Wanderlust Windows

How I Collect Interior Dreams in French & Italian Shops

Hello lovely readers,

Let me take you on a little journey — not to a faraway beach (though we’ll pass a few!) — but to the narrow cobbled streets of France and the sun-drenched piazzas of Italy (or any sweet little village I visit in the world), where I indulge in one of my absolute favorite travel rituals: Window Look Shopping.

Yes, it’s a thing (at least I made it one). No, it doesn’t involve buying. But oh, it involves feeling. Dreaming. And lots and lots of staring.

Why I Fall in Love with Shop Windows (and Beyond)

Forget the big chains and glossy shopping malls. My heart beats faster when I pass those tiny, often slightly dusty, old-world shops where the styling is poetry and the windows whisper stories.

A row of vintage linen aprons. A rustic olive jar perched casually on an antique bench. An old vase with a single whimsical bare branch holding three little doves while in the background a enchanted vintage mirror catching the light.

I pause. I sigh. I snap a photo. And just like that — a new idea for a room is born.

But don’t stop at the window! The real magic begins when you step inside. Let yourself be surprised by how these charming little boutiques present their treasures. The careful chaos. The deliberate mess. The way an old weathered chair turns into an eyecatcher, or how art is displayed under a large bell jar.

That’s the true styling lesson. And trust me: it’s contagious.

Window Look Shopping = Soul Shopping

This kind of window shopping isn’t about things. It’s about mood. Texture. Patina. I call it soul shopping — because it fills me up without spending a dime (well… not immediately).

You stroll slowly. You let yourself feel the space. You admire how the faded tiles compliment the huge glass vases cradled in iron baskets.

These are the looks that make my heart do a little happy skip. And later — when I’m home again and decorating — those visuals echo in my mind like a sweet summer song.

How You can Bring these Ideas Home

You don’t need to fly to France (though I highly recommend it). Here’s how you can turn inspiration into action:

Take mental snapshots When something catches your eye — ask yourself why you love it.

Is it the light? The layering? The mix of materials?

Use your camera or phone Looking at a scene through a lens helps you notice shape, space, and balance in a whole new way. I often take a quick photo (always with the consent of the shop owner), then review it later — and suddenly see a detail that sparks a fresh idea.

Recreate the feeling, not the whole look Spotted a corner with soft linen, terracotta tones, and fresh baked bread? Bring that mood to life using what you have — maybe a sand-colored pillow, some old bread boards, and a sprig of olive branch from your garden.

Visit your local thrift stores or flea markets I often spot very similar pieces at secondhand shops, for a fraction of the price. It’s like bringing home a slice of Tuscany or Provence without the airfare!

Be a sneaky suitcase stylist And yes… guilty as charged. I’ve wrapped ceramics in laundry, stuffed baskets into bags, and smuggled tiny stools home. Everything becomes décor and a memory.

Style Travels Never End

Even when the trip is over, the styling stories continue. Because some treasures? They stay with you forever.

I’ve dragged home weathered driftwood from beaches, tucked stones in my suitcase like souvenirs, and found joy in styling with these items once back home.

And don’t even get me started on the XXL glass dome that now lives proudly in my home, constantly changing scenes — one season it shelters an old bird’s nest, the next it might display my golden sparkled buddha statue that's been displayed in many corners of my home.

Every item has a little story. A whisper of the place it came from. And now, it becomes part of my story — my home’s story.

Two Cameras, One Friendship, and a Whole Lot of Door Handles

I can still see us—my best friend Beverly and me—two creative souls on a mission, wandering the dreamy little streets of Langley on Whidbey Island or the fairytale lanes of Brugge in Belgium. DSLRs dangling from our necks like we're official style scouts, we weren’t out to splurge (well… not always). No, we were on a visual treasure hunt.

We’d snap anything that sparked joy: beautifully styled corners in shops, quirky door handles, baskets of lavender casually leaning against a wall, or those utterly charming shopfronts with their perfectly placed pots and tumbling plants and let's not forget the ancient doorhandles at the entrance . We'd giggle about how “we’re just documenting for research,” which was only half a lie—we totally used those photos. She’d swirl them into her color palettes for her amazing colorful paintings, while I’d use them as fuel for photography projects or to guide my styling eye.

Half the time we’d end up with aching feet, hundreds of photos, and possibly some chocolate delights tucked in our bags “for later” (that never lasted more than five minutes). It was creative play at its finest—joyful, curious, and filled with that shared spark only thát best friend brings.

Final thought: Let the World Be Your Moodboard

If you’re redecorating, styling, or just feeling stuck — take a little visual vacation. Whether it’s in real life, through travel, or online (hello, Pinterest rabbit holes!) — gather the moments that make you 'feel something'.

Then bring a little of that magic into your space. One vintage French jug at a time. One olive green velvet cushion. One whimsical ceramic you didn’t know you needed (but absolutely did).

So next time you’re strolling down a dreamy street — in Volterra - Italy, Avignon - France, or maybe just your own town — slow down. Let your eyes wander. Let your heart wander too.

And who knows… your next perfect interior idea might be sitting in a window, just waiting to be found.

With love from behind the glass (and inside the shop),

Love, Dagmar

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