Design Inspiration: Kate Hudson’s gorgeous bedroom

Photo via W Magazine

Hello to our growing number of loyal (and i use the term “loyal” very loosely) readers.  From two, I believe this blog has gained one reader just because typhoon Mina decided to saunter along those three days of the long weekend, forcing almost everyone to stay at home and finally that one person to stumble across this blog.   Obviously, our new reader has nothing better to do.  But fear not, new reader, your idleness will not be in vain for just in time, I am going to make an entry after about 2 weeks of slacking-off.  Yes I still wrote, even if I was left here at home while the other half of this blog goes somewhere not in the Philippine area of responsibility to enjoy the long weekend -and I hope to have something to write about when she gets home (P are you getting this?).  Since we’re all at home and probably just spending those rained-in days in our beds, I want to share with you this drool-worthy bedroom of Kate Hudson.

 

Photo via desire to inspire

Would you look at that.  Don’t you just want to lie in bed all day in that room?  Or lounge around in your silk robe in those large, plush pillows?  This room is a refreshing take on bohemian luxe.  There is a decidedly Moroccan feel to the room made known by a few key pieces like the ornate screen on the bed’s headboard and the mother-of-pearl inlay design on most of the furniture; however, this room is made effortlessly chic by doing away with easily obvious choices like Persian carpets covering the floor or Moorish lamps hanging from the ceiling, and also by letting lots of natural light into the room.  This got me thinking: what is it with Morocco and bohemian style anyway?  Is Morocco the mecca of bohemians?  Do vagabonds and artists convene there once a year and tell tales of their travels and non-traditional pursuits?  We may never know it, my friends, for such is just one of the many mysteries shrouding the alluring elements of design (ooh… i’m so waxing philosophical on this one).  And yet when we picture the bohemian’s abode–an artsy folk or musician, perhaps– we conjure images of fabrics draping the entire room, as if to make a bedouin tent (if they don’t already live in one), intricately-designed Moroccan/ Persian rugs on the floor, and large, cushion pillows thrown about for equal measure. This room, however, just skims over these images and gives a tasteful version of bohemian style.

Photo via Roman and Williams

This brilliantly designed room is made possible by Roman and Williams (if you are an architecture/ interior-design addict like me you should check out their portfolio, they are visually inspiring).  If pre-conceived notions and paparazzi photos are anything to go by, I would say that the design reflects the combined aesthetics of Kate Hudson and former husband, Black Crowes front man Chris Robinson.  Kate Hudson seems to me as that free-spirited, bohemian girl tempered with a glam Hollywood vibe while Chris Robinson is that hippie, anti-establishment guy disguised as a rock star.  I wonder if the design of this room have changed now that Kate is with Muse front man Matt Bellamy.  Well, he is a rocker too so it could still be the same. Times are hard, people you have to pick lovers according to your interior design.

 

Photo via W Magazine

I am so in love with this bedroom that am inspired to have it for my own room.  While I could probably find inexpensive stuffs to match the design, there is still one caveat: those sheepskin carpet and rugs maybe hard to keep clean without professional household cleaners cleaning it in some fancy, technologically advanced way.  Sorry for my lack of knowledge on the maintenance of expensive rugs but how do you clean sheepskin anyway?  They’re so luxurious that I suppose a lavish treatment is the only way to maintain them.  See, such are the times when I wish I was a Hollywood movie star or an heiress of some business empire.  Its not about the fame, the money, the designer clothes you get to wear everyday nor having say, Ryan Gosling* as your boyfriend.  No.  It is about keeping my exotic animal rugs clean!  Oh, if only my diva attitude comes with talent.  But since it does not, I guess I’ll be settling for white cotton rugs instead.

*(Not that Kate Hudson dated Ryan Gosling but well if I was a Hollywood star like her, I would snag him in a second!)

A night of debauchery calls for comfort food

“Is that a turkey sandwich?”  No need to ask a stranger for comfort food, Borough is here. (Still image from “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”. Copyright 2008. Columbia Pictures)

So… we still have quite a hang over from the Incubus concert last Thursday.  If you watched said concert and are watching that night’s videos posted on youtube, drooling over the concert’s photos and creating a playlist on your iPod titled “Incubus Manila tour 2011” (with the all the songs that they played on the concert arranged accordingly) then yes, you definitely have a hang-over with a bit of crazy mixed-in. We could go with the present mood and post something about the concert again or anything Incubus-related but then that would be a bit too much and most importantly we are not an Incubus fan-site.  Instead, we are going to be stealth and talk about what we ate after the concert which is exactly what those intoxicated (with alcohol, drugs, music and/or delusions) need: good, hearty, comfort food.

24×7 restaurants and dining places are quite popping-up these days just as call-centers and vampires have proliferated our culture.  We recall that back in our college days when bar-hopping was the rising sport among coeds and yuppies, you only have three choices for an after-party chow: McDonald’s, Jollibee and your generic convenience stores.  Starbucks is a go-to as well but more of an “it” place to hang-out after well, already hanging-out and seriously people, Mocha Fraps after binge drinking is not a good idea.  Nowadays, every where you look there’s something 24/7 and the battle lies in not only how good the food is but the ambiance of the place as well.  Enter, Borough in The Podium.

Borough is aptly named after the five boroughs of New York City, the city that never sleeps.  Its main come-on is NY-style comfort food especially for when you feel like a bad hang over is imminent at 1 in the morning. The interiors of the place is rustic/modern which reminds you of those NYC lofts– a bit unfinished, slightly off-hand yet somehow still homey.  They have two entrances: one is inside the Podium and one on the side of the mall near the car park where you can enter after-hours.

Photo via Spot.ph

Their menu boasts of all-time faves like your good ‘ol mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheesecake, etc.  Would you all agree that cheese just makes everything better and thus is the ultimate ingredient for comfy food?  We do.  What we ate at past 12 midnight might not be good to our thighs but hey, when you are talking about comfort food, no calorie-counting is needed. Anything buttered, fried and cheesy is welcome.

To a non-food critic like me, what we ate are all very good.  The food maybe not out-of-this world stellar, but at an ungodly hour the important things are the friends that you enjoyed the food with and that the food is also enjoyable (read: not that bad at all.)  Prices are much expensive than your Big Mac but the servings are good for sharing and this is not a fast-food joint with their fluorescent lighting and noisy environment.  This is casual dining with ambient lighting and a relaxed feel perfect for friends telling tales of the night’s affairs over much better food.

Beer-Battered Fish and Chips.  Served with herb mayo and chili vinegar.

Cheese Injected Portobello Pita Pocket.  In our case its Cheese-injected Portobello Burger! We asked to have it done that way because there’s 3 of us sharing and true to their NYC-cool attitude, they easily obliged.  (How nice is it that you can make such a request without having to fight with the waiter or do the “can-i-talk- to-your-manager” scene?)  The original, pita pocket version comes with potato chips instead of the fries.

The Penne Puttanesca (or what’s left of it half-way through).

The Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake.  Their cake of the day.  I say anyone should have a chocolate cake for a better world.

The Brooklyn Cheesecake (another must)

Pardon the photos that probably didn’t make the food look appetizing but if their already-eaten shots are anything to go by, we forgot to take a presentable, pre-bite photo and launched on to devouring servings instead– that may be a testament to how hungry we are and how yummy the foods really are.

Borough by Il Ponticello is located at the Ground Floor of The Podium in Madaluyong.  For reservations call 5708906.

By: KC