Christiane Lemieux

Christiane Lemieux, founder and creative director of DwellStudio (and recent author of Undecorate) is no stranger to travel. The Canadian expat turned New Yorker keeps up her globe-trotting roots by logging countless miles for her modern décor and lifestyle brand – often with family in tow.

Ceaselessly curious about where to go next, Ms. Lemieux shared with us her most cherished lodgings from around the world, and her expert opinion on the best hotel for those coveted “iron-starched” sheets.

Tell us where you’ve been traveling to lately.
Since January, I’ve been to Vietnam, Cambodia, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and all around the US. We do production all over the world from Portugal and Lithuania, to Vietnam and India, so I get to travel a lot and I try and take my kids as much as possible.

Why is it important for you to travel with your children, William (3) and Isabelle (5)?
Obviously, as parents we try to replicate the best things from our childhood. I started traveling with my parents when I was two years old for a month every summer and during Christmas vacation all over the world. I got exposed to so many different cultures and staying in all those hotels gave me a real appreciation of great interior design and, obviously, great bedding. I just want my children to see and experience as much as possible because that’s what gives you empathy for other people and an appreciation for other cultures. It’s probably the best gift you can give your kids.

Where on the globe are you currently itching to visit?
For the last two years my husband and I have been trying to get to José Ignacio in Uruguay. There are two hotels there: one is the Estancia Vik and then on the beach, Playa Vik. We’re trying to do something at Christmas where we hit both of them.

Christiane Lemieux’s favorite hotels:

Le Meurice
Paris, France
“In Paris, I love Le Meurice. My parents took me there when I was a little kid. It was recently redone by Philippe Starck, but there’s nothing 2011-boutique-hotel about it. It’s a classic Parisian hotel with the most amazing service. I also love that they don’t go for the standard sateen sheets that a lot of people buy these days for hotels. They do that old school thing with a coverlet and those amazing cold, starched sheets. I love that.”

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor
Siem Reap, Cambodia
“I have been here a few times but made a quick trip in January. I was amazed at how much it has changed. The hotels are crazy in Siem Reap.”

Taj Lake Palace
Rajastahan, India
“I love to travel in India – it is one of my favorite inspiration destinations.”

Soniat House
New Orleans, Louisiana
“New Orleans is my favorite US city, aside from New York. The Soniat House is right in the French Quarter and Rodney and Frances Smith, who run the hotel, also have the Soniat House Antiques store across the way. They have an honor bar with bitters and you can mix yourself an old-school cocktail. There’s something so genteel about it. It’s just this little jewel that’s sort of unusual in the US.”

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang
Nha Trang, Vietnam
“I travel here for work and love it! It still feels a little undiscovered.”

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