Where do design professionals shop for unique and special furnishings for the home? When we can’t find what we want in the US, we will look to find them in different countries.
When designing high-end luxury interiors, we will often look to Europe as a source for products which aren’t as readily available in America. Some pieces we have sourced overseas are antiques, modern furniture, and chandeliers from Italy, France, and England. We have imported textiles, rugs, ceramics, glass, leather, and tile from European countries as well. The world is our marketplace and borders do not need to be a barrier to trade; if you think shopping is fun domestically, it’s even more fun overseas!
Many of the rugs, textiles, lighting, wallpapers, and paints sold in showrooms across America come from Europe or Asia. Italian lighting and tile. Portuguese and Spanish tile. Hand blown glass from Czechoslovakia. Dishes, glasses, and leather from Italy. Wallpaper from Great Britain.
These days, there are easy ways to ship products and most vendors are very used to shipping things to the USA. There may be a slight delay to go through customs, but if you’re willing to wait a few weeks, you can have some very beautiful and unique things.
There is an endless supply of sources when you think globally. While shopping locally is a good thing, it can also be limiting as to what is available. Overall, a mix of both can provide for a beautiful interior with little impact on the environment. There are fewer things that are more environmentally friendly than antiques because they are already made and just need a new home, rather than using resources to make a new product.
As always, our designers at WPL Interior Design, can assist you with overseas purchases and recommend sources.
