As someone who has travelled throughout the world, I know it can sometimes be a challenge to successfully mesh several different styles of nicknacks and décor pieces together. I have picked up things that I found beautiful, and that (I felt) optimized the country that I was visiting, throughout my travels.
Nomad: A Global Approach to Interior Style offers readers a glimpse of countries throughout the world. The images in Sibella Court’s book inspire me to travel more, and to return to the places that I’ve already been. I remember planning my first major overseas trip, 10 years ago, to India. One thing I tried to find out was what I should buy/bring back from each of the regions my best friend and I were going to visit. They don’t call India a sub-continent for nothing — each province or region is so different from one another.
Nomad is great for someone who travels often (or daydreams of doing so), or an armchair traveller. Court’s book is filled with antique-style, travel-worn looking images showcasing the best things to buy and cherish from each of the countries she features. She recommends buying hardware, knobs and handles from India. I definitely second that. I was completely blown away with the gorgeous (and inexpensive) handmade hardware found in many regions of India.
Though they were very heavy, and I had to lug them around in my large backpack for almost 6 months, I purchased a set of white ceramic knobs with painted blue flowers on them. 10 years later, they’ve moved with me through different pieces of furniture and different apartments. Court went to India (in part) to find craftspeople to work with on a project with Anthropologie, where she designed hardware/knobs for the chain.
I used to collect little things from places around the world — things like coins, bus or train tickets, and pins. I love to pick up things that seem (to me) unique to the area. On one trip to Hong Kong, I bought the required amount of things from a local chain of convenience stores, because they were running a promotion where you could receive a limited-edition Super Mario Brothers paperclip.
You can find Nomad on the Chronicle Books website, or at your local retailer.
Awesome post! I bet you have an amazing collection!
This is a wonderful post. I love the fabrics!
I always display my new treasures! I wanted them because I liked them, so of course I wanna show them off!!
Beautiful pictures – I sure wish I could travel more often!
Wasn't sure I'd like the style, but then I saw Frieda Kahlo, and now I'm in love with this post, lol!
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🙂 I love Frida Kahlo's art a lot, too!
I love this look and wish I could travel more often!
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I know what you mean! I won't be travelling anytime soon.
All my friends travel, but I don't get out much. What I do is have them bring me little things back from all over the world and I just keep them. One day I should make something from them or put them out on display, but at the moment I have a 4 year old that would love to run off with my trinkets!
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I don't do a lot of traveling & when I do, it tends to be fairly local. I love work that's done by local artisans. My tastes are fairly eclectic so I don't really stick to one type of craft. I do love placemats, quilts and wall hangings though.
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Work by local artisans is so wonderful, especially supporting the local economy! I love to know the story behind the pieces, too – which comes out when you talk to artisans.
This book looks great! And I'd love to see photos of the hardware you bought in India. My brain is imagining amazingness…
Hi Bonnie – I have a small glimpse at the Indian hardware in this post: http://www.lovesnapmake.com/home-tour-sneak-peek/ on the dresser I found for free. It'll look better/more cohesive when I re-finish the dresser. 🙂