Now that fall seems to be here, it’s time to rethink keeping those old drafty windows in your house. Not only will you be warmer with replacements, you’ll save money on utility bills — and your taxes. Print out this coupon for Farm & Home Builders for triple-pane windows at double-pane prices.
Now that we’re experiencing September-like weather, it gives us a clue about how much we’ll really enjoy these upcoming fall days. That makes now the perfect time to get started planning and installing your new outdoor living space. Through the end of October, save 10 percent on Belgard materials, including paving stones for a patio and blocks for retaining walls through Stone Solutions. Don’t forget to consider a fireplace or fire pit!
Hi Friends! It’s me, the Traveling Designer, back with another adventure. This time I am taking you inside the interior design world with a trip to High Point, North Carolina and neighboring Greensboro for the nation’s largest furniture market. High Point market is “to the trade,” which means it’s for designers and retail buyers only and not open to the public. But I thought it would be fun to take you behind the scenes for a little peek. If you see things you love, then you can likely find them through a designer or retailer in your area.
Each year High Point Furniture Market is held for a week in the spring and again in the fall. This is one place I find the latest and greatest in interior design and home furnishings for my fabulous clients around the country. Twice a year here on The Traveling Designer, I will be bringing you highlights from High Point market. And since fall market will be here before we know it, let’s get you up to speed on High Point, the market and the great eats and treats in surrounding areas.
If you’ve never been to the High Point Furniture Market, it’s hard to even imagine the millions of choices in design that await you there. Unlike markets in Dallas or Atlanta where showrooms are housed in a building or two, the High Point market encompasses blocks and blocks of the city including several multi-story high-rises along with many small downtown store fronts like the lovely Oly Studio Showroom shown above.
One of my favorite stops at each market is Interhall, the main floor of the International Home Furnishings Building, where many of the hottest companies show their wares. In fall of last year, Barclay Butera’s Interhall display (shown above) was stunning. Walking the aisles at Interhall is a way to see the latest, hippest and most trendy items at market. With the plethora of manufacturers to choose from in High Point, finding the good stuff is sometimes like finding a needle in a hay stack. It’s great to know you can always go to Interhall and find some of the hottest picks of the show. Some of my favorite Interhall finds over the last 10 years include Barclay Butera Home, Bungalow 5, Dransfield and Ross, Julian Chichester and Shine Home.
There are so many other amazing manufacturers represented at High Point in their own large showrooms that I can’t even mention them all. But there are a few stand-outs that I am sure to see each and every market including Hickory Chair Furniture (this is part of their lovely Suzanne Kasler collection shown above), Oly Studio, Visual Comfort Lighting and Soicher Marin artwork. If I see just these four each season, I go home with a slew of new ideas and inspiration for my work and feel like the trip was a success!
A few of my favorite finds at market this April included this stunning green lacquer chest from the Oscar de la Renta collection for Century Furniture designed by the talented designer Miles Redd.
Also fun were these great quatrefoil stools from Dransfield and Ross.
And Barclay Butera hit a home run with both his collections. His Barclay Butera Home collection didn’t disappoint with graphic patterns and his amazing wing chairs.
And his new Barclay Butera Lifestyle collection gets the award for Most Bang for your Buck!!
What many people that visit High Point Market don’t know is that there is much more inspiration in the area than just at market. And if you are not a designer or a buyer but happen to be in the area, be sure to try out these great places to sleep, eat, drink and shop! High Point and neighboring Greensboro are great little towns with fabulous restaurants, great shopping and cultural experiences that make the bi-annual trip to North Carolina not just work, but a truly enjoyable experience.
The chic Proximity Hotel is much more sophisticated than you would expect in an area this size. Located in Greensboro, the Proximity is the first LEED Platinum hotel in America. And for those of you who are not familiar with LEED design standards, this means the hotel has an extremely high rating in eco-friendly and sustainable design elements. So not only is it hip and cool, it is earth-friendly too.
Nestled inside the Proximity is a fantastic restaurant with a menu and wine list that would stand up in many an urban city. Printworks Bistro’s menu is based on fresh, local ingredients and creative comfort foods prepared in the French Bistro Style.
One of their specialties is mussels, and the fries are to-die-for!
Also high on my dining choices in Greensboro is Bistro Sophia. With a sophisticated menu and an amazing sommelier, Bistro Sophia brings beautiful salads, high quality fish and meats paired with savory sauces, yummy side dishes and lovely desserts. And if you are feeling a bit daring, I suggest letting the sommelier surprise you with a wine selection. Bistro Sophia’s goal is to bring relatively unknown but superb wines to the area and it is great fun to discover new favorites upon the sommelier’s recommendation.
When you need a little retail therapy, there is no shortage of great shopping in the area. The Shops at the Friendly Center is an open-air mall and is home to places like Anthropologie, J. Crew, White House Black Market, and much more. It was a life-saver for me in October when my luggage didn’t arrive with me and I had to give a talk to 300 people the next morning at 7:30 am. The Friendly Center was one-stop shopping for my entire new wardrobe!
And if local merchants are more appealing to you, you should definitely check out Downtown Greensboro. On Elm Street you’ll find loads of antiques, jewelry, quaint coffee shops and local boutiques that are recommended by my fellow Traditional Home’s Top 20 Designers to Watch Kristen McGinnis, who resides in New York but calls this area home.
So there you have it, a taste of High Point. I’ll be bringing you my favorites from the fall market in October, and, until then, I will be bringing you more exciting trips to other fabulous locales.
I’m off to pack…Happy Travels!
Granite is still the most popular material in homes for many uses, from countertops and vanities to backsplashes and flooring. Find your preferred look from more than 200 colors at K.C. Granite & Cabinetry in Lenexa. Print out this coupon to get started.
As part of its cross-country MobileBooth tour, StoryCorps will be making its way to Kansas City on September 9 and staying through October 2. The MobileBooth, an Airstream trailer with a recording studio, will be parked in the Brookside area at 63rd Street and Brookside Boulevard.
For those of you who don’t know what StoryCorps is, it’s a national, nonprofit organization that started in 2003 and is solely dedicated to recording, preserving and sharing American stories — from all walks of life — which are housed in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, with participants’ permission, for future generations.
Whether it’s a recorded conversation between a son and his grandmother asking about her childhood or a couple reminiscing about their 50th wedding anniversary, a trained StoryCorps facilitator guides participants through an interview process that lasts about 40 minutes, and each participant receives a complimentary copy. Some of these inspirational, emotional and ever-lasting bits of history air on NPR’s Morning Edition. StoryCorps also has published two books: Listening Is an Act of Love (2007) and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps (2010) — both are New York Times bestsellers.
If you’re interested in recording your own part of history while StoryCorps is in town, call their 24-hour toll-free reservation hotline at 1.800.850.4406 or visit their website at www.storycorps.org to sign up. Other appointments will be available at 10 a.m. on September 10. Also, check the website for stationary centers and ways you can donate to keep this a free public service.
“…StoryCorps aims to create a growing portrait of who we are as Americans,” the website states. “By traveling to every corner of the country, StoryCorps currently has one of the largest collections of American voices ever gathered, with interviews collected from more than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states.”
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your appliances, now is the time to do it! Get a great deal on name brands all the time — and an extra bonus on certain Jenn-Air appliances right now — at Factory Direct Appliance. Print this coupon for a free warranty and delivery.
Hi Travel Enthusiasts! I’m back with another fun trip to a fantastic city. This week…the Windy City. Ahhhh, it’s one of my favorite destinations. So much to do, so much to see and it’s an easy flight from home, so there’s no excuse not to visit often. I feel certain this will be my first of many Chicago excursions here on The Traveling Designer. If you are thinking about a weekend get-away there, here is everything you need to know to put together a fabulous two-day excursion to Chi-town.
First things first, hotels. I recently had the pleasure of staying at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel for a little anniversary trip with the Hubby. It is spectacular to say the least and with all the hotels wanting to attract guests, you can find some really great deals out there. I think it was the complimentary upgrade to a corner suite along with the yummy bottle of red wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries sent up from the concierge that made this one of my favorite hotel experiences ever. And when I hopped on Twitter to brag about the service, the Peninsula tweeted right back with a grateful thank-you. Seriously? All this service and social media too…I’m in love with the Peninsula!
And if the room wasn’t fabulous enough, there is this handsome little bar just off the Peninsula lobby perfect for a martini or a glass of full-bodied red. It’s dark and cozy and a place you want to sit and stay a while, especially when it’s cool outside and you can enjoy the fire. Of course there are some less expensive places to stay in Chicago. A fun boutique hotel I am fond of is the Raffaello hotel that is located in this same area of town.
A short walk from the Peninsula is fabulous designer shopping at Branca, the quaint boutique of renowned interior designer Alessandra Branca. A feast for the eyes both inside and out, Branca is full of curiosities and collectibles and it’s a lovely stop just before lunching at nearby RL.
And if you haven’t already picked it up, you should buy Alessandra’s gorgeous new book, New Classic Interiors. It is a great read and the photography is gorgeous!
RL, the chic restaurant in the Ralph Lauren flagship store, located just off the corner of Michigan and Chicago Avenues, is a favorite destination of mine for both lunch and dinner. The scallops I had on my recent trip are quite possibly the best I have ever eaten and the great RL wine list had a plethora of lovely whites to pair with my yummy seafood lunch. You just can’t go wrong with RL.
Conveniently situated across the street is the perfect place to purchase my 5-year-old daughter a souvenir. And if you happen to bring your little girl with you, afternoon tea is fun in the American Girl cafe.
If you don’t care for hoards of excited young girls, steer clear of this hopping retail establishment. You can instead opt for a visit to the historic Water Tower or head to the top of the John Hancock Tower observatory right next door to see exquisite views of Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago. The Hancock Tower and the other famous Chicago Skyscraper, the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), were both designed by the famous architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and are major Chicago attractions. If you don’t do heights well, just run over to the Drake Hotel, a few steps away from the Hancock instead, for an afternoon cocktail and rest your aching tootsies.
Once your feet are up for more walking, you can hit some of the best shopping in the country all within walking distance down Michigan Avenue. The magnificent mile has anything and everything that you could want. Some of my favorites destinations include Neiman Marcus, Saks, and the famous corner location of Crate and Barrel.
Just a bit off Michigan Avenue is another great design destination. The Jonathan Adler store is a feast for the eyes with Jonathan’s inimitable graphic style visible from the front windows. Loaded with fun gifts that I picked up for my staffers and many things I wanted for myself, I could hardly tear myself away from this cheerful little shop! This funky backgammon set brings back memories of playing with my family as a child and may just come home with me on my next visit.
And when you have had all the shopping you can stand, hop in a cab and head off to the cultural parts of Chicago. The Chicago Art Institute can keep me busy for hours. On this most recent trip I was lucky enough to catch the Matisse exhibit. One of my favorite artists, Matisse’s work was breathtaking in the extraordinary exhibit that was housed just off the new Modern Wing of the Institute.
And I can never go to the Art Institute without a trip down to the basement to see the Thorne Miniature Rooms. If you are an interiors enthusiast, you just must see the 68 delightful mini versions of historic and modern interior spaces conceived by Mrs. James Ward Thorne and meticulously built by craftsmen of her choosing. There is even a great book that chronicles these fantastic little dollhouse-like versions of rooms. I can hardly wait until my daughter is old enough to appreciate them so I can take her there.
And a hop, skip and a jump from the Art Institute is the famous Bean at Millennium Park.
What is it about this whimsical chrome sculpture that makes me keep coming back to it? I can’t depart the Windy city without at least laying my eyes on this shiny bright beauty if only for a second. And by the looks of the crowds that are always there, I am not the only person enamored with it.
There are many historic building worth seeing in Chicago, but it is a new one that has my fancy at the moment. The Elysian hotel is definitely a highlight of Chicago’s new design and architecture scene. The newly opened hotel and residences are a sight to behold. I was lucky enough to get to tour one of the private residences and all I can say is WOW. I felt like Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City movie when Big takes her to the amazing condo and opens the door to reveal glorious windows and phenomenal views.
As if I haven’t already given you enough tips for food and drink, there are great restaurants and bars in the Elysian that are high on the list of chic places to hang out or to see and be seen.
It’s a good thing that I am recommending all this walking in Chicago, because I can’t stop telling you about Chicago’s food. My husband and I met a blogger friend for a casual Chicago pizza lunch at the famous Giordano’s Pizza, conveniently located next door to the Peninsula hotel. I have to say this might have been my first experience with real Chicago style pizza and I was quite impressed.
But don’t eat too much pizza on your next trip because you need to visit another landmark Chicago eatery. Garrett popcorn is a legend in Chicago and it even made Oprah’s O list. I have never been there when a crowd wasn’t lined up down the street and around the corner. But when you get a bite of warm caramel or cheese popcorn (or both) in your mouth, you will decide it was definitely worth the wait.
Art gallery hopping is a great way to walk off some of those popcorn calories. I found a great little art and antiques district on Superior Avenue. I was quite fond of Gallery KH, especially the abstract works of Carolyn Cole.
I fell in love with a pair of citrine yellow Murano lamps at Douglas Rosin Antiques. But don’t worry if you can’t make it to Chicago soon, Douglas Rosin sells their gorgeous wares on 1st dibs.
And no trip to Chicago is complete without dinner at Spiaggia. The favorite restaurant of President and Mrs. Obama might be a bit ’80s in the décor department, but there is nothing dated about the menu. The food is consistently delicious at this famous Italian eatery thanks to Chef Tony Mantuano. Be sure to get a reservation for your next Chicago visit.
So there you have it. More than enough to keep you busy on your next trip (or three) to Chicago. I hope you will visit some of these well-known and not-so-well-known spots in the Windy City. I can assure you they will not disappoint.
I’ll be back soon with another exciting adventure from one of my favorite destinations. Until we meet again, Happy Travels!
No matter if you have an old house or new house, everyone seems to accumulate more stuff than their dear closets can handle. You might have to start a “one in, one out” policy or get control of that space with a new organizational system. Print this coupon from California Closets for 10 percent off any purchase, plus get a complimentary design consultation.
When researching interior design trends for this fall — which you’ll see in our September issue — I came across a growing trend in dining room seating. A banquette, which I absolutely love, is a long upholstered bench that can stand alone or be built-in along a wall, and it seems to be a popular alternative to traditional chair seating. Simply change out a couple chairs for a cozier two-seater, which creates more flexibility and adds dimension to your regular dining set.
From Neiman Marcus, this tufted terra cotta banquette and chair set features eight-way, hand-tied springs and a handcrafted ash frame. The terra cotta brings color to the room while the banquette-style dining offers an alternative to a formal dining room.
Bench or banquette seating also makes for great breakfast nook areas, like in the one shown here by VanEch Studio. The designer creates pieces that are anchored in classical themes but represent the clients, bringing to life their personalities. Another perk to benches or banquettes is that there’s a storage option underneath the seat.
But if you’re not ready to take on a whole-room makeover, try adding just one piece to your dining set. Created by Michael Weiss (on left), this Newton Banquette is made of ash with an Oxford finish. He’s known for creating clean, sleek lines and classic geometric forms shown in dramatic modern designs. Or, take a look at Maitland Smith’s Dark Wellington Cottage Finished Bench in leather upholstery with a nail head trim. Either way, you can’t go wrong!
While searching for new interior design trends for the fall, I came across several accessory pieces from Black Bamboo that piqued my interest, so I had to share them with you.
These colorful Harlequin felt bowls feature a zig-zag stitching which forms a harlequin pattern on the bottom of each one. They are handmade in the U.S. from 100-percent merino wool, created by Graf & Lantz design studio. $19
Handmade and hand-tinted by Breck Armstrong of Moss Studios, these concrete bowls are available in two sizes. $25, $40
Also by Breck Armstrong of Moss Studios, the chain bowls feature a modern, industrial look. The conveyor belt chains come from combines, which still hold the natural patina. $300
Available in four different colors, these handmade and hand-glazed porcelain soap dishes, made by artist Dana Brandwein Oates, features patterns of Queen Anne’s Lace, honeycombs, birch trees, burled wood and other forms of plant life. $25
