Playfully dubbed “planet Earth’s #1 accommodations site,” Booking.com has been an essential travel tool in Europe for over a decade, and it’s now quickly gaining momentum stateside with its unique approach to customer service and humorous…
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Alternative accommodations for the discerning traveler
Created by London-based graphic designer Hannah Woodcock, The Common Pursuit is a new travel site designed to inspire your next holiday. The simple format currently features 72 accommodations varying in location and style, but all are centered around the comfortable aesthetics of “understated or alternative luxury,” says Woodcock.
The Common Pursuit is the upshot of Woodcock’s obsession with finding the perfect hideaway that “has a mix of character and unique style.” Her fixation began after staying at the Love Shack, a sustainably-designed cabin in England’s Lake District. The mix of rugged charm and high-end mid-century furniture was “everything I wanted a holiday rental to be and complimented the location perfectly,” she comments. Inspired by her long weekend retreat, Woodcock began bookmarking other places she wanted to stay, gleaning intriguing accommodations from a variety of news sources like Monocle or the Sunday Times, design websites like Architizer and Remodelista or travel-focused sites like Design Tripper and Further Afield.
When her list of bookmarks grew as long as the requests from friends for advice on where to stay, Woodcock decided to put it all together and put her recommendations online. “I am hoping the idea is a common pursuit for a lot of people, and they help it grow,” she explains. “I have no intentions for the website other than to inspire and share, so if people would like to suggest places, or send feedback, they can email me or comment on the Facebook page.”
Spanning a Brooklyn duplex to a seven-person cottage in Croatia, Woodcock’s growing list has you covered. See these digs and more at The Common Pursuit, where you can also find independent booking information.
South Africa’s rural oasis offering a garden of earthly delights
Located about 40 miles outside Cape Town in the renowned wine region of Franschhoek, the lush 500-acre Babylonstoren feels more like a utopia than a farm. Originally cultivated by French Huguenot refugees in the late 1600s, today the former estate’s historic grounds house a staggeringly beautiful maze of gardens and vineyards populated by crisp, traditional Cape Dutch-style buildings.
As the name suggests, the ethereal landscape is inspired by “the mythical garden of Babylon”, as well as its geographic heritage as the halfway point for merchants traveling between Europe and Asia. Diverse vegetation containing more than 300 varieties of organically grown plants, including prickly pears, peach trees, indigenous passion fruit and water lilies, pumpkin and more, supplies Babylonstoren’s restaurant, Babel, which offers up a rustic menu of seasonal fare in its glass-enclosed dining room or outside on the lawn.
On a recent trip to Babylonstoren, we noshed on a feast of sausages, beef and fish, along with fruit, vegetables and wine, a vibrant spread that reflects what you’ll find walking around the functional “werf” (farmyard). Meanwhile, free range pigeons, turkeys and other birds roam around their whitewashed fowl house in a sunny courtyard.
If you walk past the petanque court and into the well-structured garden labrynth, you’ll also come across several of Porky Hefer‘s cocoon-like woven nests. The South African designer based the large-scale nests on those typical of the weaver bird, and climbing inside one gives you a bird’s eye view of the delicately towering flowers surrounding it.
Babylonstoren’s bucolic oasis is also home to 14 cottages among its restaurant and gardens. As a vacation destination, designer Karen Roos’ converted property goes well beyond traditional agritourism and instead offers visitors an unexpected retreat among the South African countryside.
Learn more about what Babylonstoren is growing on their blog and book a table at Babel or one of the Cape Dutch cottages on their website.
Photos by Karen Day
Natural beauty, elegance and relaxation at a rustic 4th-century guesthouse in the Tuscan hills
Located in the rolling hills of Tuscany’s idyllic Crete Senesi region, it’s hard not to feel enchanted driving up the gravel road to the rustic guesthouse Pieve a Pava. Combine the stunning natural setting with a building dating back to the 4th century, elegantly relaxed ambiance, as well as gracious hospitality, and you have a recipe for subtle perfection.
On a recent stay, my traveling companions and I arrived in the evening to a warm welcome by owners Johny and Rita, along with their adorable Jack Russells. After a quick tour of the grounds, the endearing Belgian couple made us dinner reservations at the nearby La Locanda del Castello and set up a bottle of Belstar Prosecco, fresh cheese and pistachios to enjoy while watching the sun set over Mount Amiata—the highest point in Tuscany.
Just as Pieve a Pava strikes a pleasing balance between its environs and creature comforts, it seamlessly mixes old and new for a similarly harmonious experience. One of estate’s brick buildings, the church of Santa Maria di Pava, was rebuilt several times due to conflict between Siena and Florence and anchors the property. Across from it, the kitchen and dining area, accented by its meticulously crafted brick lattice walls, has a glass-paned front that give way to the lush surroundings outside.
Other thoughtful details like Philip’s Biscuits (from Antwerp), Etro toiletries and high-speed wi-fi make you feel at home (if not a fantasy home for most), and strategically-placed seating areas invite you to hang out and relax with other guests—which mostly include easy-going European artists and designers.
Whether simply appreciating a place designed for true tranquility, taking a dip in the salt water pool, or hopping on one of the Vespas that are on-hand for local sightseeing, Pieve a Pava is a memorable destination for anyone seeking a holiday that really feels like one.
Prices vary depending on the room and season, but typically average €330 per night and include food and beverages. See more images of Pieve a Pava after the jump.
Modernist two-story homes for fish friends
Unless you go custom, aquariums rarely do much to elevate the humble fish’s status anywhere close to that of furry four-legged friends. Swedish designer Karl-Oskar Ankarberg has taken on the plight of the fish, designing an attractive split-level home called the Archiquarium.
Ankarberg makes the upper level of his “modern living for trendy goldfish” out of white Corian with black Corian for the ground floor, resulting in exceptionally-crafted aquatic digs suitable in almost any home or office.
Both the upper and lower levels have panoramic windows so the fish can be viewed as they travel around, swimming freely between the floors. Two more windows at the rear and side of the tank, along with a big skylight installed in the lower level offer optimum viewing pleasure.
Unveiled at Stockholm’s Hem 2010 (Home Fair), Archiquarium is in production and will soon be available for purchase.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
