In the early 1900s, the Colony Arcade Building was brimming with milliners from the L. F. Castle Company, Bonhotal Company and Crest Band Bandeau Comp...

Shabby-chic hotel design is a study in the art of textural contrasts: vintage leather, velvet furniture, deliberately faded rugs, woods and rich prints all add to the look.

From crazy colorful murals to subtle pops of color, these hotels keep their spaces fun and light.

Though they can quickly turn from gilded to just plain gaudy -- ask The Donald -- gold accents bring a unique luster to any room.

I loathe complex lighting pads, touch-screen technology and theatrical mood settings. Like many people, most of my stays in hotels are for two or three nights. Who has the time to get cosy with HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey and negotiate the best of a hundred or so lighting arrangements?

It's that wonderful time of the year, where no matter where you travel to you'll be guided by thousands of twinkling lights and fueled through gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa. It's the holidays, and to celebrate the season hotels around the world are greeting guests with some magical displays and Santa sightings.

Who hasn't ducked into a hotel to make use of a clean public restroom while on vacation?

Le Meridian, the Parisian luxury property, is relaunching its lobbies into a veritable destination, complete with sensory elements. At least that's their hope.

We captured some of the best hotel entrances and lobby designs from around the world so you can get acquainted with the finer things on the first floor, before retreating to your room for the night.