If most people travel to relax and unwind, interior designers are not most people. When designers travel to industry shows, antique markets, or design events, they’re expecting to be wowed, energized, enlightened.
“Traveling for work gives me so much inspiration,” says Lauren Thorpe, owner of Bonboni Interior Design. “I get to immerse myself in history, which is where I draw a lot of inspiration, particularly in places like Paris, where so many centuries and layers of history and cultures have merged into one.” Two years ago, Thorpe traveled to the French capital to shop at Les Puces de Saint-Ouen.
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Whether it’s shopping for a specific project, discovering new lines and finishes, or searching for a jolt of creativity delivered by the newness of their surroundings, designers say travel is paramount to creating exciting and memorable work. “Exposure to new resources and products is a necessary part of a designer’s life. In order for our work to be fresh and dynamic, our product library and sources of inspiration must be constantly evolving,” says Kelly Johnson of Kelly Johnson Design.
To be efficient with your time when traveling abroad or to another U.S. city, be sure to plan ahead. “With so many people descending on an area for an industry show or market, hotels are scarce and reservations are hard to come by,” says interior designer Marci Marsh, who makes it a point to attend High Point Market in North Carolina, where accommodations in the area tend to book up fast, sometimes a year in advance. Designer David Deatherage travels often to Palm Springs, Calif. to attend Modernism Week, knowing that he’ll “always see and learn new things,” he says. Held twice a year, both in the fall and winter, a trip to Modernism Week is a welcome escape from the dreary month of February in St. Louis, but Deatherage also goes for the event’s focus on midcentury art and architecture. He suggests studying the line up of lectures and tours beforehand, and buying tickets at least one or two months in advance, as many of the most popular events sell out fast. Tours of the Albert Frey house, a favorite of the designer, are available during Modernism Week. “Frey was an Austrian architect who moved to Palm Springs and built his home into the mountain. There is a boulder in the middle of the bedroom.”
The logistics of traveling and shopping at a design event can be more complicated than stuffing last-minute purchases into your carryon, particularly if the end goal is to bring items home destined for a residential or commercial project. April Jensen of ADJ Interiors loves to attend Round Top Texas Antique Market, describing it as the world’s biggest upscale flea market. But the dealers there aren’t in the business of shipping, she says, so attendees need to think through how they’ll get their treasures home. “Most of the people are down there with trucks,” says Jensen. “Line up a box truck or a U-Haul or plan to drive there and drive back.”
Thorpe, who traveled to Paris to shop the famous flea markets, planned to do more than browse but wasn’t ready to commit to reserving a shipping container to send her items home. As a result, she was limited to buying small, decorative objects that she could fit into her suitcase, items such as antique books, cotton linens, porcelain dishes. The next time she goes, she says, she wants to buy furniture. “There’s a service that you can arrange for when shopping the vintage markets in Paris,” she says. “You walk around, tag everything you want. Then, they pick up and arrange shipping for you back to the States.”
Most designers recommend traveling at least once a year or, when money and time allow, once a quarter. And, though designers acknowledge the breath of resources right here in St. Louis, they also stress the importance of getting out of town to see the world. “Different cities have different histories and influences and that’s reflected in their architecture, design, and the types of antiques and items you’ll find there,” says Deatherage. “Palm Springs has a real California vibe and is a good example of how things are different from the midwest. Palm Springs was built up in the 1950s and 1960s and has strong midcentury and Hollywood Regency influences,” he says.
Open your eyes and take it all in, adds Laurie LeBoeuf, an interior designer at Castle Design. At Deco-Off in Paris in 2020, LaBoeuf was as inspired by the sights and sounds of the city, as she was by the events hosted by the organizers, including lectures, cocktail parties, studio tours, and product presentations. Says LeBoeuf: “Even the hotels and restaurants and gardens–simply walking down the street–can be inspiring.”
