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| John heads into Barcelona's Els Encants Vells flea market to scope the wares. |
As you might know, I am not only the global lifestyle editor at Delta Sky magazine, but I am also one half of the Brooklyn-based interior design firm Madcap Cottage that I co-run with my partner John Loecke.
We cull much of our inspiration at Madcap Cottage from the worlds of music, food, fashion and film. Right now I am having a total Lana del Rey moment and am lapping up Salma Hayek’s deliciously chic drug-baron character in the movie Savages. The etsy-ish décor at Minneapolis’ Bachelor Farmer restaurant sends me reeling, and don’t even get me started on a fragrance such as Carnal Flower from Frederic Malle and the glorious pleasures of bespoke L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bags.
But it’s travel that really gets our juices flowing. We are so lucky to hit the road for weeks on end, and we come back to NYC with endless ideas captured upon our iPhones and iPads.
There’s nothing better than a delicious jaunt to open your eyes, whether it’s high end or low or anything in between. I love a funky restaurant and give me a one-off hotel that boasts gorgeous service and a spirit of place. Off-the-beaten-path museums are magical, and jazz clubs give me fever. And I go ga-ga for a good gin joint.
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| Bric-a-brac finds cover tables and sit along the pavement at the Els Encants flea market. |
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| The contrast between the tumbledown buildings in the Els Encants market and nearby skyscrapers such as the sleek-chic, Jean Nouvel-designed Torre Agbar is remarkable. |
John and I are also huge fans of flea markets. We always high tail it to the local bric-a-brac brouhaha whether we are in Sarasota, Florida, or Marrakech. You can snap up the most sublime finds at the most amazing prices at a flea market. It’s also a wonderful way to sniff out trends and engage in a conversation with the local vendors. The fabled Marche aux Puces in Paris allows me to practice my French, and I have become friends with a few of the stall keepers at Portobello Road and Old Spitalfields Market in London.
When John and I were in Barcelona last week, we paid a visit to the eclectic and wonderful Els Encants Vells flea market. It takes place each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in a quickly gentrifying neighborhood near the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Els Encants has something for everyone, whether you seek a new toilet or a mattress or vintage clothing. Happily, the market also has gobs of vintage decorative finds. John and I spent half a day digging about and pawing through the dross and the divine.
So next time you travel, visit the local flea market. You’ll get to experience a city in an entirely new way.