8 Amazing Places Designer Restaurants

As a family organizer at Southern LivingI spend a lot of time looking at beautifully decorated homes and asking designers where they get things from. (Asking questions that are not appropriate for polite conversation, such as “Where did you get that?” and “How many square feet is the house?,” is an important task to be sure of). Now where do designer store? Don’t think it’s all trade shows in New York and fancy boutiques on the streets of Paris, think again. The places designers shop for decor may surprise you—and some of them may be places you’ve already visited.

Vintage Shops and Antique Shops

Laura Jenkins, an Atlanta-based decorator, says: “I never tire of digging through antique shops and centers, especially when I’m traveling. Often times, multi-location stores serve their regular customers who may choose a different item than what you are hunting for, which can result in a great deal!

Real estate

Designers will search high and low for the right piece, so they scour real estate for hidden gems. Isabel Ladd, a developer from Lexington, Kentucky, says: “If you love the thrill of the hunt, you’ll have a blast here.” But they are also great places to be creative. An old globe can be made into a table lamp for a child’s bedroom, a large basket can be wired into a small lamp, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to decorating or enhancing well-made furniture.”

Garden Shops

Don’t run down your local garden or nursery store for home supplies, as many sell small items including plants and flowers. Charlotte, North Carolina, decorator Gray Walker is a family place in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, outside of Charleston: “Abide A While is a unique garden store where I can find pieces of carved stone that I would not expect to put in a place. with. in the garden or even the lucite chair on the bookshelf.”

Social Media

The next time you’re browsing, make an effort to search for individuals and stores that sell vintage and antique pieces online. “I’ve found and connected with a lot of old and new sellers over the years through Instagram,” says Jenkins. Whether it’s small furniture, art or furniture, it’s been a great way to get to stores across the country that I wouldn’t have known about unless I was in the area.

Big Box Stores

While it’s nice to shop small and local when you can, there’s no denying that affordability and convenience are also important factors to consider when furnishing and decorating a home. you. “I’ve had a lot of luck finding accessories and home decor items from Target, Amazon, and Home Depot online,” says Covington, Louisiana, designer Megan Evans. install or photograph. “I love the mix of high and low, and if you dig hard enough in these areas you can find great tableware, glass and accessories. When you combine these items with architectural fabrics and furniture, they will fool even the discerning eye!

Artisan Markets

Whether you’re browsing local crafts or shopping online, it’s a great idea to support small makers. “We’ve had a lot of luck with Etsy.com and Wescover.com,” says Austin decorator Kristen Nix. Both have artisan-made items that add a unique, handcrafted element to the space.

Museum Shops

Don’t skimp on the gift basket at the gift shop. Jenkins says: “I like to browse the museum shops whenever I visit, as there are many unique gifts, from home furnishings to books and art. “Of course, like MoMa, you can also shop online.”

The great state of Texas

People don’t just visit the Lone Star State for honky-tonks and breakfast; The interior design scene is also star-studded, from the more formal areas of Dallas to the treasure-filled meadows of Round Top. “I had just arrived in Dallas with Maggie Jones, a Texas native on my design team, and the saying is that everything is bigger in Texas, including shopping,” says the Richmond, Virginia, designer. Elly Poston Cooper. “Between a visit to Meredith Ellis’ beautiful store, James Showroom; Wolf Hall, Ann Schooler’s old dream shop; and a wide range of Ann Sacks tiles, we’ll be back.

Another amazing place in Dallas to find great home furnishings? Rise No 1, a souffle restaurant. Jean Liu, a designer who lives and works in Dallas, says: “This is an unexpected and favorite place for shopping for small household items such as kitchen utensils. “The owner has a great collection of glasses and tea towels for every occasion.”

Just outside the city limits, there is also the country’s oldest publicized center, Round Top, which hosts three shows each year. “We love our annual trips to Round Top—the many treasures we can find there,” says Jason Bell, Design Director of Blackberry Farm Design in Walland, Tennessee.