The Art of the Souvenir: How to Bring Your Travels Home
Summer has me dreaming of strolling along the Seine. I can see it clearly: the uneven cobblestone, the sunbathers, the wine enthusiasts. I’m thinking of the locals in the park below the Eiffel Tower, passing time with a bottle of wine, a fresh baguette, and a block of cheese from their version of a neighborhood bodega.
Sitting on my couch, my eyes drift to one of my favorite tokens from a past trip to Paris. It’s a simple watercolor print I bought from a local artist for only 10 Euro. I could spend all day strolling along the river, watching as watercolorists and street artists create and sell their work. This piece captures that specific feeling of being there—not just looking at a postcard, but feeling the city's pulse.
The Evolution of My Home
That print has spent years hanging over an armchair of mine—a chair that was, frankly, a bit of a design mistake. It was covered in a heavy "French and Parisian" font fabric that I thought was charming at the time. We live and we learn!
While the chair didn't last, that frame—and the art inside—did. It taught me the importance of how to best bring a city we love into our home. It wasn’t about buying the pre-printed souvenir at the airport; it was about framing a piece of the city's soul.
My next project? I’m finally tackling this horseshoe. It’s a gift Andy brought me back from Mount Aconcagua . It’s been waiting for the right moment, and I’m ready to turn it into a display piece.
A Plea to the Travelers
As your summer begins—whether it’s a staycation exploring a new neighborhood or an adventure to a place you’ve never been—I have a request.
Before you duck into the gift shop or grab a trinket at the airport, I plead with you to pause. Consider what you see and how it could become your new favorite decor piece. A memento that will, years later, slip you back to that summer, that place, that time. Think of the smell of the air, the people you were with, and the way the light hit the pavement.
Look for the true masterpieces, not the mass-produced plastic.
Support Local (Even at Home)
You don't always have to travel to find these treasures, either. Just the other day, outside the temporarily closed Trader Joe’s on 72nd and Amsterdam (don't worry, they’re just renovating!), an artist was selling his paintings.
I’ve become familiar with him, but I hadn’t seen this particular series before—he was specializing in the Upper West Side, and it was beautiful. He caught my attention, and I almost bought a print, but I was rushing. I didn't want to make a split-second decision; I want to give the time to pick the right one. But mark my words: I’ll be back. I think I’ve found the perfect Father’s Day gift.
When we fill our homes with things that have a story, our homes begin to tell our story, too.
What’s the one souvenir you’ve bought that actually made it into your "permanent collection"? Let me know in the comments—I’m looking for inspiration for my next trip!
