Beautiful photos of Trancoso captured by photographer, Grace Oda.

The picture above caught my eye and heart among many others. I'm glad I found her. Every one of her photographs makes me smile :)

I was struck by the beauty of design of the villa captured in this photo above. When I first came across this photo on an online interior magazine a while ago, the villa was introduced just as an example of beautiful architecture and interior design. I was like "wow, this is my dream house" . . .

Rustic, chic, simple, natural… are the keywords I'm always drawn to. Every single element of this vacation villa in Trancoso, Brazil, pleases my eyes. The villa has warm welcoming atmosphere, yet sophisticated in details. No wonder. This beautiful house is completed by a New York based interior designer.

Photos taken in Trancoso, a tiny fishing village in Bahia, Brazil.

These colorfully painted houses were originally fisherman houses and now turned into boutiques, bars and restaurants, and inns.

A handsome hotel converted from the former textile factory in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Wood ceiling, concrete floors, pale blue graphical wallpaper, floor-to-ceiling windows, red-brick walls, subway tiles, black and white . . . every single element is simple but profound.

Deep in the lush tropical rainforest, surrounded by magical towering Paleozoic limestone hills, lies this small retreat. Captivated by this hidden-gemish picture, I looked into details to find out it's located in Malaysia.

From the picture, I guessed it must be the place far reach from the rest of the world. In fact, however, it's not! It's 2.5-hour journey to 'Ipoh' on the ETS Express Train from Kuala Lumpur. Then, only 15 more minutes by car from 'Ipoh' station to this hotel...

"Alemagou is a bar and restaurant on the sands of Ftelia Beach in Mykonos. The concept is holistic, with every element of the project telling a common story and coming together to create an inspirational yet laid-back atmosphere, perfectly suited to the site." - Alemagou & K-STUDIO

This one of a kind vacation home located in the heart of Honolulu, Hawaii, which was originally a designer's private villa, is now available for rent for your own vacation.

I stumbled upon the pictures of this open, airy, spacious, simply and tastefully decorated bedroom years ago, and it's been on my wish list to stay here with a group of friends or family ever since. I just can't believe it's in Waikiki, and you can walk to the beach.

Restored fisherman houses, natural/reclaimed materials, Brazilian craftsmanship and antiques, a flowing transition of indoor/outdoor living, along with the concept of preserving the local traditions and environment… all of the elements in this hotel make me smile.

This lovely hotel located in 'Quadrado', the center of Trancoso, Brazil, represents laid-back southern Bahian lifestyle. It's not difficult to imagine that if you stay here, you will feel like local. That's what I want when traveling.

Lovely photos of Mykonos Island, Greece, captured by photographer, Vickie Abby.

Charming stone-paved alleys, pale blue and soft pink, mellow afternoon sunshine and soft shadows . . . , I don't know what exactly but there is something in her photographs that capture my heart.

Sometimes, simple design and comfort is all what I need while traveling. Rooms at HOTEL DANIEL seem to be perfect in that sense. As in their concept "Smart Luxury", their rooms are characterized with simple stylish design and modern functionality such as free WiFi, Raindance shower, flat-screen satellite TV, all of which offer contemporary luxury. In addition, their design concept is not just simple, it makes my heart sing!
. . . Oh did I mention that the price starts from 92 Euros a night?

Das Stue Hotel, newly opened design hotel in Berlin, in December 2012. When I received the press release and visited their website, the first image I encountered was the gorgeous and classical look of its lobby...