Explore Regensburg, Germany with The Design Tourist

In this episode of The Design Tourist, host Karen LeBlanc travels to Regensburg, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage to explore the link between the city’s culture and creativity through its architecture, art and handicrafts. We’ll shop the city’s many artisan stores and regional handicrafts at its famous Christmas Markets and learn about Regensburg’s Bavarian history […]
Emotional Collecting Emerges as Top Trend at Miami Art Week

Collectors bring curiosity to a week of Miami art fairs making emotional connections and purchases. Miami Art Week takes place Dec. 3-8, 2019 with more than 80,000 collectors, curators and art enthusiasts attending art fairs anchored around Art Basel Miami Beach. The defining trend of this art fair frenzy is the concept of emotional collecting, […]
Miami Art Week Highlights: Artist Interviews and Art Collecting Trends

Join The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc as she takes you on a whirlwind tour of Miami Art Week, hitting all the major art shows and fairs to check out the latest trends in art collecting and interview artists doing cutting edge work. From Art Basel, the marquee event, to Miami Art Week’s many satellite shows, […]
Urban Art Destination: The Wynwood District, Miami

During the week of Art Basel Miami Beach, the city is electric with creative energy. All around the Wynwood district, street artists are at work painting buildings with new murals for Wynwood Mural Fest. Wynwood Walls is like a street art museum, free and open to anyone who wants to walk around and admire […]
Art that Atones South Africa’s Apartheid Past

Miami Art Week 2019 Meet the Artist: Experience the Art Series The Artist: Ralph Ziman The Idea: Humanitarian Art That Reconciles South’s Africa’s Apartheid Past The Art: The Casspir Project An overarching theme to the creative works that intrigued me during Miami Art Week was about a hyperawareness of social issues. Artwork with a confessional quality […]
The iPorn Art of Michael Seri

Miami Art Week 2019 Meet the Artist: Experience the Art Series The Artist: Michael Seri The Idea: Social Commentary on Our Addiction to Smart Devices and Social Media The Art: iPorn Dress Miami Art Week blurs the lines between art, design and fashion for new creative expressions that start conversations, precisely the point of provocative art. […]
The Ceramic Scenography of Artist Andrea Mancuso

Miami Art Week 2019 Meet the Artist: Experience the Art Series The Artist: Andrea Mancuso The Idea: Stimulate Curiosity by Juxtaposing the Familiar with the Unexpected The Art: Metamorphosis In my Meet the Artist: Experience the Art Series from my visit to Miami Art Week, I introduce you to the work of Italian Designer Andrea Mancuso. […]
Highlights From Red Dot Miami and Spectrum Miami

With dozens of art fairs and shows Miami Art Week competing for my attention, it’s impossible to attend and experience every art, fashion and entertainment event. Shows extend from Miami Beach, anchored around Art Basel Miami, the mothership of all art fairs, and spread throughout downtown Miami and Wynwood District. My strategy is to experience […]
The Neon Art of Ilan Neuwirth

Miami Art Week 2019 Meet the Artist: Experience the Art Series The Artist: Ilan Neuwirth The Idea: Spreading Joy by Illuminating the Beauty of Found Objects The Art: Neon infused Pop Art At the Red Dot Miami Art Fair, the glowing, whimsical works of Miami based pop artist, Ilan Neuwirth caught my eye, piquing my curiosity. […]
What You Need to Know About Visiting London

What I Wish I Knew About London Before Traveling: Random Facts and Useful Travel Tips I Learned about London Traveling teaches me a lot about myself— the things that pique my curiosity and stir my soul and the way I handle discomfort. For many of us, being out of our comfort zone reveals much about […]
Top European destinations for Budget Travelers

Some of Europe’s Most Expensive Cities are Surprisingly Cheap for Travelers Omio, Europe’s leading booking platform for travel by train, bus, and flight, has released a ranking of Europe’s most budget friendly-cities to visit. The cities were ranked according to the number of free attractions, tours, events, Wi-Fi hotspots, accommodation, and drinkable tap water. The […]
Healdsburg, California, The Hospitality Heart of Sonoma County Wine Country

I traveled to Healdsburg, California, to discover why it’s called the Hospitality Heart of Sonoma County Wine Country and an Epicurean Eden. Healdsburg has an enviable location, along the Russian River, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, surrounded by several wine regions. The town is a convenient base to explore vineyards and wineries in Sonoma […]
The American Writers Museum: Chicago’s Literary Treasure

A Must See Museum for the Literary Tourist While staying in Chicago on a two-day business trip, I had one free morning to sightsee. With so much to see and so little time to do so, I was faced with an anxiety-inducing decision. I wanted an experience off the beaten path of well-trodden tourist attractions […]
Modern-ish, The Latest Iteration of Contemporary Style

Most of you know that I express my passion for design as both as Design Journalist and a Decorator. I’m always on the hunt for the latest looks and trends to keep you up to date on the ever-evolving world of style. When it comes to my personal home, I try to stay current and […]
On Location with Wellborn Cabinet Inc at KBIS 2018

https://youtu.be/NbBT2y4rNOw The Design Tourist explores the latest looks & trends in kitchen and bath design from Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. Check out new design ideas and product launches revealed at KBIS from Wellborn Cabinet Inc. including coplanar doors, three-toned wood cabinets, glass face cabinets, frameless cabinets, the retro-mod look and much more.
Make Your Dream Trip a Reality— With the Help of Airbnb

You’ve no doubt seen the blissful treehouses, fairy-tale castles, and chic apartments available on Airbnb, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably bookmarked a few as travel inspiration. The home-sharing website is famous for inspiring fantasy vacations, but did you know it can also help you save for that dream trip? Getting started Airbnb […]
ICFF Luxury Design Finds & Trends

What’s new and next in luxury interiors. Cool products and design finds from the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. Automotive Inspired Furniture: Sleek, sexy yet masculine, the coveted Lamborghini sports car becomes the muse for a furniture collection by the lifestyle company Tonino Lamborghini. Arm chair drivers can immerse themselves in […]
Tiny Home Tour for Big Style in Small Spaces

The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc takes us on a tour of three tiny homes at the Coverings Show in Orlando, Florida full of tile design ideas to live stylishly in small spaces. The three tiny homes are part of the installation design showcase during Coverings that brings together designers and tile installers to show how […]
Simpson Door Company Debuts New Designs for Curb Appeal & Interior Style

Simpson Door Company debuts several new interior and exterior doors that elevate the curb appeal and interior style of any home including on-trend pivot doors, weather-resistant designer doors in fashion forward colors and updated flush doors. Join The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc as she takes you inside The New American Home, the official show home […]
Wellborn Cabinet Shares Kitchen & Bath Trends

Join The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc as she explores the latest kitchen and bath trends with Wellborn Cabinet Inc., including the tri-tone kitchen and Wellborn’s new Aspire Cabinetry, a seamless, no handles collection of soft open and close storage that speaks to the latest looks in modern kitchens.
Armstrong Flooring Debuts Diamond Particle Collection

Armstrong Flooring launches its new Vivero Collection of Flooring made of cultured diamond particles in 33 True-to-Life Colors. Vivero with Diamond 10 Technology is 100 percent waterproof so no swelling or buckling with planks are exposed to water. Watch as The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc puts Vivero with Diamond 10 technology to the test against […]
Rising Design Star Bobby Berk’s Big Reveal at Coastal Shower Doors

Rising Design Star & HGTV Personality Bobby Berk reveals his new collection of fashion-forward shower doors for Coastal Shower Doors. Berk talks with The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc about his inspiration for these functional works of art that turn the shower door into the focal point in the bath. Coastal Shower Doors is a […]
Historic Stetson Mansion, A Must See for Holiday Decor Ideas

In this episode of The Design Tourist, host Karen LeBlanc travels to Deland, Florida for a tour of the historic Stetson Mansion, elaborately decorated for the holidays. Every year, owners Michael Solari and J.T. Thompson invite the public inside for a visual extravaganza of Christmas decor that J.T. single-handedly designs and creates to celebrate the […]
Holiday Tour of Historic Stetson Mansion

Destination Design: Art Basel Miami Beach

Art Basel Article written by Karen LeBlanc for Orange Appeal