Do you keep a design idea scrapbook? I have for years. It's not a new concept. People call them dream books or glue stuff together on idea boards--Oprah does something similar and calls hers a Vision board. But let's not get into that. I don't need Oprah mad at me for stealing her ideas.
I'm talking about a place to keep all things associated with your house and decorating it. I keep receipts for furniture, paint chips I love but have yet to use and lots and lots of ripped out magazine photos.
Since we move so much I keep a rough sketch of our large pieces of furniture and their measurements.
Rip that dream kitchen out of the magazine and keep it for inspiration. There are lots of things that can be done to freshen up a kitchen. I found this kitchen years ago and painted my cabinets white and went for a neutral wall to mimic it.
I loved these drapes in a furniture magazine and months later I was drawn to the buffalo checked silk on sale at Hobby Lobby. Coincidence?
Don't forget about the exterior. After seeing this photo I had to plant foxglove. It's fun and inspiring to keep an idea book. Don't be afraid to tear apart your old magazines and start collecting ideas. You never know when a great idea will strike.
Do you have an idea book?
127 comments:
An idea book a great idea. We are moving back to the U.S. from overseas this summer with just 9 suitcases for our family of 5. Our house (yet to be identified) will be a blank slate. Any suggestions for starting from actual scratch - we won't even have hand-me-down card tables? It's a bit overwhelming!
Oh Girl, I have 2 of those books!! My husband think I am crazy because I am always dreaming over it but I have used my idea book many times. So much fun. It was finally how I nailed down my style and color preferences too. After looking through enough pages I could see what furnitue styles and colors draw me in. It definitely made decisions making much easier when I knew in advance what I REALLY liked. Love your book!!
I can't believe I was second!! I'm usually number 114, I feel so special today. And I haven't had nearly enough coffee because I had some spelling errors, sorry!!
I have an idea book, but I have trouble getting my house to look like what's in my idea book...I'd like to blame it on lack of funds, but I think maybe I'm just not creative enough! I guess it's always a work in progress...
Oh dear, yet another project? I have boxes, folders, piles of ideas!
Now I need to put them in a book?!
Add it to my list of things to do...
Hi Nester, I have always had an idea book. I love tearing favorite pages out of a magazine and just keeping them for inspiration. Have a nice day! :) Vanessa
You amaze me.
sandy toe
I did have an idea book but over the years kind of stopped using it. You've given me inspiration to revamp it & put it back into circulation.
Yes! I have The Red Book, that's what my kids call it. They know I'm about to make a change in decor whenever they see me pull out the book.
I have several wish pages for inspiration and a layout for each room.
Whenever I change the bedding in a room, I pull the cardboard description out of the bag and put it into the book. This was before we got a digital camera. Now I would take a photo and place it in the RB.
I am loving this series.
Thanks so much for planning it.
Peace.
Girl...I did this very thing for 2 years while we were in the process of looking for land and building our house. I called it my "House Bible". I carried it everywhere I went. I tucked pics, ideas from magazines, rough drawings of cabinets, I even designed my own island in my kitchen. I will have to post about it one day. It is a GREAT idea.
Oh yes, I have a design book and a design file! When we were building I kept an accordian file with all my ideas for the house room by room as well as samples, measurements etc... I still have it 5 years later and it is great to refer back to for various things. I always encourage my clients to keep one as well.
I have an idea "drawer" in a cabinet cuz I don't have time to put it all neatly into an album.
But I do have 2 albums for faux finishes that I sometimes show clients if they are stumped for ideas.
I know that as a painter, if a client brings me in one of their idea pages from a magazine, I LOVE IT! Then I can see the feel they are going for and dissect what they love about the picture.
Great post!
Sure do! I have a few divided up into categories!! My mom took pics of major furniture with their measurements on the back. Makes finding a house easier. Thanks for sharing!
I don't have one, but I can see how it would be beneficial. I may have to start one for my projects. :)
No coincidence...Several times I have discovered that something I was considering buying was on several pages of my idea book. I think that's just love.
I don't keep an idea book. However, effective today, I will have one. It will fun to see over time how my style changes. The other great thing is it will be mine..all mine!
Thanks for an AWESOME idea!!!
Yes! I'm just beginning mine. We just put a contract on our first home and I wish I had started it years ago. I can't wait to build it up (the notebook)and get projects going!
Yes...I do, too! Actually, I have 2 of them, because my first one was overflowing! :)
I do have an idea book...but I have like 40 billion magazines to go through still...and I just cant seem to bring myself to throw any away. The whole point of my idea book was to get rid of some stacks of magazines. Love your book! Great idea measuring the furniture.
I have an idea folder, I need to get it in a book so it's easier to look at.
I actually have that same page that you have as your first page!
Keep giving the good ideas, I love your blog!
Yes m'am! I have one..actually several! I have one for inside the house and one for the outside--gardening and stuff. Then, I take those lovely recipes that I MIGHT try at some point(!!) and have one just for them. I love my Southern Living and BHG--that's where the majority of my ideas come from.
Hugs!
Susan
Mine is more like a file folder. I also keep paint swatches with the formula written on them in it from current and past houses. That comes in handy for quick touch up jobs. My mom keeps her idea book in a 3" binder...more like an idea novel :)
-Hayley
Yes, I have an idea book and have for years. It is interesting to see how my taste in decor has evolved and changed over the years.
I don't have an idea book, but I really should. I really just have a bunch of stuff scattered around the house - which is maybe one of my problems! I'll try to get it all put together this week. Thanks for the inspiration!
Funny that you mentioned an idea book. I received my copy of the new Southern Accents magazine and fell in love with a few pics. I decided last night that I need to start an idea book so that I can reference all of these great ideas later on without having a ton of magazines in storage!
No but it's funny you mention it 'cause I was just about to start an idea bulletin board. I totally lufff this idea.
I have used this idea for years. One of my best inspirations was an Ethan Allen book they gave clients. I also have some of the same pictures you have ripped out.
I am working to weed out some older ideas. Now I use a digital file. If I can't find a digital picture from a magazine, I scan it.
You always have such great ideas and good taste.
Cynthia
Idea books are great. I started mine about 7 years ago. I believe the first time I came across this idea was on an old Martha Stewart Show. I also keep one of ideas for the future house we plan to build. I also have one that I keep crafts, how-tos and recipes in that I find in magazines.
That looks just like my idea book. I started one when we were building our home and still keep one. I even have my "if I ever win the lottery house plan" in there. I have lent it to friends and family and always go through it before a design job. I would love to have a project board someday....
I have done that in the past, but ended up with a huge stack of torn out pages & no organization...I need to give it a try again! Thanks for the reminder!
I started on idea book years ago when we were building our first house. Somehow over time it has been forgotten. Off to locate it and be inspired.....
I actually don't have an idea book, but with more and more ideas swimming around in my head, I think I should start one. Thanks for the suggestion!
I keep pages of magazine inspiration in a file. I couldn't live without them! By the way, I can't enlarge your photos anymore. Can you set up your photos to be enlarged again? I used to be able to do that. My eyes aren't what they used to be and I need bigger pics so I can see all the great details you share! Ha!
Yes! I have several of them actually. On for decorating, gardening, homekeeping, christmas, and of course projects "to do."
The BEST garage sale I've ever been was where I scored a serious crafter (with a shabby cottage style herself) sold me all 14 of her "idea books" for $5. MOTHER LOAD!!!
Now I don't look at a magazine without pondering each page and it's probability of success in tbe "idea book!"
I actually blogged about this yesterday. I have several idea books that I use for decorating, gardening, holiday celebrations, crafts/projects, etc.
It helps to keep everything in one place and I do get many ideas from there.
I have wanted to make one of these for a couple years and just haven't. I think it is such a wonderful idea! Esp. to help me organize my thoughts, ideas, and inspirations and keep me focused on what I want my life to look like. Now that I am a hundred and eight weeks pregnant and slow as all get out, maybe this is something I'll take on...making my book. Thanks for the inspiration (as always)!
I have one...needs work. My big thing is I actually write IN my books and magazines. I am contemplating an idea list on the sidebar of my blog....that way I am more accountable. Why does that work?
I have wanted to make one of these for a couple years and just haven't. I think it is such a wonderful idea! Esp. to help me organize my thoughts, ideas, and inspirations and keep me focused on what I want my life to look like. Now that I am a hundred and eight weeks pregnant and slow as all get out, maybe this is something I'll take on...making my book. Thanks for the inspiration (as always)!
I have had one for years...when I finally decided I could not keep my stacks and stacks of beloved magazines! Looking through it is like a condensed version of all my favorite magazines! Which sadly most of those magazines are now out of print : (
Oh yes! I couldn't live without mine! Thanks for the peek into your inspiration.
I have one! I actually have several. One for my house, one for my life, one for my career aspirations, etc.
Help:
A few weeks ago I started loading my photos into photobucket instead of right into blogger. And you are right, they cannot be enlarged. They are in a closed folder at PB because I don't want everyone to see what photos I'm getting ready to use. Kind of takes the fun out of it.
Hmmm, I'm not sure what to do about not being able to enlarge the photos--any suggestions?
I have a family notebook, which I use like yours for decorating inspiration. But I also have a section for recipes that I get out of magazines, a section for kids' crafts/activities/things to buy, a vacation section for dream destinations that I read about in magazines, and a just plain greedy section (things *I* want, like a necklace or new pair of shoes - I keep thinking my dear husband might stumble upon it, but so far no luck HA!) I love that this way I can toss all the magazines that accumulate in the house, but still keep my favorite ideas.
I have an idea book too. When you like as many styles as I do, it helps me to narrow down my choices. Thanks for all the great advice Nester. The sketch and measurements of your furniture is brilliant!
P.S. Oprah Schmoprah! We want to see The Nester on TV with her own "N" magazine! =)
I have tried to start idea books but then forget I have one etc. I am trying to purge all the extra junk around here. Hopefully I'll get back to being that on top of things!
I have a little notebook that I write ideas in, but I haven't made the leap to putting my pictures in there. There still in their original magazines with dog-eared pages. I'll have to figure out how to combine the two.
Thanks for the inspiration. And, I second whoever said we'd love to see you on TV!
Nester,
Perhaps you could load your photos directly to blogger as you used to and after you post them on the blog keep a copy in photobucket for safekeeping?
I actually have an idea book for holidays and traditions, but this is a GREAT idea! I love organization, so I am in!!!!
i absolutely have an idea book! the best part is, for years we've been saving all those clippings for our "dream house", and now that the market is in such turmoil, we've decided to stay put & put those clippings to use in our "current house". life's too short --- make your "current house" your "dream house"!!!!
I have always wanted to start an idea book. I think after reading today I will have to start one b/c I always forget what I would like to do.
not yet! i have a ton of ripped out magazine pages with no home. thanks for the inspiration. i love anythying that uses page protectors, it makes it so much more official.
I think the idea of jotting down a sketch and measurements is SO awesome!!! I feel like we are always taking measurements over and over again.
What a great "idea" to add to my book! :-)
I do the exact same thing. I have a notebook with ideas for the future, and sketches. I also have a bulletin board for fabric swatches and things I want to make soon.
I do! I take manilla folders and glue my pictures inside like a collage.
Need to organize my years of clipping / ripped out pages / my own drawings etc... Even though not in a book I've gone back to them over the years. One thing I have done for years is check out books from the library - decorating books for individual rooms, whole house ideas, books on homes from around the world, etc...and through the dozens and dozens of books I've look through there was one timely aspect I learned - the colors that I am very much drawn to when it comes to decorating wines / burgundy's / greens are the main colors and accenting them with many other colors. But what was really revealing to me over the years as I went from one book to another and it didn't matter if the how many times the colors that were popular for the season or year were there was one set of color scheme that never went out of style ever - it has shown it's self over and over for hundred's of years and it was the burgandy, green , creams...they just never lost out.
So not only keep clippings and put together an idea book....hit the library for ideas.
I absolutely do! As a matter of fact, I just tore two pages out of magazines yesterday and stuck them in it!
I love that you said something about an idea book, I have piles and piles of magazines, clippings, paint chips..etc..that I need somewhere to put them...I didn't think of putting them all into an idea book...My husband will be thankful for that...haha... :-D
I do, I do, I do!!! And, the funny thing is, it's much like yours -- a binder, with clear paper inserts is the best way for me to fall in love, fall out of love, keep and toss images. You find out a lot about yourself and your style with a book like that!
LOVE this post!! I'm impressed at how much the pics in your book match the pics in your house! Way to see an idea through! (This is where I struggle!!) LOL!!
I have waaay too many inspiration photos saved on my computer. I'm waiting for it to become overloaded and revolt.
I used to clip favorite rooms from magazines, but then I just started marking them in the magazine and saving the whole darn thing for future inspiration....which, now that Cottage Living and Domino have gone under I'm glad I did. I just need to get a color copier. Then I could go hog wild...oh yes, big dreams here :).
I too keep an idea book for my home ideas and an idea book for recipe and dinner ideas. I have for years, and just love it!!! After seeing foxglove so much in mags last year, I went out and planted some too!
Thanks for sharing,
So I have never thought of doing this for design stuffies! I always keep a book for craft and scrapbooking ideas, but I will have to start doing it for my house as well. Great idea!
Oh yes, ma'am, I sure do!! Actually, my dream book is so packed full that - ahem - I have an Idea Filing system. Oh dear. Someone save me from myself!!
I just recently bought a pretty binder to keep handy with paint chips from the house, fabric and inspiration clippings. But I also have 2 large file holders filled with my other magazine clippings. I have it divided by room, also holidays. I really enjoy going thru it for ideas and when a holiday is coming up to get ideas. I think I might even get my Easter/Spring out today and think of warmer days and sunny accessories!
I have three of those books now! Whenever I find a great idea in a magazine I tear it out and file it away in my notebook.
It is so much easier to do this than to keep a huge pile of magazines. I just keep what I want and toss the rest. My notebooks are arranged into categories: simple decorating ideas, house pictures, seasonal ideas, holiday ideas, and gardening.
I also have idea binders... One is full of paint chips, and one is full of wanna do ideas from mags, and the other is gardening ideas. (Because I'm sooo not a green thumb) So glad you shared yours! I'll have to share mine on my blog!
Idea books are a must have. They keep you focused on what you want. In my home decorating idea book I also keep the names and business cards of companies I've used and liked. So if anyone asks you who you used, it is easy to find their number (also if you need to use them again). I also have idea books for decorating for the holidays. I have a section at the front of each holiday where I make notes for the next year. Buy more red ornaments, need gold garland...
LOL, this is actually very similar to a post I'm doing for tomorrow! Grat minds think a like...good job on your idea book!
Yep, I do the exact same thing! Have for quite awhile now. I also do it with scrap book inspiration.
I separate my binders down into categories a little more though, concerning house stuff.
I also have one for recipes, until I try them and add them to my collection.
Thanks for sharing
I have two collage journals that I've had for at least 10 years now. One is similar to the photos above, with pictures and ideas I have for home decor and also for my dream cafe/church. The other is more of a personal journal with photos I have torn from magazines, favorite quotes, song lyrics, and memories. It's ironic you mentioned this idea, because I just posted pictures yesterday from my personal journal. :)
I use to do this long ago. But, since having my girls I hardly look at magazines. But, I do get plenty of inspirations from the blogs that I read.
Yes, I have an idea book but it is not near as organized as yours...lol:) I also save lots of pics online in a folder labeled "design pics". I love to watch a slide show of it and daydream.
I have a dream book or inspiration book for decorating - but I had never thought about putting my measurements for the furniture I already have. I can see now how that would be helpful thanks
Since I'm 20 and live with my parents, my idea book is dishes, furniture, curtains, rugs, lamps, linens, anything I see that I might like to use someday in my own house. My mom jokes that the decorating skipped right over her from her mom to me. :)
~Meghan
Wonderful book Nester! I like having everything in binders so I can find it! I lose stuff easily! LOL
I used to have a binder for manuels that came with the TV, oven, or whatever else. This way I could find out how to change to channel or fix the time on something! I would include the any return info and receipts.
-Kim
First, I love your blog! Second, yes I have one too! I may post about it!
Not only do I have an idea book, but I guilt our current home using it! You can see some ideas I incorporated here.
http://easyathome.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-inspiration-basket.html
Recession or not, I still subcribe to nearly every magazine out there and feel the cost of those justifies the cost my mistakes would have made (and then some!).
I've had inspiration binders and baskets for as long as I can remember and still have my first one from a 1988 Glamour magazine (yep, they used to feature homes back then).
It's a fun escape and it's a fun hobby, and it's good to see I'm not the only crazy one out there! LOL!
I sure do have an idea book! It's a black binder that I stash all my fav inspirations inside.
Found a pick in a magazine one day and ripped it out. Kept it for years. When it was time to buy dining room furniture, I found similiar pieces in two import stores for alot less. I love how my room looks now.
Yes! It was a huge help when we gutted our kitchen. But I haven't updated it since... need to get on that!
I have an home decorating idea folder. When we remodeled my kitchen, I showed the kitchen man what I wanted.
I have a garden 3-ring binder I use as a journal. I save the little plastic tags that come with plants when you buy them. I enter if the location works and improvements for next year. I transplant my plants around more than I move my furniture.
You are so organized! I keep a decorating file with ideas from magazines and blogs. I keep a small notebook in my purse that has paint chips taped in it and rough sketches of each room of the house with measurements along with measurements for windows in case I find a piece of furniture or fabric for curtains - I know how much or what size I need.
LOVE the idea! My book will include photos from YOUR blog, too!
Karol :0)
Yes, I've had one for years, too, and I LOVE IT! Scraps of fabrics rest there, divisions by room/part of the house/yard, lists, photos, ideas, goals....
I adore my book! It's so inspiring. I've also got organized bookmarks for the same purpose when I see things online.
I do the same thing and also refer to it as my "idea book." I've done this since high school. And since I am not at all good at writing in a diary/journal- it sort of serves that purpose after a number of years. I look back a books I filled up many moons ago and laugh at some of the design ideas that I thought were so fabulous at the time. It's also interesting to find that many more ideas I still like today.
I not only have an idea book for house decor but also for gift ideas and just general "that's cool- I will totally want to buy it/make it/use it somehow one day" stuff. It's the only way I can force myself to throw away old magazines really.
I have 2 books: one for holidays only and the other for everything else. I am constantly clipping newspaper & magazine articles and/or pictures. I also copy pages that I like from library books. I use a 3 ring binder and slip the ideas into inexpensive plastic sleeves.
I recently did a recipe book the same way. For years I'd been tearing out recipes and adding them to a huge hatbox. If I got one from a friend it went in there too. Then when I put together a menu I had to sort through all those but I always knew what color paper or size or handwriting I was looking for. So I sorted them by categories that make sense to me, put 'em in the sleeves (I like to preserve the original rather than transfer them to the computer) and added dividers. I made a cover myself using pictures of food & family from dinners past and I labeled it "Momma's Recipes." My 14 year old daughter already has dibs on it "someday."
what a great idea! i have an inspiration board, similar to what you speak of. however it is overflowing and i may need to "transport" it to a binder :)
Yeah! I love this idea! When we moved to this house 5 years ago, I had a lot of ideas and had implemented only a few. The rest are stuffed in my file cabinet somewhere. I like the idea of keeping the idea book current and chipping away at your decorating goals a little at a time.
I have an idea folder on my laptop (there are a lot of photos from THIS blog in there!) and a stack of magazine pages I'm saving. We're living overseas temporarily, and I'm dreaming of things to do to a future house. Plus, I have stacks & stacks of decorating mags that my mom has brought over for me. I'm not going to take them all back, so I'm ripping out only the things I love. Some day I'll organize them by category. Some day.
No, I don't have an idea book, but what I've done for our last two moves (in less than a year, yikes) was to make floor plans of the new house and cut-outs of all my furniture at the same scale. It made it a lot easier to make sure things would fit, traffic patterns would work and so on. Once I had decided on furniture placement, I pasted the furniture cut outs in place, and put them in a ring binder. The boys and their friends then used the floor plans to tell where the furniture should go. Also, I could then pack books, linens, craft supplies and such and label them where they should go in the new house. To make that easier too (because boys don't read boxes!) I used blue, green and red duct tape on the boxes to colour-code everything by floor in the house, this colour coding went on the floor plans too.
I'm gonna start a house book though, that's a good idea.
Oh yeah, I do that! I like the idea of keeping paint chips and furniture measurements, though. You could also keep swatches of fabric that you are using in your home so you can match them while you are out! The idea book keeps me from hanging onto all those old magazines "just in case" there's something in there I'll need someday!
I've had a bunch of stuff pulled out of magazines forever, but haven't gotten around to organizing it all into a three-ring binder. Maybe now I'll actually find time to do it.
i had an idea book when we were building our house.
My husband is always teasing me that I could should have stock in "Better Homes and Gardens" and "Country Living". I have a pile...I mean more like a box full of magazines that are waiting for the pages to be torn out to go into my Idea books. I have all the plastic sleeves and the binders...just need to do it! Thanks for giving me the boost I need to stop procrastinating and finish it!
I am SO glad I'm not the only one with an idea book. My husband makes fun of me for ripping pages out of magazines all the time. I love to dream and redecorate. Thanks for teaching me the art of shopping your home!
And a huge thanks for helping me fall in love with my home again!
I don't have an idea book but an idea file box! I've been tearing stuff out of magazines since college so I've got about 9 years (*gulp*) of ideas. Every now and again I'll go through and cull but it's really neat to see exactly how many things I still like even from way back when.
http://squishypig/blogspot.com
I do! I do! I have mine divided by room with pocket dividers and tuck pages or paint swatches into them often. One of these days, I'll actually get to use the ideas!
Yep! Mine is a sketch book so that I can also draw things I may want to make. I have already made some heavy duty frames thanks to the sketch book.
my idea book seems to be more of a huge file... :) it's funny to me to look through after a few months of collecting to see how many pictures are duplicates...
I've kept a folder like this for years. It really helped me when we left our last home with nothing but our clothes and personal belongings. I had the opportunity to start from scratch again. How fun that was! My folder had accumulated quite a collection but it was such a help to our designer. We had such fun creating a new environment.
I don't, but now I plainly see that yes, I do need one. :) Thank you for sharing yours - you have such great taste.
I have a bunch of pages that I need to put into a dream book. The other night my husband and I were dreaming about how we wanted to decorate our master bedroom and I ran downstairs to get my pages and showed him exactly what I had in mind. It was great having some concrete ideas that I could share with him. He could also see that I'd been dreaming for a few years now- and it wasn't something I wanted to do on a whim. When we do start some projects it'll be helpful to have a lot of the planning already done.
I'm a long time lurker- love your blog :).
So apparently I need to switch from stuffing stuff into a file folder and making a binder. What is the point in keeping papers to file them and then throw them away? And who looks at their files ever again anyway? Except lawyers. Or not--their secretaries do it all for them.
So I either need to get rid of my broken filing cabinet or get a secretary. I vote for the latter.
I'm gonna put it in my idea binder.
Oh, and this year--I'm planting zinnias. Like, everywhere. I hope they like the desert. My mom has really pretty foxgloves, but she remembers to water her flowers every day in this arid heat trap. Yeah, my yard suffers flower genocide every summer.
I'm right there with y'all. I also have been safely keeping my idea pages in plastic sleeves in 3-ring binders. And over the years have amassed so many ideas that I now have 5, yep that's right, 5 3-ring binders! Hmm...that might be overkill!
I have a decorating journal. I took a black and white composition book and decoupaged inspiring pictures on the front. I write down all of my ideas, furniture measurements, paint colors, etc.. I can then glue in magazine pictures on what ever section they apply to.
Yes I do have an idea book, but it has spilled over into three idea books now. I do, however, clean them out occasionally when my style changes.
Hugs,
Cathie
I'm in the process of putting together an idea book. I have an accordion file and a big grocery bag!
I keep both home inspiration photos and also craft ideas, notes about places I'd like to visit, classes I'd like to take, etc. I really want to get it all organized, because it doesn't do much good in a paper bag.
Love the measurement drawings. That is genius!
Oh I LOVE LOVE idea books. I started one the minute the pen dried on our sale of our home. I love beautiful things and spaces and I am drawn to magazines with these types of things in them. I have mine in clear see through sleeves and they work great! I don't know what I would do without my book...it is part of me and the many things that I love. Thanks for the time you spend to write your blog and post helpful ideas. I check it almost daily.
Lindsey
Great idea!!
I don't have an Idea Book. Mine is an Idea Box. It's actually sort of overflowing and unfortunately it's not nearly as neat as yours. Darn't, add that one to my To Do List. :) Thanks for the Inspiration.
I do have an idea "folder", which I have been organizing into a three ring binder. Also, I teach a high school class, in which I have my students start their own folder. I might share your entry with them tomorrow!
oH, yes mam, I do. I have had mine for about three years. It is also fun to go back through and see how my taaste have changed. I did a throw out a few months back and realized that I used to be more of a trendy style persopn, now I drift to more classic styles. I have all kinds of stuff in mine, gardens, wall colors, benches I want to make out of bed parts....you name it.
What are we to do when they discontinue all our magazines?
Girl, I have a design file, design drawers, design armoire, design bulletin board... you name it I have it! And tons of magazines in case I run out of ideas.
~Misti
I have two giant notebooks full of ideas for decorating, gardening, houseplans and recipes.
Yes, I do have a dream book and the weird thing is that everything in it is cream or white, a little bit of pale blue and taupe, but almost all monochromatic. Maybe I just dream of a clean house!? :)
I love how yours brought you to mimicking it! I haven't gotten to that stage yet. I need to update it by scouring some magazines and finding the dream bedroom as we are revamping soon!
Would you be willing to take a peak at my posting and help me get my creative juices flowing on colors or ideas to fluff this room a bit?
http://prayerfuldrivenlife.blogspot.com/2009/02/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html
I need some insight. By the way, the bathroom is getting there because I found a great lamp on a newer post and it really adds great light! I have considered mistreating a new shower curtain to make it dramatic, but what colors?
The bedroom is my other struggle area??? If you have time I would love to hear your insight! :)
I do have a book like this...full of home decor ideas and crafty projects I want to tackle one day! I actually posted about it in January at this link: http://robinsblessednest.blogspot.com/2009/01/organizing-life-plan-for-planning.html. I do the same thing with recipes from magazines! It could be called an obcession!! :)
OMG! i have idea FILES!!!!!!
i do this with recipes but never thought to do it with home ideas. but perhaps alot of that has to do with the fact i have only recently wanted/started to make small changes in my home. this is a great idea. thanks for the tip
First, I love the idea of keeping a sketch with measurements of your larger furniture! Genius!!! I do not have an idea book, but for a long time, I kept a 10x12 envelope full of pages I tore out of magazines. I haven't added anything recently, but that may be a good thing. I feel that my tastes have changed A LOT in the last 3-4 years. Now I can start fresh, right?
I love this idea! I've tried different versions of it..the vision board...an accordian folder..but I love the binder version. It seems it will be easier to keep up than the vision board and so much easier to go back and look through than th folder!! Thanks!
No, I don't have an Idea Book. But I've been inspired to.
I also have an idea book- it goes with me everywhere- thanks for sharing yours.
I've got the tearing out part down, but not the put in a book part. :)
Thanks for the push. :)
I do! I've kept one very similar to the one you pictured for about 6 years--a binder with clear inserts full of magazine pages and clippings. It really inspirational. And fun to go through it a couple times a year, weeding out things that are no longer "me" and putting in new items. I also have a storage box full of magazine pages I've ripped out that are waiting to be gone through and added to one of my binders. *gulp* It's a big task.
That is a great idea, you have inspired us here at the www.zcouple.com to start a book for our new home. Thank you so much for this great idea.
www.zcouple.com
Hi Nester! I just wanted to tell you that I'm linking to this post on my blog because I am on the hunt to find the buffalo check fabric you mention here. I hope it's OK if I use the inspiration photo you posted, so people can see the fabric...but I obviously won't use the photo of your house since I don't want to intrude! Thanks for having such amazing style that inspires me all the time! :)
Carrie
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