This season has me thinking about the character of a room. Not the sort that can be ordered with next day shipping or manufactured to look old, but the kind that comes from a good story, a unique detail most might not notice or a material worth getting to know better. I’ve found myself drawn to things that bridge past and present: a new showroom filled with old treasures, a console with a new take on a decidedly Baroque attitude and something that I find never goes out of style, a good stripe. I even spent an afternoon getting acquainted with the creatures behind one of my favorite natural fibers and made it back in one piece from a whirlwind trip with The Ticking Tent’s first “on tour” shopping event in High Point. As it turns out, inspiration always has a way of turning up in unexpected places.

The Past Is Present: Autumn Sonata Opens in Tribeca

I have a weakness for a good reference library, particularly one where you can actually buy the references. So, I was intrigued by the new Tribeca showroom from Autumn Sonata, the textile brand founded by Lilli Elias. Located in a 1915 loft at 86 Walker Street, the appointment-only space brings together the brand’s collections with a wonderfully eclectic assortment of antiques and archival objects.

Korean ceramics, 17th-century Delftware, Japanese porcelain and rare books, the sort of things that make you want to cozy up on the sofa and stay awhile. Designed by Kirin Toyota O’Brien, the space seems less concerned with presenting a well-merchandised and coordinated collection than with revealing the many sources of inspiration behind it.

The best rooms (and showrooms, for that matter) aren’t built with a shoppable, retail-focused mentality, they come together through a certain point of view, curiosity and the occasional happy accident. I love the idea of a showroom that encourages you to look back at beautiful things before you make that purchase.

A Baroque State of Mind: Bunny Williams Home’s New Marcela Console

It’s not often that a single piece of furniture stops me in my tracks. Leave it to Bunny WIlliams to make a piece of furniture that feels both grand and completely at ease. The new Marcela console has the kind of sculptural silhouette that will catch anyone’s attention: generously curling supports, a chalky white finish and a faux-marble top that lends just enough formality.

There’s something wonderfully theatrical about its Baroque-inspired curves, and the proportions and restrained palette keep it from feeling overly designed or precious. I can picture it in an entryway beneath a gilt mirror, piled high with books in a library or even tucked behind a sofa with a pair of colorful lamps.

I’m particularly fond of furniture that can hold its own in a room. At $2,500, this piece feels like a clever way to introduce a little architectural drama and reminds me that not every item in a space needs to be an antique to have an old soul.

Shady Business: Antique Hunting at The Ticking Tent in High Point

Shopping is my favorite sport, and I had plenty of opportunities to exercise that particular muscle at The Ticking Tent’s recent High Point debut. The artisan and antiques market I co-founded brings together an eclectic mix of dealers, makers and one-of-a-kind finds, with the sort of treasure-hunting atmosphere that makes it nearly impossible to leave empty-handed.

My own spoils? A pair of antique silver-plated table lamps from Coleville Home, which I promptly paired with punchy pink lampshades from Pooky. I love the contrast between the traditional metal bases and the decidedly playful shades. It's exactly the sort of high-low, old-meets-new combination that makes decorating interesting. I've always maintained that the best antiques aren't necessarily the most valuable or pedigreed and sometimes you come home with something you hadn’t planned on buying, and you’re better for it.

Earn Your Stripes: The Enduring Appeal of a Soane Britain Stripe

I've never met a stripe I didn't like. From ticking, awning, mattress, pinstripe, each has its place, and I would argue that a room is almost always better for having one. Stripes are among the great workhorses of decorating. They can be tailored or relaxed, formal or playful, depending on their scale, color and company.

A recent sample delivery of Soane Britain's fabrics reminded me just how much variety exists within this seemingly simple pattern. The Sargent Stripe, inspired by textiles depicted in John Singer Sargent's portraits, has a refined, almost painterly quality. The Reynolds Stripe recalls an 18th-century sensibility, while the narrower Corded Stripe feels more casual and approachable.

My instinct is to use a stripe where you might otherwise reach for a solid, on an upholstered chair, a generous ottoman or a pair of curtains. It's an easy way to introduce pattern without overwhelming a room. And, unlike so many decorative trends, a good stripe never quite needs to ask for permission.

Coastal Not Cliché: Boheme’s Jetty Collection Launches

Like so many before me, I love a seaside interior, the sun-faded, slightly nostalgic rooms full of old furniture that looks good year-round. That spirit runs through Jetty, the inaugural furniture collection from Boheme, the studio founded by Christie Ward and Staver Gray.

The eight-piece collection draws on coastal destinations including Montauk, Nantucket and Portugal's Algarve, but thankfully avoids the usual nautical shorthand. Instead, the references come through in sculptural shapes, natural materials and a touch of vintage resort glamour.

The Algarve Chair is a standout, with its reeded white oak frame and striped upholstery from Le Manach. It's the sort of piece I'd happily bring into a city apartment, far from any beach. In fact, that's what I like most about Jetty. The collection captures the feeling of a place without requiring you to decorate around a theme. Summer is a state of mind, after all.

Are You Fibermaxxing? An Afternoon with Pollack, and Some Alpacas

Not every design outing involves a showroom. Recently, I joined Pollack creative director Rachel Dorris for a visit to an alpaca farm outside of New York City, where our hosts were considerably more interested in snacks than discussing the finer points of upholstery.

For someone who spends a great deal of time looking at fabrics, there's something refreshing about encountering a material at its source. Alpaca fiber is prized for its softness, warmth and lightness, qualities that are easy to appreciate in a finished textile but all the more compelling when you're standing beside the animal that produces it.

The visit also brought to mind Pollack's Luxe Alpaca, a textile that celebrates the tactile appeal of this remarkable fiber. We talk endlessly about color and pattern in decorating, but texture can be every bit as transformative. I find the most luxurious thing in a room is the one you want to reach out and touch.

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