Flea-Market Chic: An Airbnb Where Travel Mementos Take Center Stage
Interior designer Cortney Novogratz’s Berkshires Airbnb is filled with treasured finds from her family travels around the world.
Photographs by Jake Rosenberg/Coveteur
When the Novogratz family first bought its vacation home 17 years ago, it was dated, dark, and musty. “The first thing we did was paint the whole thing white to brighten it up,” says Cortney, whose husband, Robert, is also a designer. (The two, who now have seven kids, have hosted decorating shows on Bravo and HGTV.) “We wanted this home to be a sort of showplace for finds from our trips, and an all-white space is a blank canvas. You can add items in all kinds of colors, and they pretty much always work.”
It’s a smart strategy for a family of frequent travelers who always, always bring back furniture and objets — even if it entails an overseas plane ride with a 30-pound bubble-wrapped chandelier on your lap. “Hitting the flea market is the first thing we do in a new place. It shows you so much about an area. In England, my kids learned about cricket from the market. In Buenos Aires, it was polo. And in every country, you’ll find different types of china and glasses.” Not only do their buys evoke memories of their travels, but they also give their space a little spunk, says Cortney. “I love bringing in one-of-a-kind pieces so our home doesn’t look like everybody else’s.”
A Mirror Trekked Home from Germany
“The carvings on this piece are amazing. We found it at a market in Germany. We had the vendor wait until another customer wanted to send something to Massachusetts, and then we shared the container and cost.”
An Orange Bust of JFK
“We bought this heavy plaster JFK head at Uncommon Objects, an antiques store in Austin. We were in town for the South by Southwest festival. It was $20, and we painted it orange to stand out.”
Jewelry Box with Crystal Inside
“I found this display case in an antiques shop in Hudson, New York. Inside is a big amethyst from a groovy crystals store in Austin. I like the contrast of the sparkly crystal in a box with a beat-up patina.”
Magical Ship Light
“I once saw that Vivienne Westwood had a massive ship light like this, and I wanted one ever since. I finally found it at Uncommon Objects in Austin. It bounces light around the room.”
Gold Gnome
“We got this gnome at a tag sale in Connecticut. It was different colors, so we spray-painted it gold. If you find an item that’s gaudy but you like its shape, just paint it a solid color.”
Indonesian Daybed
“I tell our guests that the Brimfield Flea Market is a must-stop. It’s where the quilts and pillows on this Indonesian daybed are from. They’re all a little weathered in a great way, so I don’t get upset if they fade even more.”
“Beautiful books are like art. I group ours loosely by color. The framed photo is of my father-in-law. You’re not expecting art under a shelf, so it’s a fun surprise.”
The Animal Head
“My friend gave me this buffalo head when we visited her in Brooklyn. We add tinsel or a garland around his neck at Christmastime to make it even more whimsical.”
Red Chandelier
“This red fixture is from a flea market in Provence. I covered it with bubble wrap and held it on my lap for the entire plane ride home. I seek out chandeliers with good bones and a sculptural shape.”
Layered Bedding
“I grab quilts every time I go down south, where I’m from. They’re easy to layer on a bed. I never care if they’re matching or not.”
Kids-Choice Art Wall
“When my kids were little, they got cranky at markets. I suggested they collect something, and one of my daughters picked a painting of a woman. Over the years, she kept going with it: a woman from Mexico, another from India. Choose artwork with the same subject, and it all works together.”
Souvenir Pillows
“Every year we stay in a small fishing village in Brazil called Trancoso. We found these pillows at a boutique there, and they remind me of our family hanging out at the beach.”
Trophy
“The vintage trophy is from a store in Alexandria, Virginia. I treat trophies like cool containers — you can put scarves, flowers, bracelets, or almost anything in them.”
Artwork
“Bob found this piece on Artspace.com. We hung it here so you can see it from the kitchen, dining area, and living room. We love the colors, which tie in to the stools.”
Sturdy-but-fun Stools
“These seats are from the Clignancourt, which has literally everything. We picked them for the colors and because they were solid, not wobbly.”
Festive Bar Area
“The cart was a steal at a Berkshires tag sale. The wine rack is from a flea market in Germany. I backed it with wood to mount it. When we have parties, I fill some holes with flowers.”
Never too Many Chandeliers
“This blue-gem fixture is from a market held on Mondays in Nice, France, near the airport. We spent a summer in Nice, and I made my visiting friends fly in on a Monday so we could shop, then swing by to get them.”
Mix and Match Chairs
“We have a big family, so our chairs had to be slim. I found two different sets at a Berkshires antiques shop. One is brown leather and the other is white pleather, but they’re a similar style from the same era, so they look good together.”
A Dining Table You Can Dance On
“We found this zinc and pewter table at the Porte de Clignancourt market in Paris. It’s from an old factory, so there’s writing on top. We dance on it. It won’t ever break.”
About the author: Betsy Goldberg is the deputy editor (Home) of Airbnb Magazine. Previously she was the deputy editor of Real Simple and HGTV Magazine, editorial content director at Bed Bath & Beyond, and an editor at UsWeekly, Modern Bride, and New York Magazine. She is co-author of BusinessWeek’s Guide to the Best Business Schools. Her writing has also appeared in Glamour, Health, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Money.
