The Beat That My Heart Skipped – A blog dedicated to daily design inspirations. By Rohini Wahi.

Since receiving my new source of interiors inspiration ‘Eat Out, Restaurant Design and Food Experiences’, I have been dipping into it constantly whisking myself off to faraway gastronomic lands. In the next few months I will slowly share my favourites from the book and other new favourites that have emerged because of it.

One of these is Bella Italia Weine, a wine shop and restaurant in in Stuttgart that was originally run for years by a Sicilian owner out of an intimate living-room like space. Re-designed by the Ippolito Flietz Group, the familial, homely atmosphere of the original restaurant was retained by using objects and accessories that rested in tradition such as looking, glasses, lathe-turned dining chairs, and a variety of domestic looking pendant lights.

My favourite detail of course is the ceiling, where more than 90 gilt frame mirrors found at rummage sales are mounted [it's also a great way to peek at what others are eating without appearing rude!].

Yesterday morning, this lovely tome appeared on my desk! ‘Eat Out!’ it screamed! I had been waiting to get my hands on this since it was announced earlier this year so I immediately sat down and began poring over it’s lovely pages. For anyone who loves good food and design, this book is a must – filled with inspiration and escapism on every page.

Last summer, when I had one of the most memorable experiences of my life with friends on holiday, at the wonderland that is The Bazaar in Beverly Hills, I struck me more than ever, how euphoric it feels to have a unique dining experience.

So it was with great anticipation that I opened ‘Eat Out, Restaurant Design and Food Experiences’ and began my restaurant wishlist. The book from innovative publisher Gestalten features international locations, concepts, and designers that deal with the world of food.

The book is divided into eight style sections; Pop; featuring bright playful interiors like Wonderwall’s chocolate dripping Godiva Shop,  and confectionary store Happy Pills in Barcelona, Rustic Chic; epitomised by the traditional chic Old Belle Inn in Berkshire from Studio Ilse.

Straightforward; functional dining spaces like British gourmet chain Canteen in London and Dogmatic Gourmet in NY. Perform; experiental eating consisting of temporary exhibitions like the 2008 Garden of Delight created using branches made of sugar and more permanent installations like Nomiya a movable restaurant according to view [currently placed atop the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

Open and Shut; a slightly vaguer theme than the others, highlighting dining experiences that are exclusive and membership based, like Shoreditch House in London's private dining areas. The New Grandeur; [my favourite] shows off experiences that take mixing the past and the present to a new level, eateries include Jamie Hayon’s La Terraza del Casino, and the gothic Buddakan in New York.

High Tech; of course show’s off the likes of Inamo digital dining in London, and 3 Deluxe Silk Bed Restaurant in Frankfurt. Juxtapose; my next favourite, marries the playful with the modern and set theatrical scenes in interiors with the likes of Home Delicate’s inside/outside restaurant in Milan and Germain in Paris an Alice in Wonderland-esque restaurant.

Ooooh! Whotells in Barcelona offers three distinct lodging options in different neighborhoods of the city, all furnished with utilitarian and chic Muji products – in three colour palettes: blue, green and orange.

I’m really fascinated by the emerging trend of budget hotels to take on budget furnishings in a style sensitive way – remember the The Michelberger Hotel in Berlin that was decorated with Ikea furniture and flea market finds?

The Isle of Jura, instantly conjures up the sound of melodious pan pipes in the sea air and promises of adventure.

This old distillery turned guest lodge in Scotland – looks like something out of a Christmas fairytale – the nutcracker perhaps, regal yet childlike. Infact the owner who also runs the whisky distillery of the same name has cleverly created a lodge for visitors that has an invented past.

The scene is set around the character of Aunt Martha, a passionate woman who loved to travel and would have inherited this house time of Queen Victoria. She decorated the lodge with original furniture and souvenirs from her travels.

Isn’t it simply perfect in it’s eccentricity and modernity? I love the placing of playful props like the large circus drum and white soliders armour holding a pic-nic basket! Rea dmore about the whisky distillery here.

Images courtesy of Marie Claire Maison

I love coming across homes in historic East London, I feel as though Dickensian areas like Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Aldgate still hold an aura of mystery and intrigue. To me this simply furnished Georgian house lives and breathes it’s colourful history within each of it’s pale walls.

Far from being cold and museum like – this home has so much warmth and charm – I just want to snuggle up on that big bed with a book and listen out for the sounds of old London…

Images courtesy of Light Locations