One of the reasons I started hip & zen was my belief that great design stirs the soul. In my mind, good design should always say something new to you, and that is what inspires us. We are so bombarded by mass-produced, formulaic products that it is just wonderful when someone creates something new and different (if you haven't figured out that I'm passionate about finding unique ideas and creations that move us forward, you soon will).
One such visionary is Chip Conley, the brilliant creative mind behind the Joie de Vivre boutique hotel company. I have long been a fan of his, because each of his hotels is completely unique and a feast for the senses. I was very honored to recently be invited to his party bash by my wonderful PR queen, Debra Amador of Mindful PR. His bash was at his new hotel which just opened on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, the Hotel Vitale. Take a look at the pictures of the hotel - the place is truly stunning. I spent the whole evening drooling over all the dozens of small details that are just so gorgeous to behold. The textures and colors everywhere you look are organic and sensuous, and evoke such a feeling of tranquility and beauty. The place is truly hip & zen.
This guy is so ahead of the curve - he gets what it takes to make people feel good. Here is his view of what he does: "People actually have emotional experiences when they stay in our hotels. Sometimes I've used the term "identity refreshment" to describe this dynamic. People who stay in a hotel that feels worldly, artistic, literate, creative and sophisticated, feel just a little closer to that themselves when they leave - that's an "identity refreshment" ". To this end, there is a yoga studio and a spa, which includes a rooftop bamboo garden with private hot tubs overlooking the bay. My personal favorite little detail is that you can order warm cookies and milk to your room before bed. Now if that doesn't make you feel nurtured and special, nothing will.
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