IN COVERSATION | With Jamie Rozell of Terra Luxe Travel
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
We leave home to experience the world and, in doing so, allow it to leave an indelible mark on us. But here's the funny thing about leaving...
As excited as we are to go, there's often an equal sense of joy in coming home.
Some people book vacations. Others book an experience.
The kind of travel that stays with them long after they've unpacked their suitcase.
Jamie Rozell, founder of Terra Luxe Travel, has built her career helping people experience the world in deeply personal ways.
As our conversation unfolded, we realized our work isn't all that different.
Jamie curates experiences around the world. We curate them at home.
At first glance, they seem like opposite ends of the spectrum. But somewhere in the middle, “home” and “away” actually intersect.
WHY WE LEAVE
When I asked Jamie what she thought people were really looking for when they traveled, her answer didn't entirely surprise me.
"I think people are looking for a chance to step away from the pace of everyday life," she said. "Life is busy now. Kids are in select sports. Parents are juggling work, practices, homework...you're together all the time, but not always connecting."
I knew exactly what she meant.
I have two kids of my own. Schedules have a way of filling every available moment. When the shared family experience is racing from one commitment to the next, it is entirely possible to sit next to the people we love most, without truly being present.
Travel changes that.
"Families finally get uninterrupted time together," Jamie continued. "They aren't rushing to practice or answering emails. They're simply together."
But for Jamie, travel creates another kind of connection, too.
"One of my favorite things is watching our kids experience other cultures," she shared. "You realize there isn't just one way to live. Every place has its own traditions, rhythms, and way of seeing the world. The more you experience that, the more appreciation you have for people."
That thought stayed with me.
Travel reconnects us to the people beside us and, simultaneously, invites us to see beyond ourselves.
To slow down. To observe. To embrace ways of living that are different from our own.
We leave home to experience the world and, in doing so, allow it to leave an indelible mark on us.
But here's the funny thing about leaving: as excited as we are to go, there's often an equal sense of joy in coming home.
Back to the familiar.
Our routines. Our spaces. Our things.
Our own bed.
That's part of the gift of travel, too, right?
Stepping away doesn't just change the way we see the world. It gives us a fresh appreciation for the place we return to.
BEYOND THE BROCHURE
One thing became abundantly clear as Jamie described her process.
She doesn't start with destinations.
She starts with people. She starts with listening.
"Everyone vacations differently," she told me. "Some people want to be nonstop. Others want to spend a week with a book on the beach. Neither is wrong—but they're very different vacations."
Before she ever recommends a hotel or maps an itinerary, Jamie begins asking questions:
Where was your last vacation?
What did you love about it?
What didn't you love?
Where do you celebrate anniversaries?
How do you pack?
I smiled. The questions sounded strangely familiar to the early phases of our design process.
At Atelier, we want to know many of the same things.
Not about luggage or restaurants, but about routines, entertaining, quiet mornings, growing families, and how our clients hope to feel in their home. We're both trying to answer the same question.
What experience are we seeking to create?
INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE. GUIDANCE STILL MATTERS.
In digging deeper, I asked about inspiration for every adventure, and our conversation naturally drifted to a related topic.
The glorious black hole that is the internet.
Instagram.
Travel blogs.
Pinterest.
ChatGPT.
There is no shortage of ideas. In fact, there are entirely too many.
I know this firsthand. I've opened my phone at 9 p.m. to look up one thing and resurfaced three hours later with 10 new youtube subscribes and dozens Instagram reels declaring “the perfect itinerary”…and absolutely no idea how it became midnight.
Embarrassing.
Also, apparently, very on brand for me.
So I had to ask Jamie: were all these resources making her job harder?
Surprisingly...
No.
"I actually love it," she said. "People come to me with ideas. They might show me a place they saw online or a destination they've been dreaming about. That gives us a starting point."
That felt incredibly familiar.
Our clients arrive with saved images too. Pinterest boards, Instagram posts, and the occasional magazine page. Inspiration has never been more accessible.
"But inspiration isn't the same thing as planning, “ she chimed.
Rightfully so.
It's the beginning of the conversation, not the final destination. Travel—and design—work the same way.
Jamie's firsthand experience allows her to filter through what she sees online and recommend what will genuinely fit each family, not simply what's trending.
Beautiful ideas are everywhere.
The ability to thoughtfully curating them into something deeply personal is where experience matters.
WHAT FINDS ITS WAY HOME
One of our favorite moments in every project happens during final styling.
We always ask our clients to pull out the things that matter most.
Not because they're expensive (although sometimes they are). Because they tell stories.
Paint brushes from China.
A pearl box from Dubai.
An oil painting discovered in Barcelona.
A weathered cookbook handed down through generations.
Those are the pieces that quietly give a home its soul.
So naturally, we asked Jamie what travelers tend to bring home with them.
Her answer hit home.
"One of my clients brought home hand-painted ceiling tiles from Sicily. Another family brought back a traditional Italian pinecone because it symbolizes prosperity and hospitality. My husband has started collecting antique coffee spoons from places we've visited. Every one of them reminds us of a trip, a meal, a memory."
Then she shared our favorite story.
"We once found this incredible piece of driftwood on a beach in Nantucket. We checked it onto the airplane."
She laughed.
"To everyone else it was just a piece of wood. To us, it reminds us of sitting by the lighthouse, eating lobster rolls, watching sea lions, and spending one perfect afternoon together."
That's exactly it.
Meaning has a way of following us home and finding its rightful real-estate in our personal spaces.
THE PLACES THAT CHANGE US
As our conversation unfolded, I couldn't resist asking one question that was admittedly as much for our own curiosity as it was for this article.
Jamie and her husband, Mike, are currently one of our clients as we design their forever home together.
So I asked...
Has a destination ever changed the way you think about home?
Jamie's answer came without hesitation.
"Bruges."
She smiled.
"Mike and I completely fell in love with Bruges, Belgium."
Not because of a famous landmark.
Not because of a museum.
Brick.
"I have hundreds of pictures of brick in my camera roll."
The old masonry wasn't perfectly straight.
The joints weren't perfectly aligned.
Everything had softened with time.
"There was something about the irregularity—the history, the craftsmanship, the imperfections—that just spoke to us."
I already knew where this was headed. Those very ideas have quietly found their way into the home we're designing together.
Long after the passport is tucked away and the suitcase is unpacked, certain places embed in us.
THE BEST ADVICE YOU'LL PROBABLY IGNORE
We asked Jamie what travelers consistently underestimate.
Her answer came quickly.
"How far in advance they should start planning."
Whether it's an Alaskan cruise, a European itinerary, or a multigenerational family trip, the best experiences are often secured months—even a year—in advance.
"Travel takes more pre-planning than it did ten years ago," Jamie explained. Intimate restaurants have limited tables. Boutique hotels fill. Larger families require more coordination. Even travelers who want a completely unscheduled vacation may need to plan ahead to protect that freedom once they arrive.
In other words, even spontaneity requires a little planning.
Annoying, but true.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Before we wrapped up, I asked Jamie one final question.
What's one thing every traveler should make room for that isn't on the itinerary?
Her answer came instantly.
"Talk to a local."
Not the restaurant everyone posts about.
Not the attraction at the top of every travel guide.
The neighborhood café where the menu isn't translated.
The fruit stand tucked down a side street.
The bakery you've never heard of.
"Some of our favorite travel memories happened because we wandered just a little off the beaten path," Jamie said.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Design works much the same way.
We begin every project with a thoughtful plan. We establish the vision, develop the drawings, and carefully map the path forward.
We've also learned to leave room for discovery.
Sometimes the perfect slab isn't the one we originally selected.
Sometimes a room reveals its true proportions only after it's framed.
Sometimes the best idea shows up halfway through the journey.
Those moments aren't detours.
They're opportunities.
EVERY HOME BEGINS WITH A STORY
We close every Curated Perspectives conversation with the same question.
Our studio believes every home begins with a story. What story are you writing right now?
Jamie paused thoughtfully.
"I think my story has a lot of chapters right now."
Launching her own agency after more than a decade in the travel industry.
Building a home for her family.
Watching her daughter begin high school.
Growing a business while growing into a new season of life.
"I don't know if my story has a title yet," she admitted.
"But it definitely has a lot of chapters."
That answer stayed with me.
Different chapters.
The same book.
The best homes don't tell a single story.
They unfold over time—expanding, evolving, and making room for the people and experiences that continue to shape them.
Maybe that's why travel feels so meaningful.
Every journey adds another chapter.
Every experience broadens the narrative.
And when we return home, we don't leave those chapters behind.
We bring them with us.
SO...WHERE ARE YOU GOING NEXT?
Jamie Rozell is the founder of Terra Luxe Travel, where she creates deeply personal travel experiences for families, couples, and curious travelers ready to see more of the world.
Her process starts with listening—how you travel, what you love, and the experiences you hope to carry home with you.
From European itineraries and cruises to luxury escapes and custom adventures, Jamie brings firsthand knowledge and thoughtful planning to every journey.
If there's a destination lingering in the back of your mind—or an adventure you don't quite know how to plan—consider this your sign.
Connect with Jamie and start the conversation. Your next great story may be one plane ticket away.
Comments