In no particular order…
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Moleskine notebooks. There’s just no electronic substitute for these little black notebooks…I can’t live without them. The bonus is the pocket at the back for holding receipts and business cards. |
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Kindle. Not only is it lightweight and the perfect size to tuck into a bag, but I can always start a new book when I finish one on the road. Absolutely mandatory for travel. |
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Digital camera. Mine is a Canon Elph Powershot SD 4000 IS. All of the pictures (unless otherwise indicated) on this blog were taken with this or my old Canon Elph SD 630. I don’t go anywhere without it. |
  
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Favorite European Hotels. Tried and true. • Hotel Regina, Milan – Warm and welcoming, great neighborhood • Hotel Flora, Venice – Charming, with fairy tale courtyard garden • Hotel Continental, Florence – Stylish design, next to Pont Vecchio • Hotel Riddargatan, Stockholm – Contemporary Swedish, perfect location • Hotel Bel Ami, Paris – Sophisticated hotel in fashionable St. Germain des Pres • Casa Camper, Barcelona – Cutting edge hotel in arty El Raval neighborhood • Hotel Palazzo Vichy, Budapest – Classical meets contemporary • Hotel König von Ungarn, Vienna – Wonderful location, lovely, no two rooms the same • The Augustine, Prague – 13th c. monastery made into elegant hotel • Citadelle Vauban Hôtel, Belle-Île-en-Mer – A hotel within a 16th c. fortress; one of the most unique places I’ve stayed • Number 16, London – Gorgeous in S. Kensington; I would move in if I could • La Maison Bord’eaux, Bordeaux – Stylish boutique hotel in quiet street • InTuscany.net for rentals in Tuscany |
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Wallpaper Guides. My absolute favorite travel guides: Concise content with unique recommendations. At the back is a map, and pages for notes, which I use for adding other places I want to see. They also fit my top-of-the-list travel item criteria by being small and lightweight. |
 
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Moo cards. A British company, now in the U.S., with a fantastic product. Upload photos to the cards (business cards, postcards, greeting cards, stickers) or use their artwork. I’ve used Moo for many purposes, and can’t stop coming up with new ideas. |
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British Homes and Gardens. I’ve had an overseas subscription for at least 10 years. It always leads me to sources I wouldn’t have found otherwise. |
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Stationery. I am, and always have been, a stationery fanatic. When I lived in New York, it was engraved from Tiffany’s…pale blue with steel blue ink. Now I have a flat, heavy, white card with bisque lettering from Crane & Co., ordered online at finestationery.com. The font is always all caps…it just doesn’t look right any other way. |
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Fresh flowers. Grab whatever is in season at the grocery store or farmer’s market when you’re there. Remove all the leaves, trim the stems to the same length, pop into a vase, jar, bottle, or whatever is the right size for the flowers. These are peonies from the farmer’s market. Instant happiness. |
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Cashmere throws. I love things that are decorative AND functional. Nothing better than wrapping up in cashmere, and even better when it’s on the back of your chair in easy reach. I particularly like Pür cashmere’s signature waterwave throw…comes in twenty beautiful colors.
purcashmere.com or call 800-225-9157 to find a store in your area that sells them. |
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Window treatments. Romans, rollers, blinds, and drapes. The Shade Store is easy and affordable for good quality custom window treatments. There’s showrooms in New York and San Francisco, but online ordering is a snap. |
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Scented candles. Aromatherapy for everyday life…there’s something soothing about the waft of floral scent as you’re going about your day. My favorites are Diptyque’s Gardenia and Jo Malone’s Lime Blossom.
diptyqueparis.com |
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Staple paint colors • Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC 20: From Off-White collection; pale putty with subtle hint of gray • Benjamin Moore Elmira White HC 84: From Historical Collection; soft, inviting neutral • Benjamin Moore Gray Owl 2137-60: Warm velvety gray • Benjamin Moore Sea Haze 2137-50: Muted mid-tone warm gray • Benjamin Moore Aura White: Hard finish white with low VOC; great for trim and furniture • Farrow and Ball All White 2005: Best “white white” with no visible underlying tints • Sherwin Williams Warm Stone 7032: Pale soft khaki |
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Tea. Nothing to do with travel or design, but nonetheless a necessary provision…strong and with milk. PG Tips to be exact…yes, it’s British, but you can get it at most large supermarkets. (I must say, I never get tired of my Bridgewater pottery mugs from England. This is the “Toast & Marmalade” pattern.) |
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