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A House Beautiful report highlights five U.S. destinations that designers recommend for distinctive antiques, art, textiles and architecture: Portland, Atlanta, Santa Fe, New Orleans and Nashville. The recommendations come from designers’ experiences and identify specific shops and neighborhoods, rather than ranking the cities or documenting a formal travel trend.
House Beautiful has highlighted five U.S. cities that designers recommend for sourcing distinctive home furnishings and seeing design beyond the usual tourist itinerary: Portland, Atlanta, Santa Fe, New Orleans and Nashville. The report offers designer recommendations for antiques, art, textiles and architecture, giving travelers specific places to browse while making clear that these are personal picks, not a ranked list or a measured survey of the design market.
In Portland, Maine, designer Jennifer Hunter points to early American maritime memorabilia and folk art. The recommendation connects the city’s coastal setting with objects that can bring a classic Americana feel into a home, while also giving travelers an alternative to strictly nautical souvenirs.
Atlanta is described by designer Laura Jenkins of Laura W. Jenkins Interiors as underappreciated for vintage and antiques, despite the city’s broader design profile and the presence of the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. Jenkins recommends Westside Modern for mid-century pieces, Scott Antique Market for browsing, and Peachtree Battle Antiques, where her team also selects finds through its auction house.
Designer Jessica Alpert recommends Santa Fe, New Mexico, for vintage objects, textiles, pottery and art, including items connected to Native American traditions. In New Orleans, Sarah Stacey urges visitors to look beyond food and music toward architecture, boutique hotels, antique furniture and contemporary art. Her suggestions include Consign Consign and Ferrara Showman Gallery in the French Quarter area; Fireside Antiques is in Baton Rouge, requiring a separate trip. Jenkins’s Nashville-area itinerary spans Leiper’s Fork, Nashville proper and historic Franklin, with stops including Copper Fox Gallery, Schumacher Design Shop, Eneby Home, Gallery 2o2 and White’s Mercantile. Eneby Home is by appointment only, according to the report.
Turning City Trips Into Design Finds
The guide gives design-minded travelers practical starting points for trips built around more than major landmarks. Its value lies in the specificity: named shops, neighborhoods and types of objects help readers plan where to look, while the designers’ comments explain what makes each place distinct. Portland’s maritime history, Santa Fe’s mix of textiles and pottery, and New Orleans’s architecture illustrate how local character can shape interiors.
For shoppers, the advice also signals that sourcing can involve different kinds of planning. Some recommendations are established markets or galleries; others are appointment-based, spread across neighboring towns or require a day trip. Readers should check current hours, inventory and access before traveling, since the report does not establish that every shop’s details remain unchanged.
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Five Cities, Different Design Strengths
The report is a designer-led destination guide, not a tourism study or a sales ranking. It draws on the stated preferences of Hunter, Jenkins, Alpert and Stacey, who describe places they visit or recommend for particular kinds of objects and visual references. The article does not provide comparative data on prices, availability, visitor numbers or the scale of each city’s antiques trade.
The recommendations also cover more than retail. New Orleans is presented through its townhouses, courtyards and district-specific architecture as well as its shops. Nashville’s suggestions extend beyond the city into nearby Leiper’s Fork and Franklin. Santa Fe’s appeal, as Alpert describes it, includes handmade and one-of-a-kind work that can make a room feel collected rather than overly arranged. These distinctions make the list useful as an itinerary prompt, but not a guarantee of what any visitor will find.
““Atlanta may be known as a design hub (we have ADAC after all), but I think it is often underrated in terms of people traveling here for vintage and antiques.””
— Laura Jenkins, Laura W. Jenkins Interiors
What the Guide Does Not Measure
The report does not specify its publication date in the supplied material, and it provides no ranking method or market data to verify that these are the country’s most overlooked design destinations. “Under the radar” is a characterization reflected in the designers’ recommendations, not a quantified finding. The article also does not report current prices, opening hours, stock levels or whether every named business continues to offer the cited goods and services.
Some descriptions reflect individual taste and experience. The report does not detail the provenance of specific objects or explain how Native American-made goods are identified, sourced or represented at particular sellers. Travelers interested in those items may want to ask vendors directly about maker, origin and cultural context. The timing and availability of markets and appointment-only visits should also be confirmed before planning.
Check Details Before You Travel
No follow-up announcement or additional reporting is included in the source material. For readers using the list to plan a trip, the immediate next step is to confirm shop details directly: check opening hours, appointment requirements, market dates and current inventory. Visitors can then build a route around the city or nearby towns that match their interests, with extra time for out-of-city stops such as Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge.
The recommendations are best treated as a starting point rather than a promise of particular finds. A shop’s stock can change, and the report does not say which pieces are available now. Travelers seeking specific antiques, art or culturally significant objects should ask about availability and provenance before making a special trip.
Key Questions
Which five destinations does the report recommend?
The report names Portland, Maine; Atlanta; Santa Fe; New Orleans; and Nashville, with some Nashville-area recommendations extending into nearby Leiper’s Fork and Franklin.
Which city does the report recommend for antiques?
Atlanta is highlighted for vintage and antiques by designer Laura Jenkins, who names Westside Modern, Scott Antique Market and Peachtree Battle Antiques. New Orleans and Nashville also have recommendations for antique shopping.
Where does the report suggest looking for art and textiles?
Designer Jessica Alpert recommends Santa Fe for a mix of vintage, textiles, pottery and art. In the Nashville area, Laura Jenkins points to Copper Fox Gallery in Leiper’s Fork for artwork.
Are all the recommended shops in the named cities?
No. The report says Fireside Antiques is in Baton Rouge, though Sarah Stacey recommends it as a day trip from New Orleans. Nashville-area recommendations also include Leiper’s Fork and Franklin.
Does the report rank these cities or confirm shop details?
No. It is a collection of designers’ recommendations, not a ranked survey. It does not confirm current hours, prices or inventory, so visitors should check with each business before traveling.
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