My Passport Is Full!

Travelling to exciting and exotic destinations around the world is one way to fill up your passport.  But, when interiors are your passion… yours must be a “Passport to Design”…

The “Passport to Design Home Makeover Sweepstakes” is a collaborative offering from five showroom partners… Circle Furniture, Designer Bath, Landry & Arcari Rugs, Lucia Lighting, and Tile By Design.  The winner of the sweepstakes will receive a $4,000 gift certificate from each one, totalling $20,000 in design bliss!  Each showroom has (or will) hosted a seminar, giving home owners and designers alike the scoop on the latest trends and product offerings.

 But what better way for design bloggers like me to experience all of this excitement than on a Blog Tour?  Yvonne Blacker, of Designer Bath, coordinated a full day tour of all five showrooms for interested members of the design blogging community last Tuesday, January 29th.  (Sorry that it has taken me a while to post this… I have been under the weather for over a week... ah, the joys of winter!) 

Transportation was provided for us to visit each showroom, where we spent an hour at each touring the floors, learning about the trends and new products in their prospective industries, and enjoying refreshments and each other’s company!

Circle Furniture

We began our morning at Circle Furniture in Danvers, where we nibbled on breakfast pastries and coffee while touring the vibrant showroom.  Just being there among the colorful furnishings, accessories, and rugs brought a smile to my face!

Tile By Design

From there it was on to Tile By Design, just around the corner in Danvers.  We were treated to mimosas while learning about the latest and greatest in tile offerings… some really cool reclaimed (genuine) wood, and a method referred to as “tattooing” for adding design to natural marble and stone.

Designer Bath

Our next stop was Designer Bath in Beverly, where we all went on the hunt for our favorite faucets and vanities.  Just when our energy was starting to dwindle, it was upstairs for a relaxing light lunch in their training room, which is surrounded by state-of-the-art heating systems… very cool, so to speak!

Landry & Arcari

Ready for an exciting afternoon, Landry & Arcari in Salem was our next destination.  I must admit that I have never been to their showroom (I know, shame on me!), and I was beyond impressed… now I know what all the buzz is about!  The showroom felt light & airy, even on a cloudy day.  It was filled with traditional Oriental rugs, contemporary styles, and even has a mezzanine full of broadloom carpeting.  They even offer full rug restoration, which we witnessed first hand during our visit. 

After a cup of hot tea and biscuits, we were on our way to our final destination of the day…

Lucia Lighting

Things were “looking up” as we visited Lucia Lighting in Lynn.  With Prosecco in hand, we toured the two story showroom and learned all about all of their offerings, from cutting edge design and recycled materials, to very traditional elegant styles.

By the end of the day, we were all pretty tired and suffering from “design comas,” but also excited and inspired by all that we had seen on our travels.  It was such a joy to have spent the day with other designers and bloggers… there is already talk of a reunion!

photo Design Vignettes

I hope that these photos provide design inspiration for you too!  And there is still one more seminar in the Passport to Design series... Thursday, March 7th, 6-8 pm at Landry & Arcari... for more info visit Passport To Design.