Keep Calm

I love the "keep Calm" poster and have seen it everywhere in all sorts of colours. I particularly like this mustard/lime green and thought it married nicely with a collage I did a while back..enjoy

White on white ....again

I really do like this simple look of white on white. I know it has been used a lot but it seems like it's a classic where you can just add some twists and turns. I love the red chair as a contrast, and would certainly add in a bit more colour for the other pics. but that is just me.

Windows are the eyes of a house

I was clearing out a whole lot of old pictures and came across this one which I love, and which is quite coincidental. We have just been looking at a house to buy which has a Spanish feel, but which has been decorated in a modern way which does not do it justice at all. I went straight to a Moroccan influence and had already remodelled the entire house in my head by the time we left the inspection.

Everything seems to be falling into place we will be staying for a min. of 2 years, it is a good time to buy as the market has dropped, now it is just whether we can fund it and keep our home base property. My next job is to recheck the credit card exp. and look at some cut backs.

Anyway I love these windows and even though ours are no where near as grand if luck is on our side I know that my design intuition is right for this house.

Living Inspiration

I just realized how long it is since I last posted. I would be written off in the blogger world..but lucky for me I have not gone public and therefore no audience.

With sick children and a virus that will not leave our house for over a month despite antibiotics I guess I can forgive myself. And this morning I finally woke up thinking this thing is finally leaving my body...just as well as I have a few catch ups for my course. This being one.

I went on the look out for some inspiration for a presentation work up for a living room, and collaged these ideas from Domino magazine...I am particulary fond of the bold wallpapers and the vintage portraits. Enjoy.

Wallpaper

I found this great site for wallpaper and have prmptly lost the address. I particularily like the "tick Tock" version which can be coloured in by kids or adults alike and think I will use it in my interior colour scheme for class.

Dreamy Destinations

Just had to post these gorgeous phots of a house in aix en Provence. I love the use of grey with the chandalier and ornate mirror set off with a fresh white trim, and the warmth of the grand dining room. And who wouldn't want a dip in that pool ...I can just see myself with a glass of vino and a plate of yummies from the french countryside reading a good book and contemplating a swim...keep dreaming, I think i will have to settle for 5 minutes peace at the moment.

Photo courtesy of Shoot.

Nosh Nook

I loved the look of this eating nook, and using a window bench instead of chairs. The pedestal round table sets the scene perfectly, and is quite elegant with its touch of silver.

Can't you just imaging having a lovely brunch with friends or your family, and later in the day curling up with a book and a cuppa.

Photo courtesy of Domino.

Plates for Mother's Day

Mummys Day just around the corner....

Mustard & Rose

I found these pictures of a home in South Africa on Elle Decor. I really like the mustard wall with the compilation of art landscapes, and the two rose rooms are really warm and inviting

Cute Artwork

I found these lovely pictures on trunkt, a website similar to etsy where people can sell their artwork directly online.

Desk Space

I'm a little cramped for desk space at the moment, and I came across this wonderful house in Sweden with some great storage and design ideas I wanted to keep on file.

One of them was a desk corner which I really liked, and the other the glass door with the chils'd name etched in.

Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of flikr "Chez Laarson"

How to create an inspriation board

I thought this was a great blog on feelboards to keep in mind so copied it from HeySusy so I could keep it as a reference point.

Inspiration boards (I call them feelboards or moodboards) are something I have used for a long time in the 'design discovery' phase for clients. They serve as a guide not only to kickstart the creative/design process, but also to remind, as that process branches out, what the core ideas are. They are like a compass, helping you be sure that you are going in the intended direction. Above, you can see a few of my inspirations...what I am using currently, and used to create the new susyjack* website and identity.

Daily, we see so much that sitting down to create one's own work can feel a little bit like fighting through the weeds with a machete. That's where feelboards come in: combining materials, images, and words which map the terrain and guide us through!
Getting Started:Spend some quiet time thinking about what's been on your mind lately. What's popped out at you? What's made you say 'wow' during your day to day. Some people find it's helpful to carry around a digital camera, sketchbook, or to keep a list of moments where they encountered something that really 'spoke' to them. These are moments of inspiration, as quick as they may be! Capture them.

Make a list of what feelings, things or qualities you were drawn in by. Just keep it loose...don't censor yourself. Maybe it's words like, 'nature, beauty, children, happiness' or 'relaxation, calmness, soothing' or 'colorful, unique, freedom'. It could be any combination of words which remind you of what sang to you.

Imagery, Textures, Objects:Over a week or so, collect images and objects that you feel correspond with your inspirations. These may be images which you seek out, or, they could be images which already have a place in your heart. These are your 'compass' images. Don't worry about whether they match, or whether they include your friends or family...These are just for you. Each one should have special meaning, and be true to what you notice in life...not just what's in style, but what you feel has meaning and calls out to you.

Collaging:Begin combining the images. Don't glue them down right away, but move them around on a board. Which combinations work for you? Why? Use the process as a tool for thinking more about what you are enjoying visually. When a certain couple of images get together, does it make you feel excited? Good! That means it's working. Don't forget your words....make sure that they make it in there. Looking and reading will simultaneously re-enforce your inspiring ideas.
Remember: It's okay to take your time. I've worked in design studios where we worked on feelboards for a couple of weeks...and it was worth the wait, they were precise, inspiring and communicative. The process is part of revealing what you are really getting at. The point is not to create perfection, but to reveal a unique vision...yours.

Presenting:When you think you've got a palette that is working, make it permanent. Stick those images down, and hang up your board in your workspace. When you get flummoxed, go grab a snack, take a break, then come back and look at your board. Use it as a jumping off point...or, take a look at your work and double-check that it's going in the direction that your board/compass expresses. This is especially helpful when you're creating a collection and have multiple pieces to create and develop.

Taking it Further:Mood Boards are not only useful for interior design and things visual; they can be extremely helpful as a tool for self-discovery. I have seen people create moodboards for everything from figuring out a new career to planning their next vacation. A successful moodboard transcends style and communicates. It has meaning over time. Mood Boards are also really useful to bring along if you are pitching a product, showing inspiration to a client, explaining your process and ideas, or creative directing someone (for example, if you are hiring someone to do your website or photography).

Keeping it going:I have folders in which I put images I feel are really calling out to me, both in my space, and on my hard drive. Every now and then, I ramble through and remind myself what I liked about them, and they make a great source for new ideas. If you find an image that you really enjoy, but it doesn't fit with your current vein of thinking, save it. You never know, it could come in handy when you're planning your next collection or idea! Or, if you don't feel like getting out the glue, try shelving it. This can be a great, quick, and flexible way to show off your creative favorites.
Resources:
For more on inspiration boards, check out these blogs and tutorials:decor8's styleboard contest winnners from last summer's competition...the winner is a must-see, love the way she has used the folder as a background style me pretty inspiration board contestihanna's article on building a reusable frame for pinning up your ideas.bella dia's series mood boards on her blogabsolutely beautiful things makes frequent use of moodboards in her interior design work.Abigail Beal has written a VERY basic tutorial on making a mood board-- what materials you might want to have around etcinspiration boards group on flickr...where I found a bunch of great examples, including ways of creating change-able boards with clips, frames and shelves! Check out the fantastic sculptures/collages of Lisa Temple Cox while you're there!

A Garden Room

We were talking last night about our home back in Melbourne. One of the things we would really love to do is to invite the outside in even further.

An idea I really like is having a garden pod in the back yard. A separate room for work and sitting, which can convert into an outside eating room or a guest room when needed.

I quite like the modern pod structure in the photo above, but it would need to be more open with a lounging deck extending into the garden. I like the touch of whimsy in the above photo which I think would be nice to link the Edwardian house with the structure outside, and the gravel garden I plan to plant out on our return. However, we would have to be careful it didn't clash.

Berries & Nuts

I found this lovely collage on flikr, but have now lost the artist's name. I think it was artsy, anyway I liked the raspberry and pistachio combinations.

Pink Pondering

I tried painting this colour sequence for one of my exercises, with an advancing wall, but the grey turned to black and I had a grey carpet for warmth. Seeing it in real life wants me to see if I can improve on my attempt if I have time. This looks quite fresh and happy without being too girly.

Photo courtesy of Domino palettes

o.k Hugh it's your turn...

A bit of a diversion I know but I found a lovely Kanagaroo from treefalldesign, and Hugh was upset he wasn't on my previous post. He's only just turned 3, so jealousy is a powerful emotion. So Hugh here is a jumping kangaroo just for you...love Mum xo

Photo courtesy of treefalldesign

Just for you Sarah

Couldn't resist posting this for my babushka Sarah..sweet dreams baby girl...Mum xo

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Secret Garden

How I miss my garden. I love using old bits and pieces in the garden from farms. One of my favourite tricks is using a simple gate. It just adds another dimension to the design and a feeling of escape.

I've always liked the idea of secret gardens, somewhere to hide away and contemplate the little and big things of life. Enjoy my mini collage.

A fresh look for children

What a novel way to show a family tree!

I just love these designs for childrens rooms from Famillessummerbelle.

They are naive, fresh a little quirky and have longevity.

Photos courtesy of http://www.famillesummerbelle.com/Gallery9.html

Think Pink

MMM..tried the green theme with some success, but I think I might turn to pink. Found some lovely pics for inspiration.

Monochromatic collage

I have been thinking about how I could add a different lookd to my colour excercise by using monochromatic tones, and put together this little collage as a bit of inspriation.

Photos various sources

Silver Chaise

I started playing with Polyvore; a tool where you can compile items for a story/colourboard for inspiration. This is my beginners attempt with silver/grey tones.

mmmm textiles

Just having a little break and wandered into Warwick's site for a peak. Here are a few inspring textile looks to remind me what an impact textiles have on the feel of a room. Enjoy....

Photos courtesy of Warwick website.

white on white

I have always loved using white this way, it just opens up the entire living space. In patricular with older homes it add just a twist to their charm. I would love to do this at home but with 2 young children just keep thinking of the constant mopping. Photos courtesy of "boatshedchic"

The Colour Green So Serene

Green is the colour of calm of growth and jealously. Designers often use green for a claming effect, and researchers have found that green can help you read better. The complimentary colour for green is red.