When I travel, my mind is going nonstop, constantly looking for something new," says inveterate wanderer Lulu deKwiatkowski. "I'd be depressed if a place didn't pique my curiosity." Fortunately, most places do seem to stimulate the New York-based textile designer. A lively observer, deKwiatkowski punctuates tales of distant adventures with gales of laughter. She particularly relishes such visual details as geraniums perfectly placed outside Paris's Plaza Athénée and slices of bright red watermelon at a roadside stand in Vietnam.
A New York native (and daughter of the late airplane mogul Henryk deKwiatkowski), she graduated from Parsons School of Design, then lived for five years in Paris, where she studied trompe l'oeil painting. After returning to New York, she started her textile company, Lulu DK, in 1999. DeKwiatkowski has gained a following among interior designers for her bold fabrics and wall coverings, which are produced in France. She also recently launched a line of leather furniture. "The design world has become much more youthful and innovative," she says.
This summer deKwiatkowski will chronicle her zeal for design and travel in The Notebook (Regan Books/HarperCollins), which will include photographs, collages and excerpts from her journal entries. In fact, much of her Upper East Side apartment is covered in collages, and even her kitchen counter is buried under a palette of paint and stacks of books, papers and photographs—manifestations of her exuberant search for ideas.
Do you have a favorite destination?
When I want to relax, I go to our family home in the Bahamas. When I'm thirsty for inspiration, have had enough of New York or need something new, I visit a place I've never been to. And if I just want a change of pace, I'm drawn to Porto Ercole, in Italy. My boyfriend of eleven years has a house there, but even before I met him, I often traveled to Porto Ercole with my family.
What are some of your early travel memories?
My five siblings and I grew up shuttling between the Hamptons, the Bahamas and New York. The first time I recall being on an airplane, we were going to the south of France. I was five years old and didn't really understand what was happening. I remember feeling tired, but I also had a sense of security, since I was with my family. My father, who spoke twelve languages, traveled all his life and always told stories about his trips. It was his passion that made me long to see the places he described. Sometimes when I planned to visit one of those destinations my parents once talked about, I would worry that what I'd discover would be ruined and wish that I had seen it when they were there. But at least when I went to Cuba, which remains undeveloped, I thought, This is how they saw it.
Who influences your work?
There is one contemporary artist whose photographs I find stunning: Gregory Colbert, who created the "Ashes and Snow" exhibit, which is now touring the world. I have also been inspired by Gabriel García Márquez, Ernest Hemingway, Andy Goldsworthy, Michelangelo, Frida Kahlo, Ansel Adams, the movie Lost in Translation and James Bond. I listen to Jack Johnson and Caetano Veloso every day. The Monday-night concerts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are wonderful too, especially when they are held in the Temple of Dendur.
Do you have any travel rituals?
I always go to the local markets, because they make me feel part of the places I'm visiting. You immediately tune in to the mentality of the people, and you see what they make. I have found that if you are genuinely curious about the objects on display, everyone is very hospitable. And you can have incredible conversations, whether you are in Turkey, Morocco or India. When I was traveling in India, I made a point of taking overnight trains and talking to other passengers. I remember sitting with some Sikhs who taught me how to tie a turban. The best experiences are those that make you feel immersed in a different culture. They are the ones you'll remember--not being chauffeured in a white car through India.
Which trip has made the biggest impression on you?
The most memorable was one that my boyfriend and I took to Tanzania. We went there determined not to see other travelers, stayed for a month and explored areas that were completely off the beaten track. We were accompanied by a guard who also doubled as our cook and driver. Once, after a long day of driving in the desert, where we had encountered a sandstorm, we set up camp near a stream. We were so hot that we jumped right in. The next morning we walked along the water for two hours and discovered an enormous oasis with a waterfall and palm trees. It seemed as if it had dropped from the sky.
How did you like Vietnam?
I didn't really love Ho Chi Minh City (I preferred Hanoi), but I admired the artisanship of some of the local products. I brought back a finely embroidered shirt and coat.
What are some of your most recent discoveries?
In Pagan, Myanmar, I watched craftsmen make lacquerware. I've always adored it, but seeing the meticulous handiwork that went into every piece deepened my appreciation and made me understand the preciousness of lacquer. Closer to home, I found the gardens at the Huntington Library, in San Marino, California, extraordinary.
How do you prepare for trips?
I ask for input from other people and do a little research on the basics, but I like to investigate while I'm there. Once I arrive, I read extensively about the destination and improvise.
Any packing tips?
I always bring too many things in my carry-on: books, drawings, my journal, sometimes my computer. I think I'm going to need everything, but when I'm on the airplane, I usually watch a movie or fall asleep. I don't use suitcases with wheels. I'm an over-the-shoulder kind of girl and tend to be practical rather than fashion-conscious when it comes to packing. I try to limit the amount of clothes, particularly if I am going to regions where I will be trekking. While working on the book, I was sort of embarrassed, though: there are all these photos, and looking at them, I realized, Oh, there's me in that purple shirt again. When I visit Third World countries, I dress modestly to be respectful. I like to draw as little attention as possible to myself when I travel.
Which hotels do you like?
In Tanzania, we stayed at Ras Kutani, an amazing little Arab-African hotel on the water. We'd been hiking through the jungle for weeks, and then we got to the hotel and felt as if we had the entire ocean to ourselves. We saw men walking down the beach with fish hanging over their shoulders, and that's what ended up on the menu for dinner. On a trip to Bali, we roughed it for a while but finished our stay at the Four Seasons in Ubud, which was wonderful. There's also an excellent hotel in Madrid: Casa de Madrid. It has only seven rooms, and each is unique.
If you were designing a hotel room, what would you include?
No matter where you are, every room should have a terrace. In Morocco, we stayed at La Villa des Orangers, in Marrakech, and we had our own little patio. Even though the hotel was very open and there were terraces everywhere, having a private one where I could draw and drink coffee in the morning was very important. Down pillows are also a must, and I appreciate it when the staff places flowers on the bed. I like hotels where all the rooms are different and the atmosphere is fresh and spunky. I especially enjoy pastel-colored rooms.
Where would you go if you could get away for only a week?
Several places come to mind. I'd visit Paris because I lived there for five years and have not been back in seven. I'd go to the coast of Italy because the lifestyle there is too good not to have it now and then. I'd visit French Polynesia--I've never been there--and Australia because I've met a lot of artistic Australians who seem to be doing highly original work. I'd probably travel to Bhutan because I'm drawn to places where creativity is a way of life. It's always been a dream of mine to go trekking in the Himalayas. Overall, I'd seek places that fill my mind with visuals. I never make a distinction between traveling for business or for pleasure. I'm constantly searching.
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