Curating Your Personal Sanctuary with Boho, Travel-Inspired Treasures from Around the World

Julieta Tello

Owner, Design Junkie.

Based in London

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Instagram: @design.junkie | design-junkie.com

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Q: What is some of the best advice you have ever received, or what is a truth that you know for sure?

A: Just do it! My mum said I was thinking way too much about whether I should move to London from Argentina, where I am from. Five years ago I made the decision of my life. My mum encouraged me to follow my love (my now husband). We were in a long-distance relationship for a year, but we knew being 10,000 km away from one another wasn’t ideal. If I wanted to leave, I had to quit my job, sell my car and move to a new country with no friends. I was worried the relationship wouldn’t work and I would have to return and start all over again, potentially with a broken heart. My mum helped me to understand we can start again as many times as we want, if we are evolving. I am now happily married to the love of my life.

Q: What is something that you wish you would’ve known when you were 20?

A: To start traveling earlier in life. Now I am obsessed with exotic trips. It is so exciting to meet people from different cultural backgrounds, explore markets, discover what they eat and try to understand their religions and rituals.

Q: How do you create a sacred space at home and work? What inspires you?

A: I am a curator of boho, ethnic and travel-inspired treasures from around the world, so as you can imagine, my home is full of global pieces. I am surrounded by Moroccan and Zimbabwean baskets, fans from Ghana, frazadas from Peru, rugs from Morocco, suzanis from Uzbekistan and beautiful textiles fromThailand and India. I have many furniture pieces from Sri Lanka and India. All these colors and craftsmanship inspire me daily.

Q: What is essential to creating a personal sanctuary?

A: Feeling comfortable in a warm and cozy space. I love having plants everywhere. They charge me with positive energy. I also recommend adding colors to energize the room. Music is a great healer. I think music has the power to transform people, and in doing so, it has the power to transform situations, some large and some small.

Q: How do you stay centered in the middle of chaos?

A: I am very lucky that I work from home and have a beautiful and peaceful garden. My mornings are long and so relaxing, even when I am working hard. I find peace being at home. Q: What are your travel essentials? A: Doing a bit of research on the country and its culture in advance. Connect with the locals. Enjoy the experience and be grateful for what we can experience.