Holiday season is in full swing. Social media is awash with holiday snaps of envious locations and sunny spots, and here at 91 HQ, we not only love getting away from it all ourselves, but we especially love staying in accommodation that makes us feel right at home while inspiring our interior junkie selves. Mariana Cárdenas gives us the low down on a ‘must-stay’ in the capital city of her home country – Mexico – a B&B that has set our interior-loving hearts racing! Â
Nestled in the heart of Mexico City is Chaya B&B – a total botanical oasis. A place to not only lay your head after a day exploring this wonderful city, but also a design and plant lovers heaven. Attention has been give to each and every detail – every table, every plant, every corner.
The space is the creation of Mau Carbonell, his brother Luis and their friend Cris. Mau and Cris studied tourism and Luis trained as an architect. Their vision was to mix a Mexican vibe with colonial styling, while emphasising the stunning vistas from their rooftop location. The B&B is located at the top of a recently renovated building which houses shops, restaurants and galleries, perfectly positioned in the downtown area, giving guests easy access to the cultural and historical heart of the city.
Many are drawn to Chaya because of the stripped back, organic decoration, but Mau admits ‘this is the third time we’ve tried to decorate with all the plants! It seems it’s finally working!’ He explains how difficult it is to keep so many plants healthy and alive due to the changing weather experienced in Mexico, particularly when it’s very hot. Their efforts don’t go unnoticed though. The contrast of the glowing green against the clean white facades, mixed with the building’s original features, is what creates a feeling of calm and induces serenity and relaxation amongst their visitors.
Mau also tells me, ‘There are some things that we don’t have – like an elevator or air conditioning, and people do sometimes get mad about this, but we try to compensate with things like helping them with their luggage and other special touches.’ Despite the lack of these facilities, I could not fault my stay, and appreciate that in a 1920’s building, sometimes these things aren’t viable. The trio say their goal is to create a home from home, and I, for one, left feeling relaxed, inspired and racing to my nearest garden centre for a serious shopping spree!
Visit Chaya B&B’s website for more info.
