Oh, the Places I’ll Go!
Before I started decorating for a living, I was a magazine editor for nearly a decade in New York. I worked in the home design market, scouting trends, writing stories and doing makeovers in people’s homes. Now I freelance write for various titles, including CountryLiving.com. I don’t usually talk about stories I’ve done, but I’m really excited about a recent piece, 50 Things to do This Summer in 50 States. I found 50 amazing bloggers around the country and asked them to tell me about their favorite little-known place in their state. The answers I got inspired me to get in my car, rent a Uhaul and head out of town. I now have list of places to go, stores to visit and bargains to buy before the summer’s over. Here are my favorites:
1. Qcumberz in Phoenix. I’m actually from Arizona. How did I not know about this gem? DIY adventuress Adrianne Lentine of the Dream Book Design blog, describes the store as an insane, cluttered mess with the best inexpensive hardware, doors and table legs. I’m driving to Arizona in early August, and I’m definitely getting a taste of Qcumberz.
2. Honor & Folly in Detroit’s historic Corktown. Owner Meghan McEwen decorates the tiny two-bedroom inn with her personal, unique finds from antique shops and local artisans and designers. And many of the items are available for purchase. Yay! Simmer Down blogger Noëlle Lothamer, tells me that the décor shifts when Meghan replaces a purchase with a new treasure. My mom lives in Rochester, an hour outside of Detroit, but I may need to book a room for the night to indulge in some retail therapy.
3. The barn sales at Three Potato Four in Philadelphia. I already buy vintage art prints from the online shop, but I cannot wait to schedule a trip to the East Coast around a SALE that promises a warehouse chock-full of antique finds. Thanks for the tip, Shauna Alterio of Something’s Hiding in Here.
4. Emiliejayne’s consignment shop in Salt Lake City. I’m a consignment shop junkie. I can’t get enough of other’s gently-used castoffs. Shopping consignment shops is an all-day affair for me since I enjoy sifting carefully through heaps of wares to ensure I don’t miss a thing. But this shop is merchandised by color. How much easier that would be since I generally go in with a color scheme in mind. Sarah Jane Wright of Sarah Jane Studios notes that there is also a fantastic children’s section.
5. Watson Kennedy in Seattle. The amazing merchandising beckons me to get on a plane and wander through the shop at Pike Place Market. Blogger Emily Jones of Jones Design Company describes it as a perfectly curated collection of home goods, accessories, books, and stationery and ephemera. I was sold with this photo of the inside.
