Enchanting elements of design are found all over the world, in beautiful homes, historic sites and, of course, the galleries of my favorite instagram accounts.
I took a peek under the hood of these fabulous galleries by asking the curators a few questions about what makes them tick. I didn’t expect to acquire so many tidbits of wisdom along the way, and chances are, you’ll find yourself saying “no way, me too” a lot.
The images posted by these photographers, designers, publications, and arbiters of style are guaranteed to have you swooning. So go ahead, it’s the perfect occasion to get sucked into another instagram black hole, filled with beautiful design from all around the globe. Here are the 11 of my favorites, in no particular order!
1. Antoine With @versaillesadness_
Versaillesadness is an Instagram account dedicated to the Palace of Versailles and to architecture in general, especially from the 17th century to the 19th century. This account provides a gallery of the best pictures of palaces, opera houses, libraries and other interesting places.
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
My Instagram account was created in July 2016, but Versaillesadness is actually older. It all started on Tumblr 6 years ago. After reaching more than 60.000 followers I decided to move to Instagram, which is the best platform for me. This account is the reflection of my passion for the Palace of Versailles, (and places like it) that I’ve had since I was a child. And I always wanted to find an account with this kind of content but I never found it, so I created it!
What would you do if you had a time machine?
There are so many things that I would like to do. I think I could never get enough. But if I had the chance to only go to a particular point in history, I would go to the year 1686 when Versailles became the official royal residence of Louis XIV. The palace was not finished yet and looked really different from today. In this time there were a lot of parties, especially in the gardens, and the whole world wanted to be at Versailles.
What animal is your spirit animal and why?
I never really thought about it, but I think the owl could be my spirit animal. It’s mysterious, it’s often alone and it lives during the night. And it’s also associated with dreams and as a dreamy person, it perfectly fits my personality.
What’s the one thing, you can’t live without?
Well, this question is pretty complicated! This one thing is not a particular object. I think it would be music. I listen to music all the time and I like almost every style of music. Music, just like books or movies, is a way to escape from reality, to be somewhere else. And I’m absolutely convinced that music can help a lot on emotional issues. For example, when I listen to classical music (and more precisely to Tchaikovsky) I feel like I’m closer to my own feeling. I know it sounds weird but this is how I feel the music!
What is your favorite way to unwind on the weekends?
My favorite way to unwind on the weekends is to take time for myself, I like when things go slowly. I often make myself a cup of tea, then I pick a good book. If I’m not reading I’m probably playing The Sims. In fact, I’ve been a huge fan of the Sims for more than 10 years. I’m a really creative person and as I like architecture, this game is just perfect for me. I like to spend hours building my dream palace!
2. Fiona Scott With @scot7
Fiona Scott is a London based antique dealer specialising in decorative items, gifts and pictures.
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
I love beautiful ‘things’ and as an antique dealer was keen to see what other people were selling – I started my instagram account for fun and then realised what a powerful ‘tool’ it is.
What was the last gift you gave someone?
The ‘gift’ I bought most recently was a wedding present – an antique set of 3 hand-painted French jugs in various sizes – so pretty!
What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike?
Things that annoy me include – Nobody writes ‘thank you’ letters any more albeit you might get a text?! Travelling on UK trains – you’d be cheaper buying a fabulous plane ticket! People eating very LOUDLY in a cinema – you’re sat beside them and there’s nothing you can do! People clutching mobile’s during dinner and endless checking messages – the ‘young’ things in my life are the worst!
What’s your favorite line from any movie?
Play it again Sam’ – Bogart’s supposed line from the 1942 movie Casablanca – albeit the actual quote in the movie is ‘Play it, Sam’….
If your house were burning down, what object would you make sure to grab and why?
If my house were burning down – I’d grab a ‘teddy-bear’ which my grandmother bought when I was born – it’s as old as me!
3. Anthony With @zioandsons:
Zio and Sons is a creative company with focus on design, photography, and travel. Founded by Anthony D’Argenzio. We are also creators of @ThisOldHudson. Design by Zio & Sons – the rental property is available for photo shoots and weekend stays, located upstate in Historic Hudson.
How would you describe your instagram style?
Vintage modern , curated, old -world inspired, casual luxury, texture driven.
If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?
Sleep! Image all that wasted time. Time is the most valuable thing.
What are your pet peeves or an interesting thing that you dislike?
Pet peeves include: copy-cats, inpatient people, drama.
What’s your go to website when you’re bored to kill time? (not instagram)
Remodelista for inspo and Trulia for a little house stalking.
What’s your favorite material object that you already own?
Hmm I would say the work we put into creating This Old Hudson. But more specially. I love my collection of vintage artworks. Years of sourcing from all over the world. I love my collection of vintage “women portraits”, going up our staircase at This Old Hudson. They all tell a unique story… I like to imagine the lives they lived, I even name them!
4. Dunes with @dunesdoons:
Visual gratification curated by the anonymous Dunes, who has an exquisite eye for worldly design.
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
It really started out of fun. I was using Instagram’s bookmark feature and thought that the images I was saving looked aesthetically pleasing collectively as a whole. I thought perhaps others might enjoy it, too, so I thought why not start an account so I can share my ‘mood-board’ so to speak.
What’s your go to website when you’re bored to kill time?
There are a few! Condé Nast Traveler – I love traveling so I use it as both a mental escape and a resource for planning any upcoming trips. I so wish I had Yolanda Edwards’ job! Byrdie, Into the Gloss and Vogue’s Beauty section: I’m a skincare junkie through and through! Then of course, Architectural Digest. Lastly, Bon Appétit for recipes and Eater NY to keep up with the bustling NYC food scene.
Where are you based?
Brooklyn, New York
Are you a morning or night person?
I absolutely love mornings. I wake up early so I can get my workout and “me time” in and plan out my day. Scrambling or rushing stresses me out.
What one thing (modern convenience) could you not live without?
Google Maps. Aside from its obvious utility, I star or mark everything in Google Maps (places to visit, eat, drink, shop). It’s impossible to keep everything in your head so if I find myself in a new neighborhood, I know what good restaurants etc are near by (usually spots I find on Instagram or the websites mentioned above!)
5. David with @graciousopulence
With a minimum of fanfare or pretense, gracious opulence transports the viewer to a world of sumptuous grandeur that is not only opulent as it’s name suggests, but also whimsical and inviting. It began as the inspiration board and muse for a young antique collector living in New York City, and it is his passion for traditional interiors, gardens and architecture that transport thousands of followers to an enchanted world of elegance, sophistication, and glamour every day.
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
I started gracious opulence at the encouragement of one of my best friends, Jennifer. She wanted me to join some social media platform, and since I refuse to use Facebook or Twitter, I finally conceded and started an Instagram account. I was not on Instagram very long before I realized that it was the pages that shared the least amount of personal information, but instead more visual eye candy that interested me the most. I decided to follow that path and share my tastes and inspirations, instead of selfies, photos depicting what I did that day, or ate for lunch.
If you could meet anyone from history, who would you meet and why?
There are so many historical figures that I would very much like to meet, but I would imagine that dinner with the timelessly chic Duke and Duchess of Windsor would be quite an entertaining meal filled with interesting anecdotes.
What is you favorite way to unwind on the weekend?
On the weekend my favorite activity would be antiquing. Fleamarket’s, auction houses, and general treasure hunting. This is by far my favorite weekend activity.
If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?
I am pleased to say that there is absolutely nothing that I would like to remove from my daily activities. I am blessed to do what I love, and I have always believed that if you do what you love and follow your passion, then you will never ‘work’ a day in your life.
What was the last gift you gave someone?
The last gift that I gave was a massive antique tablecloth to my parents for their wedding anniversary. Brightly stitched in an elaborate classical wreath and swag pattern, I found it pristine and unused, and complete with 24 matching napkins.
6. Jennifer Gracie with @graciestudio
Gracie is a family owned company that’s been providing beautiful custom hand painted wallpaper and antiques, since 1898. They have locations in NY, Dallas, and LA, and their beautiful instagram account is run by 4th generation leader Jennifer Gracie. (Learn more about the incredible history of this 120 year old company in my post: history of hand-painted wallpaper featuring Gracie right here)
How would you describe your instagram style?
I love mixing views of new designs and orders with photos from the Gracie archives. We have so much to show from our 120 year history, and people seem to love seeing glimpses from the past! My job curating Instagram is easy, though, since our clients design the most fabulous homes!
What’s your favorite line from any move?
“Just keep swimming.” Finding Nemo.
Who was your first style icon?
James Bond.
If you could only shop at one home decor/furnishing store for the rest of your life, where and why?
Well, Gracie, of course! There are other stores I love, but if I could not have access to the wonderful things we make, I would be too sad.
What is your spirit animal?
An eagle because they have amazing vision, and I want to fly.
7. Dorian with @merveillesdeloi
Dorian shares interior decor, paintings, and other beautiful images from french destinations. I did perform a translation of his responses from french to english, but rest assured they sounded even more eloquent in the original language!
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
I had already taken a lot of photos that I liked and shared them to facebook, and I wanted to find a way to share them that would let more people enjoy them. Instagram is perfect for this, especially because of hashtags which help us easily find the photos that interest us!
If you could go to the past or future, where would you stay and why?
18th century France obviously! In that case, it would be better to be in the shoes of a wealthy aristocrat, because the fate of the common people at that time, is not at all enviable compared to today.
I am passionate about the 18th century because of the beautiful decoration, the historic events, important figures, and the palaces that still look brand new. I would have liked to see them in real life during the period, rather than now with the distorted notions of past history.
What’s your favorite movie?
Harry Potter and Star Wars. There are a few things in common about these two sagas. I really like stories and myths, especially when they resonant with real life today. I find that in many respects, the themes in these two stories have a universal scope.
Who was your first style icon?
I really appreciate the particular allure and elegance of Hubert de Givenchy, And of the great couturiers, I love what John Galliano and Christian Lacroix do, always imaginative with a touch of extravagance!
What’s your favorite material object that you already own?
My Books! I adore art works, but art collections can be so vain. We always want more, and then we get tired of certain pieces, and our happiness with them is quite ephemeral. But with a great library, we are continuously submerging ourselves in the things we’re passionate about.
8. Wally From @accidentallywesanderson
Accidentally Wes Anderson is a visual haven for all those quirky destinations, symmetrical facades, and interesting historical sites that appear straight from the mind of the beloved director himself.
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
I have always been an avid traveler and a fan exploring interesting, unique, and unexpected destinations – I also happen to be a very big Wes Anderson fan as well. So when I happened upon the Subreddit I was beyond intrigued. All these buildings and locations that looked as though they were picked directly from a scene in a movie that just did not yet exist. And when I dug a bit further, I started to uncover these amazing histories and backgrounds for many of them that I never would have imagined. The combination of these beautiful facades and unexpected narratives was fascinating, and I just felt they needed to be shared!
If you could meet anyone from history, who would you meet and why?
Bill Murray. Hands down. While he has played many amazing roles in Anderson’s films, it was his appearances on David Letterman that made me always want to meet him – he just seems like a very genuine guy. He has had this amazing career, and now pops up randomly, spreading happiness and making people smile. My favorite instance was when he gave an impromptu speech to a bachelor party, which really stuck with me: “If you have someone you think is the one, take them and travel around the world. Buy a plane ticket for the two of you to travel all over the world, to places that are hard to reach and hard to get out of. And when you land at JFK and you’re still in love with that person, get married.” I find that to be very powerful. My fiancé and I have made it a point to travel as much as we can – recently, after 10 years of traveling the world together, we got engaged this past October in Budapest. And the idea that “travel is the best test of true love” rings so true. I think that is just another reason why we love what we have created with this project – and another reason I just want to shake Bill Murray’s hand.
What is your favorite material object that you already own?
This one I really had to think about, but I believe it would have to be my passport. Without it, I never would have been able to experience so many new cultures, new destinations, and meet so many amazing people. I look at travel as an adventure, and every stamp in that passport is a small yet very meaningful achievement. Each individual ink imprint tells a story of all the enriching experiences I was lucky enough to have while discovering a new culture and a new country. I truly believe you can never be too well read or too well traveled, but my goal is to get as close to each of those as possible while I have the chance.
What’s your favorite line from any movie?
There are more than a few that I could choose, but I will give you two of my ultimate favorites:
1. First is from “Pulp Fiction” . Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega are sitting in this kitschy 50s diner, and for a few moments neither speaks then Mia says “Why do we feel it’s necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable? … That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.” In traditional Tarintino fashion, the quote is brash and profane, but in my opinion truer words have never been spoken. We fill all aspects of our lives with so much clutter, and while a rarity, it is a wonderful feeling when you can sit with someone and enjoy a moment without feeling the need to say anything at all.
2. Runner up would be from the Darjeeling Limited: “We haven’t located us yet”. There is such a juxtaposition here – the quote at face value, laughably referring to a train – on a track – being lost and unable to be found on a map vs. the much deeper meaning that I believe can be applied not only to the characters in the scene, but everyone’s journey in life. It is applicable across the board for me, and one of the simplest, yet multi-faceted ways I’ve ever heard it expressed.
9. Andrea From @theglampad
Andrea blogs from the sunshine state, all about timeless and elegant interior design.
Have you met anyone interesting/famous on your blogging/instagram journey?
The best part about blogging is the amazing connections you make along the way. I have met so many incredible people and some of my dearest friends through The Glam Pad. Last year, I had the privilege of interviewing the legendary designer Mario Buatta and the impossibly chic Patricia Alstchul, who is one of Mario’s clients. I have idolized The Prince of Chintz since I was a little girl… his work played a great role in igniting my early passion for interior design. I am so grateful to have had that opportunity.
What’s your favorite material object that you already own?
My sterling silver – Grande Baroque by Wallace, our family pattern. My grandmother began my collection when I was 13 years old. When we had to evacuate our home last year due to Hurricane Irma, my silver was one of the first things I packed!
What experience prepared you most for your job today?
Before creating The Glam Pad (if you want to call that my job) I enjoyed a 14-year career in marketing and public relations. That experience definitely helped shape the direction and growth of my blog.
What’s your favorite TV show of all time and why?
I am completely addicted to Mad Men, and I recently started re-watching it (again) on Netflix. I have always felt like I was born in the wrong era… but then, we wouldn’t have had our blogs!
10. Paul with @aidennyc
Paul shares his life and passions represented by beautiful images, and accompanied by witty anecdotes and insightful quotes.
What inspired you or made you decide to start your IG account?
I was never overly enthusiastic about social media in general and vowed to never join Facebook, but some friends succeeded in persuading me into starting an IG account because it’s more about sharing visuals and connecting with others through images. It’s been a guilty pleasure ever since.
What’s your favorite quote of all time?
“You wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”
If you could go to the past or future, where would you stay?
I would return to the past and be a guest at Alva Vanderbilt’s French château at 660 Fifth Avenue in New York City, during her legendary fancy dress ball of 1883.
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m a night owl and would only be considered a morning person after several cups of coffee.
What was the last costume you wore?
I attended a Halloween party dressed as pop art icon Andy Warhol.
11. Ranyhyn from @suitcase
Suitcase mag is a boutique travel magazine for those who want to explore the culture of a destination, not just the tourist clichés.
What do you look for in curating the @suitcase feed?
Beautiful, dreamy shots that show a different perspective of a destination – photos that make you want to climb right into the screen.
If your house were burning down, what object would you make sure to grab and why?
I’m so practical, it would be my MacBook – my whole life is on there! And my iPhone would already be in my hand, obviously.
If you could snap your fingers and instantly travel anywhere, where is the first place you’d go?
Morocco! No hesitation. Plonk me right down in Chefchaouen please.
If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? Or who would you like to exchange roles with?
I wish I was good enough at travel photography to be the one out there behind the lens, not just sharing the finished product!
What’s your favorite travel quote?
“Traveling’s not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. Like breathing.” Gayle Foreman
Happy Gramming!
I really hope you’ve enjoyed checking out some of my favorite instagram accounts! A special thank you to all the lovely people featured here, who are a constant source of inspiration to many.
Instagram is such an amazing platform, because we get to connect with people who run the same wavelength, and are inspired by the beautiful world all around them! So if you’re sick of scrolling through page after page of white walls and succulents- say no more fam. Give a follow to all of these lovely accounts that break up the blasé, and make instagram a fabulous destination for visual eye candy.
And if you aren’t already, join me over at the @flourishmentary instagram page, where I share a mix of dreamy design and travel photos just like these! What are your favorite instagram accounts? I’m always looking for more follow worthy ‘grams, so let me know in the comments who I’m missing out on.
For more beautiful designs from around the world, check out “The Real World Places That Inspired The Beauty and The Beast Film“. It’s packed with so many fabulous locations, you’ll be packing your bags for a European getaway!
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