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A House Beautiful report asked designers to name U.S. destinations they value for sourcing distinctive interiors and highlighted Portland, Atlanta, Santa Fe, New Orleans and Nashville. Their recommendations range from maritime memorabilia and antiques to Native American pieces, contemporary art and historic architecture; the list is expert guidance, not a ranking or measured travel survey.
House Beautiful has highlighted five U.S. cities and regions that designers recommend for sourcing distinctive home furnishings, art and architectural inspiration: Portland, Maine; Atlanta; Santa Fe; New Orleans; and Nashville. The report, based on comments from interior designers, offers an alternative to more familiar design-shopping itineraries, but does not rank the destinations or provide comparative visitor data.
The recommendations reflect different kinds of design shopping. In Portland, Maine, designer Jennifer Hunter points to early American maritime memorabilia and folk art, drawing on the city’s coastal culture and surroundings. In Atlanta, Laura Jenkins of Laura W. Jenkins Interiors says visitors often overlook the city’s vintage and antiques market. She recommends Westside Modern for mid-century furniture, Scott Antique Market for browsing, and Peachtree Battle Antiques for selected finds.
Santa Fe appeals to designer Jessica Alpert for its mix of vintage objects, textiles, pottery and art, including pieces connected with Native American traditions. Alpert describes the appeal as finding items that feel handmade and individual. Her comments are a designer’s perspective; the report does not detail the provenance of particular objects or assess how sellers represent them.
In New Orleans, designer Sarah Stacey highlights architecture as well as shopping, from French Quarter townhouses and courtyards to Garden District mansions and colorful Bywater homes. She names Consign Consign, Ferrara Showman Gallery and Fireside Antiques, the last of which is in Baton Rouge and requires a day trip. Jenkins recommends several Nashville-area stops: Copper Fox Gallery in Leiper’s Fork, antique and design shops in Nashville proper, and shops in historic Franklin. Her picks include Eneby Home, which is by appointment only.
Where Designers Source Distinctive Finds
The guide gives readers a practical way to connect travel with interior design sourcing, showing that useful stops can lie beyond a city’s best-known attractions. It also makes clear that “design destination” can mean more than a cluster of showrooms: the recommendations include historic buildings, galleries, antique markets and smaller communities outside major downtowns.
For travelers, the details can help shape a more focused itinerary, especially when seeking vintage furniture, art or regional craft. The recommendations are subjective and do not establish that these places are less visited than other destinations. They are best read as named designers’ suggestions, rather than a definitive ranking or guarantee of what a visitor will find.
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Five Places, Five Sourcing Styles
The article is a travel-and-design guide, not an announcement of a new market, event or industry study. Its central development is the publication of a list assembled from interviews with designers about places they personally value for sourcing and inspiration. It does not include a survey methodology, sales figures or a comparison of tourism levels.
The locations offer notably different material. Portland is associated in Hunter’s comments with maritime antiques and folk art; Atlanta with vintage and mid-century shopping; Santa Fe with textiles, pottery and art; New Orleans with architecture and layered interiors; and the Nashville area with galleries, antiques and eclectic retail. These distinctions come from the designers’ recommendations, not an independently verified inventory of each city’s shops.
“Atlanta may be known as a design hub (we have ADAC after all), but I think it is often underrated in terms of people traveling here for vintage and antiques.”
— Laura Jenkins, Laura W. Jenkins Interiors, as quoted by House Beautiful
Native American textiles and pottery
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What the Guide Does Not Establish
The report does not say how the five destinations were selected, whether designers were asked to name places they considered under-the-radar, or how that label was defined. It provides no ranking, visitor figures or market data to show that these locations are less known or less visited than other design destinations.
It is also unclear whether every named shop is currently open, what inventory is available, or whether opening hours and appointment policies have changed since publication. The source specifically says Eneby Home is by appointment only and places Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge; visitors should confirm details directly before making plans. The article does not verify the provenance of individual antiques, artworks or culturally significant objects.
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Check Shop Details Before Visiting
Readers planning a trip can use the designer suggestions as a starting point, then check each shop’s current hours, location, appointment rules and stock. For destinations involving multiple communities—especially the Nashville-area stops and the Baton Rouge day trip from New Orleans—travel time and transport are worth checking before building an itinerary.
The source material does not identify a follow-up report or a forthcoming design event tied to the list. The practical next step is to contact retailers directly and confirm the availability and background of any specific items of interest.
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Key Questions
Which five destinations does the report recommend?
It names Portland, Maine; Atlanta; Santa Fe; New Orleans; and the Nashville area. The recommendations come from designers quoted by House Beautiful.
Where does the guide recommend shopping for antiques in Atlanta?
Laura Jenkins recommends Westside Modern, Scott Antique Market and Peachtree Battle Antiques. She describes Atlanta as an often-overlooked destination for vintage and antiques.
What does the report say makes Santa Fe distinctive for design?
Designer Jessica Alpert cites a mix of vintage items, Native American pieces, textiles, pottery and art. The report does not independently verify the provenance of specific objects.
Are all the recommended shops in the named cities?
No. Fireside Antiques is in Baton Rouge, according to the report, and is described as a day trip from New Orleans. The report also recommends stops across Nashville, Leiper’s Fork and Franklin.
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