Aspire Design and Home | Designer Travels: Laurie Blumenfeld In Jodhpur, India

“Wish you could see the world through the lens of a designer? Our newest column ?Designer Travels ? will allow you to do just that. Follow along as our first contributor, interior designer Laurie Blumenfeld shares her expeditions, cultural experiences and international finds, and learn of the power travel has to influence interiors once one returns home.” – Aspire Design and Home

Read the first three installations here.

The lodgings…

We stayed at Sujan Luxury Camp Serai, an incredible luxury camp and spa in the Thar Desert that epitomizes elegance and luxury. It draws inspiration from the caravanserais of yore and its 21 tents are a medley of styles, each one beautifully furnished with en-suite luxurious bathrooms. There is a lovely infinity pool and beautiful outdoor dining options.

Must-sees for design and architecture enthusiasts…

Visit the desert fort, built of sandstone. It reflects the nuances of the sun throughout the day. It?s decorated in delicate Jali or lattice worked screens, carved doors and flora.

The havelis are a must-see and similar in style to the Venetian merchants? homes.

End the day with a sunset camel ride in the desert. The camel ride itself is exhilarating. Witnessing the ever-changing desert textures and colors as the sun sets is beyond inspiring.

Postcard moments…

We visted the village of the Manganiyar musicians, whose music has influenced forms as far as Spain where it traveled with nomads. This is an oral tradition that has been passed down through the generations and many of the instruments they play are unique, one-of-a-kind handmade pieces.

But the ultimate postcard moment was our sunset camel ride in the Thar Desert. The magnificent beauty of the sand dunes changing color as the sun set, combined with the indescribable feeling of being on a camel, it?s like being on top of the world!

Apres camel ride with a glass of bubbly; Unforgettable.

Next stop: Laurie concludes her trip in Jaipur…

– by Interior Designer Laurie Blumenfeld in Aspire Design and Home