Travel: New York City

I crave New York in the fall. I visited around this time last year to escape California “winter,” and the moment I felt that familiar pull, I booked a ticket. My relationship with New York is the truest kind of love/hate: I adore wandering the (quieter) streets with a coffee in hand, sitting in a park, and eating my way through all my favorite spots. And at the same time, it’s wildly overstimulating—vibrating at a pace my Northern California nervous system cannot quite settle into. Yet somehow, I love all of that just as equally. I come to New York to feel more alive, more inspired, and to be reminded of what it means to be present inside the full spectrum of American culture.

Design inspiration here is endless. From the architecture to the interiors of tiny bars, my appetite is constantly being fed. Because it’s a global mecca, something catches my eye at every turn. Overstimulated? Maybe. Deeply, deeply inspired? Absolutely.

During this visit, while stopping into my favorite showrooms and meeting with my design reps, I had a moment I can only describe as bittersweet. As much as I dislike the word, it fits. How lucky am I—despite the many ups and downs—to own my own design business? That I get to be here, somewhere I’ve worked so hard to be. Through that lens, I let myself open even more fully to the beauty and energy of the city.

I don’t believe in gatekeeping, and I believe design is for everyone. So I wanted to share a list of my favorite places with you — here is a Google Maps link to my favorite restaurants & showrooms. Whether you’re visiting or you live here full-time, pop into one of these deeply inspiring spaces for me xx