TRAVEL COLUMN: Antique Shopping in Parma, Italy at the Mercanteinfiera with The Antiques Diva

WELCOME to Nest by Tamara

Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.

Posted by Tamara Stephenson October 03, 2016

TRAVEL COLUMN: Antique Shopping in Parma, Italy at the Mercanteinfiera with The Antiques Diva

Fresh off the Plane From Italy,

We share Highlights From The Mercanteinfiera Antiques Show in Parma

Parma, Italy

(right) smitten with these
Louis Vuitton trunks circa 1908;
(left) nabbed these Italian plates

Last weekend, I was part of a group of interior designers invited to attend and shop at this annual antique market which takes place in the culinary capital of Italy, the

Emilia-Romagna region of Parma. It was certainly a benefit to us that the Mercanteinfiera is where the finest prosciutto and parmigiana cheese is made. Parma also boasts beautiful, historic Renaissance and Romanesque architecture.

The folks from the Market invited us, and we quickly realized this show is a secret source for many industry designers and dealers. Our first day was exciting, and we were invited to shop in the wee hours of the morning as the vendors were unloading their trucks and setting up the booths, and days before they opened to the public. We took in the awe-inspiring and lovely Italian chaos--the magic that ensued with bicycles whirling by, movers hauling furniture with cigarettes in hand, and a slew of friendly dogs amidst all the antiques. The whirlwind experience is not for the faint of heart, but it is important to note that magic happens in this chaos and soon these booths were set up like quaint design shops. We ventured forth walking aisle to aisle taking in the mixture of styles and time periods of antiques and vintage furniture, accessories, art, lighting and jewelry, and noting that many designers were buying right off the truck so the goods never even made it to the booth. Some in our group bought enough to fill their own freight container, then spent the latter part of the weekend working out the administrative details of international freight with the on-site shipping companies. All in all, the general consensus from our group was the prices were quite good, better than back in the States, and if able to navigate the international shipping, was well worth the travel.

Over the next couple of months, we will bring you highlights of the talents we traveled with, profiling their shops, designs and sharing their sources with our readers. Ciao!

Happy Nesting

XO Tamara