My best friend and I are planning a trip next May. I will do Paris alone, as it will be mostly design visits, and she will join me for Istanbul and Morocco. I have a very good friend from Turkey, and have always wanted to see Istanbul, so now I am super excited to go (mainly to have a local tour guide and free room!)
Istanbul is very modern - of course I am still excited to see the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar, but there is now a wonderful modern art museum and tons of great designer shops. The most famous designers for interiors, furniture, and architecture right now in Istanbul is probably Autoban, and they have long been favorites of mine. You are probably familiar with their "octopus" light fixture. If you would like to visit Istanbul and money is no object, the mansion on the Bosporus, A'Jia Hotel (pictured below) is a wonderful option. There are also many mid-priced modern hotels with very cool interiors like Lush. One of my favorite New York designers, Antony Todd, just opened a beautiful store there. If you are from New Orleans and want a little taste of home, the Istanbul Jazz Festival is every March.
Have you been to Istanbul? Do you have any recommendations for us while we are there?
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