Barn Quilts & Back Roads: Your Weekly Design Inspo Is Here

Welcome to Creative Digest, a weekly peek inside the world of Estro Studio—an interior design and creative agency founded by two women with incredible taste and a love for all things design. This week, they share outtakes from a road trip around upstate NY.

This week we jet set off to New York for two different projects: one in the city and one upstate near the Hudson Valley. While we could fill pages with our favorite NYC spots, we decided to carve out a few extra days to slow down and explore the Catskills. Whenever we travel for a project, we find that scoping out the area helps us tune in and find inspiration in a way that feels connected to the place. Sometimes you just need a little time in the surroundings to really understand what the space wants to be.

And it turns out, this was the creative reset our minds were craving.

With Fleetwood Mac blasting and the windows rolled down, we drove through those small, tucked-away towns that make you feel like you've stepped back in time.

We let ourselves follow our instincts—taking side roads, stopping on whims, and letting curiosity lead the way. Early into our dive, we stopped at Blooming Hill Farms for lunch. We were seated next to a tomato vine and surrounded by the beautiful farm. All the food was locally made and grown on the farm.

Before we left, we of course stocked up on house-made hot sauces and fresh produce to bring the farm-to-table spirit back home with us.

Next, we headed to Beacon, a small town that always finds a way back into our hearts. Its brick row houses and tree-lined streets are filled with thoughtful, beautifully curated shops. Three of our favorites were Little King on Main St., Flora Good Times, and Momo Valley, which is a must if you’re in the area.

While strolling through town, we stumbled upon an estate sale tucked into a warehouse. It felt so serendipitous, like it knew we were coming. From the outside, you’d never guess what was inside. Piles of original artwork filled the space. Sketches, oil paintings, vintage frames… we dug through the stacks like kids on a treasure hunt. Our hands were so full, we couldn’t grab any more.When we brought our haul to the checkout counter, we were bracing for a price we probably couldn’t justify. Instead, the woman looked up and said:

“How about ten dollars for all six?”

We blinked in disbelief. Ten? We handed her a crumpled bill and practically sprinted into the street, laughing and yelling like we’d won the lottery. A thrift high is a real thing.

We passed dream homes tucked into the trees, especially old shingled cabins and stone cottages. It sparked that recurring dream of finding a space of our own—part English cottage, part mid-century, part old barn turned studio. Vaulted ceilings, a garage door that opens to a field, pop-ups in the summer. We can see it.

We also fell in love with all the red barns, slightly worn down but full of character. They’ve been around forever and tell a story, their faded paint peeling just enough to feel perfect.

Colorful quilt-like geometric patterns were mounted on barns and homes. Traditionally hand-painted, each one holds meaning—sometimes to honor family quilting traditions, sometimes purely decorative. They felt like little love notes to rural life, and we adored them.

We were also completely taken with Ravenwood Café, created by Chris Lanier and Dana McClure —two entrepreneurs who originally began by hosting intimate dinners in Brooklyn, spotlighting produce and small-batch goods made on their farm. The café itself felt like an extension of that vision: beautifully designed, peaceful, and full of intention.

We ended the trip in Livingston Manor, where we found the coolest art and design spaces: Corners NY and Catskills Art Space. After a long day of travel, we were starving and luckily stumbled upon what might be our new favorite hidden gem: Kirin Thai Market, a tiny hole-in-the-wall with takeout only (the kind of spot every town needs).

This little stretch of Upstate gave us what we didn’t know we needed: a slower pace, a few unexpected moments, and a quiet reminder that inspiration is often hiding in plain sight. Sometimes it shows up in the road signs (or barn quilt signs, for that matter) and the still corners you almost pass by.

Until next time, Upstate

xoxo, Estro Studio