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Iittala, the Finnish glassware and kitchenware company, has created the most sensational glassware on-board Finnair’s flights throughout the world. The now famous design, conceptualized in 1968 by designer Tapio Wirkkala, was created to reflect the ice in Finland’s northern Lapalnd. The glasses are sturdy, artful and are incredibly well-executed – perfect for any design buff. They instantly add a bit of post-modernism to any space and show guests in your home that you care about aesthetics. Owning these glasses make it clear you know “good” when it shows-up at 37,000 feet filled with ice-cold champagne.

Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus architecture may be famous, but the city was noticeably short on contemporary architectural flair until the arrival in 2010 of Ron Arad’s ruby-red Design Museum . The $18 million venue is the first major public work by the Anglo-Israeli Arad — a swirling, swooshing piece of metal displaying a rotating roster of international design exhibitions. Here, you can stroll through important galleries displaying everything from paintings to sculpture. It’s definitely worth an afternoon.

In moments when you only have enough time between trips to unpack and repack your clothing, it’s not always possible to bring some of your favorite pieces on your next adventure without sending them off to the dry cleaner. But that predicament is now a thing of the past with Whirlpool’s new invention, SWASH . As a frequent traveler, bouncing between trips and events globally, it can sometimes get annoying and expensive to send my wardrobe out for cleaning through hotels and in foreign cities. And, you never know what might come back once your treasured item goes out for service. SWASH offers users an at-home “refreshing” system that allows you to take worn items of clothing and bring them back to life in mere minutes. The device is essential if you make frequent trips, whether business or leisure, and need to use the same shirts, jackets or trousers for upcoming meetings or other important engagements. SWASH’s system allows you to put one item of clothing into its interior sliding door compartment, along with a device-specific Tide pod. After sliding the door closed, you simply touch a button and the machine goes to work by deodorizing, de-wrinkling and crisping your previously worn garment. It’s literally a 10-minute miracle. Once the process is through, you have a nearly perfect item that can be re-worn, extending its life and function for round two of whatever it is you have planned. SWASH will not clean your clothing – so look to your dry cleaner for heavy stains. But, if your item is stain free and needs a simple facelift, this machine can’t be beat. At $400 for the device, it’s an investment that will save you money in the long run and offer you the convenience of prolonging your wardrobe from the comfort of your own home. Images courtesy of SWASH.

Fornasetti , the luxury home decor proprietors founded by artist Piero Fornasetti in Italy, offer you the very best in home fragrance through their incredible “Profumi” collection. These candles, at the top of their game in the luxury home fragrance market, offer beautifully painted lidded jars concealing a delicious candle that will burn for at least 60 hours. After the candle is finished burning, you can effortlessly clean the wax from inside and use the objet d’art as storage for toiletries, pens, a vessel for flowers or anything else you’d like to showcase. What is special about Fornasetti is the legend. Piero began sculpting and painting the face of a woman he saw in a magazine in the early 1900’s, and became obsessed with creating and recreating it over and over again. This gave way to a home decor empire that is coveted by luxury consumers worldwide. We love the home fragrance collection because not only are the offerings beautiful, but scent your home or office through unique scents. This photo features an exclusive Indian-inspired candle called L’Eclaireuse. It’s woodsy and spicy – yet soft and relaxed to put your mind at ease. You can find their candles at stores like Barney’s New York and through other retailers online.

Inside the little floating village which makes up Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, British Columbia, is a little boutique, 4 Winds Nest , which carries items made by local artisans. Inside the quaint and quiet space, you’ll find everything from local honey, jams, pottery and linens. In the nearby Gulf Islands, where many artists live and create, inspiration abounds – sea life, nature and color are at their fingertips. You can see these influences in the work carried by this little store. Stop-in to pick-up a local work of art or functional home decor object. You’ll love it forever.

The Grecian island of Hydra is full of shops which offer everything from chocolates to fantastic menswear to peruse on a sunny afternoon. One small boutique I stumbled upon recently was the beautiful home decor store and art gallery, Hydra Trading Company. This small shop, located near the harbors edge, is loaded with unique items from around Greece to decorate your home. From small tabletop items to large, textured pieces, it’s worth a look. The owner, a French woman who has lived on Hydra for over 20 years, curates the items in-store with her impeccable French sensibility. I picked-up two handmade turquoise ceramic coffee cups. What a find!

Artist Julie Rizzi, a resident of Ohio, has created a strong presence online through her Etsy store as well as through a strong reputation surrounding her extraordinary work. Known for her fantastical event invitations, Julie uses both her imagination and interaction with clients to develop, from scratch, personal and beautiful pieces of art which serve as the first point of contact between a party thrower and their guest. Being based in New York, it couldn’t have been easier to work with Julie, despite her location in another state. For a recent event we hosted in Athens, Greece, we knew Julie was the best choice when developing the invitation for our list of over 20 guests. After several lengthy and productive conversations, Julie was on-board and her wheels began turning around the event’s theme, “Inspiration in Greece”. The purpose of the event was to introduce a special group of people to the wonders held in the city of Athens and beyond – all in an effort to urge the guests to get re-inspired in their own life and reflect on the magical world of ancient Greece, one of the most important and revolutionary ancient civilizations known to man. In a three to four step process, which included multiple emails and phone calls, Julie and Inspired Citizen settled on a design for the invitation. Colors like blue, white, purple and silver were used to reference the sky and the constellations – scientific discoveries put on the map by ancient Grecians. Julie created a custom backdrop watercolor print which stood as the focal point of the invitation. She used a “V” at various points, which symbolized Aries – the sign of the date the event was taking place, March 26th. The watercolor was used for both the lining of silver envelopes as well as for the back of the letter invitation which was folded neatly inside. The front of the letter invites were printed neatly with black ink and the outside of the envelopes were hand-written in black calligraphy. Small nods to Greece, like laurel leaves and certain shapes cleverly referenced the destination. Julie did the sum of the work by hand and did not stop until each invitation was perfect. It’s rare to find someone who knows how to execute this level of beauty and elegance in an artistic way. When you do, you are happy for knowing you’ve met someone who is truly special. Julie is one of these people. We believe, without her help, our event in Greece just wouldn’t have been the same. For, her stunning work set the tone for the entire trip.

There are plenty of luxury labels to peruse when on the island of Capri, but, sometimes, you want to indulge in local items made by people who live on the island. One place to search-out the best in locally-made home decor and gifts is the incredible shop, Eureka , with outposts in both Capri and Anacapri. This family-owned shop specializes in handmade ceramics which depict scenes, animals, and objet d’art local to the island. On their shelves you will find expertly painted and glazed casserole dishes, bowls, decorative objects, tiles, wall hangings and more. What is nice about Eureka is that everything is made with love and true craftsmanship – a rarity here. You can see the detail in each piece you purchase. The store ships worldwide and their pieces have been collected and sought-out for the homes of clients across the globe. On the island of Capri, you can’t find better.

Israeli design is still in its infancy, but compelling and affordable pieces can be found. Near the Dizengoff Center, Retro TLV offers an opportunity to look for vintage midcentury-modern furniture salvaged and restored from across Israel. Here, you’ll find furniture, lighting, art, tabletop and objet d’art for the home. It’s not easy to come across pristine pieces of architectural and rare furnishings for the home – especially in a part of the world that is very design conscious. But, you’ll definitely find yourself in-luck at Retro TLV.

The word Samadhi derives from Sanskrit and is often used in the Hindu and Buddhist terminology as a mental state in which the mind and mind become calm. The Samadhi Spa in Copenhagen is the epitome of its namesake word. From the moment of entry, you’re instantly at peace in the large open space. Soft whites, creams, bleached woods and pink make for an etherial environment to relax and help yourself to a cup of freshly made ginger tea. The spa is known as one of Copenhagen’s best spas as it offers a full-range of treatments for your body, mind and skin that use natural products and expert hands that have been trained well in their fields. On a recent visit, I experienced a facial and massage. My facial was first, the “Black Diamond Treatment”. This unique treatment is designed to cleanse and purify your skin through a series of steps that cleans, exfoliate and moisturize your skin. The facial’s most interesting part is the magnetic mud mask which is magnetically charged mud which is placed gently on your skin, allowing it to purify your pores. After 15 minutes, the mask is removed by your therapist with a magnetized wand, grabbing hold of the mask remnants through a vacuum-like experience. It all ends with a deep scalp, face and foot massage – pure heaven. My hour-long body massage was next. I was led down a dark hallways to a large room where I tucked myself under the warm blankets waiting for me on the massage table. For over an hour I was massaged thoroughly. Though it wasn’t the best massage I’ve received, it was acceptable and pleasurable. It relaxed my muscles and left me ready for a long nap. That is always a good thing in my book. For an afternoon of pampering in Copenhagen, there isn’t a better choice than Samadhi.

Set amongst 19 picturesque acres of prime Texas Hill Country land on the shores of Lake Austin, the Lake Austin Spa Resort is a respite for visitors to Austin. Whether for a day at the spa or overnight at their acclaimed hotel, the resort can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a moment of solace in their busy life. Though only 45 minutes from downtown, this spa resort is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Travelers can expect nothing but the best in wellness and relaxation here. With just 40 rooms, the Lake Austin Spa Resort is intimate. You don’t have to worry about bumping into hordes of people on your way to lunch at the delicious Aster Cafe or during a swim at the very chic “pool barn”. Every guest signs-up for their own activities, meals and spa treatments at their own will and comfort level. This is not bootcamp. Your stay, whether 2, 3, 4 or more nights, includes three delicious meals a day which are made largely from food grown on property. And, unlike many spas, wine is allowed! It’s okay to have fun and enjoy yourself responsibly at Lake Austin. Winding your way through the well-manicured gardens, babbling brooks and shaded lawns you reach the resort’s incredible spa. 25,000 square feet of pure bliss is what you’ll find. Every detail has been thought through, from the elegant-casual decor with artwork by local Texas artists, or the well-appointed changing rooms – the spa is pure heaven. As a visitor, you can choose from a melange of treatments. You will find options like: the “Tour of Texas”, which includes an exfoliating body scrub with prickly pear (native to Texas), an agave nectar wrap, a face and scalp massage and a full-body 50-minute rub down. You can find their extensive treatment list here , which is enough in itself to make you book a flight to Austin. Activities on site include hiking, water sports, yoga, exercise classes – leisurely and intensive, and more. There is something for everyone to tailor-make their very personalized stay. But, what is most endearing about this destination spa is the people on staff. From the chefs to the restaurant servers, the massage therapists to the gardeners – everyone carries themselves with an air of positivity and light which is refreshing and makes your stay here memorable. We recommend a stop or a stay at the Lake Austin Spa Resort while in the area, missing it would be a mistake.

With two locations, one on Magazine Street and one on Fulton Street in New Orleans, Aidan Gill is a mecca for any man in need of serious grooming. A one stop shop for cuts, shaves, products and select menswear pieces – this men’s destination will whip you into shape, preparing you for that special event or night out on the town. Mr. Gill, a native of Dublin, has built the perfect and authentic throwback to a time when men socialized around the barber’s chair. Outfitting his storefronts with vintage finds from the “good old days” – including barber chairs from the 1930’s, huge antique mirrors, mannequin heads, suggestive signs and other items, visitors instantly feel as if they’ve taken a step back into an era of refinement. If you make an appointment here, you might experience a spot-on haircut accompanied by a blissful hot shave with the proprietor’s own shaving oil. Enjoy a smooth Irish whiskey during the entire process and, after, peruse the perfectly curated selection of haircare, skincare and shaving necessities. You won’t find a better way to spend an early afternoon in New Orleans.