Traveling With Design In Mind
In this solo episode, I explore a popular topic: handling mementos and tchotchkes from travel. I share my thought process, from pre-trip preparations to what I buy and how I integrate those items into my home. Travel fuels home design with life and energy, inspiring us with new ideas and color palettes. I offer a deep dive into the Slow Style Framework for home makeovers and discuss my recent trip to London, providing practical advice on blending iconic sites and hidden gems, finding inspiration, using boutique hotels for design ideas, and selecting meaningful and practical souvenirs. I also give tips on saving free mementos, creating travel rituals, and immediately incorporating your finds into your decor. Whether you're planning your next excursion or simply looking to enrich your home's aesthetic, this episode offers a wealth of inspiration and tangible advice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
As a design enthusiast, I am constantly inspired by the places I visit, always seeking out hidden gems that not only captivate my senses but also fuel my creative process. In a recent trip to London, I embarked on a journey through its captivating streets, weaving bits of its charm into my home. In this post, let me take you through some of the key destinations and delightful discoveries I made on this trip.
Planning the Journey with a Mix of Iconic and Underrated Destinations
Before setting off to London, I crafted a detailed itinerary that balanced the famous with the unfamiliar. While iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey have their own allure, I believe that the true essence of a place often lies in unexpected nooks and crannies. Famous sites provided visual richness, such as the intricate fleur de lis and rose medallion patterns on the gates of Buckingham Palace. These details inspired ideas for subtle design transformations in my own living space, exemplifying how deeply history and storytelling are etched into London’s landmarks.
The Allure of Boutique Hotels
Staying in boutique hotels is an immersive experience where each space tells a story. They often become living showcases of modern and historic design concepts. During my stay, two such hotels left an indelible impression. The Portobello Hotel, nestled in the vibrant streets of Notting Hill, boasted eclectic Bohemian decor with features like pleated lampshades, unexpected art, and converted townhome layouts that felt distinctly like a welcoming home. By contrast, The Zetter offered layers of British design steeped in quirky charm, with every corner a testament to the mix-and-match style often coveted by interior designers. Both settings taught me the value of bold design choices and the welcoming intimacy they create, reinforcing the idea that a room’s narrative can be as impactful as its visual appeal.
Unique Shopping Experiences
For any design lover, exploring local shops is akin to walking through creative galleries of color and texture. My adventure on Portobello Road led me to The Cloth Shop, where fabric dreams came to life. Surrounded by an array of textiles, I realized the transformative power of fabrics—simple striped materials turned into tablecloths that speak of British design influences, bringing a piece of London’s vibrance into my own dining space. When travel offers opportunities to transform everyday items into pieces of personal art, it adds to the richness of our living environments.
Design District Delights
A city’s design district can be a goldmine of inspiration, with countless showrooms waiting to be explored. Visiting London’s world-renowned department stores such as Harrods and Liberty’s is like a journey through the layers of high-end and avant-garde design. Harrods in particular was an experience of opulence—from the theatrical Versace table settings to bold home vignettes, while Liberty’s showcased its iconic small floral fabrics that seamlessly blend tradition with modern flair. These experiences taught me the value of multisensory environments that reflect a well-rounded world of design—a treasure trove not just for the home, but for enriching one’s visual vocabulary.
Museums and Artistic Souvenirs
Museum gift shops are often overlooked, but they are packed with artistic delights that capture a region's cultural heritage. At the Victoria and Albert Museum, I discovered dish towels adorned with historical wallpaper patterns—a simple yet captivating memento designed to become functional art in my home. Transforming such textiles into pillowcases allowed me to intertwine a piece of London into my everyday life. The art books, visually compelling scarves, and unique ornaments—like the wooden pomegranate inspired by William Morris designs—all reminded me of the importance of acquiring items that blend art and history with utility.
Continuing Inspiration from Everyday Observations
Beyond curated collections, the everyday environment of a city like London offers as much inspiration as its famed attractions. The city’s bustling Tube stations, lively cafes, and unassuming eateries each have their narratives and aesthetics that impact one’s design sensibilities. From black-and-white checkered tiles to orderly organics in small restaurants, these humble details highlight how design can evoke emotions and create atmospheres that resonate deeply. They acted as reminders that inspiration lives everywhere, waiting to inform and animate the spaces we live in.
Bringing the Journey Home
Once home, the magic lies in implementing these inspirations immediately. My newfound tea ritual from Fortnum and Mason’s, where I created a personalized blend, carries the essence of London into my daily routine. I find joy not only in the taste but in the calm and the ritual itself, drawing from the experiences I had during the trip. Incorporating travel finds and experiences into my home furnishings and habits allows for a living narrative that continues to evolve, as each artifact helps to tell the story of my journey.
Ultimately, this trip was a tapestry of exploration, a melding of old and new, famous and obscure. Through design, I have found a way to fuse the vibrancy of travel into my everyday life, encouraging a home that reflects a myriad of experiences and storytelling. When you embark on your next adventure, consider traveling with a design-centered perspective, and let your home flourish as a living narrative of your travels.