We took a virtual tour of award-winning hotels and used their relaxing gardens, decks, and lanais as a jumping off point for our own versions.
Theirs: The Hotel Pershing Hall in Paris showcases a lush planted wall that stands over 98-feet tall. Vertical gardens like this allow greenery to thrive in unexpected places, transforming ordinary walls and building exteriors into extraordinary celebrations of Mother Nature. It’s no wonder vertical gardens are sprouting up everywhere!
Ours: While a whole living wall might be daunting even if you have a green thumb, anyone can get the effect in a snap. Use metal magazine racks as your planters. Line them with coir, fill them with soil, then nestle your plants inside! Place taller ones in back and trailing ones in front, then mount the planters on a wall or fence. It is easy being green!
Theirs: The beachfront pools of the Viceroy Riviera Maya are enchanting by night. The underwater lights of this resort illuminate from below, but it’s the lanterns hanging from the palm trees that evoke the mystical feeling.
Ours: Whether you’re decorating a grand terrace or a small side yard, lighting can make all the difference. Hang swags of café lights in the trees––the more swags the better––and leave them up year-round like a luxury hotel. For parties or special occasions, add bright paper lanterns. Battery-operated ones can be hung just about anywhere.
Theirs: At the Caesar Augustus on the Italian Isle of Capri, you can have a romantic dinner on a panoramic terrace at sunset. They set up a low table with cushions on the ground, and you dine barefoot by candlelight. An unforgettable evening.
Ours: Defining an outdoor space can be as simple as laying out a rug and arranging a few floor pillows. Repurpose outdoor chair pads as floor seating by simply cutting off the ties. Make a low table out of a wicker trunk topped with a cloth napkin. Candles enhance the atmosphere even if your intimate setting is just the backyard.
Theirs: The hoteliers at The Peninsula Beverly Hills know how to pamper their movie star guests. And when it comes to the mini bar, “mini” just won’t do. Their exclusive villa suites come with fully stocked bars that turn poolside happy hour into a glamorous Hollywood gala.
Ours: Setting up your own Beverly Hills bar cart is as easy as mixing a martini. Simply attach casters to a side table and top it with a rattan tray secured with screws. Then stock it with wine, spirits, goblets, and a cocktail shaker. Don’t forget the bubbly!
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