There is something about traveling that makes you look at design differently.

On a recent trip, I found myself doing what I always do—stopping to photograph old stone walls, colorful doors, balconies, flowers, pottery and architectural details that most people probably walk right past.

I suppose an interior designer never completely goes on vacation.

Beauty Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

One of the things I loved most was how naturally everything seemed to work together.

Centuries-old stone wasn’t perfectly uniform. Walls showed their age. Flowers grew freely over buildings. A bright door appeared against a quiet limestone façade.

Nothing felt overly coordinated—and yet it was beautiful.

It reminded me that some of the most interesting homes aren’t the ones where everything is new and perfectly matched. They are the ones with layers, personality and a little history.

Sometimes One Detail Is Enough

I kept noticing how one small element could completely change a space. A colorful door. A beautiful iron detail. Hand-painted pottery against an old stone wall.

None of these were complicated design statements, but you noticed them.

It’s something I often think about when designing a home. We don’t always need to add more. Sometimes we need to choose one beautiful detail and give it room to be noticed.

This is especially true when renovating an older home. Instead of removing everything that makes the house unique, sometimes the better design decision is to decide what is worth keeping—and then build the new design around it.

Nature Is Part of the Design

The landscape was another source of inspiration.

Trees creating natural canopies, enormous hydrangeas and flowers spilling over old stone walls made the architecture feel softer and more alive.

When planning a home renovation, I think the same way about the relationship between indoors and outdoors. What you see through a window, where natural light enters a room and how the house connects to the landscape can be just as important as the furniture and finishes inside.

Creating a Home With Character

Travel doesn’t make me want to recreate another place in someone’s Connecticut home.

Quite the opposite. It reminds me to look for what makes that particular home and the people living there interesting:

Whether I’m working on an interior design project, kitchen renovation or whole-home renovation here in Connecticut, that philosophy stays the same: A beautiful home should feel collected and personal—not simply decorated.

Bringing the Inspiration Home

The best homes, just like the most memorable places we visit, have a personality of their own.

And yes, even on vacation, the ASR team is apparently still looking at walls, doors, flowers and architectural details.

I can’t help myself … 🤍

~ Anna