staying at The Lungarno. Is it expensive? Yes. But, if you stay in pensiones and small out of the way places on your trip, this is the place to splurge!

Day 38 Everyday Grateful ~

Coffee with my next door neighbor, Chuck

Started out bright blue skies. Now a little cloudy

Group of us having dinner this evening.

A perfect Seattle day. Lovely.

http://www.lungarnocollection.com/en/the-collection/florence/hotel-lungarno/5-stars-hotel-in-florence

Easter Sunday Brunch

My friend, Barb and I spend most holidays together. I spent Sunday with her to celebrate Easter. The first thing you should know is she is my best friend. I've known her for forty years. Holy Cow! That sounds like forever.

The other thing you should know is she isn't just a great cook (which she is), she an inspired gourmand. From planning the menu to shopping to preparation to presentation, this girl can jetté and pirouette around the kitchen like nobody's business. Everything she touches turns to culinary gold.

If you were lucky enough to dine at Barb and Rico's lakeside cottage, the first thing you would notice is that the kitchen is the center of their home. And, posted on the front of the refrigerator is the menu for the evening. I mean, really, how cool is that!





This is what we had on Sunday ~

Easter 2012

Appetizers

Triple Crème cheese with honey and crackers

Sushi with horseradish

Green olive tapenade, cream cheese and French bread 

Assorted marinated olives, mushrooms

Salad  Course

 Mixed lettuces, baby heirloom tomatoes,

Crumbled blue cheese ~ Jicama and egg

Homemade Salad Dressings

Honey Mustard Dressing ~ House Balsamic Dressing

 Entrée

 

Teriyaki salmon fillet    Standing Pork Rack

Mashed potatoes and cauliflower ~  Roasted asparagus

Yams whipped with maple syrup and shallots

Artichokes, grilled with aioli and pesto

Applesauce     Pork Gravy

Dessert

Pound cake deluxe with sliced strawberries,

whipped cream and custard in chilled glasses

Drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate

 

Drinks

Gin and tonic with limes

Gin and juice with oranges

Screwdriver ~ Bloody Mary ~ Whiskey Sour

Sparkling ciders

The entrées were wonderful. I don't eat meat but the standing pork rack looked wonderful. The salmon fillet was fantastic. And, oh so beautifully presented. I know, I know ~ there are no photos of the entrée. We were too busy eating, laughing and talking to stop for pictures.

Look at Barb's use of the darling orphan tea cup saucers for the butter. This is a fun and fanciful way to include a lonely saucer missing its cup in the festivities.

If you look closely at the brie, you will notice what looks like honey has been drizzled over it. Don't get scared! Barb and I learned about drizzling honey on brie from The Bear. Barb is Logan and The Bear's godmother. The Bear had just returned from spending the year in Florence when Barb and I traveled to Boston to see the boys. Before dinner, we had DOC Prosecco, brie and a baguette. After The Bear set the cheese board down on the coffee table, he drizzled raw honey over the brie. I have to say ~ my eyebrow nearly flew off the top of my head. And, then we tasted it. Heaven! Try it ~ it's so simple and delicious you may never eat brie plain again.

 

Also, the other thing I do want to mention is Barb is famous for her "tiny triples." Don't even think of signing anything after she hands you a drink.

When we come over to eat at Barb's, we know we will be bringing our appetites and our sense of adventure. Every meal she prepares is brilliant! And, when it is over, we will have spent an evening we will talk about for years.

Day 5 Everyday Grateful ~ dinner with those that I love.

The Romance of Naming your Home

After my husband died, I decided to blow this pop stand and take my sons to Italy at Christmas. It was a two week slumber party and the first time I'd heard them laugh in months.

My sons are both 6'5" tall ~ talk about seven league boots! In Florence, they were striding along and pretty soon out-distanced me but I could hear them laughing from the next block. Heaven.

Because I adore architectural salvage, my walking was hampered by the visual wonder of Italy. I stopped often to admire a door knocker or a light fixture or the brace of an eave. Walking along the streets, block after block was the salve my soul needed.

We were in Florence for Christmas when we decided to take a midnight stroll and watched the full moon rise between Giotto's Bell Tower and the Duomo. Breathtaking. In one of the side streets of the Piazza del Duomo, there was a very small shop with a soaringly high ceiling and walls filled with wonderful signs. Enameled letters. Brass plaques. Individual house numbers in bronze and brass and steel. Utter desire!

The next day, we stopped into that mouthwatering store. As we entered, a thousand year old man walked out from the back room with the International Tribune under his arm. I started to ask him a question. He just turned on his heel and walked back into his office. We stood there a little flat footed and finally left.

The next year, my oldest son was studying in Florence. After nine months of Italian lessons and just before my birthday, he returned to the shop and ordered me a sign for my 50th birthday. And, in an understanding of the importance of international peace, he said that the owner reminded him of Grampa ~ a bit of a curmudgeon, he doesn't like speaking English to "tourists" but was very charming when you get to know him.

And, there it is ~ a little grace note on the side of my home. And, a touching present from my son. Heaven!