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8 Travel Destinations For Interior Designers Ready for a Creative Recharge

7 ways to create luxury interior design on a limited budget.

• Margot LaScala July 31 2023 . 7 min read

With so many global centers of art and design to choose from, it was nearly impossible to whittle our list down to eight destinations for travel-bound interior designers seeking inspiration along with requisite rest and relaxation. From iconic design go-tos like New York, to the less traveled artistic centers like Seto Inland Sea, Japan, our list covers every place interior designers need to know when planning their next vacation, a.k.a. creative recharge.  

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is first on our list of top travel destinations for interior designers in search of a revelation. Founded by the Aztecs in 1325, it is the oldest city in the Americas . After being ravaged then rebuilt by the Spanish in the 16th Century, the city has long represented a unique juxtaposition and, at times, merging of cultures and design conventions. When Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, a distinctly original, Mexican aesthetic quickly developed, reflecting its cultural history, the colors and textures of the landscape, and sophisticated integration and participation in global artistic movements. In 2018, the World Design Organization named it a Design Capital of the World, thereby making official what was a long understood by international art and design aficionados. 

When visiting, make sure you visit the Casa Luis Barragán , a UNESCO World Heritage site and a renowned example of modern architecture that uses levers of interior design, such as lighting, color, and interior/exterior connection to provide visitors with a sublime experience. For another immersion in color and playful take on the vernacular architecture of the city, head over to Casa Azul (the ‘Blue House’), the former home of famed artist, Frieda Kahlo, which is now a museum dedicated to telling her life story through the objects, dwelling, and neighborhood she cherished most. To shop for local wares, including ceramics, textiles, and hand crafted furniture, check out La Ciudadela , then stroll around the corner to Onora Casa, a boutique with a curated selection of hand-crafted textiles and home goods created by Mexican artisans. At the end of the day, rest your head at the sleek Hotel Carlota , designed by Javier Sanchez. If you happen to be visiting in October, Design Week Mexico will be going on from the 3rd through the 27th! 

Copenhagen, Denmark

Danish design rose to prominence in the mid-20th Century, making a significant contribution to the mid-century modern movement. Contemporary design in the city of Copenhagen often reflects the same sleek, minimalist aesthetic of the era in which Danish design rose to international prominence, but this medieval city offers a stunning array of design diversity, if you know where to look. 

Begin your visit at the city’s most important medieval landmark, Roskilde Cathedral , which was built in 1170 as the first brick Gothic Cathedral. For your next stop, check out Nyhavn, a 17th-century waterfront district, lined with 17th and early 18th century townhouses painted in bright, cheerful colors, where you can stop for coffee or lunch and enjoy the historical wooden ships that rest on the canal. Juxtapose these historical design wonders with a visit to the cutting edge Danish Architecture Center , housed in a building designed by OMA. When you are ready for some shopping, check out “The Apartment,” a gallery/boutique in the Christianshavn neighborhood that showcases 20th-century furniture, contemporary art, and design. More interior design favorites include “ Illums Bolighus ,” another high-concept gallery, and Hay House , offering products that are the epitome of Scandanavian design.

New York, NY

New York City has been a leader of the international art and design community for so long, one may take it for granted when thinking about where to travel for a design-centric jaunt. However, with so much new construction, particularly over the last decade, there is always something new to see. If you haven't walked the Highline , now is the perfect time to see the finished project. This linear, garden-lined walkway, built on raised, abandoned train tracks, begins on the Lower West Side of Manhattan and ends at the now finished Hudson Yards. While the whole walk is only 1.5 miles, leave enough time to stop and marvel at Zaha Hadid’s 520W28 , plus plenty of time to explore the many architectural experiences of Hudson Yards, including the “Vessel” and  Snarkitecture’s Snark Park . 

There are no shortage of places to shop in New York City, which houses many flagship showrooms from the best designers in the world. While you’re in Hudson Yards, be sure to check out the new 1stDibs showroom , where guests can have an interactive experience with the online gallery’s finest pieces. For one-stop multi-showroom shopping, head east to the Decoration and Design ( D&D ) and the Architecture and Design ( A&D ) buildings. Soho and Gramercy are also beautiful neighborhoods to stroll through with plenty of hot showrooms to stop in along the way. 

When you are looking for a place to stay, check out the Edition Times Square , designed by Yabu Pushelberg, or the Hoxton Williamsburg , a super stylish, yet affordable option in one of the city’s hippest Brooklyn neighborhoods. The Beekman Hotel is another great option, and is worth a trip downtown to have dinner or a drink at its Temple Court or Augustine restaurants. 

Paris, France

Paris, like New York, is already well known to interior designers, but deserves a place on the list nonetheless. Designers headed to Paris must visit the world famous flea markets such as Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen et Clignancourt , the Marché Paul Bert, and the Marché Serpette inside at Rue des Rosiers. Designers acquainted with 1stdibs.com will find the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen et Clignancourt familiar, since the online platform was designed to resemble this internationally celebrated “flea market”. Next, head to the Le Marais neighborhood to explore the art galleries and local design vendors, then to Rue Bonaparte from Boulevard Saint-Germain toward the Seine for furniture stores, more galleries, and fabric showrooms, such as Nobilis. For more show-stopping antiques, go to Galerie Patrick Seguin to peruse pieces by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé,. Pierre Jeanneret. For a little history, check out Le Courbousier’s Paris apartment , which as of November 2018, is reopened to the public. Then, stop for dinner and drinks at Beefbar Paris , a trendy nightlife destination housed in an ornately refurbished 19th-century atrium, just off the Champs Elysées. 

New Orleans, LA

New Orleans has a rich and deep history, with several cultures coming together to form a distinct aesthetic that defines this lively U.S. city. Native Americans were the original settlers of the land, dating back to 400 A.D, before the Europeans conquered the land and ushered in an era of colonialism in the 18th century. The city of New Orleans was officially founded by the French in 1713, quickly fell to Spanish control, reverted back to French control, and then finally become a U.S. territory with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For much of its history, it was the largest port in the Southern U.S., bringing even more global influences to the vibrant city. 

One of the landmark buildings in New Orleans is the The Orpheum Theater , designed by Gustave Albert Lansburgh in 1918 and restored by local architecture firm Eskew+Dumez+Ripple to revive its original color palette and intricate plasterwork. Visit the Hermann-Grima and Gallier Historic Houses to see what domestic life and design looked like in 1800s New Orleans, then stroll through the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to understand how notions of the afterlife shape the New Orleans aesthetic. If you’re ready for different type of spirit after the cemetery, book a table at Brennan’s in the French Quarter, which was recently renovated by designer Richard Keith Langham (a long-time user of DM!). Commander's Palace is another great choice for a taste of local design and delicacies. For shopping, don’t miss The French Market on Sunday, when the city’s flea market is open for business. When it’s time to sleep, check in to the Hotel Monteleone , a four star French Quarter hotel that is also a historic landmark.

Singapore has something for every art and design lover. While it is a leader in cutting edge design and architecture, it offers historical charm as well. Orchard Road, the city’s luxury shopping area, is worth a visit, if only for its interesting architecture. The houses on Emerald Hill are early 20th century Chinese Baroque, while new structures like ION Orchard , designed by Benoy and featuring an art gallery, an observation deck, and a multi-sensory media wall, is sleek and modern. The Kampong Glam neighborhood is another design gem, with vibrant murals and multi-ethnic restaurants, antique stores, and coffee shops. If you are seeking an experience of grandeur, visit the golden-domed Sultan Mosque, a national monument that hosts bustling night markets during the holiday time of Ramadan. 

The city offers no shortage of delightfully designed hotels to choose from. The Raffles Hotel is a beautiful colonial building with decadent interiors that was built in 1887.  For something more modern, check out the South Beach Hotel , designed by Foster + Partners with interiors by Philippe Starck.  The PARKROYAL on Pickering offers the ultimate vertical garden experience to its guests.  

Seto Inland Sea, Japan

(Ribbon Chapel; photo credit: The Architect’s Newspaper )

The Seto Inland Sea is the body of water that flows between three of the four main islands of Japan, Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū, and the area has long been an active hub of trade and tourism. The local governments, businesses, and cultural institutions were the first to patronize Modernist architecture after World War II. The prefecture of Kagawa has long been investing in making the local towns along the sea architectural landmarks and has recently led the development of Naoshima, Teshima, and Inushima, turning the greater area into an influential center of contemporary art and architecture. 

The Benesse Art Site Naoshima is a collection of museums all designed by one of Japan’s top starchitects, Tadao Ando. SANAA’s Teshima Art Museum, which blurs exterior/interior boundaries with its open air concept, is also a must-see, as is their cloud shaped Naoshima port terminal. Find a moment for reflection at Hiroshi Nakamura’s Ribbon Chapel . The region has no shortage of luxury hotels and eateries for relaxation and libation. The most unique stay experience is surely found at Guntû , a 19-room ryokan aboard a ship that floats atop the Seto Inland Sea.

If Marfa is not yet on your radar, it’s high time you look up this art and design wonder located in the middle of the Texan dessert. The town was first founded as a water stop along the New Orleans Railroad and flourished as the support to the Marfa Army Airfield. However, when the airfield was closed in 1945, the town fell into decline. Things began to change for the better in the 1970’s when artist Donald Judd stumbled upon the town and immediately took an interest in the ghost-town feel of an abandoned relic. He set up his studio in Marfa and later established the The Chinati Foundation , which brought more minimalist artists to the town. 

Design enthusiasts will want to visit the Judd Foundation, the AYN Foundation, and the Chinati Foundation for a thorough tour of the town’s artistic offering. Other design destinations include the Prada Marfa, which is an artistic installation by Elmgreen and Dragset, set up as a mock-store that serves as a gallery for Prada’s fall/winter 2005 collection. The Tiny Target is a newer take on the same idea. Be sure to have a meal at Marfa Burrito , or if you are there on a Friday night, owners Vicente and Ramona’s host a Friday night taco stand in the garden behind the restaurant. For slightly more sophisticated fare, try Cochineal . For the ultimate Marfa experience, stay at El Cosmico , a hotel comprised of a collection of luxury RVs and yurts.  

To be the best interior designer you can be, it's important to give yourself the opportunity to take in new influences and recharge your creative spirit. Art and design is a constantly evolving field, and new attractions are springing up across the globe every day, providing endless opportunities for new inspiration. We will continue to monitor the international design scene to keep you informed of the latest developments and new destinations to put on your radar, so follow Design Manager on Instagram @designmanager for the latest tips on where and how to reinvigorate your interior design mind.

Margot LaScala

Topics: Lifestyle

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Travel interior design: how to transform your home with stylish decor inspired by travel

December 22 by Lorraine Loveland

From the kitchen to the garden, there are many ways to infuse a little travel into our daily lives, such as these  must-have home accessories for travellers .

Whether it’s on-point Nordic house interiors to Moroccan interiors or vibrant silks from Asia, we have  travel inspired home decor ideas  that will fit the bill.

These statement pieces will not only provide your interior spaces with a refresh, they’ll also serve to remind you of faraway destinations at times when you’re unable to pack your bags for another holiday.

And this selection goes to show that theming your interiors can be as subtle or as daring as you wish. So go loud and proud or chic and sleek to carry off the perfect effects for your home.

Some links here are affiliate links and we receive a small commission if you click and purchase from them, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Table of Contents

Theme your home with travel interior design from your favourite part of the world

No time for DIY? Work with what you have, and by adding a few of these furnishings and accessories you can still pull off an enviable look.

Recently updated your space with a travel-related theme? If you’ve got it, flaunt it, share your makeover story with us at the end of this feature so we can all be inspired to bring the world home.

The warmth of South America

It couldn’t be simpler to adopt the flavours of South America into your home. Think warm shades, striking patterns and woven materials to perfect the look.

Clockwise from top left: Vintage Wooden Cabinet , Rex London, £145; Round Rattan Mirror , Maisons Du Monde, £59.99;  Tripod Lamp , Maisons Du Monde, £168;   Pom Pom Basket , Rex London, £25 and  Ceramic Plant Pots , Wayfair, £8 each.

Caribbean c olour pop

Don’t be afraid to go bold with these sweet tropical accessories to add instant pop to your home. Just remember less is more, so you only need add a few accents to create the perfect C aribbean home interior design theme.

Go for sunshine yellows, watermelon reds and oceanic turquoise. You can also play with prints such as botanicals, and fun shapes – pineapple ice bucket, anyone?

Clockwise from top left: Barbados Hammock , Simply Hammocks, £80;  Tropical Candlestick , House of Fraser, £24; Tropical print canvas , Maisons Du Monde, £51.59; Velvet Cocktail Chair , Oliver Bonas, £585; Storage unit , Maisons Du Monde, £59.99 and  Copper Pineapple Ice Bucket , Oliver Bonas, £40.

Bring hygge home with cosy Nordic style

To keep things clean and simple, the Nordic home interior style is perfect for creating wide open spaces, while still being able to draw the eye with some centrepieces that add the wow effect. Think neutrals and pastels, luxury linens, fluffy rugs, wooden furniture and lots of minimalist walls and spaces.

Clockwise from top left: Metallic Wood Print , House of Fraser, £55;  Thick Shaggy Rug , Blue Sun Tree, from £129;  Printed Drawers , Sainsbury’s, £16; Ladder Bookcase , Wayfair, £81.99 and  Tall Side Table , Annie Maison, £180.

Out of India

We love the diverse options you can work into Indian home interior design ideas. Choose elaborate designs with muted palettes or full on vibrancy. It’s all waiting to be played with and allows so much flexibility to tie these travel inspired home decor ideas in with your personality.

Clockwise from top left: Rattan Tea Chest , The Holding Company, £34;  Thakat Stool , Myakka, £279; Elephant Fabric Canvas , House of Fraser, £60; Tealight Holders , Myakka, £9 each and  Roulotte , Maisons Du Monde, £146.

Far East favourites

Asian inspired interiors are a bold way to go if you’re redecorating. But while these patterns can be quite intense, you can still achieve a subtle feel with careful planning and consideration.

Clockwise from top left: Room Divider , Wayfair, £166;  Porcelain Teapot , Oliver Bonas, £32;   Oriental Wallpaper , John Lewis, £98;   Sushi Bowls , Amara, £32 and  Easel Photo Frame , Amara, £120.

Moroccan magic

The eclectic prints typical in Moroccan design are a sure-fire way to instantly transform your kitchen, living room or bathroom. But the intricacies of the print mean it’s probably best to adopt the less is more mantra so you don’t drown your room. Here’s some Moroccan  home interior design inspiration.

Clockwise from top left:  Medina Mirrored Table , IWOOT, £235;  Le Creuset Tagine , Selfridges, £190;  Hexagon Wall and Floor Tiles , £38.29 per sq. metre;  Batik Armchair , Myakka, £649 and  Moroccan Pouf , Bohemia Design, £100.

African home decorations to bring the savannah to your pride

If you want to add a bit of colour, but the likes of Caribbean prints and tones are too garish for your style, a more muted tribal and African palette is ideal for adding a little zest without going over the top.

Clockwise from top left: Tapered Lightshade, John Lewis, £80-£110;  Print Rug , Eva Sonaike, £750; Giraffe Planter, Sainsbury’s Home, £20;  Tribal Platter , Dunelm, £22; Zigga Printed Sofa , Myakka, £999 and  Drawer Unit , Dunelm, £35.

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Alex Robert says

December 31 at 11:15 am

These little things make a lot of difference to your home, thanks for providing some great tips to make our homes look even more beautiful. Travel got some great ideas I must say :)

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Travel-Inspired Interior Design

Do you like traveling? If your answer is “Yes,” you can decorate your home with travel accessories. That’s a great way to be inspired every day in your dwelling, even though your vacation has ended.

Travel-Themed Home Décor

Liven up your house after returning from a splendid city if you’ve fallen in love with their culture, mentality, food, and serene atmosphere. You could incorporate your travel décor ideas in the room where you need more inspiration.

Travel-Themed Living Room

When it comes to decorating your living room , you could install travel décor elements to create a stylish interior. Usually, these can be wall art, an attractive furniture piece, or lovely knick-knacks from your past trips. Maybe you hunted a shark or went diving… give your living room a fresh look!

Travel-Themed Bedroom

To decorate your splendid bedroom , you could use travel-inspired items over your bed. Think about the place of your happiness, where it will be cool for you to fall asleep and wake up. Maybe it’s only plans and you have never visited this city yet, but you will have sweet dreams and serenity in your head. What about Paris?

Also, you could sleep on travel-inspired bedclothes on a soft pillow, inspired by your favorite city. When you want to explore all the world, no matter how many cities or countries, depict it on your bedclothes. It’s all about your dreams and inspiration.

Travel-Themed Kitchen

It’s time to discover the world while you are cooking or eating! You could install a wooden, metal, or paper map to create a relaxing space where you have a warm feeling.

This can be the main focal point of your kitchen . You could enjoy the national food of any country and look at that place on the map. Following that design is a great way to travel more.

Think about a travel-themed tablecloth! This can make your mood better and dreams bigger.

Travel-Themed Bathroom

What could be better than taking a bath and having the illusion of relaxing in the warm sea? For your bathroom decorating choose a shower curtain with a beautiful landscape. That’s a great way to be inspired every day!

Travel-Themed Nursery

If you prefer to discover the world with your kids, decorate the nursery with travel-inspired elements. Do you like to travel by a car, plane, or ship? Think about it and install travel-themed décor items in your kids’ room, such as cool wall art with various planes or cars, a lamp looking like a globe, a shelf for books in the form of a steering wheel to feel like a captain of a big ship.

To decorate your nursery, you could install a thematic attribute of the city of your dreams, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York, Big Ben in London, the Tower of Pisa, etc. But if you choose this design solution, someday your kids will want to visit this city with you. Are you ready to save money for this trip?

Think About Various Accessories

When you consider travel interior design, it’s a brilliant idea to use lovely knick-knacks, nice travel attributes, and inspirational lifestyle décor elements, such as pictures, personal photos, a vintage camera, furniture pieces, globes, maps, tablecloths, bedclothes, suitcases, a shower curtain, etc. It can make your life more interesting and also, when you feel lost in life, dreams about travelling could inspire your adventures.

A Map Is Always A Great Idea

First of all, when we talk about travel home décor, the simplest way to use a travel theme in your interior is to install a map. When it comes to choosing a style of map, you could install a vintage, farmhouse, or modern one, whichever fits your dwelling in the best way.

Keep In Mind Travel Magnets

When it comes to buying souvenirs from your amazing trip, almost everyone chooses travel magnets. This means you’ll have knick-knacks with your memories.

You could create a magnetic board and add new ones after every trip. It’s awesome to have a splendid souvenir magnets board, which makes you inspired to live and travel every day!

Most commonly, travel magnets are used on the refrigerator. That’s a simple way to observe your favorite places. Also, this design solution makes your fridge brighter.

How About Suitcases?

You could use suitcases for more than just for your clothes which you need in the trip. Valises are great décor elements to create a lifestyle design with your own signature. This means you’ll have functional storage in an unexpected item.

If you need more storage space, use suitcases in the form of a pyramid. It’s better to place this in the corner of the room to increase aesthetic pleasure.

Also, you could organize bigger travel space with suitcases, travel-themed wall art, a globe, lovely knick-knacks, and plants from your favorite region.

Do You Have A Globe?

A globe could be a part of a travel space or a separate item of your home décor. If you don’t have plants on your windowsill, think about a globe.

Create A Travel Ambience

What could be better than living in a cozy atmosphere where you feel inspired and happy? When you work in a travel-themed ambience, this feeling gives you energy and motivation to work harder and make more money for your unbelievable travel dreams!

If you are a travelholic, you could forget about limits and decorate your home office like a travel kingdom. When it comes to decorating, choose an interior design style which you like, and follow this décor solution without doubts.

Have you fallen in love with Venice and dream about Venetian interiors? Maybe you prefer vintage… What’s your favorite style?

It’s time to organize the dream place in your home. It’s all about relaxing and having a possibility to switch from everyday life.

You could create a travel atmosphere in any room with thematic accessories. If you have a comfortable hammock, armchair, rocking chair, or massage recliner, use it to have better conditions for big dreams in a serene ambience.

Travel-Themed Wall Décor

Liven up your home with travel-themed wall art! You could create an inspirational kingdom in your own dwelling, regardless of how often you have the financial possibility to travel and when your last adventure happened, last month or ten years ago.

If you are decorating walls, install travel-inspired pictures, photos, magnet boards, creative knick-knacks and other awesome accessories.

Create A Photo Gallery

What could be better than family photos? Only a big photo gallery! Mix travel-inspired pics with cozy photos from your home. It’s always a win-win combination which can be the main focal point of your room.

If you prefer a minimalist or contemporary décor style, think about extraordinary wall art. You could show your favorite sights from different countries which you like, with photos connected with places on a map.

How About Motivational Quotes?

Of course, travelling is the best inspirational element of your life. When you lose your serenity, have many doubts, and feel extremely uncomfortable, go to a great place, where you can switch off everything.

To be sure, inspirational phrases on your wall will help you! Give a fresh look to your life and home décor! Are you ready?

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How to Create Interior Design Inspired by Your Travels

March 13, 2023 7 min read

In this post, Fig Linens and Home dives into how to curate home decor inspired by travel. We interviewed Kelcy Jenkins, the Connecticut-based curator of  Passport by Design for her top tips on the intersection of interiors and travel. We talked jetsetting, designing a home based on your travels, and shopping locally in Connecticut. Let's dive in!

What is the Intersection of Travel, Interior Design, and Shopping Locally?

We at Fig Linens and Home are huge proponents of shopping local small businesses, especially woman-owned small businesses. However, shopping local does not need to be limited to shopping at home. It is also important to shop local, small businesses while you are travelling .

Furthermore, travel can be a great inspiration for home decor. We have written extensively about using travel as inspiration for interior design including articles on curating interiors inspired by Paris, France and Porto, Portugal . One of our best selling designers, John Robshaw , gains inspiration for his block printed textiles and his home  from his travels throughout India and Southeast Asia. Learn more in the At Home in Connecticut Interview with designer John Robshaw below.

“I want all the colors, techniques and designs from each culture to blend. I redesign them and mix up the processes. I edit them, learn from them, make them my own, but retain their essence.”

John Robshaw | 2017 Interview for Quintessence

What is Passport by Design, and Who is Kelcy Jenkins?

Based on our interest in travel and shopping locally, we decided to interview Kelcy Jenkins for the latest this edition of our "Love Westport" series.

Kelcy is a graphic designer, marketing professional, and the mind behind Passport by Design . Passport design is a self-proclaimed "travel blog for design lovers." Kelcy founded Passport by Design in 2018 with the goal of inspiring readers to travel and experience art without waiting for the "ideal time." PxD encourages readers to step out of their comfort zone and embrace their interest in creative careers.

Kelcy is a lover of art, interior design, travel, and shopping locally. She is based in Connecticut and interested in discovering the extraordinary in our local area. Her writing covers everything from the hyperlocal (like a visit to the Westport Museum ) to the faraway (see her posts on architecture in Abu Dhabi & Navigating the Seoul Subway , for example!). 

Kelcy joins us to discuss starting Passport by Design, her love of travel, and the importance of shopping at small businesses. We finish off with a Passport by Design-approved Fig Linens and Home Wish List from the New Spring Summer 2023 John Robshaw collection.

Our Coversation with Connecticut-Based Travel and Design Expert, Kelcy Jenkins

Can you speak a little bit about passport by design and how you decided to start it.

I received a wanderlust gene that has been passed down from generation to generation. The passport pictured, belonged to my grandmother and documents a cruise she took to Morocco. I can only imagine the beautiful sights she saw. Morocco is a great destination to experience beautiful textiles and other handmade items. It's on my bucket list for sure. 

I learned to sew at an early age and would visit fabric stores with my mother. We would shop through fabric rolls of vibrant colors and patterns, each one more exciting than the last. Then she would teach me how to make curtains and pillow covers. I loved having unique home items that stood out from the rest. 

There was a point where I thought about becoming an interior designer. I chose graphic design because of the flexibility of the field. However, I have a true love for design in all forms. This includes designing a home that you never want to leave. And if you love to travel, it makes sense to include that in your design. There is a never ending amount of inspiration. Each destination inspires your next design.  

I created Passport by Design in 2018 as I was leaving my twenties and looking for a new creative outlet. I saw lots of travel blogs, but few focused on art. A lot of the things I looked forward to on my travels included art. What does the architecture look like in this country? Is the country known for beautiful ikat or block print textiles? What is the local art scene like?

I have a Graphic Design background and wanted to provide resources to help people fund their travels through remote design work. This is how Passport by Design was born. 

My mother came up with the name.

How does travel influence your passion for interior design?

Travel has a big influence on my interior design choices. When it comes to purchasing curtains, I love choosing patterns inspired by faraway lands. I’ve also bought fabric and sewn my own curtains and pillow covers.

Whether it's my curtains, linens or any other home textile, I love textures and patterns that remind me of foreign destinations. Some of these I purchase when I'm abroad and others I buy locally. 

It's hard to buy sheets abroad for example, since bed sizes are different all over the world. I made this mistake once. Bed sheets are something I definitely prefer to buy locally.

What are your top tips for curating interiors that reflect your love for travel?

My first tip is to  not be nervous about trying something new or purchasing an item no one else has. That's what will make your home unique. 

Second , your travels can become the artwork in your home . I have photos from my trips that I have blown up and framed. This brings a very unique touch to my spaces. It's something that can bring happiness every time you step into your room. Experience your beautiful photo and be reminded of the trip that you took. I enjoy photos of mountains. Photographs of the local architecture are also nice.

What do you like purchasing when you are abroad versus when you are home?

When I'm abroad I purchase lots of ceramics and fabrics. These items are easy to bring back home. I generally pack a few sheets of bubble wrap to keep them safe. 

I have also brought a painting home. It was taken off the wooden base frame and rolled up to make it easy to transport it. 

I have seen furniture that I wanted to have shipped home. Then came the worries about it getting damaged. I hope to bring home some furniture in the future. There's something special about handmade artisan furniture.

When I'm home I like buying things that are inspired by different locations. I also like buying items that are made in other countries and support the artisans living there. I love purchasing unique dishware and glassware. Then there are the candles and diffusers that remind me of my favorite trips.

What does shopping locally mean to you? How do you shop local, small businesses while you are traveling?

Shopping locally to me means putting your money back into your own community. You're supporting your neighbors and the people you meet when you go grocery shopping. There are so many local shops in Connecticut. Not to mention all the artisans and craftspeople.

When I'm traveling, I love to shop where the locals shop. I dislike going to other countries and seeing souvenirs that aren't even made in that country. The best items are those made by the local people. I enjoy visiting local markets and buying things from artists on the street. It's all about the experience of getting to know their story and supporting them.

What are some items on your Fig Linens and Home wishlist?

Florida kimono short jacket bathrobe by yves delorme.

Ekaveer Kidney Throw Pillow by John Robshaw

Vanilla bourbon mandarin 250ml diffuser by antica farmacista, chahan woven throw by john robshaw, conclusion: learn more about curating interiors based on your travels.

For more on how to build home decor inspired by your travels, read House Beautiful's article on the best places to travel for design inspiration . Explore the influence of travel and landscape on architecture and design in the world of hotels with Marriot Bonvoy below. Reach out to the Fig Linens and Home Team with any remaining questions of creating interior design that feels like a reflection of your love for travel. 

What is your favorite tip for designing based on your travels? Are there any you feel like we missed? Let us know in the comments!

About the Love Westport Series

As part of our celebration of Local Small Businesses , the Fig Linens and Home Blog is launching a “Love Westport” series in which we spotlight local Connecticut businesses, designers, and tastemakers. This installment spotlighted Kelcy Jenkins, Connecticut resident and travel blogger with an interest in interior design and the curator of Passport by Design .

Sophie Edwards  is the head content writer at Fig Linens and Home. She is a bedding, linens, and luxury homeware expert with an interest is the intersection of interior design with fashion, travel and culture. She has a BA in creative writing and sociology from Sarah Lawrence and an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography.

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The Design World’s 19 Most Beloved Travel Destinations

By Kathryn Romeyn

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It’s hard to imagine a person who doesn’t love and crave taking vacations, but architects and designers very well may get more out of them than most. For an overworked creative, the benefits of exploring the globe aren’t just limited to reviving and de-stressing a frazzled mind, important as that is—traveling can also inform and inspire future output . Indeed, when we asked a dozen busy and prolific interior designers and architects for their favorite travel destinations, near or far, most answers involved aesthetics. There’s no doubt places like Italy and Japan figure heavily, though several cite tropical paradises and adventures of extraordinary natural beauty. Here, plentiful ideas for your next journey—domestic or international—with must-sees and -dos for a guaranteed marvelous time.

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

I am actually currently in my favorite place to vacation—San Miguel de Allende, which I think is perhaps the most beautiful village in the world. Everyone should come at least once in their lifetime! I have been here several weeks now along with friends and family, including my dear friend Kate Spencer who taught me to paint. We are endlessly inspired by the gorgeous colors everywhere, fine art (such as that of the wonderful Mariló Carral ), stunning architecture, and the costumes of people dancing in the streets almost every day. Every time I think I have seen it all, there is something else to leave us gobsmacked, as it is wonderful fodder for the paintings I am working on while here. Before I leave Central America we will drive five hours to Puebla, then Mérida—and who knows, maybe Tulum after! — Bill Bensley , Bensley

A contemporary compound on a deep oceanfront lot in Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico, designed by José Vigil.

Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico

I live in California, so for a quick and easy travel destination, or even a weekend getaway, I love Mexico, especially Punta Mita. Beautiful beaches, resorts, small towns, and incredible food and people. It’s close, but lets me feel so far away. — Brigette Romanek , Romanek Design Studio

Tourists in North Adams, Massachusetts.

The Berkshires, Massachusetts

For something relatively close to home, I like Tourists in North Adams, Massachusetts. I love this hotel—everything about it is perfect, design-wise. The rooms are brilliantly minimalist but luxurious. And there’s something for every season: Skiing nearby in the Berkshires (love Catamount), MASS MoCA, great barbecue, world-class architecture by Tadao Ando at the nearby Clark Museum, hiking and swimming holes in the mountains, and Williamstown is an adorable little town with a game store for my son and a great bookstore too. — Elizabeth Roberts , Elizabeth Roberts Architects

Calistoga, California

On the West Coast, the pool at Indian Springs in Calistoga, California, is one of my all-time favorite destinations. Indian Springs was the very first resort in California and the Olympic–size pool that is filled with natural mineral water dates back to 1913. While there, you must also enjoy a mud bath in the historic clawfoot tubs with pure volcanic ash and mineral water from the Indian Springs geysers. —Elizabeth Roberts

Saline Beach in St. Barths.

My favorite time to go is at the end of high season, in late February or early March—in my experience the best way to kick off spring after ski season. My go-to for accommodations is Villa Nureyev , an old house on the windward side of the island, right on Le Toiny’s dramatic coastline. The decor is very bohemian, which I love. It has a rich history, too, as the former vacation hideaway of legendary Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. And, of course, one can’t go to St. Barths without hiking to the washing machine and natural pools in Grand Fond. It’s a really special place. — Alfredo Paredes , Alfredo Paredes Studio

…or anywhere on the water

I love the Maldives, Seychelles, and north of Madagascar, where I can take a boat and sail endlessly, windsurf, and listen to the wild, and be amongst the expansive open ocean. I have always been mesmerized by the beauty of the Maldives—the blue lagoons, white sandy beaches, colorful marine life, and soothing breeze. — Jean-Michel Gathy , Denniston

The whitewashed steps of Hotel Raya.

The Aeolian Islands, Italy

One of my most favorite travel destinations is the Aeolian Islands. Rising out of the cobalt seas are seven islands that lie between the “boot” of Italy and Sicily. The active volcanic island Stromboli is where Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini shot the classic film Stromboli . For nearly a decade now, Stromboli has been the home to the art world’s who’s who. The Fiorucci Art Trust invites some of the world’s most eccentric artists to attend a retreat called Volcano Extravaganza to reflect on their practice. Panarea, the most glamorous of all the islands, is a polished gem with its whitewashed villages garlanded with bright bougainvillea. There are no vehicles on the island, so one jets around in golf carts. The Hotel Raya is usually where I stay when I come to visit. Known for its cult-like following, this boho-chic hotel was built in the 1960s with rooms that have large terraces overlooking the shimmering sea. This stylish island is where the glamorous Italians come each summer to mingle, yacht, and swim in the crystal-clear emerald sea. As far as fashion goes, to get that boho artistic look, head to Boutique Raya. The clothes are a breath of fresh air, made from silk and patterned in years of batik tradition. — Amy Lau , Amy Lau Design

Palazzo Brandolini in Venice.

Venice is a favorite, specifically Casa Flora , an incredible apartment available to rent in the San Marco neighborhood but tucked away from the crowds. It is hosted by the Romanelli family, [who also run] Hotel Flora, Novecento, and Inside Venice . The Olivetti Showroom is a beautiful example of Carlo Scarpa’s work, and how he is able to make such a strong modernist design play in concert with the classical city around it. He also completed an exquisite renovation of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia [that includes] both interior and exterior interventions to the 18th-century palazzo. The bar at the Gritti Palace is luxurious and transports you to another time. Along those lines, Harry’s Bar is a must, as is Cantinone Già Schiavi for wine and cicchetti. Da Arturo is a classic for dinner, and you can’t miss Tonolo for pastry in San Polo. — Robert McKinley , Studio Robert McKinley

Rome is known as the eternal city, and for me it certainly is an eternal source of inspiration. Every corner you turn reveals a more beautiful sight than the one before. It’s a city full of magical light that glistens against its ancient architecture and magnificent monuments gifting all who view them memories that linger a lifetime. The food, of course, is legendary, as is the fashion and the style of the city’s chic inhabitants. From the majestic old-school hotels to the smart new versions, there is always somewhere romantic to stay with a surprise element that inspires and enchants. — Martyn Lawrence Bullard , Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design

Fondazione Prada in Milan.

…or all of Italy

For me it’s always Italy. I studied in Rome, and going back always makes for the most impactful travel that not only affects my day-to-day practice but also makes me feel connected to history in a way no other city can. The beauty of Italy is you can have the Rome experience that’s still visually linked to its thousands of years of growth, and on the same visit be in Piedmont for October harvest season and enjoy a Napa–style experience, complete with Michelin–star dining but with no tourists. Then there is Milan—one of the best and most vibrant cities to wander and feel like you are very much bridging history with the future. Italy has it all, even beaches and mountains for winter skiing—no other place I can think of has the breadth of what Italy has to offer. —Blake Mourer, Open Studio | Architecture

I split my time between Hawaii and California wine country, so I am a bit spoiled. However whether it’s for work or vacation, I love London. I studied there during my years as an undergrad. I love the nooks and crannies, the food, pub life, and, most of all, the museums. History is a hobby of mine, and the Brits are all history buffs, so there are great conversations to have with friends who teach there and are well-versed in many topics in the arts, theory, food, and history. So, as nerdy as it might seem, there is nothing I love more than to hang out at [restaurants like] Flat Three or Brat with close friends and discuss a multitude of topics.

One must do what I always do: If I wake up and it’s partially sunny, I immediately look at the time. If St. Paul’s is open, I skip breakfast and head straight there. I rush to the very top, up the winding staircase, and the perforated Industrial–era stair to where the cupola is. From up there, no matter how many times I visit, it’s the most amazing view. The journey of going up there is meditative—once you are up, you are on a cantilevered stone walkway with old iron banisters that seem like they should crumble away as you near them. It is just amazing!

After, I like to do the walk across the Thames, pop into the Tate, head out the back door, and head over to my favorite tapas place, Jose on Bermondsey, with a stop at the Flea Vintage Makers market or the Borough Market (my absolute fave!). Also, I love Fortnum & Mason and Liberty, and Sir John Soane’s Museum is another little hideaway for me. — Brandon Jørgensen , Atelier Jørgensen

Portraits line the walls at Ballyfin, a 19th-century manor in Ireland.

County Laois, Ireland

Ballyfin is one of the most beautiful country house hotels in Ireland, if not all of Europe. The glamour of this 19th-century stately house is unrivaled for its restored decor and magnificent furnishings. For a truly grand experience—and if you have ever wanted to feel like the Lord of the manor—this is your place. Situated in County Laois, it’s about a two-hour car ride outside of Dublin and in its own demesne (better known as an estate and parkland), it is complete with a magical castle-like folly within the grounds allowing you to be transported back in time. The lavish decorating that creates the sumptuous rooms is a true lesson in country-house style, while the Irish hospitality and service is unrivaled. It’s an immersive and inspirational experience where aristocratic Irish history surrounds you at every turn. —Martyn Lawrence Bullard

It is such an experience to sit in a Jeep and observe the wild animal life in a completely untouched and unpolluted environment, surrounded by nothing but yourself and the peacefulness of nature. I love wildlife. To witness the game of life and be amongst wild animals in their most natural elements is truly special. —Jean-Michel Gathy

An 1860s house in Istanbul restored by interiors consultant Serdar Gülgün is filled with 18th- and 19th-century Ottoman art and furniture.

The world tends to be my paintbox, the color-drenched inspiration to all I do. I love to travel as much as possible and often return to beloved locations that feed my soul. Istanbul is a major player in my love affair with travel. The city offers not only history and culture, but also reveals beautiful people, food, and amazing artisans, many of which still practice crafts passed down for many generations. It’s a true blend of East and West with touches of modern luxury and old-world glamour. Design abounds all over the whole city where religion and culture have blended over centuries to formulate a style very much its own, echoing the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. —Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Kep, Cambodia

Knai Bang Chatt Resort in Kep, Cambodia [is a must-see]. Though it’s definitely off the beaten path, Knai Bang Chatt holds a spot in my heart as the most beautiful place I’ve stayed. I was there years ago after a two-week-long trip through Vietnam and Cambodia. At the very southern tip, facing the Gulf of Thailand, is Kep. There’s a long and sad story about its history: Kep used to be Cambodia’s most popular beach town, but fell on hard times due to the Khmer Rouge. Many of Kep’s mostly French villas are abandoned, but some have been restored. The water is warm and the sea is calm. One has to visit Angkor Wat if in Cambodia, and once in Kep take a ride with a fisherman to a local private island for an informal dinner on the beach. —Elizabeth Roberts

My top destinations are where there is wildlife, mountain retreats, or remote islands. Having been sequestered at home for the past year and a half, I have heard many people react by expressing a longing for life and great parties, but not me. I instinctively want to travel towards expansive open spaces, plains and mountain backdrops, and most of all, experience the fresh air in the mountains, the oceans, or amongst wildlife.

I am craving the sense of peacefulness from the crisp, mountainous fresh air of Bhutan, the mountainous Himalayas of soaring heights and alpine glaciers. I would like to see the temples and the peacefulness and experience the [indigenous] or local life. —Jean-Michel Gathy

A view from the main room, Shisen-no-ma, at the Shisen-do Temple, in Kyoto.

Kyoto, Japan

One of my favorite travel destinations is Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. I was lucky to be a guest lecturer with the University of Oregon’s landscape architecture program and spend a lot of time there, years ago. Guests can stay in one of the sub-temples, Daishin-in, and the grounds are very peaceful, with incredible gardens. Nearby, there’s an intimate restaurant called Raku Raku that I loved to visit—it was a magical place. Every night the chef and owner, Akira, prepared a meal based around whatever was fresh that day at the market. After dinner, he and others would play live reggae music and just have fun into the evening. —Tom Kundig, Olson Kundig

…or all of Japan

One of our favorite places to go is Japan. We have family there and have traveled there many, many times. We always try to spend a couple days at an onsen : It’s restful, peaceful, and—if chosen carefully—the food is delicious. One of our favorites is in the town of Shuzenji, an old and highly rated destination for the Japanese. We love the Asaba Ryokan because of its large central water element, and beautiful private and communal baths. — William Hefner , Studio William Hefner

Before the COVID years, I would spend a good few weeks every summer lost in one of the last great wildernesses the world has. Mongolia’s great plains, mountains, and rivers, completely untouched, are incredible to explore. One feels very small in nature of that scale. I bring friends, many of whom work at my studio in Bangkok and are not used to non-concrete jungles! We lose Wi-Fi and find joy again, hiking, camping, walking, drawing, catch-and-release fishing, horseback riding, and re-wilding. There is no landscape more magnificent for me. —Bill Bensley

By Hannah Martin

By Benjamin Reynaert

By Rachel Davies

Travel-Inspired Interior Design: 3 Ways To Bring The Holidays Home

• March 21, 2023

Travel is a beautiful discovery and exploration of the world and ourselves, exposing us to new people, places, and traditions. Home, on the other hand, is our sanctuary. It’s our safe space that reflects and celebrates who we are. Put the two together and you have the perfect recipe for creating a travel-inspired interior design that will truly make you feel good.

Shop For Unique Objects 

We’ve all brought something home from a trip abroad. Whether it be a quirky fridge magnet or a handwoven rug, these keepsakes carry personal meaning that connects us to that time. But how can we incorporate these into our home in a way that feels personal, yet thoughtful and curated at the same time?

Jodie Hazlewood, treasure hunter, avid traveler, and owner of The House Upstairs , advises travelers to “avoid the obvious stuff. Baskets and bags are useful things to bring home but look for textiles and kitchenware, too. Seek out junk shops and flea markets wherever you go. It doesn’t need to be obviously ‘holiday’ — only you need to know it’s a memory.”

If you follow Jodie on Instagram , you’ll know that her home is a treasure trove of beautiful objects. “My favorite thing to bring home is obscure kitchen equipment. I love my tagine from Morocco and my fancy vegetable peelers from Thailand!” she says. Bringing home objects that don’t just look good, but that you’ll use all the time, is the perfect way to elevate your everyday rituals (and no doubt bring a smile to your face when peeling those veggies!).

Collect Colors

One of my favorite things about traveling is the changing colors around the world. From the multicolored houses of Burano to the pastel tones of Miami South Beach and the turquoise waters in Salento. Collecting colors , as I like to call it, is often something we do on an unconscious level. 

There are three ways in which we relate to color: personal color association, color in culture, and color psychology . All of these are huge factors in how we experience a destination when we travel, helping to create memories and experiences of that place. By infusing your favorite color combinations into your interior design, your home can take you anywhere around the world.

Tash Bradley, the Director of Interior Design at Lick loves seeing the different impact that light and seasons have on the color choices we make in our homes. “When I travel, I take note of how different colors make me feel,” she explains. “I love warmer tones that remind me of Summer. I want to bottle that warmth and energy from my favorite places and bring it into my home in London.”

One of Tash’s favorite destinations is Cornwall. “I absolutely love being by the beach and near the sea, so my home has fun yellow accents that remind me of sunshine, and blue artwork that reminisces our beach holidays. These colors just fill my soul with happiness!”

Create New Rituals 

When we’re on holiday, we slow down and relax, switch off, and reconnect…then the minute we get home, life goes back to normal and it feels like we’ve never been away. But what if we extended these holiday rituals or even the idea of finding ourselves, to something that we can achieve at home, not just abroad? 

What rituals do you have when traveling that you’d love to do at home too? Perhaps it’s to spend more time at the table connecting with loved ones over delicious food. Maybe it’s spending less time on your phone or simply making your morning coffee a ritual rather than a quick caffeine hit that you drink on the go. Interior guru and journalist Kate Watson-Smyth, otherwise known as Mad About the House , has even introduced aperitivo hour in her home.

“This started in lockdown when there was a real need to make a break between the working day and the evening when everything was taking place in the same space,” she states. “Rather than just grabbing a glass of wine, we take the time to make a drink (often Campari-based) and a little tray with a bowl of olives and some nuts. Taking the time to sit down and chat with my husband has become a key part of our day and one that makes us feel a little bit more connected to our favorite place on earth: Italy,” she says.

Channel la bella vita

If there is one country that has taught me how to slow down and change my own daily rituals, it’s Italy. Channel la bella vita by finding a sunny spot in your home. Take advantage and soak up that moment with your favorite drink. Why not create a reading nook or display your books on open shelves to encourage you to curl up and get lost in a good book ? Travel-inspired interior design can take on many forms, including new habits.

The table is sacred here in Italy, sharing conversation and good food with the people you love. Consider a round dining table to soften any space. This makes it easy to bring people together for a dinner party or squeeze in unexpected guests. These subtle changes can encourage small but meaningful moments, shaping homes that relax and restore us and ultimately improve our well-being.

Traveling opens our eyes to the world around us, it allows us to learn and grow. By translating that into our homes through travel-inspired interior design, we can create daily environments that allow us to do exactly that.

It’s all about making the normal, special and the ordinary, extraordinary. Ilse Crawford, founder of Studioilse

Post written by: Charlotte Cropper

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Travel-Inspired Design

We're sharing all of our design-inspired-by-travel ideas and all our favorite tips for using travel-themed decor in your space.

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Texas Design Inspo

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A Room Design Inspired By Your Travels

How to enrich your home using elements from dream destinations, sparingly placed objects and photography on the walls create an eclectic vibe in an apartment at the levee in tel aviv designed by interior designer yael siso., newsletter sign-up, week in review.

Shares the stories you may have missed from the world of luxury real estate

Each week Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we look at how to use your travels to inspire your home design.

Taking inspiration from far and wide not only creates a visual representation of the places you’ve been, but incorporating objects or photos from those destinations can enrich your space.

“Traveling brings us important memories, and integrating these memories into your décor will make you happy and add interesting layers to your interior,” said Ross Hamilton Englisbe, director general and president of Paris-based Hamilton Conte. “Interiors are all about expressing yourself and bringing your personal joy into a space.”

To infuse the flavor and feel of your travels into your décor, follow these tips from the design pros.

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Create Depth

“Designing a home inspired by places you’ve traveled works the best when you create an overall mood to the room by using colors, textures, artwork and rugs. However, try to find inspiration from places that also work within your architecture. For example, if you have a coastal home, you might take inspiration from a beach destination.

“Nowadays, with websites like Framebridge, and really good digital cameras so accessible, you can print your own artful travel photos and hang them in your house. I always tell clients to take more candid photos that will look more relaxed in the space.

“I love a 3-D gallery wall. You can use hats made by local artisans, beads you found at a flea market, shells, or even frame woven fabric. It is important to note that the idea behind a gallery wall is to display all your favorite things in one spot, so make sure these pieces are true to you. If there is no genuine connection, the gallery wall can look sterile.

More : How to Pull Off Hamptons-Chic Style Anywhere in the World

“Don't go crazy with too many colors; keep a neutral background, such as white walls to help display your collected pieces. Only use a few pops of color. It also helps to balance out textures—woven, leather, wood and color all need to work in harmony with equal parts.

“I love mixing modern pieces with bohemian pieces to add warmth to a space. For example, a chair with materials like leather and chrome looks amazing with a vintage rug and a sheepskin throw.”

Rugs and textures throughout evoke a beach retreat in this bedroom designed by Shannon Wilkins of PRAIRIE Home Styling in Beverly Hills.

––Shannon Wilkins of PRAIRIE Home Styling in Beverly Hills, California

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Strike a Balance

“Drawing inspiration from different places brings diversity and makes the space more interesting. As a designer, it’s my job to give people an experience when in the space. Traveling exposes us to different cultures and introduces us to things we’ve never before seen. Each time I return from a trip, I try to bring home something new to incorporate into my designs.

“Your house shouldn't feel like a museum, and personally, I don't like to concentrate everything into one area. For me, it’s important that the space flows and people enjoy an experience while walking through.

“As a designer, I work with what the space gives me and incorporate new objects. For a recent project at The Levee, a residential building in Tel Aviv, we left the concrete ceilings and exposed the original sandstone walls and combined these industrial elements with modern, sophisticated furnishings. This allowed me to unify the space while using different styles.

More : How to Design a Beautiful Boat Shed

“I love creating libraries or placing furniture and then combining different objects like crafts, photos, books or functional gadgets. I also love including elements from local artists and photographers in all my projects.

“Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and tones. The most important thing is to stay with the same vibe/ambiance that you want to create. I don’t believe in specific palettes but rather in overall concepts, and then playing around within that concept.”

— Tel Aviv-based interior designer Yael Siso

More : Designing a Standout Powder Room

Mix But Match

“Our signature is to mix styles and origins of objects to recreate a personalized atmosphere. Big and small souvenirs taken from our travels allow us the feeling of escape at any time, which is how we enrich our home.

“We have our photos hanging on the walls, mixed with other works of art, which sit above the bookshelf and on the cabinets in the living room, in the dressing-room, in the bedroom, et cetera.

“The main idea is not to have repetition when hanging artwork. The ideal mixed style is done in a playful way, using the origins and stories of each object as well as the choice of background and placement. We prefer artworks and items to overrun the entire apartment, not simply contained to one wall.

“Create a neutral backdrop to highlight all the artworks and decorative objects. However, in the other rooms, we chose very bold colors to give yet another reading to the objects and art works.”

Artfully placed curio and artwork lend a dining room designed by Nicolas Adnet of Studio MHNA a faraway feel.

––Nicolas Adnet, co-founder Studio MHNA in Paris

More : Mixing Seating Styles With Sophistication

Make the Space Three Dimensional

“We tend to like very diverse art arrangements and a mix of different styles of art, such as paintings, prints and photography to add interest to a space. We prefer art clusters and also like mixing in objects, sculpture and art arrangements to add depth. Having favorite photographs matted and framed to mix into your existing collections can be really impactful.

“In our own house, we have art arrangements that integrate objects as well. I have a Japanese Netsuke sculpture in a black shadow box behind glass on one wall, along with several paintings from different countries. I also have an antique necklace hanging freely in the arrangement. On another wall, I have a Moroccan Koran box nestled between paintings. It personalizes the space and tells a unique story.

“Things do not need to coordinate but should go together. This is, of course, very subjective, but I think there is always a balance between art and accessories. A space should not be overloaded. Uneven numbers of objects and asymmetry tend to be our rule—groupings of three or more staggered, for example.

“Sometimes you can work a color theme or the lack thereof. I have neutral walls and furniture, for example, and decided to work a splash of color through art in my living room. Sometimes people use color on the walls and neutral art. It is all what you consider to be a good balance.”

Neutral tones create a backdrop to showcase art and collectibles designed by Hamilton Conte Paris.

— Ross Hamilton Englisbe, director general and president of Paris-based Hamilton Conte

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6 Clever Travel-Inspired Home Decor Ideas from a Design Pro

As an interior designer, there are few things that make me cringe harder than a tacky travel souvenir. On the other hand, as a passionate traveler, I understand the burning desire to buy said tacky travel souvenir.

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With a bit of pre-trip planning, some careful shopping during your explorations, and an afternoon at the craft table, you can have travel souvenirs that you will be proud to display. Here I round up my favorite travel inspired décor tips for every budget and every level of crafting ability.

I’ve always had a passion — borderline obsession — for studying maps. I’m that girl with a collection of every cheesy tourist map from all of my getaways, though they are stashed away in a box somewhere. These brightly colored, cartoony maps definitely do not make for good interior design.

Luckily there are countless ways to decorate with maps that can add sophistication to your space while holding onto the memories of that incredible getaway!

#1: United States of Us

I fell in love with this idea the moment I saw it. It’s super personal and the best part is that you don’t have to spend money on cheap trinkets that you really don’t like much anyway.

How To: Kelsie has a thorough step-by-step guide on how she created the map seen above and it’s a pretty straight forward process. Check out the full tutorial here .

Craftiness Required: Medium. You need to be confidant in your X-Acto knife abilities!

Cost: Low. Just the cost of a simple map, some foam core, push pins, and glue.

#2: Vintage Flair

Nothing says sophisticated design like a vintage map of a world famous city like London, Paris, or New York. It’s such a popular trend right now that even non-travelers are getting on board. So how do you personalize a trend? By channeling the OCD traveler in you and mapping your route of course!

At the end of your trip, you’ll have a fully personalized vintage map and a perfect way to remember all of your stops from a jammed packed vacation. You can even take this one step further and go over your mapped-out route with pins and string.

How To: The minute you land in your destination (or if you are a super planner, before you ever leave home), buy a vintage style map of the city. From there just start marking your adventures right on the map, including the streets you explore and restaurants you discover.

Craftiness Required: Low. You just need the ability to trace some lines!

Cost: Low. You probably already have a marker, pins, and string hanging around. It’s just a matter of finding the right map.

Travel Trunks

This is a design trend that’s here to stay and for good reason! A vintage travel trunk adds tons of character and interest to your space. We’ve all seen the classic travel trunk as a coffee table, but thanks to inspiration from the web, people are getting very creative with ways to use and display their vintage luggage.

#3: Suitcase Shelves

Not everyone collects luggage *while* traveling, but it can be a fun item to hunt for during a weekend road trip. I’m lucky enough to live in New England where there are as many antique shops as there are Dunkin Donuts. Short trips usually mean your car isn’t packed to the brim with your actual luggage so you probably have the room to bring home a vintage suitcase or two.

Stacked suitcases as an entry table is a clever idea, but why not turn your thrift shop find into an unusual, and stylish, display shelf!

How To: Upcycle That has a complete tutorial .

Craftiness Required: High. Not everyone is confident using a table saw, so don’t be afraid to ask for help on this one!

Cost: Moderate. I’ve seen vintage luggage from as low as $30 to as high as $300 per piece. Look for sturdy pieces over “pretty” pieces. The bumps and dings are what add interest (and bring the cost way down!)

Here is where I also admit to being a lover of really cheesy postcards. Yes, I break all of my own souvenir rules. I think something just happens to our brains when we go away and every tourist trap tchotchke suddenly seems like a great find.

Lucky for me (and you!), bad postcards can be a great find, if you know what to do with them once you get home.

#4: Message in a Bottle

These memory jars are great for a lot of reasons: they are inexpensive, they make beautiful personalized displays, and best of all, they are family-friendly. If you have children they will love hunting for souvenirs to add to the jar.

This is also your chance to actually go ahead and buy that really terrible travel trinket. In this case, the cheesier the better!

How To: On the back of the postcard, write a few notes about the dates of your trip, the sights you saw, the food you tasted, etc. Place that in the back of a large mason jar and go to town filling it with items from your trip: sand, pine cones, rocks, ticket stubs, whatever! Best way to display them: on a travel trunk shelf of course!

Craftiness Required: None! This is an incredibly easy, family-friendly project that anyone can do.

Cost: Low. You just need a mason jar, a cheap postcard, and one or two standard souvenirs; the rest of the jar can be filled with “found” items from your getaway.

#5: Postcard Art Gallery

Here’s yet another super simple yet clever idea for decorating with all of those really terrible postcards you’ve collected over the years. Turn them into a stylish mini art gallery.

This idea is great because it can fit any décor. From the upscale style, with framed, carefully hung postcard art …

… to the casual, fun style of a string and clothespin display:

… you can incorporate those otherwise terrible postcards into your space in a way that stands out, but for all the right reasons.

How To: For any art gallery display, I recommend laying it all out first. Arrange all of the pieces on the floor the way you want them on the wall. This way you can figure out how it will look before you begin putting holes in the wall!

You should do this even if you’re going for the string and clothespin display. It will provide a good sense of how things should be laid out and how many rows of string you will need.

Craftiness Required: Low. I think everyone knows how to hang a picture, right?

Cost: Low to Medium. Postcards are great because they are super cheap! The big cost lies in the frames (if you choose to go that route). Best bet: thrifted frames, they are trendy and will keep the cost way down.

DIY Furniture

#6: coffee table book table.

When I travel to an exotic location, I want a million pictures to remember all of the incredible sites I’ve seen. However, a photographer I am not. This is where a coffee table book comes in! Beautifully laid out, with shots that I’d never be able to get on my own, they are a wonderful way to recall the amazing sights you visited on your trip.

The problem arises when you go on countless adventures and your coffee table quickly becomes overcrowded. So why not turn your books into the table? Stacking books to create a side table is quickly catching on as a clever way to display books that are special to you, but that you won’t be looking through on a daily basis.

How To: You don’t really need a tutorial on this one, so I’ll just give a helpful design tip: Keep in mind the colors of the jackets. Don’t place too many similar colors together as this creates a block of color that will visually distract from the overall look.

Craftiness Required: None. Seriously, it’s just a stack of books.

Cost: Probably high (coffee table books aren’t cheap!). But if it’s what you like to collect anyway, you might as well have a fun way to display them!

Oh my gosh Kelsey, I’m obsessed with all these ideas! I just crafted my own map for our travel-themed office, and made little flags out of craft supplies to pin our adventures. I love the US themed map with the photos, what a cool idea!

Thanks Tamara! I’m really glad so many people seemed to enjoy my very first article!

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Guest post by Amelia Selby

People are influenced by travel in all aspects of their life, it goes without saying, but so much so that this is even guiding the way that they style their homes.  Travellers often get struck by a certain destination’s unique and distinct style, like the bright, bold colours of Moroccan riads or the chic sophistication of Parisian apartments. A unique and distinct style that gives them inspiration for their own abodes. 

We know this feeling all too well being in the travel industry, so it got us thinking about which destinations are the most popular when it comes to interior decor.  Using Google search data, we found out – both overall and also for each specific room of the house. S o if you’re looking for a bit of design inspo, check out the results of the most searched-for travel-inspired design trends below.

Pictured: Signature Villa Ananti , Budva, Montenegro

‘ Japanese ’ secures first place overall for the most popular travel-inspired interior trends. This trend is grounded in simplicity and a connection to nature, often featuring clean lines, wooden textures, and a neutral palette. It keeps simplicity at its core by reducing ‘noisy’ clutter and using room dividers to create space.

Pictured : Casa Turquoise , Barbados, left; South Atlantic Crib , Barbados, right

Taking the second spot for the second most popular travel-inspired interior trend is ‘ coastal ’. This trend includes using neutral colours, mainly white, mixed with whimsical blue stripes and inspiring artwork of beachscapes, coral, and nautical scenes. It also brings in the beauty of shells along with driftwood and rattan where possible. This is inspired by the whimsical nature of coastal properties and people wanting to bring this laidback vibe into their own homes.

Pictured: Ocean View Suite , Antigua, left; Villa Glorieuse , French Riviera, right

In third place overall for travel-inspired interior trends is ‘ Scandi’ , which derives from the design concepts in Scandinavia. A popular interior trend, it focuses on neutral colour palettes and mixed types of wood, whilst incorporating textures to keep it from feeling stark or clinical. The trend keeps things light and airy, whilst keeping true simplicity, giving it a pure, understated style.

The Most Popular Travel-Inspired Interior Trends For Living Rooms !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r

When it comes to living rooms specifically, the most popular travel-inspired living room interior trend is ‘ Scandi ’. Think wooden floors, faux-fur blankets and textured rugs, and draping linen curtains. Perhaps a swanky, ivory-coloured sofa, a circular coffee table, well-placed prints of simple geometric shapes or foliage, and ample lighting to keep it cosy.

Pictured: Comporta Beach Lux , Lisbon Coast, Portugal

A breathtaking example of a Scandi interior design living room is Comporta Beach Lux , which offers a minimal design yet a sumptuous finish. The living room, as well as throughout the entirety of the villa, offers crisp white walls, neutral-coloured floors, and wooden elements. A contemporary open fire and large, ivory-coloured, linen corner sofa make up most of the living room, being complimented by just a sleek coffee table and well-placed minimalist ornaments. 

The Most Popular Travel-Inspired Interior Trends For Kitchens !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r

And for kitchens, coming out as the most popular travel-inspired interior trend is ‘ Tuscan ’, inspired by the Italian’s rustic, hearty taste in both food and decor. This trend gives a well-worn and comfortable atmosphere that welcomes guests immediately into the heart of the home with sturdy units, exposed wood and stone, and decorative metal. It also has a more ‘lived-in’ look than other interior styles too, with scratches and nicks visible and cooking equipment purposely not hidden away. 

Pictured:   Casale Eleganza,  Tuscany, Italy

Casale Eleganza has a stunning example of a Tuscan kitchen, being located on a 35-acre estate with a working vineyard and olive grove in the Tuscan Hils. The kitchen’s bright yellow hue gives it a very warm and inviting feel and is paired with lots of exposed wood and stone elements. A large dining table sits at the heart of the room, which is very Tuscan-esque, and this along with the scattering of utensils and ingredients really adds to the ‘lived-in’ style. 

The Most Popular Travel-Inspired Interior Trends For Bedrooms !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r

When people are designing their bedrooms, the most popular travel-inspired trend is ‘ Japanese ’, suggesting that people are looking for a sense of zen in their sleeping quarters. The trend is highly sophisticated and simple, focusing on ‘less is more’. In a bedroom specifically, you can expect to find a classic Japanese low bed, which is said to offer many benefits, nudges to the orient, and the outside through plants.

Pictured:   Deluxe Villa Ananti, Budva, Montenegro

An example of a beautiful Japanese-influence property is Delux Villa Ananti . The bedroom incorporates wood on both the walls and floor with wooden panelling opposite the bed giving the room both texture and depth. Decorative elements include a large rug that resembles a traditional Japanese tatami mat and a wide motif behind the bed that depicts a natural, floral scene. 

The Most Popular Travel-Inspired Interior Trends For Bathrooms !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r

Pictured: Villa Sorrentina , Amalfi Coast, Italy

And for bathrooms, the most popular travel-inspired trend is ‘ coastal ’, suggesting that people are keen to bring beach vibes to their bathtime. Often this incorporates wood whether distressed or white-painted, striped textiles, and nautical accessories including towels, bathmats, artwork and decorative pieces. Nudes, white, and blues are commonly used too, in order to keep the space feeling light and breezy. Villa Sorrentina 's bathrooms are a great reflection of its waterside setting on the illustrious Amalfi Coast with shell-shaped tiles in multiple shades of blue and classic blue and white stripes.

The Most Popular Travel-Inspired Interior Trends For Nurseries !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r  

Finally, when it comes to rooms for little people, the most popular travel-inspired trend for nurseries is ‘ safari ’. Inspired by nature, a safari-themed nursery incorporates earthy shades of yellow, green and brown, and brings the outdoors in with the use of natural materials - whether it be bamboo, rattan, or oak. Of course, no safari-inspired nursery would be complete without animal toys, cushions and wall hangings.

Some more Oliver's Travels homes with serious interior design eye candy:

Elsewhere in France, the magazine-spread-worthy Chateau Beau Medoc  in the Médoc region outside Bordeaux gives guests a completely unexpected experience. Walk through the doors of this gorgeous 18th-century château and be met with a truly up-to-the-minute 21st-century design! It's the perfect setting for enjoying the renowned wines of the area and the home features as part of our incredible Sustainable Collection .

Villa Ying, outside Crete's capital Heraklion, reflects its gorgeous natural setting in all elements of its design. The owners employed the ancient Buddhist practice of Zen to use materials like driftwood, bamboo and stone, as well as light-coloured furnishings to create a truly tranquil space.

Data is correct as of March 1, 2023.

So there you have the most popular travel-inspired interior trends for 2023. Take a trip to one of Oliver's Travels ' incredible properties and get inspired for your own home's interior design. Browse our gorgeous villas in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean and come home with a wealth of new ideas. And, to make your villa holiday extra special, contact our friendly concierge team who will be happy to help make your holiday memorable.

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15 Travel interior design ideas to satisfy your wanderlust!

I make no secret of my love for travel. I love to collect the stamps in my passport and to decorate my house with travel attributes. My walls are decorated with old maps and I have a scratch map. Furthermore, I have collected lot of other small travel attributes and souvenirs. In this article, you can find some travel interior design ideas to satisfy your wanderlust!

1. Remind yourself about all the land you have yet to discover

Get a massive world map or an amazing travel-related wall sticker of the world to remind you of all the land you have yet to discover.

2. Dream about traveling

Let the world nest your dreams. Dream about tropical islands with palm trees or other beautiful landscapes with these travel pillows and bed covers .

3. Use an old suitcase as a cabinet

An old suitcase can be the ideal luggage to store something. You can use it as a bedside table, coffee table, cabinet or just as decoration.

4. Scratch it!

Scratch off every country you have visited with an interactive travel map . It will definitely inspire you to travel more, so you can scratch more!

5. Use old maps

Old maps are perfect to decorate many things. Think about walls, doors, lamps, books, chairs or tea light holders. It is all possible!

6. Never miss the sand of the beach again

You do not have to miss the feeling of sand between your toes any longer with this little sandbox in your house or garden.

7. It is always time to travel

Decorate your room with different clocks representing the times of important cities all over the world or use a travel-related clock. It immediately gives you the travel spirit.

8. Wake up every morning in your dream destination

Turn your headboard into the ideal scenic view to wake up to every morning.

9. Get a tropical atmosphere

Buy an old surfboard and decorate your house with it. In my opinion it looks awesome!

10. Create a butterfly bucket list

Display your bucket list as art! Write a goal on each butterfly, tack it on the wall and put it in a jar when completed! It looks amazing and will inspire you to travel more.

11. A globe always looks good

Almost everyone has a globe in his or her house. A globe is an ideal and cheap travel interior attribute to decorate your home in a travel atmosphere.

12. Relax in a beanbag

I am sure you can relax as much in a beanbag as in a hammock. A beanbag reminds me of watching the sunset at the beach or listening to good music at festivals. Therefore, it gives me the feeling of freedom and traveling.

13. Relax in a hammock

Hang a hammock (chair) somewhere in your house or garden. A hammock always reminds me of a nice summer day or tropical destination.

14. Take a wanderlust shower

You can dream about traveling in your bedroom, but also in your bathroom! Buy this travel-related shower curtain and never stop dreaming about all the places you still want to visit during your shower. Suddenly your showers will take longer!

15. Travel tray

Use vintage maps or an old dictionary to make a travel tray. Now you can serve drinks and food to your guests and show them immediately your love for travel.

For those of us who share a deep passion for travel, the idea of incorporating wanderlust into our home decor is more than just a design choice; it’s a way to keep the wanderlust alive within our daily lives. From world maps that remind us of uncharted territories to old suitcases repurposed as functional art pieces, these travel-related interior design ideas offer a unique way to infuse our homes with the essence of adventure. So, as you embark on this journey of transforming your house into a travel haven, I hope this post inspired, motivated and reminded you that the world out there is waiting to be explored, one room at a time. Happy decorating and happy travels!

Author: Daphne

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Praveen kumar.

Wow! This is just wow. I never thought Interior Design and Travelling could go so well together. As I like both Interior Design and Travelling. Gonna implement this in real time.

nikkelsigns

Fantastic ideas!

Girlswanderlust

Thanks! I am glad you like them!

With pleasure! 😉

Love these!! I have a world map laptop sticker for the cover of my Macbook and a world map keyboard cover!

Nice ideas too!!

Thank you =)

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10 of the World’s Finest Interior-Designed Hotels 2024

Posted: March 1, 2024 | Last updated: March 1, 2024

This travel guide explores the world of luxury and design, exploring some of the most exquisitely interior-designed hotels globally. These havens of elegance and style are more than just places to stay; they are experiences, each offering a unique blend of aesthetic appeal, comfort, and cultural immersion. From the breathtaking wilderness of Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia to the vintage charm of Intercontinental Khao Yai, these destinations promise to enchant and inspire.

1. Intercontinental Khao Yai, Thailand

Intercontinental Khao Yai is a unique blend of vintage luxury and natural beauty, nestled in the heart of Thailand’s lush landscapes. Designed by the renowned Bill Bensley, this hotel takes inspiration from the golden age of train travel, creating a nostalgic and opulent experience for its guests.

Each room is meticulously designed to reflect a bygone era of luxury rail travel, with rich textures, antique furnishings, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and forests.

The hotel’s facilities, including a world-class spa and gourmet dining options, are tailored to provide a truly indulgent experience. The outdoor pool and nature walks available on the property allow guests to immerse themselves in the serene beauty of Khao Yai.

Insider’s Tip: Opt for the railway-themed suites for an immersive vintage experience.

When To Travel: Visit between November and February for pleasant weather.

How To Get There: The hotel is a 2-hour drive from Bangkok, easily accessible by car or hotel shuttle.

2. Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia

Shinta Mani Wild, tucked away in the Cambodian wilderness, is a luxury camp designed by Bill Bensley that offers an unparalleled connection with nature. This exclusive sanctuary blends high-end design with conservation, offering tented suites perched along a flowing river and nestled amidst lush forests.

The interiors are a harmonious blend of bold patterns, vibrant colors, and local artistry, reflecting the spirit of the surrounding landscape. Guests can indulge in bespoke experiences, including guided jungle treks, river excursions, and spa treatments using natural ingredients sourced from the wilderness. The camp’s dedication to sustainability and conservation adds a meaningful dimension to the luxury experience.

Insider’s Tip: Engage in the camp’s conservation activities for a unique and impactful experience.

When To Travel: The dry season from November to April offers the best conditions for exploration.

How To Get There: It is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Phnom Penh or a scenic helicopter transfer directly to the camp.

3. The Silo Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa

The Silo Hotel in Cape Town is an architectural delight and a pinnacle of contemporary design. Located in a historic grain silo, the hotel features a unique façade of pillowed glass windows that gives guests panoramic views of the city and harbor.

Inside, the hotel boasts an eclectic mix of African art and modern luxury, with each room and suite offering a distinct design. Renowned for its rooftop pool and bar, The Silo provides breathtaking views of Table Mountain and the surrounding cityscape.

The hotel is also adjacent to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, allowing guests easy access to one of Africa’s most significant art collections.

Insider’s Tip: Book a room on a higher floor for unparalleled views of Cape Town.

When To Travel: Cape Town is best visited from September to March for warm, dry weather.

How To Get There: The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from Cape Town International Airport.

4. Aman Tokyo, Japan

Aman Tokyo redefines urban hotel luxury with its serene and sophisticated design, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese residences. The hotel’s interiors, marked by their minimalism and use of natural materials, create a sense of tranquility amidst the bustling city.

Each room offers expansive views of Tokyo and features classic Japanese elements like washi paper and timber. The hotel’s spa and wellness facilities are among the best in the city, providing a peaceful retreat. The Aman Tokyo is not just a hotel; it’s an experience that encapsulates the essence of Japanese aesthetics and hospitality.

Insider’s Tip: Experience the hotel’s onsen-style baths for a traditional Japanese relaxation experience.

When To Travel: Visit Tokyo in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) for pleasant weather.

How To Get There: The hotel is centrally located in Tokyo, accessible via Tokyo Station or Otemachi Station.

5. The NoMad Hotel, New York City, USA

The NoMad Hotel in New York City celebrates classic elegance and contemporary style. Located in a historic Beaux-Arts building, French designer Jacques Garcia designed the hotel’s interiors, featuring rich velvets, mahogany furnishings, and curated artwork. The rooms exude a warm, residential feel, making guests feel like they are in a luxurious private home. The NoMad’s dining experience, led by a world-renowned chef, is an epicurean delight. The hotel’s location in Manhattan makes it an ideal base for exploring the city.

Insider’s Tip: Try the famous NoMad Roast Chicken for a memorable dining experience.

When To Travel: Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) offer mild weather and fewer crowds.

How To Get There: The hotel is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, easily accessible by subway or taxi.

6. The Hoxton, Paris, France

The Hoxton, Paris, set in an 18th-century mansion, expertly blends classic Parisian charm with contemporary design. The hotel’s rooms mix vintage and modern aesthetics, featuring herringbone floors, bespoke furniture, and curated artwork. The Hoxton’s courtyard and lounge areas serve as social hubs where guests can enjoy the vibrant Parisian atmosphere.

The hotel also boasts several dining options, including a chic rooftop bar with stunning city views. The Hoxton is not just a hotel but a gateway to Paris’s eclectic and artistic spirit.

Insider’s Tip: Book a room with a view of the courtyard for a peaceful retreat amidst the bustling city.

When To Travel: Paris is delightful in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November), offering pleasant weather and fewer tourists.

How To Get There : The hotel is located in the 2nd arrondissement, easily accessible by metro or taxi from major Parisian transport hubs.

7. Stamba Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia

Stamba Hotel in Tbilisi reflects the city’s emerging reputation as a hub of creativity and design. Housed in a former Soviet-era publishing house, the hotel blends industrial aesthetics with contemporary luxury. The rooms feature high ceilings, exposed brickwork, and large windows, creating a sense of spaciousness and industrial charm. Stamba’s atrium, with its lush vertical garden, is a haven of tranquility in the city. The hotel also hosts an array of cultural events, making it a dynamic part of Tbilisi’s cultural scene.

Insider’s Tip: Visit the in-house photography museum for a unique glimpse into Georgian history and culture.

When To Travel: Spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the best times to visit Tbilisi.

How To Get There: Stamba Hotel is located in the Vera neighborhood, a short drive from Tbilisi International Airport.

8. Soho House Mumbai, India

Soho House Mumbai offers a unique blend of British sophistication and Indian craftsmanship. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, this members’ club and hotel is decorated with locally sourced furniture and artwork, creating an exotic and familiar ambiance.

The rooms are adorned with vibrant Indian textiles and bespoke furniture, offering stunning sea views. The hotel’s rooftop pool and bar provide a picturesque setting for relaxation and socializing, making it a trendy spot in Mumbai.

Insider’s Tip: Enjoy a sunset cocktail at the rooftop bar for a breathtaking view of the Mumbai skyline.

When To Travel: The best time to visit Mumbai is from November to February, when the weather is cooler and less humid.

How To Get There: Located in Juhu, the hotel is about a 30-minute drive from Mumbai International Airport.

9. The Singular, Santiago, Chile

The Singular Santiago in Chile combines the style of early 20th-century buildings with modern luxury. Located in the Lastarria neighborhood, the hotel’s design pays homage to Santiago’s cultural and historical heritage.

Rooms are elegantly furnished, offering a mix of classic and contemporary design elements. The Singular’s rooftop terrace, with its exceptional views of the city and the Andes, is a highlight, providing a perfect spot for evening relaxation.

Insider’s Tip: Explore the surrounding Lastarria neighborhood, known for its vibrant cultural scene and historic architecture.

When To Travel: Visit Santiago from September to November or March to May for the best weather.

How To Get There: The hotel is centrally located in Santiago, easily accessible by car or public transport from Santiago International Airport.

10. The Alila Fort Bishangarh, India

The Alila Fort Bishangarh in India is a stunning example of restoration and design, transforming a 230-year-old warrior fort into a luxury hotel. Perched on a granite hill in the Aravalli Range, the hotel offers breathtaking views and a unique blend of traditional Rajput and Mughal architecture with modern luxury.

The rooms are elegantly appointed with local crafts and offer panoramic views of the rural landscape. The hotel’s spa, located in the dungeon, offers an array of traditional treatments, making it a serene retreat.

Insider’s Tip: Try the local Rajasthani cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant for an authentic culinary experience.

When To Travel: The best time to visit is from October to March when the weather is cooler and more pleasant.

How To Get There: The hotel is about a 3-hour drive from Jaipur International Airport, with the journey offering scenic views of the Rajasthan countryside.

The Bottom Line

In your journey through these exceptional hotels, you’ve discovered spaces of luxury and comfort and experienced the pinnacle of interior design. Each hotel offers a unique narrative, blending cultural heritage with modern aesthetics. These destinations are more than just places to stay; they are environments that inspire and evoke a sense of wonder. As you reflect on your travels, consider the diverse styles and themes you’ve encountered, from the historical elegance of The Alila Fort Bishangarh to the industrial chic of Stamba Hotel.

Remember, these hotels are not just about their stunning interiors but about the experiences they offer, the memories they create, and the new perspectives they provide. Let these places inspire your future travels, reminding you that every destination has its own story, waiting to be experienced and appreciated.

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The post 10 of the World’s Finest Interior-Designed Hotels 2024 republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Netfalls Remy Musser.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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Under this category you will find the best countries to visit while vacationing, the major attractions of the places and all the information about it’s airports and also the best time to visit it. With the list of the best vacation spots you may get an ideal place to go on vacation or the best destination for your honeymoon. Look at the list and find yourself place to travel to get refreshed

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Under this category you will find the best countries to visit while vacationing, the major attractions of the places and all the information about it’s airports and also the best time to visit it. With the list of the best vacation spots you may get an ideal place to go on vacation or the best destination for your honeymoon. Look at the list and find yourself place to travel to get refreshed  

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25 Travel Agency Office Interior Designs You Must See

Table of Contents

The work culture has come a long way since the days when travel agency offices were a new phenomenon. The years of seeing the results of office life in the overall welfare of the people have led to many new developments in office design. Designers of interior designers, as well as office furniture makers have proven to be truly creative in their design solutions.

Travel Agency Office Interior Designs

In today’s article we have mentioned some beautiful travel agency office interior design ideas.

Open floor decoration:

Choose some bright colours:

The combined use of psychology and color design is now a very popular trend in contemporary office design. Colors have a definite effect on people, even without knowing or understanding them consciously.

Make it comfortable:

Multipurpose spaces:

Collaboration and versatility contribute well to modern office functionality. Office design that works for multiple purposes helps to manage the work well. It can efficiently adapt to fast-paced environments and today’s demands.

Furniture set up:

Modern concept:

Minimalist:

Biophilic design is a discipline that incorporates natural elements into the built environment and focuses on rational reasons. Designers cannot replicate natural sunlight in the interior. However, they can be decorated with plants, which brings a natural element to the interior. Plants increase productivity and make a workplace more appealing, thus attracting more workers to the organization. Plants help reduce stress as well as clean and purify the indoor air.

Lounge areas:

Lounge may seem responsive to getting the job done but comfort plays a major role in creativity. For a project your mind and body need just as much about the concept of the place to kick your legs and the brain! Lounge areas can encourage people to have a cup of coffee before the start of the work day and relax in the office, or to wander around during their lunch break because they can get virtually relaxed.

Windows view:

Luxurious view:

Encouraging activities:

So far, we’ve seen how color and natural ingredients make for healthier people at work. Offices are taking the practice to the next level by making it easily accessible for their employees. Employees no longer have to buy gym membership and drive to and from the gym. They don’t even have to worry about when they will actually have time to exercise. Instead, they can use the gym on site before, after or during work.

Classic with a touch of modern:

Keep it simple:

Formal set up:

Choose a perfect theme:

Rustic theme:

Black and white:

Contemporary:

Creative design:

Small office design:

Particioned office room decorate:

Glass wall:

Simple decoration:

Naturalistic office decoration:

Cameron Williamson

Hey There!! I am Cameron Williamson creative force behind DECORANTS. My mission is to help home or office renovators like you find happiness with proven design and well-being strategies.

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T&C Hotel Awards 2024: The Best New High-Design Hotels

These hotels were all, in one way or another, touched by genius.

Villa Mabrouka, Tangier

In 1990, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé purchased a 1940s modernist villa on a cliff overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar in Tangier, and enlisted Jacques Grange to create an airy, light-filled retreat—an antidote of sorts to their homes in Marrakech, Paris, and New York. That vision can still be felt today, except now you can sleep over. Thank British designer Jasper Conran, who bought Villa Mabrouka in 2019 and turned it into a 12-room hotel, adding restaurants, 6,500 plants to the original Madison Cox-designed garden, and a second pool lined with local emerald tiles.— Leena Kim

To book a trip to Morocco: Michael Diamond of Cobblestone Private Travel , [email protected]

1 Place Vendome, Paris

Luxury fashion houses are masters of creating desire.The jewelery and watchmaking Scheufele family of Chopard, which over six years transformed a 18th-century mansion on Paris’ chicest square into this 15-room hotel, takes the seduction honors. There's no blaring Chopard name at 1 Place Vendome , just a soupcon of a “C” on a wrought-iron gate; no front desk (you are led upstairs); public spaces reserved for guests (for that “your-eyes-only” frisson); anytime-anywhere dining (how delicious is that?). And the rooms: designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, some with Chagalls and Warhols, are each different—so you’ll come back for more. —Klara Glowczewska

To book a trip to France: Philip Haslett of French Promise, [email protected]

The Lana, Dubai

Quiet luxury might have run its course when it comes to how we dress, but The Lana , Dorchester’s first property in the Middle East makes a case for its continued importance when it comes to where we stay. Guest rooms, by Gilles & Boissier, are tasteful and relaxed, and the Foster + Partners (as in Sir Norman) designed building isn’t another behemoth overlooking the Marasi Bay Marina, but has just 225 rooms and suites. But don’t mistake understated for sleepy: Riviera, the Mediterranean restaurant, is run by Parisian hotshot Jean Imbert; the rooftop lounge has a wraparound infinity pool; and guests have access to a cigar lounge, a house Rolls-Royce Phantom and Ghost, and a soon-to-open Dior spa, the first in the UAE. — Adam Rathe

To book a trip to the UAE: Justin Parkinson of Linara Travel , [email protected]

Manna Arcadia, Greece

If you think of Greece only in blue and white, think again. Up on the fir-forest covered Mount Mainalo, in the Peloponnese, long considered sacred to the rustic god Pan, a 1929 sanatorium has been exquisitely restored into Manna Arcadia , a soothing, luxurious, 32-room refuge by Athens' K-Studio (if you haven't heard of them before now, it was only a matter of time). Earth-toned interiors frame spectacular, if not downright mystical mountain views; you can hike, bike, horseback ride, and river raft; and repair daily—Manna is true to its healing roots—for yoga and treatments at the “wellness hub.” —John Newton

To book a trip to Greece: Mina Agnos of Travelive , [email protected]

Vermelho, Portugal

Melides, the sleepier sister to hotspots like Comporta, has long been a secret refuge for creative aristos—Philippe Starck and Anselm Kiefer own homes here, as does Louboutin, and last spring he opened this jewel box of a hotel with textiles by Carolina Irving, frescoes by Konstantin Kakanias, and a façade hand-sculpted by Giuseppe Ducrot. Each of Vermelho's 13 rooms is its own exuberant celebration of color and print, but of course touches of the signature Louboutin red can be found throughout, from the embroidery on pillowcases to corner tiles on the floor, and even in the hotel’s name. —Leena Kim

To book a trip to Portugal, Virginia Irurita of Made for Spain and Portugal , [email protected]

Bulgari, Rome

Nothing like playing to the home crowd. The Bulgari fashion house was founded in Rome in 1884, and they’re pulling out all the stops for the 9th hotel in its collection (and now the flagship): an unabashed celebration of the grandeur of imperial Rome. There’s an original statue of Emperor Augustus in the entry; stones, mosaics, and marble everywhere, the latter in shades ranging from off-white to green and even gold. The light in the rooms is golden, the pool magnificent. The building itself is a gem, albeit of a later age, a rationalist work by Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, constructed in the 1930s near the Ara Pacis; the Bulgari Suite overlooks the Mausoleum of Augustus. —John Newton

To book a trip to Italy: Jennifer Virgilio of Queen of Clubs, [email protected] .

Our Method: To compile this list of great-looking new hotels around the world, we followed not whimsy but rules: 1) They had to have opened no earlier than 2023. 2) They had to have been nominated by either T&C’s well traveled editors or our roundtable of 37 globetrotting travel advisors (preferably both). There were 172 nominees, and 53 made it through our vetting process. Bon voyage!

Klara Glowczewska is the Executive Travel Editor of Town & Country , covering topics related to travel specifically (places, itineraries, hotels, trends) and broadly (conservation, culture, adventure), and was previously the Editor in Chief of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. 

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8 Free AI-Powered Interior Design Apps and Tools

Struggling to envision a more stylish space? Harness these AI interior design tools to get exactly what you're looking for.

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There is no shortage of free interior design apps. However, when it comes to free AI-powered interior design apps, your options are more limited. Here's a curated list of the top free AI-powered interior design apps and tools you can use for your interior design projects.

1 Homestyler

Homestyler is a comprehensive interior design app with AI and AR capabilities. The app offers templates you can build on to design your space, and its AI Designer feature allows you to upload images or sketches of your space for it to generate redesigned ideas.

You can choose from a variety of design styles, including Japandi, Scandinavian, Bohemian, Industrial, Glam, Contemporary, etc. The app also features holiday-based design styles like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.

The Homestyler app has a Design Challenge feature where you can showcase your designs to its community of users. You can use Homestyler to create alternative designs for your space without needing to take an interior design course .

Homestyler has a limited free plan you can use, and it also gives additional credits for inviting friends to the app. However, it requires an upgrade to get full and unlimited access to its features. Premium membership starts at $9.99/month ($3.99 for the first month).

Download: Homestyler for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

2 Remodel AI

Remodel AI is a simple yet powerful app for room planning . The app’s features are split into two design categories: interior and exterior. Its interior design category includes features such as Interior Remodel, Interior Editor, New Flooring, Object Reskin, and Paint Explorer, all powered by AI.

To use any of its features, click on the one you want to use, upload or take a photo of your space, and have it generate results based on your uploaded image. Remodel AI also has several design styles to choose from, as well as the option to upload a style image.

You get eight free watermarked generations upon signing up. Upgrading to the Pro plan costs $5.99/month for unlimited generations.

Download: Remodel AI for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

3 REimagineHome

If a web-based AI interior design tool sounds like something you’d want to try, give REimagineHome a go. REimagineHome is a comprehensive interior design tool with several AI-powered features that can help your interior design projects.

It offers virtual staging, space decluttering, virtual renovation, and kitchen and bathroom designer features all powered by AI. There are also additional features for exterior design as well.

You can try REimagineHome using its 7-Days free trial (no credit card required). The trial allows you to generate up to 30 renders for free. After that, you’d have to upgrade to one of its paid plans, which start at $49/month for 300 generations.

4 AI Room Planner

AI Room Planner is a simple (minimalist, if you will) AI interior design tool you can use to reimagine your space. The AI interior design tool generates new design renders that maintain your space’s color theme.

If you’re looking for quick ideas on improving your room’s interior design, you can use it to generate multiple design ideas for your space for free. AI Room Planner is free and allows unlimited generations, so you can generate as many renders as you want until you find one you like.

5 Visualize AI

Visualize AI is an AI-powered design tool for interior designers, architects, and product designers. It supports generating design renders from sketches, floor plans, elevations, and photos, and it doesn’t watermark the generations—even on the free plan!

Remodeling a space doesn’t always require an overhaul, sometimes all you need is just a few ideas on how to make it better. That’s where Visualize AI's Ask AI tool comes in. The tool allows you to upload images of your space and get tailored improvement ideas.

You can try Visualize AI with the three free credits it gives upon sign-up. It also offers a $5 trial plan that gives you 60 credits for a month. However, its standard monthly plan begins at $19/month.

6 SofaBrain

SofaBrain offers a few nifty features that are lacking in many AI interior design tools. Its Advanced Editor allows you to add custom improvements to specific parts of your space, and you can paint over a space and prompt the AI to add a piece of furniture, a window, a plant, or anything else you want.

The Style Mix feature allows you to reimagine your space by uploading an image of your current interior and images of your preferred interior design style. It mixes the styles and generates renders based on them.

You can also get ideas for improving your current space using SofaBrain’s Roast My Room feature. You can get specific space improvement advice for your room from four AI review characters: Classy Interior, Modern Chic, The Realtor, and Naturalist.

The free plan is limited and doesn't support downloading generated renders. You can upgrade to the basic plan for $18/month (capped at 50 designs) or the standard plan for $29/month to access additional features.

The ability to generate design renders based on your space’s look and dimension is remarkable. However, it doesn’t hurt to have additional capabilities, and that’s what Room AI offers.

Room AI not only supports uploading reference images of your space, but it also allows you to choose preferred output color palettes, select materials you’d like to see (fabric, wood, metal, etc.), and add negative prompts for objects you want to exclude.

You can also accompany your uploaded image with a text prompt if there are specific instructions you’d like the AI to follow.

New users get 10 free generations upon signing up. Once exhausted, you’ll have to upgrade to any of its paid plans (which start at $29/month) to continue.

RoomGPT allows you to upload images of your current interior design and then generates alternative design renders for your space. You can choose from various available room themes to guide its output generation, including Modern, Vintage, Industrial, and Coastal

The output from RoomGPT is so polished that you may need an AI image detector to tell it from the original. RoomGPT offers three free generations, after which you’d need to upgrade to a paid plan to continue using the tool. Its paid plans start from $9 for 30 design renders.

AI interior design tools make it easy to visualize what your space could look like with a change of furniture and a few other accessories. Simply upload an image of your space to any of these AI tools and have it generate multiple iterations of how your space can look. The best part? They’re all free to try out.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Interior Design Masters series 5: Meet this year's contestants

Alan Carr and Michelle Ogundehin are back for a new series.

Series four was won by Monika Charchula , a furniture artist from Nottingham, who won a contract to redesign a top cocktail bar in central London. So what can we expect from IDM this time round? 'Brilliant designers, exciting locations and eye-popping interior design,' says host Alan Carr. 'The show is such a springboard – that’s what I love about it. Banjo Beale has his own show, Micaela Sharp, Peter Irvine and Siobhan Murphy do presenting. Molly Coath and Fran Lee have worked with the amazing Matthew Williamson , and I saw a massive billboard advertising Paul Moneypenny’s new wallpaper range – felt like such a proud dad. This show can change your life.'

Projects include turning former nuns' cells into B&Bs, remodelling holiday lodges at Blenheim Palace and transforming Wembley dressing rooms. Michelle will also welcome guest judges from the world of interior design including Abigail Ahern, Kelly Hoppen , Mary Portas and House Beautiful columnist Sophie Robinson .

And this year's prize? The winner will collaborate with La Redoute on a one-of-a-kind homeware collection, marking the first time a brand collaboration has been the show's prize.

'Although the mix of products in the collection will be determined by the winner’s design aesthetic, we expect that the high-quality linens, wallpapers and cushions, for which we’re especially well-known, will be included in the final offering for customers and viewers alike to incorporate into their own homes,' says Sarah Link, marketing director at La Redoute.

Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr airs Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Meet this year's contestants and keep an eye out for exclusive exit interviews each week...

Lives in: Margate

Style: Memphis inspired mid-century

Occupation: Upholsterer

ELIMINATED IN WEEK THREE: READ EXIT INTERVIEW

Lives in: London

Style : Colourful brutalist

Occupation : Interior designer

ELIMINATED IN WEEK TWO: READ EXIT INTERVIEW

Style: Africa modern

Occupation: Interior therapist

ELIMINATED IN WEEK ONE: READ EXIT INTERVIEW

Style: Colourful Scandi

Occupation: Copywriter

Style: Colourful traditional

Occupation : Stay at home Dad/ interior stylist

Lives in: Wolverhampton

Style : Victorian maximalist

Occupation: Lingerie designer

Lives in: Cheltenham

Style: Elegant brutalism

Occupation: Bathroom designer

Lives in: The Wirral

Style: Colourful maximalism

Occupation: Former travel advisor

Style: Playful colourist

Occupation: Textiles maker & teacher

Lives in: Londonderry

Style : Graphic mid-century modern

Occupation : Illustrator, artist and shop owner

Interior Design Masters: A Practical Guide to Decorating Your Home

Olivia Heath is the Executive Digital Editor at House Beautiful UK , covering tomorrow's biggest interior design trends and revealing the best tips, tricks and hacks to help you decorate your home like a pro. Week by week Olivia shares the most stylish high street buys to help you get the look for less and showcases the best makeovers (who doesn't love a before & after?), as well as the hottest and most unique properties on the market. 

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Gardens of Stone, Moss, Sand: 4 Moments of Zen in Kyoto

The city’s dry gardens seem timeless, but as these relatively new versions show, their design is still evolving. They offer spots for quiet contemplation in an increasingly overtouristed city.

Kyoto’s dry gardens forgo plants and flowers and instead use elements like gravel, rocks and moss to create contemplative environments. Credit... Andrew Faulk for The New York Times

Supported by

By Paula Deitz

• March 26, 2024

Once, when the Buddha was asked to preach about a flower he was presented, he instead “gazed at it in silence,” according to the British garden designer Sophie Walker in her book “The Japanese Garden.” In this spiritual moment Zen Buddhism was born, inspiring the serene and eternal dry or rock gardens called karesansui.

Unlike a garden designed for strolling, which directs visitors along a defined path to take in scenic views and teahouses, a dry garden is viewed while seated on a veranda above, offering the heightened experience of traveling through it in the imagination, revealing its essence in meditation.

With rocks artfully placed along expanses of fine gravel raked by monks into ripples representing water, they are sources for contemplation, whether they refer to a specific landscape or are serenely abstract. Ryoan-ji, which dates to about 1500, is the supreme example of the latter among Kyoto temples, with its 15 low rocks in five clusters set in pools of moss within an enclosed rectangle of raked gravel. The puzzle is that only 14 are visible at any one time, no matter where you sit to view it.

Change in Kyoto, Japan’s major city of temple gardens, is a quiet evolution. But a tour of several dry gardens designed within the last century — and even within the last few years — demonstrates that the Zen tradition is timeless when it comes to landscape design, and that moments of contemplation are still possible, even as the crowds grow bigger.

Upon arrival at the Zen monastery complex Daitoku-ji, in northern Kyoto, I headed to Zuiho-in, one of its 22 subtemples. The temple was founded in 1319, and then in 1546, the powerful feudal lord Sorin Otomo dedicated it to his family. This was during the period of Spanish and Portuguese missionaries in Japan. Like others, Otomo converted to Christianity but remained inspired by Zen Buddhism.

I entered along angled walkways until I arrived at Zuiho-in’s temple veranda to view the main dry garden. Though the style may at first appear traditional, this garden was designed in the 1960s by Mirei Shigemori, a landscape architect whose training was in the Japanese cultural arts: conducting the tea ceremony, flower arranging, and landscape ink and wash painting. As the Western Modernist movement entered Japan, he adopted it in combination with traditional arts and became determined to revolutionize a garden aesthetic that had remained fixed for hundreds of years. He succeeded in designing more than 200 gardens in Japan and even worked with the Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi on a UNESCO garden, collecting stones in Japan that Noguchi set in the garden at the organization’s Paris headquarters.

In the Zuiho-in garden, the gravel swirls are raked into high peaks as if far out at sea, with a chain of jagged pointed rocks like islands leading to a mossy peninsula crested by a massive stone representing Mount Horai, where, according to Taoist mythology, the heroes called the Eight Immortals, who fought for justice, reside. Referring to Otomo’s Christianity, rocks in a second garden define a cross, and three rows of squarish stones embedded in sand elsewhere in the garden could be seen as Shigemori’s Modernist signature.

Across town, in the Higashiyama district, the Philosopher’s Walk is a pedestrian path along the picturesque Lake Biwa Canal. First opened in 1890, it is believed to be named for a Kyoto University philosophy professor who strolled there while meditating. As you walk along it, depending on the season, the swift current below carries brilliant autumnal leaves or delicate cherry blossoms shed from trees lining the banks.

Honen-in, one of several Buddhist temples along the Philosopher’s Walk, is particularly popular in autumn, with its grand staircase and entry gate framed by vast canopies of fiery red Japanese maple trees. Two large, rectangular white-sand mounds along the central path are periodically raked by monks into new designs; last fall, a maple leaf was outlined on one and a ginkgo leaf on the other against backgrounds of ridges.

The high priest, Kajita Shinsho, who lives there with his family, had a private courtyard with a veranda that needed a garden, and last March he engaged Marc Peter Keane, an American landscape architect now living in Kyoto, to design it. A graduate of Cornell University, Mr. Keane has lived in Japan for almost 20 years and specializes in Japanese garden design. Like Shigemori, he has immersed himself in Japanese culture. His home and studio are now permanently in Kyoto.

Only three old, gnarled camellia trees remained on the rectangular site, with blossoms in season ranging from dark rose to pale pink and white. Mr. Keane’s idea was to represent the constant flux of nature, exemplified for him by the carbon cycle — the process by which carbon travels from the air into organisms and back into air. His garden, titled “Empty River,” creates what he described as “a physical expression of this invisible cycle through a river of pure carbon charcoal.”

He traced by foot a narrow serpentine “river” that winds around the roots and trunks of the camellias, and with the short charcoal sticks he placed in the long groove, it cuts a strong black line through a blend of fine brown and white gravel. There are no rocks, only small stones framing the courtyard and plantings, with Andromeda ferns in the corners. Its starkness is its beauty, softened only when camellia petals are strewed across the gravel in April.

Mr. Keane compares this distillation of design and materials to a haiku, the Japanese three-lined poem. But like the gardens of old, it also expresses the Buddhist concept of emptiness.

At Tofuku-ji , a temple, in the city’s southeastern district, Shigemori designed the garden of the Hojo, the Abbot’s Hall, as early as 1939, using materials found on site. His avant-garde vocabulary of straight lines and grids may have seemed sensational then, but it is beloved now for its harmonious vitality.

From the first veranda, you overlook the southern garden, with clusters of mostly jagged vertical rocks and ripples of raked gravel radiating out, terminating at the far end with five mossy mounds like sacred mountains in the sea. In the western garden, squarely trimmed azaleas alternate with square fields of white gravel, reflecting ancient land-division customs. Azaleas in Japan are closely clipped, so these bloom in gorgeous flat surfaces of deep pink.

Next, a vast checkerboard field of leftover square paving stones embedded in a carpet of moss seems to dwindle off to infinity in the northern garden. And finally, to the east, a pattern of stone pillar foundations recreates the Big Dipper constellation, with gravel raked in concentric circles around each pillar to emphasize its individuality.

Ukifune Garden

Mr. Keane’s 2022 Ukifune Garden (Drifting Boat Garden) is an allegorical interpretation of the chapter by the same name from “The Tale of Genji,” Murasaki Shikibu’s 11th-century novel about Prince Hikaru or “Shining” Genji, and his tempestuous romantic and political life at court.

Mr. Keane designed it as the Zen courtyard garden of the Genji Kyoto hotel, opened in April 2022, on the banks of the Kamo River, near where Genji builds his own grand estate and gardens in the book. Designed by the American architect Geoffrey P. Moussas, who also lives in Kyoto, the hotel’s plan incorporates the indoor-outdoor characteristics of Kyoto’s old merchant houses.

Mr. Keane was inspired by the “Genji” scene in which one of two powerful dignitaries vying for the favor of Ukifune, a woman of 22, travels through a snowstorm and absconds with her by boat on the Uji River. As they pass the Isle of Orange Trees, she recites a poem in which she likens herself to the drifting boat: “The enduring hue of the Isle of Orange Trees may well never change,/ yet there is no knowing now where the drifting boat is bound.”

Mr. Keane consulted with John Carpenter, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s curator of Japanese art, who told him of the late-16th-century “Genji” screen painting by Tosa Mitsuyoshi in the museum’s collection illustrating this famous scene. A copy of the panel now hangs in Kyoto next to the garden.

Mr. Keane installed a swerving “river” with gray river stones set ingeniously on edge rather than flat, giving the flow a greater sense of direction. The garden is set between two wings of the hotel, and the “water” appears to tumble down like a waterfall from one building into the next with a wide, flat steel bridge above, a viewing platform bringing the design to life. The banks on either side are densely planted with maple trees, lady palms, ferns and ground-cover moss. And a boat-shaped stone carries a large patch of moss, which Mr. Keane interprets as Earth drifting through the galaxy.

The gardens at Zuiho-in and the Tofuku-ji Abbot’s Hall garden require tickets. The entrance fee at both is 400 Japanese yen for adults (about $2.65) and 300 yen for children (about $2).

General admission to Honen-in is free, except for during the spring and fall opening weeks, which usually fall during the first week of April and the third week of November and cost 500 yen for spring and 800 yen for fall. The Empty River garden can be visited during those weeks.

The Genji Kyoto hotel garden is free to visit.

If you get hungry while touring gardens, Izusen , a restaurant in the Daiji-in subtemple of the Daitoku-ji monastery complex, offers multiple local specialties in set menus beautifully presented in mostly lacquered red bowls, which nest when empty. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation; 4,370 to 8,050 yen. It is near Zuiho-in.

Also by reservation, Yudofu Kisaki, a restaurant between the entrance to Honen-in and the Philosopher’s Walk, has vegetarian and tofu specialties. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., last order at 6 p.m.; 4,370 to 8,050 yen.

For a companionable book to read on your tour, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Yasunari Kawabata’s post-World War II novel “The Rainbow” is newly available in English. Several chapters take place in Kyoto, and it can feel as though you are traveling together, often in the same gardens. Kawabata’s knowledge of plants was formidable, and the simplicity of his descriptions both natural and direct: “On the lawn in front of the gate, in the shadows of the pine trees, dandelions and lotuses were in bloom. A double-flowered camellia had blossomed in front of the bamboo fence.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

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• Request and compare quotes, then hire the Interior Designer & Decorator that perfectly fits your project and budget limits.

An interior designer is a professional who helps you make your indoor spaces beautiful and functional. They can assist you with various projects, whether it’s complete home remodeling or simply refreshing the look of a room. Hiring an interior designer early in the process ensures proper planning and maximizes the potential of your project.

Here are some main things an interior designer does:

• Designs your space to match your style and needs.
• Makes the best use of your space for practicality and flow.
• Selects the right colors and materials for a pleasing look.
• Provides visualizations to see how your space will look.
• Manages the project and works with contractors.
• Ensures your space meets all regulations and codes.

In short, hiring an interior designer in Elektrostal' ensures your space is not only beautiful but also suits your lifestyle and functions well for your daily activities.

• Interior design
• Floor Plans
• Holiday Decorating
• Kids Bedroom Design
• Create functional and appealing spaces, collaborating with professionals.
• Manage projects from start to finish, ensuring a smooth process.
• Formal education in interior design, including color schemes, materials, and CAD.
• Handle design and decoration, offering a comprehensive approach.
• Focus on understanding your needs and lifestyle.
• Specialize in surface-level aesthetics like paint colors and furnishings.
• Enhance the overall look and feel with decorative elements.
• Can work independently or for a decorating firm.
• Typically lack formal educational requirements in interior design.

What does an interior designer do?

Questions to ask when you meet with local elektrostal' interior designers:.

If you search for Interior Designer near me you'll be sure to find a business that knows about the trends and styles for bathroom, kitchen, or whole house remodels. Their profession involves creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces tailored to clients' preferences and needs

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Interior designers share 8 ways to make your living room look better for free

• We asked interior designers to share how people can upgrade a living room without spending money.
• Decluttering and rearranging furniture is an easy way to refresh a space.
• Consider hanging your curtains higher or rearranging your bookshelf by color. 

Sometimes small changes can make a big impact to a space.

And with high housing costs and low inventory making it trickier to relocate, you may be looking to make the most with what you've got without spending the money you're setting aside for your next move.

So, we asked interior designers to share their best ways to upgrade a home for free , starting with the living room.

Here's what they said.

First off, declutter the space and get rid of items you don't need

Tara Dennis , interior designer and cofounder of Archie Bolden , said decluttering your space can help it feel more relaxing.

"The goal is not to take away from the beautiful art or furniture pieces you may have in your home," Dennis told Business Insider. " Decluttering will make for a less hectic look so you can take in all the wonderful pieces and accents you may have."

Group items together to create 'moments' throughout your space

If you have many items or small decorative objects in your living room, try grouping them to "create little moments" that look cleaner and more intentional, Dennis said.

"For example, put a lamp on a stack of books with a few smaller things underneath. On the other side of your console, have another grouping of items and incorporate different scales with accessories, floral, picture frames, and other objects of different weights and sizes," she said.

Dennis also recommends styling with an odd number of things when grouping items together.

Hang your curtains higher

Yasmine El Sanyoura , a home designer at Opendoor , said hanging your curtains higher can create a more elegant and larger-looking space.

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"A low-cost way to instantly make your living room look better is to relocate your curtain rod to be closer to the ceiling," she said. "This will draw the eye up in all the right ways and elongate your walls to give the illusion of higher ceilings."

Rearrange your furniture

Interior designer and color expert Diana Hathaway says rearranging furniture is an easy way to mix up a living room.

"It's easy to get comfortable with your furniture layout after living with it for a long time," she said. "Sometimes all a living room needs is a new layout to give it a fresh look and increased livability. "

One of her favorite simple and impactful changes is trying the "wallflower layout," which is simply moving furniture away from the walls.

Organize your bookshelf differently

Jade Joyner, cofounder and principal designer of Metal + Petal , said rearranging your living-room bookshelf is an easy way to achieve a new look without much effort.

"Organize your books by color instead of by size. This rainbow organizing effect can immediately make a space feel fresh," Joyner said.

Give your coffee table a makeover

Jessica McCarthy , global director of interior design at Blueground , said giving your coffee table a makeover with pieces you already have can revitalize your living room.

"Use items from other parts of your home to zhuzh up your coffee table," she said. "Stack books from your library, grab a candle from your bathroom, or florals and branches from your garden to give your coffee table a refresh."

Find new uses for items you already own

McCarthy told BI that finding new uses for items you own is another great way to repurpose what you have.

For example, they said, they recently used a trunk that had been storing blankets as an "unexpected side table" that "adds a lot of visual interest" to their space.

"The same can be done with a stool or chair. Stack some books, add a table lamp, and no one will ever know it wasn't meant to be a side table," McCarthy added.

Use fresh fruit as a prop and accessory

Moving food from your kitchen to your living room can give your space a new look and add a pop of color, said McCarthy.

"I love a big wooden bowl filled with oranges, lemons, or limes to bring color into your space," McCarthy told BI.

The designer also suggested layering pomegranates with pillar candles on a table for an "old world" centerpiece you won't spend extra for.

Watch: How a 'hoarder's house' is deep cleaned

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The Immediately Outdated Renovation

Brokers are accustomed to dealing with dated finishes — sellers are often crushed to learn that the kitchen renovation they spent $75,000 on a decade ago is now being sneered at by potential buyers — but Leonard Steinberg, a Compass broker, recently started to notice something strange: A number of new buildings were already looking, well, old. 

“It used to be that seven-to-ten years was the shelf life of a beautifully finished apartment,” Steinberg says. “Now you look at something and say, ‘How can this look dated already?’” The beige, boxy accents and floating toilets in the Jean Nouvel building at 53 West 53rd, completed in 2019, are already on the outs with potential buyers, brokers say, who have moved on to the kind of sleek, spalike quartzite bathrooms you can find at One Highline. Or the standalone sculptural bathtubs at 200 East 59th, completed in 2018. “This is typical Harry Macklowe,” says one broker of the project’s original developer, known for meddling in projects’ design. “He puts a tub in front of a window and thinks it’s great.” Central Park Tower, built in 2020, has similar issues, with dark, masculine kitchens and baths, though one broker added that most things Gary Barnett has done look dated on arrival.

Some of it is the natural lag of renovation: The finishes were designed a year or two before construction could begin, then that took years. (Often several more than expected, as many pandemic renovators have learned.) But taste cycles have also just sped up, and so have the production turnarounds of the retailers copying high-end trends. “It’s become like fast fashion,” says Steinberg. It once took years for cheaper dupes to trickle down to West Elm or Target. Now, you can find a $64 copy of that $11,000 David Weeks light fixture on Temu. “Remember the navy kitchen with gold hardware period?” he asks. “There was so much of it, and I was like, Oh there’s too much of it. And then they came up with a really cheap version of it at Home Depot and now everyone has it. It’s like buying a Chanel jacket and then seeing it pop up at H&M. It’s painful.” (A colleague who had recently looked at an apartment with such a kitchen described it as feeling “very 2020.”)

While trend cycles have been accelerating for some time — it’s been a long trajectory from the preservation-minded This Old House to HGTV gut renos that transform everything into an open-concept modern farmhouse — things started moving a lot faster during the pandemic, which transformed many people’s relationships to their homes and social habits. How your home looked mattered that much more when you were spending so much more of your time there, staring at your succulents and mid-century knockoffs. And now these often algorithmically derived cycles can leave a interior-design enthusiast going from delight to exhaustion about, say, black stainless-steel appliances or pampas grass in a matter of weeks. Even something as banal as “ bookshelf wealth ” can start to feel tiresome after excessive exposure.

“The accessibility of design through TV shows and social media has created a lot more self-declared experts. And there is an expectation that high design is fast,” Damian Samora, a partner at Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, a firm known for classic, old-money-style renovations in places like Park Avenue, Palm Beach, and Greenwich (about as close to timeless decor as you can get), says of current market attitudes. These types of renovations take time, however — typically four years from design to construction, Samora says, “but people don’t necessarily have the appetite for four years anymore.”

“There was a long period of time when there was this specific look people were after — white, with inset Shaker cabinets, an island, soapstone or marble countertop, stainless-steel appliances. Everyone wanted it,” says Mary Mendez, director of acquisitions at Renovation Angel, a charity that refurbishes and resells high-end kitchens, who has since left the company. This meant the resale stream was fairly consistent. “We would get traditional kitchens and refinish them, and people could have a kitchen that looked new and save $50,000.”

But now, Mendez says, the model is wobbling. The “in” kitchen is white, minimalist, and German — think Poggenpohl — an impossible design to fashion out of an older, traditional kitchen, Mendez says. In a few years, she expects that they’ll get some second-hand ones in, though by then, tastes will have likely moved on. “The attention span for style and color is far shorter than it was even two years ago,” she says. (All of this is, of course, terrible for the environment.)

Patrick W. Ciccone, a preservationist and architectural historian who co-authored the updated 2019 bible of brownstone renovation, Bricks and Brownstone (the 1980 edition was even subtitled A Guide to Architectural Styles and Interior Decoration for Period Restoration ), says he thinks it all started with kitchens. While in the past they were functional spaces located in the basement or back of the house, they’re now the star attraction, with all the frippery and fickleness you’d expect. “I think 50 years ago, if you were redoing a house, you’d update the kitchen, but it wasn’t a showpiece. There wasn’t the kind of conspicuous consumption there is today.”

“If you think about most spaces in a house, they don’t change that much over the years,” he says. You might swap out light fixtures or paint, but the kitchen “is the most malleable space, and it’s the one that goes out of date the fastest.” For that reason, he didn’t even want to include any kitchens in the new edition of the book but was pressed to by the publisher. People love to gawp at them.

The ones that miss the mark, and the trend, are as memorable, if not more, than the envy-inducing ones. A cautionary tale several brokers brought up was Pierhouse, at Brooklyn Bridge Park, a development from 2015 that featured reclaimed floors, exposed beams, and dark-wood kitchens with dropped ceilings. As it happened, Ellen Hamilton, of Hamilton Design Associates, knew the building well. “They worked with a good architect — Marvel — but it was a Toll Brothers interpretation of Brooklyn Hipster,” she says. “I had three clients down there.” They all ripped it out.

• the real estate
• renovations
• central park tower
• trend cycles
• renovation angel
• design hunting
• interior design
• interior trends
• design trends

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