Turkish delight

Istanbul is a Turkish delight because of its cultural mix, ornate patterns, beautiful scenery, and hospitable people.

 

Recently I returned from a long trip to Turkey. Covid delayed the trip a year and a half, but it was certainly worth the wait. Each day was better than the one before. The trip was so rich with experiences that I couldn’t possibly cover it in one post. Here I will give you an overview of some of the sights around the city.

The trip was through Tamam, a shop in New York which is owned by two sexy chic girls and a Turkish rug dealer. I love purchasing from Tamam using their one of a kind textiles to bring originality to my projects. The girls are textile designers each with their own line of fabric and one that they collaborate on. All three lines are unique and offer a different perspective.

The Topkapi Palace is a case study in pattern mixing.

Great olive and turquoise color combination.

Great olive and turquoise color combination.

A typical hamam ceiling detail. So dreamy.

A typical hamam ceiling detail. So dreamy.

The wax figures were a bit creepy.

The wax figures were a bit creepy.

A rare touch of subtlety.

A rare touch of subtlety.

Restoration is looser in Turkey seen here with these Spanish-flavored tiles.

Restoration is loose in Turkey seen here with these Spanish-flavored tiles.

The food is delicious, varied, and sometimes decadent.

The Bosphorous provides an array of fresh fish.

The Bosphorous provides an array of fresh fish.

Turkish delight refers to these candies that vary in color and ingredients. Just as beautiful as they are delicious.

Turkish delight refers to these candies that vary in color and ingredients. Just as beautiful as they are delicious.

We were served this fruity liqueur at a birthday dinner.

We were served this fruity liqueur at a birthday dinner.

Always look up in Istanbul.

The Grand Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar.

This photo and the three following show details inside the Rüstem Pasha Mosque.

This photo and the three following show details inside the Rüstem Pasha Mosque.

Istanbul has an old and a new side as well as being the only city on two continents.

A traditional Yalli house along the Bosporous.

A traditional Yalli house along the Bosporous.

The Galata Tower in the Beyoglu neighborhood.

The Galata Tower in the Beyoglu neighborhood.

The best part of the trip was the people. Clare and Elizabeth, the aforementioned sexy chic girls, planned the perfect adventure showing us places we never would have discovered on our own. They handled all the details so that our toughest decisions were red or wine for dinner or which suzani to bring home? Traveling with the group were five interior designers, two magazine editors, a doctor/chef, a finance guy, a rug collector, two world travelers, and my two adventurous creative friends.

I learned quite a bit and came home with loads of inspiration. The timing was perfect as it fell between my good friend’s funeral and her memorial service. Fortunately, I was able to attend both and also had the distraction of a wonderful twelve days in between the sadness.

Casa V Interiors collects antique textiles that can bring a touch of delightful Turkey to your home.