Question #1: What’s the worst thing about traveling?
If your answer is “PACKING” you get an “A”
If you squeezed in 2 answers, including “Airport Security” you get an “A +”
Question #2: What’s the BEST thing about traveling?
If your answer’s “Learning”
DING DING! You WIN!!
(If you answered “shopping” you’re a naughty, naughty student but I love you and you may sit beside me in class)
So…
Imagine our delight in discovering this unusual little hotel in Portugal earlier this year.
Tucked away in a very quiet but convenient neighbourhood in the heart of Lisbon,
“Hotel da Estrela” has stayed true to the school it once was.
Even a good portion of the staff are students from a neighbouring hotel & culinary Institute.
Two views of the “study room”
The Honesty Bar
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I dihn’t see you take that 2nd glass of Port!
Halls are hung with old maps and cool art, even the baseboards are blackboards where inspiration may be chalked up daily.
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How fun is this custom carpeting in the rooms?! (yes, that’s my foot- for scale)
While not overly luxurious (which would feel weird in this funky/modern school ambience) the rooms and bathrooms are large, well appointed (though the giant showers could use a soap holder ) and reasonably priced. The staff are young, eager & courteous.
Coming home late in the evening even requires banging on a massive wooden door, just to add to the feel of missing curfew!
Full disclosure; we did not eat in the restaurant, as my friend’s friends who live in Lisbon took us out to dine at night.
Plus these egg custard pastries are mandatory every day. It’s a Portuguese law.
Chanel Resort 2013
Be True to Your School
For more information on “Hotel da Estrela”
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For more chalkboard fun check out; Chalkboard China ( I just love them-if you click on the link you’ll see why 
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Chalkboard candles & Chargers both from Chalkboard China
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* Ciate Chalkboard nails here (available in the U.S. in June 2013)
** Tutorial on chalkboard tags here
Glazed apple for teacher here
Lights Out
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During our say in Portugal we had the pleasure of visiting the lovely little town of Pinhao, where the rustic scenes of this gorgeous wine making region are represented on the walls of their quaint train station.
Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013
Check the boots!
I’m totally in love with these Delft On Acid limited edition tiles by South African artist Ruan Hoffmann available thru 
and you can’t beat a spot of delft for old world charm, here mixed with great panache with dark wood, rough plaster walls and the sleekness of modern components.
Delft wallpaper via 
The combo of Delft with peach tones=perfection
Carolina Hererra is channeling Delft for Spring 2013
and Tadashi Shoji
The Mondrian Soho, NYC is in on the moment.
Glorious. Especially if your frenemies are opposite.
dang, I’ve lost the credit for these cute jammies.
Always gorgeous mixed with sea grass and large palm fronds, but then again, you had me at seagrass & large palm fronds…
Karolina Kurokova steps out in Cavalli
Vivienne Westwood
photo by Norman Parkinson
Carolina Herrera’s daughter in a sublime tableau of red & blue delftishness
Tory Burch Spring 2013
My girlfriend admiring the gorgeous tiles of the Pinhao train station. I just noticed how her scarf ties in with the wall border.
image via Pinterest
Gaultier, of course
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