From Palermo to Recoleta - Places to Stay in Buenos Aires

It's amazing how many responses I received about my recent nostalgic trip to my birthplace of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It seems a lot of you have either been there and loved it or, if not, have placed B.A. on your bucket list. I loved reading your stories!!

If you do end up going there, one of the things I would highly recommend is to actually savor the city and stay for a while (at least a week). In doing so, I would also recommend renting an apartment which are so plentiful in Buenos Aires. There is nothing better than to live the way Argentines live even if for a little while. I found that some of my best trips were the ones where I stayed and cooked in a place, visited the markets, sat leisurely on a balcony while sipping coffee and reading the paper, etc.

There are lots of websites offering vacation rentals all over the world, but one of my favorites, particularly if you are traveling to Argentina is Buenos Aires Habitat.

Here are some of my favorite apartments. Of course, take note of the furnishings. How gorgeous are they! I picked two opposite extremes for you to see. One is a traditional, french style apartment, while the other is a modern one. Yes, us Argentines have quite a versatile range of tastes. Perhaps that is what has shaped my own taste in design and furnishings.

The first apartment is in the swanky neighborhood of Recoleta, named so after the famous cemetery located in this exclusive neighborhood. This is a two bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2 patio apartment.

This next apartment is in Palermo, the largest neighborhood in Buenos Aires which encompasses some old, french-style mansions. Still, this 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath penthouse loft is anything but old and french.











This is perhaps a more traditional Palermo house, also for rent through Buenos Aires Habitat.
















So what are you waiting for????? Pack your bags and head to the southern hemisphere and stay at one of these gorgeous places to experience Buenos Aires the Argentine way.

Well, even if you don't get the chance to do so, at least I hope these photos with gorgeous decors inspired you in some way.

Words to Live By

Inspiration: A mix of styles and colors

It's Monday morning and time to get our creative juices flowing!

From Elle Decor Sweden comes a wonderful inspiration. Ann-Christine and her partner Ulrik are not afraid to mix different styles in his house in Nykoping. small hints of gold and brass heat up the white, bring interior.

The 1960s teacart was a flea market find as were many of the vases.

I adore the mixing of the classic Empire desk and cabinet with the clean and modern lines of the Eiffel chair, designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Even the antique chandelier looks right at home next to the industrial desk lamp. The vases on the desk, Christine made herself by stacking several glass bowls together.

Again, lovely mixing of old and new. The panton S chair and the bombe antique chest, while periods and generations apart, give a refreshing and crisp look to this bedroom.

Absolutely lovely!

Don't Cry For Me Argentina

I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. But New Orleans has been my home since the age of 12. Still, there are moments when I feel Buenos Aires in my soul. And I miss all there is to miss about that beautiful place that nurtured my early years.

The picturesque walls of La Boca and San Telmo...

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The cobblestone streets where I used to walk hand in hand with my mother...

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Its cafes with their delicious "sanguches de miga."

The famous "Alfajores Havanna" de chocolate that I used to devour at tea when my father brought them home.

My English school from kindergarten to third grade, Barker College.

The Parisian inspired Theatre Colon (Teatro Colon) where President Peron first heard my beautiful 18 year old mother sing Opera.



The majestic snow covered mountains of Bariloche where we took family vacations as kids.




The infamous "Dedo de Dios" (God's Finger) which was an interesting rock formation that appeared as a hand or finger pointing up to the heavens and, which as a young child, upon seeing it left me mesmerized.



The beautiful hotels and impeccable style of Buenos Aires....

Faena Hotel with its striking modern twist.

And the legendary Alvear Palace Hotel.

The argentine soccer which became a religious event especially during the 1978 World Cup.

But most of all, I miss those carefree days of childhood in a place that for me was magical and where the days seemed to last for a thousand years.


My younger sister, Vanesa, and I dressed up in our mothers' clothes in our backyard in Buenos Aires.

Now our own daughters, Roma (my 6 year old daughter) and Gabriela (Vanesa's 2 year old little girl).

Time sure does fly by....

Who would have thought?

Have a wonderful weekend wherever in this world this post may find you.

Apartment in Buenos Aires

By Argentine photographer, Gustavo Sosa Pinilla, a Buenos Aires based photographer specializing in architectural, interior and fine art photography. To see more of his work, click here.

Divinity

Remember this little french chair I found a few weeks ago? If not click here.

My vision transformed.

Kept the original, gilded and chippy but beautiful frame and gave it a modern twist with gorgeous organic block-printed Indian fabric from Les Indiennes in Helene.

Absolutely divine.

To look at this or other parts of my collection, please visit my 1stdibs store at www.disegnoKarinaGentinetta.1stdibs.com.

Happy Coincidences

There have been moments in my life where unexplained events or coincidences have happened that have launched me into an amazing world. I have touched and been touched by wonderful people. And it is those connections after all (or perhaps those strings of connections) that make an amazing lifetime.

Things like this have happened since I was a child. Well, perhaps even before then, really.

Case in point -- one of my all time favorite books/novels/movies is "Gone With the Wind." I was first introduced to the book when I was 12 (not sure how I found the book as I had just moved here from Argentina), but the entire story moved me. Yes, there are a lot of things to avoid and not admire about the Old South, Scarlett O'Hara, etc. But to a young girl from another world, it seemed to me that the entire story of the Old South was as romantic as you could get. Throw in that mix a brave, strong willed heroine like Scarlett, and what 12 year old would not want to aspire to be like her. I so wanted to be Scarlett O'Hara and there were so many qualities about me that reminded me of her. Her determination in life, her perseverance, her courage in the face of adversity, her passion.... And I thought (or perhaps wished) in my innocence of 12 years of age, "wow, I must be Scarlett reincarnated!" So I read the book a million times, watched the movie over and over again and memorized every line in it. I wanted to be an actress and play Scarlett O'Hara like Vivien Leigh did and even better! I practiced infront of the mirror raising one eyebrow and saying, "Fiddle dee dee."


So years passed and I always carried that feeling with me (that I was a modern day Scarlett O'Hara and that one day I'd be the heroine of such a story). In fact, when the writer for the New York Times interviewed me for the article that appeared this past April and heard all about my life, my rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and getting my family back on its feet, she exclaimed unsolicitedly, "You know, there are so many parallels between you and Scarlett O'Hara!" Little did she know.....

So to make a long story short (it's already so long!), I spent my life always trying to find my Tara (my place in this world). I struggled along with my immigrant family and always was the one to venture to new places and pursue new dreams in the hopes of making a better life for all of us. I always faced challenges and rose above them. As God is my witness.... :)

So fast forward 20 years later and I found myself engaged to marry a German brewmaster who lived here in New Orleans. I realized after being engaged for a few months and with a wedding date of March 10, 2001 already set that it was just not going to work out between us. So, after much soul searching, I called the wedding off. I knew it was the right thing to do for both of us, but still, when March 10th rolled along and it was a gorgeous day in New Orleans for a wedding, I was a little down in the dumps and called a friend to meet me for coffee at CC's, a coffee shop Uptown near my apartment.

CC's Coffee House on the corner of Jefferson Ave. and Magazine (photo courtesy of Flickr)

She got there first and so I walked in and went directly to order my tall, skinny soy mocha with one Equal. As I stood by the bar waiting for my mocha and feeling somewhat sorry for myself, I heard this guy next to me asking for some ice for his hot chocolate. Because I can't seem to keep my thoughts to myself and because I was in such a blah mood, I said, looking up, "now why would you order a hot chocolate if you are going to put ice in it????????" All 6 feet, 3 inches of him looked down at all 5 feet 3 inches of me and smiled, pointing to his 4 year old daughter drawing at a nearby table (he was recently divorced). It was then, as I looked back up at him that I saw the most beautiful man ever.


The bluest eyes, great wavy hair ... Adonis you say?????.....

Well, (and finally the clincher you were waiting for!!!) we married a year later on March 30, 2002.

So on what was supposed to be my wedding day, I met my true husband.

AJ and I at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, MI

And it gets even better!!! The second time we met again at that same coffee shop (a week after the initial meeting), we talked and talked for hours (like you do on those first dates when it seems you can't run out of things to talk about). In one of those moments, I tell him all about my Gone With the Wind obsession (you know, the one I started this long winded post with????). I admitted, "I know it may sound silly to you, but one of my biggest heroines in life is Scarlett O'Hara. I LOOOOOOOVE Gone with the Wind and I always wanted to be Scarlett." Okay, like that was going to go over well for first impressions. Bipolar you say?????

There was a long silence and look of total disbelief on his face as he stared at me speechless (uh, oh, should have kept my big mouth shut!). He then broke the silence, grinned and said, "You are not going to believe this...... My great-uncle directed that movie in 1936."

Gasp! Oh.......My......God!!! Can you believe it?????? Did you just get goose bumps too?????? What are the chances of that happening, right?

My husband's great uncle was none other than George Cukor (one of hollywood's greatest directors during the silver screen era) who launched the search for Scarlett O'Hara and casted Vivien Leigh to play her!!!!!

George Cukor

In June of 1936, just one month after the publication of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures spent a record-breaking $50,000 to purchase the film rights to the historical epic that every other major studio in Hollywood had turned down. Even before he bought the rights to make the novel into what would later become the highest-grossing film of all time, Selznick had hired director George Cukor to be the man in charge of bringing Mitchell’s vision to the screen. Cukor was well-equipped for the job of helming such an enormous picture, having previously established himself with such hits as Little Women (1933), Dinner at Eight (1933), and Camille (1936). He spent the next two years deeply immersed in the daily chores of pre-production on Wind, including supervising the rigorous screen tests of actresses vying for the role of perhaps cinema’s most influential character, Scarlett O’Hara. In the final weeks of 1938, Cukor dedicated hours of his time to coaching lead actresses Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland in preparation for their roles. Filming finally began on January 26, 1939 – and three weeks later, George Cukor was unceremoniously dropped from the film, and replaced with Victor Fleming. (http://garbolaughs.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/gwtw-cukor-gable/).

Still, Cukor has been credited with directing some of the most memorable scenes in Gone With The Wind.

In this rare behind the scenes still we see George Cukor (above, far right) in action during this brief stint directing Vivien Leigh in a scene.

Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Vivient Leigh (Scarlett) and my husband's great uncle (George Cukor).

David O. Selznick, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes),Olivia de Havilland (Melanie), and George Cukor.

So there you go!!!! Is that amazing or what??? Not only did I meet my husband on the day I was supposed to marry someone else, but my children now are direct descendants of the man who directed my all time favorite classic movie and found the Scarlett O'Hara that would inspire me my whole life.

I tell you, life is full of amazingly wonderful coincidences. I embrace and celebrate all of them and know that no matter how events play out in life, they always play out the way they are supposed to.

Have a wonderful Sunday wherever this post finds you.