Monday, February 22, 2010

Inspiration book. Do you have one?

I started this book years ago. It has changed, been added to, been cleaned out. Ideas and needs change over the years, I have all my paint colors and room sizes in it. Fabric samples and mostly ideas. This book has helped so much over the years and it has all my favorite magazine pictures. Now that we have blogs I haven't used it as much. I have a second one that is just for gardens and landscaping. Sometimes the pictures, like the cover ones, are just pictures that make me happy~


I am still thinking about my Living room........Pottery Barn does decorate the best rooms. I flip through their issues all the time and when I get time the nearest store is about 40 minutes away. I have a whole series of their books I never tire of. I love the bird pillows. I tried to order the Nest pillow above (Pottery Barn) last week and they are not taking orders SOLD OUT! NO LONGER AVAILABLE! Darn~ I also like the pillows below and the ottoman would be nice as a coffee table.




This chair would look so good with the sofa below or in my bedroom.




These are the current colors on my walls and trim, The Sag Harbor Gray has a nice green tint to it. That is the wall color. Both are Benjamin Moore colors. I really loved their paint. Most of my inspiration comes from Country Living, but I still miss my Country Home....it was the best, wish they would start publishing it again~sigh~




This is my dream sofa, it is called English roll arm. I just love the lines of it and the linen fabric. I have gone to Restoration Hardware and sat on it, touched it. My other sofa is not that old and I don't think I should get rid of it just yet and it is really comfy.
Don't you just love how this looks? I can picture curling up here to read a good book with a warm cup of ginger tea......My living room is 13x28. We watch TV in here most evenings, have coffee and watch the news here in the mornings. There are seven windows and it faces south. I can see the bird feeders and the gardens from here. I love the room and would like to rearrange things a bit, but we are limited because one wall is all bookcase and windows, the other has the fireplace and we need to be able to see the all mighty TV. Thanks to Jan at Bobbypins Boardwalk I am starting to gather ideas. I have always had a 5" 3 ring binder with plastic sheet protectors. I save pictures I love. This helped so much when we redid the kitchen. When I went to look I realized I had lots of kitchens, baths and bedrooms, along with seasonal decorations. No Living Rooms! Maybe this is part of the problem? So I have started to look for ideas and will add to it as I go, but for now this is a start.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Donna,
Yes, I have a book like that.
It is a large black binder that I started over 15 years ago.
I too dont use it much anymore. But I still have it.
I did pull it out a couple of months ago and I actually giggled at some of the photos I had in it. My tastes have truly changed since the book began.
But I just leave the photos in there, they make me smile. And are reminder of how my tastes have improved over the years.
Well, I think they have improved. ;)
Have a wonderful evening,
Tam

Anonymous said...

Great job, Donna! There are so many directions to go in decorating. Sometimes it's actually easier to have pieces to start with and work around them than that dreaded "blank" canvas (at least for me). I'll be watching to see which way your design style leads you

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh -- I cannot believe I forgot to thank you for the plug. You are a doll! We'll get this room perfect!

BirchBerry Farms said...

Hi Donna--thanks so much for popping in the other day----I LOVE your style!!--that Roll Couch is AWESOME---the pillows really catch my eye---what magazine is that one from??? It sure is pretty dang sweet---Still working on the Sweet Annie Lotion---I am designing the tags tonite to go onto the bottles---looking towards this weekend to have it all done---fingers crossed darlin'!

Bunny Jean said...

I also like PB and think that the catalog is full of goog decorating ideas. I just bought some bird fabric to make a few toss pillows. We'll see how long that takes! Ha.

I've been visiting my favorite blogs and getting tons of good ideas.

Also... I'm just letting all my followers (and you are one) know about my giveaway... nothing to do to enter.

You are already entered!

Just my way to say thanks!

Talk to you soon ;)
Bunny Jean

From the Old InkWell said...

Great picks there! Your taste and mine are so similiar. Especially love the PB pillows!

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

I love the soothing colors in all the pics you posted. The sofa and pillows are awesome!
I also have an inspiration notebook that I have kept for years. I don't use it much anymore as I am constantly trying to simplify our home and our lives. But I enjoy looking at beautiful photos of rooms too.
Enjoy the rest of your week!

Bill said...

Hi Donna,
I do so admire people who are as organized as you! I've never kept an inspiration book ... but I know people who do, and it really seems to be a great way to approach a design project.

Your room sounds wonderful! Can't wait to see the final result when you're finished redecorating...

Bill