Here are a few more shots I snagged at The Ace Hotel Palm Springs this past weekend. It’s such a perfect desert hangout, and again, I cannot recommend breakfast enough, though I must say, I felt about at least ten years older than the average guest at this joint.

I’m not sure I could have asked anyone to place these scooters in a more perfect spot for this shot!

This mid-century modern roofline is just so California to me. I love its relationship to the range beyond it.

No detail was overlooked. There are kitschy tchotchkes and vintage books in the lobby.

This shelf unit above was copied by one of my favorite bloggers, The Brick House, in her home as a D.I.Y. project. Check it out here.

The lobby has this fun natural history museum on ecstasy display.

Love this tile pattern by the pool.

This weekend in Palm Springs I kept finding myself at The Ace Hotel’s King’s Highway for breakfast. Not only is the breakfast divine, but the awesome take on macrame kept cracking me up. From the outside, you get a big clue of what the lobby has in store for you:

Even the globe lights’ cords were wrapped in rope. It’s a small detail that really catches the eye.

I didn’t get too many great shots, but I’ll try to share some more with you later!

Ah, The High Line. After years of following this project, from the fight to save it to the competition to the completion of part one, I FINALLY got to set foot on it! I’m so happy. This design is so genius, it might just be my favorite landscape architecture project of all time. In fact, at the moment, I can’t even remember what my old favorite was, isn’t that terrible?

What’s so great about The High Line? Where to begin? I loved looking down on it from the 16th floor of The Standard. I loved seeing it from the street and thinking “I have GOT to get up there pronto!” I loved experiencing the city from that level, at eye-level with billboards, elevated cars, seeing building facades from a different height. I loved that at first glance one might be fooled into thinking the plantings were wild, but then upon seeing them seeing that they were carefully curated and that unseen maintenance was occurring. I loved all the different options for seating – some amphitheater style, some bistro tables, some lovely benches, some in the middle of a small grove.

I loved the mix of materials and the overall railroad industrial aesthetic, and I especially loved the metal tracks that remained and reminded visitors what the history of this place was all about – better yet, I loved where the tracks veered off on little side exits into brick walls, which reminded me of the entire industrial system that used to exist – the rail cargo having a direct entrance into the factory buildings. When we all try to be greener, we should think of this true door-to-door delivery where a product could go from the source to the destination in one trip.

Another thing that’s so interesting is that at one point in urban planning, skywalks were installed everywhere. This move was later blamed for the demise of street life in these areas. Conversely, the elevated public space of The High Line has made the neighborhood even more desirable and drawn even more business down at the street level on up. I’m nuts for this project. If you are too, you should become a friend of The High Line.

…Richard Neutra’s former home, one of the only buildings of his open to the public, needs a whole lot of help. I’m surprised none of the stars are stepping up, because I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: When Hollywood types like to talk like they know something about architecture they say they love Neutra, and when they really think they’re being impressive, they say they love Lautner. This place needs Pamela Anderson to swoop in with a big fat check. I think Diane Keaton’s into FLW and Brad Pitt’s off working on architecture that actually houses real people. I’m out of ideas. Anyway, so far no one has stepped up, so to find out more about what’s going on with this Silver Lake gem and how you can help, click here.

photo by David Hartwell via Preservation Magazine

The last remaining residence still standing in L.A. by Greene and Greene is for sale. Standing technically within the city boundaries, that is. Sorry the picture is so small; I can’t seem to find one anywhere online that is not Lillipution. The Lucy E. Wheeler House was built in 1905 and it’s on the market for $775,000. If you’re interested, check out all of the details here.