Home décor and statement pieces are much more impactful when they have a story behind them. If you read my recent travel post, you know I love bringing home beautiful treasures from my trips across the globe. I find so much joy in traveling to markets, meeting talented artisans, and learning their stories. Seeing each piece in my home brings back memories and adds a storied layer that you just can’t beat.  

When I design spaces for my clients, I always recommend adding special pieces from past travels, as it’s one of the best ways to ensure the design is truly reflective of individual style and personality. 

Next time you jetset off on a new adventure, keep these tips in mind to bring home treasures that you will value forever.

Research, Research, Research 

Before heading out on your travels, research local markets or artisans that sell quality art, jewelry or interesting accessories and are open to the public. You can read reviews on some of the larger countries’ markets online, but for smaller, developing countries, markets are generally daily or weekly events that happen off the beaten path. You might need some help finding this information, which leads me to my next tip…

Hire a Local Guide

For most of my travels, I hire a guide ahead of time and share with him or her what type of markets I would like to explore or the types of unique pieces I am interested in discovering.  The guide then leads me in the right direction and steps in to help when needed. Another perk — guides are incredibly helpful when navigating language barriers and negotiating pricing.

Transporting Goods Back Home

If you end up finding multiple pieces or larger scale furniture that you can’t part with, (while intimidating) you can certainly work with a local shipping company to send your discoveries back home via container. I shipped an entire bin back from my recent Myanmar trip. (How could I not bring back as many works as possible from this amazing artist?) It’s not the easiest process, but if you find pieces that steal your heart, it is worth it.

Sometimes investing energy and money into coordinating a container shipment isn’t in the cards, which is why I always pack an extra duffle bag or two. I check a bag of the items that are more durable, and then carry-on items that are fragile and/or valuable. I’m a testament that you can find creative and resourceful ways to bring home goods that truly speak to you. 

Durability or Bust 

When perusing the market, avoid tchotchkes that can break easily during transportation. I know it can be hard to resist them sometimes, but odds are they won’t make it back unharmed. I typically bring home sturdier pieces like art, caftans, handbags, bowls, and baskets that each have their own unique story – and will make it back in one piece to tell that story. 

My Favorite Destinations 

If you’re looking for new overseas shopping or market inspiration, here are a few places that always top my list.

Provence 

Some of my favorite markets are located in the South of France. The markets are quite large and have a wide array of fabulous, interesting pieces. 

Marrakech

Marrakech, Morocco has one of the biggest markets I’ve seen, and it is brimming with vibrant colors and unique finds.

India

Family, friends, and clients all adore the fascinating items I’ve brought back from India. I can’t wait to travel back here, as there are still so many markets to be explored. 

I’m so grateful to travel and source the one-of-a-kind pieces that I have along the way, and I am eager to continue discovering incredible countries, markets and artisans as time (and my wallet) allows.

More to come on my spring travel plans soon, but in the meantime, mark your calendars for AKD’s next Pop-Up event on April 23. We’ll be showcasing many of the new pieces I’ve scoured from my recent travels to Egypt and Myanmar — each bringing an unparalleled story and unique beauty.