Travel has always been one of my greatest sources of inspiration. This June, my son Nils, my dad, my nephew Jack, and I are setting out on a deeply personal journey through Europe. Along the way, we will trace the paths of family members who served during World War II.
The trip will bring together reflection, education, and moments of beauty. I already sense that the experience will shape the layered, deeply personal interiors I create for clients. Here is a first look at why the journey matters, where we are going, and the design details I plan to photograph along the way.
Why This Trip Matters
My grandmother, Synneva Larson—“Grammy”—rarely spoke about her time in the war, but it clearly left a deep imprint. She later wrote a detailed memoir, which our family still has. In it, she mapped where she served as a nurse under General Patton. She also described the long stretches spent waiting for transfers or passage home. I have always wanted to follow her path through Europe.
We also have extensive records for Nils’s great-grandfather, Robert Best, thanks to his great-uncle’s meticulous research. We know enough about my nephew Jack’s great-grandfather, Wesley Isaacson, to visit several places connected to his service. These include the site where his plane crashed and the location in Nuremberg where he was held as a prisoner of war. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so stepping into these real stories feels especially meaningful. We know parts of the trip will be somber, so we have intentionally balanced them with moments of beauty, rest, and reflection.
Our Itinerary Highlights
From June 8–25, we will travel from London to Munich. We will cross the English Channel by ferry, just as my grandmother did. From there, we will visit Normandy, the Loire Valley, Paris, the Ardennes, Luxembourg, Belgium, Nuremberg, and the Austrian Alps. The ferry crossing to Caen will be deeply meaningful. It may offer us a small sense of the journey my grandmother and so many others made.
A Sense of Place at Every Stop
We used points for most of our hotels, which gave us a wonderful mix of properties along the route. Because we will rarely spend more than one night in the same place, we can experience a variety of distinctive properties along the way. Highlights include a 17th-century white-stone hotel near Caen and a historic farm mansion in Normandy. We will also stay in a former coaching inn dating to 1786 in the Loire Valley. In Paris, our hotel sits beside the Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement. My travel rule for a history-heavy itinerary is simple: build in restorative pauses. Beautiful hotels, good meals, and quiet moments help the journey feel meaningful rather than exhausting.
Design Inspiration I’ll Be Chasing
As a luxury interior designer, I’m constantly stopping to photograph doors, lanterns, shutters, flowers, stonework, and wood paneling. The châteaux of the Loire Valley and Versailles will be major sources of inspiration. I also pay close attention to hotels and how they create a sense of welcome, discovery, or surprise for their guests. The best ones layer materials, incorporate memorable details, and make guests feel cared for. I often ask clients about their favorite hotel stays and weave elements of those experiences into their primary suites and private sanctuaries.
How Family History Shapes My Work
We all carry stories, and we are often more connected to the past than we realize. I am fascinated by the ways family history, memory, and place can shape us across generations. That perspective informs the timeless, livable, and architecturally grounded interiors I create at Lindsell Interiors. When I design a home, I look for meaningful ways to honor a client’s heritage and family stories. This trip will deepen that instinct, helping me weave more personal, layered details into homes that feel unmistakably their own.
Quick-Fire Trip Favorites with Eva Lindsell
Must-pack essentials for a history-focused trip? Grammy’s journal, Robert Best’s records, and several other family documents—plus the paid version of Wanderlog. I use it to plan every trip, and it has been invaluable for an itinerary this complex.
One thing you’re most looking forward to photographing? Mont Saint-Michel! But honestly, I will probably purchase this photo by one of my favorite photographers, Mike Behr.
Dream meal or sensory moment you hope to experience? I’m dying to return to The Grenadier in Belgrave Square for its Beef Wellington. The carpeted floor and dollar bills on the ceiling give it so much character. Add the faint smell of beer, deep red leather booths, and crooked brass chandeliers, and it feels perfect.
How will this trip show up in future client homes? I hope a deeper appreciation for history and family legacy will help me honor each client’s heritage. Ultimately, I want to weave beautiful, personal details into homes that feel truly theirs.
