Last year I introduced to Dedicated, Dedicated Traveler, originally it's purpose was to document my travels (which will still be the case, especially given all the travels planned for 2012). However, travel, being one of my greatest passions, deserves a larger space on the site, so I've created: 'Monday Escape'. Monday Escape will be a weekly look at places and spaces I wish I could escape to right at this moment, because I think we all need a little wanderlust on a Monday morning!

I've got London on the brain at the moment, with our trip for the Los Angeles Fashion Council looming (still time to pledge and still time to vote!)

I came across the Rough Luxe hotel whilst researching my last trip and was simply fascinated. The aesthetic mixes a broken down home, torn wallpaper, peeling paint and mismatched furniture with chandeliers, giant copper baths and some of the best contemporary art outside of Tate Modern. The entire hotel could be described as an art piece in itself. Rooms might be small, bathrooms sometimes shared (though en suites are available) but the details are luxurious, from sheets to service.

The Rough Luxe philosophy is one that I think could be applied to every facet of life – the definition of luxury has changed and Rough Luxe is pioneering the change.

"[Rough Luxe] is a new way of looking at luxury as part of time and not just as an object of consumption. Luxury should be an enriching personal experience and not simply the ownership or utilisation of an expensive object. It is a different definition of luxury: time for reflection, the intellectual value of objects – of art, nature, culture, our environment and the people around us, of social and cultural experiences linked to locations as well as the ‘consumable’ items; food, lifestyle objects and events."

Kelsi x