AN ICELANDIC REINVENTIONBehind The Bend

There is nothing we love more than a good reinvention. Especially when it comes to the reinvention of a property. Here in Los Angeles, the development name of the game is to demolish and rebuild. Sometimes it's what a property needs, and other times it's to save a buck, or build a house that is way to big for it's lot size. What we love is when the original house is spared and instead of tearing it down, architects figure out how to make it even more amazing. That is why this months Destination Design, on Design Milk really caught our attention. It's a former inn in Iceland that got a major facelift, and we just want to move in permanently. Below is the Design Milk description and our favorite of the photos are in the gallery above. You can click HERE for the full story and the rest of the stunning images. We dare you not to fall in love too!

With a past that involves housing workers at the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant, this former inn was sitting vacant in 2011 when it was acquired. With the help of faraway Santa Monica-based design studio Minarc, the abandoned building was renovated to become the eco-conscious ION Adventure Hotel, represented by Design Hotels™, in Selfoss, Iceland. For this month’s Destination Design, we visit this luxurious Icelandic hotel.

The easily accessible hotel blends modern design with the natural landscape of Iceland in its background. The 45 rooms are a mix of industrial concrete and warm natural elements, like locally salvaged driftwood and lava.

The hotel’s location allows guests to enjoy the best that Iceland has to offer – with its close proximity to Reykjavik for city fixes and the Mount Hengill volcano for various adventures, there’s plenty to enjoy in the quaint town.

A new wing, made of a prefabricated panelized building system, was added, jutting out from the original building, housing a lounge and seating area.

The hotel also has the Silfra Restaurant & Bar for farm-fresh foods, the Northern Lights Bar, and the partially exposed Lava Spa that’s situated under the above ground hotel.

The comfortable guest rooms feature fair trade organic linens, water-saving shower systems, along with beds and chairs made from recycled materials.