So Swell in Hotel Vondel

Amsterdam is a design lover's paradise. The city's canals and townhouses are so picturesque, that you feel that much like Alice you have fallen into a rabbit hole of such exquisite prettiness you begin to forget your mundane old life. When we were in Amsterdam, we lived in Hotel Vondel, a design hotel of three connected townhouses that were redesigned and rebuilt as one hotel. The look is streamlined and tailored but with witty, eccentric touches. In the dining room, portraits of the Dutch Queen Beatrix and Our Lady are juxtaposed, a wordly queen and a heavenly queen, sharing wall space. It sounds as if it shouldn't work, but with the tailored, contemporary furniture, the touches of whimsy are still balanced and homey.

The main living room has floral prints that allude to one of Holland's main products, flowers.

The reception area is more ethnic and eclectic.

The dining area is quirky and playful, with papier-mâché cows, piles of magazines, all grounded by a gray and black furniture scheme.

Living in the hotel makes you feel like an Amsterdam resident as the buildings nearby have flats and small offices.  Plus the major museums like the Rijkmuseum and the Van Gogh are within walking distance.

The bedroom has a Nordic ski lodge feel.