1. Design Fairs

Denise Ashmore and friend

Furniture lines and materials stick with me whenever I travel to a design show— I still specify Squid linen products from the Biennale Interieur expo in Kortrijk, Belgium—but it’s also about the lifelong friendships I’ve made during these trips. Those friends continue to support my work and feed my creative energy. 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen is next on my list!

2. Hotel Lobbies

Ace hotel lobby

I frequent the Ace and other design-oriented boutique hotels whenever I can—even if I’m not staying there, I like to grab a drink in their lobby or dinner at their restaurant. The spaces are often inspired from a design perspective and attract like-minded guests and visitors who are interesting to chat with, and I love how they function day and night with a consistent concept and mood.

3. Learning to Cook

I don’t always succeed, but I love the sense of completion with the effort involved in hosting friends and family. Last summer I visited a cooking school created by Vancouver ex-pat Julia Marr and her partner, Francesco Creanza: Everyone at the Table in the town of Altamura in Puglia, Italy. It was nothing short of amazing. I cannot wait for their cookbook to come out.

4. Wandering

I am a curious traveller and I love the experience of just happening across places and exploring new cities. Matera, Italy, was my latest discovery: it’s a UNESCO heritage site. Be sure to stay at least one night so you can experience the limestone streets when they’re quiet and witness the sunset at this amazing historic site.

5. Art Installations

I was lucky enough to tour interior designer and art collector Axel Vervoordt’s planned residential community Kanaal in Belgium: an industrial site that was converted into a live-work community. There are permanent galleries, green spaces and architectural curiosities—and  I still refer to it today in my work.