Thursday 22 January 2009

Inspiration for 2009


We've all talked about Inspiration Boards before...they definitely aren't a new topic in Blogland! Probably like most creative people, I usually like to start each year with a new board to get myself inspired and excited about the year ahead. However, I have to be completely honest I haven't started my new 2009 board yet. My Black & Spiro Girls keep trying to nudge me to just put one picture on my humongous linen covered board in my office but I just haven't been able to do it.

Last night however, when I was looking at Diane Bergeron's awe-inspiring board I started to get in the mood. So, tomorrow I have some time free in which I plan to get started on my latest board and today's purchase {for Black & Spiro's new stock} of a very beautiful old circa 1900's Chesterfield sofa in original floral linen with box pleated skirting, will be just the thing to get me going.

I'd love to pose some questions to you, my readers...

What have you added to your inspiration board lately? What and who are you inspired by at the moment? What colours are you loving for 2009?

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love inspiration boards. This one is so full of color, and some great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

.... said...

Hey, I'm a girl from India. I just love reading/visiting random blogs of people across the world.
lovely blog you have and must say, a very beautiful sweet smile:) may you stay smiling always. love and wishes.

Ness Lockyer said...

Always loving whites and neutrals. Hydrangeas, Peonies and the colours they come in. Anything in a scrubby wooden state. Still loving vintage text, wood blocks, Linen. Anything handmade pieces for there attention to detail and soft duck eggs blues, faded sage greens, and soft cherry pink/reds. I so need to go do mine now!
Ness xx

katiedid said...

Green! I am loving green right now. The latest Western Interiors has a beautiful Living Room with green paneling. I will post it tomorrow.:) Can't wait to see your board.

Brown Button Trading said...

Anna this is freaky! a couple of nights ago I posted the exact same image on my blog saying my 09 resolution (if i had to have at least one) was to put together an inspiration board! - i saw this on MA Belle blog as Dian Bergeron stocks Rubie Green fabric.

cassandra said...

i was JUST looking at the same photo and a few others, trying to drag up the energy to go through my piles of inspiration photos... the new year has been bringing out my need to figure out what i'm loving now and where i'm going next!

Shell Sherree said...

Funny you should ask, Anna ... I look at my To Do list and 'Inspiration Board' is staring patiently back at me. I shall kiss Blogland goodnight shortly and get started!! Aqua always inspires me. And I'm especially taken with black and white patterns at the moment.

CG said...

I never had an inspiration board before, I'm a writer not an interior designer though, but that surely doesn't ban me from making one. It sounds fun and creative. I will have to look into this when I get my wage! I used to have an inspiration wall before where I would place all the things that make me feel good, but board sounds much more tidy!

Debra said...

I made a new inspiration board last November and haven't added anything to it! I adore the fabric- it's a pale nut color with French handwriting all over it. I can't seem to bring myself to cover it- but I will!
I too love pale, water blue. It's cold and very snowy here, so I am having fun with some darker, winter plaids. I'm already getting anxious for spring- and it's way too early to be thinking like that! I love seeing what you bring to us each day- it's always colorful and full of inspiration.
Debra

gretchen said...

i just updated my board yesterday. i blew up a lot of photos from a trip to vermont (green grassy hills, mountains) and some photos from japanese urban and rural landscapes i took on a trip 2 months ago, then i put up some great drawings and paintings by other artists. i am a painter and am liking scribbles this year. for my house colors: deep grassy green and grey this year. can't get enough of either color. wanting to make my whole house over in these colors with maybe a bit of orange and indigo blue peppered in as well, a bit of black/white and strong, stoney beige, nothing else! it is winter here now so i try to use interior color at maximum effect to liven everyone up...it works.

Heidi Alfonzo said...

Lovely! Let's see...

My favorite colors are yellow and following closely, green.

I don't have one inspiration board, I have like 3! One is on my wall next to my bed with pictures of family, close friends and admired people (Hillary Clinton, Salma Hayek, Ines Sastre); then I have an inspiration board that has goals and things I wish to do; then I have mini boards around the room.

What inspires me? inspirational blogs such as this one. I'm inspired by poetry I read and photographs I find around cyberspace!

Lauren said...

i've never had an inspiration board... but I am loving blues right now... which is weird bc I gravitate to brown/green. I am also loving the "lemon grass" color of Michelle Obama's inauguration outfit. But right now I am most inpsired by nature bc I miss the outdoors so much!!

Anonymous said...

Dear Anna! You have a lovely blog! I also work with interior design but in Sweden so we're almost "worlds apart" but you are very welcome to step in to my blog and see what inspires me! www.livingartandinteriors.blogspot.com

Best Wishes!

Michelle said...

Inspiration boards are for LOTS of inspiration!

I am loving rusts and moss greens...this month!@#$!^

LaurenFaythe said...

After viewing all the beautiful images in blogland, I love all the pale colors. Greys and blues mostly! Too bad most of my house is painted in the deeper earth tones. So much work ahead...

Unknown said...

I have to say, I haven't done an inspiration board - i do, however, have an inspiration sketch pad. Does that count? I mainly have pictures from Bazaar in there.

Unknown said...

I am very attracted to navy blue for 2009! Good luck on your inspiration board.

Razmataz said...

To my inspiration boards, I have added photos of art groupings, salon style. It is such a great way to create character in a home without clutterand to develop an interest in local and up and coming artists. I am really inspired by the art of Kimberly Applegate and her lovely paintings of great chairs. I am also inspired by anything old, vintage, reused, recycled. I simply love the thrill of the hunt, the practicality of not spending tons of money, helping the environment and the "before and after" aspect of a great vintage makeover. On that note, I am greatly inspired by Eddie Ross. Your blog is also very inspiring to me. I have also been crazy for blue lately, especially turquoise since purchasing an old Ball canning jar.

puck said...

Colors?
Bright rose pink. Bright sea blue. Wood smoke gray.

Inspired by?
Nature. Always. I love looking at my garden and seeing the colors and translating them to a room.

Projects This Year?
Everything. I live in a historic home! But the baby's nursery is the pressing one of the moment.

pve design said...

For 2009, In the US, I think there seems to be a blend of vintage and abstract. I am also attracted to "whitening" or lightening things up so I keep collecting pale items.

la la Lovely said...

I love this image... I am so going to have to save it and keep it in view. I have been wanting to start an inspiration board as well. Just saving anything that I find stylish and love to look at.

Right now I love pinks (always), light blue, gray and white, white and more white. Then add a dash of Aqua & black and something pretty is born.

I am always inspired by you colorful Australians. And light, clam European interiors. I'm trying to find inspiration everywhere I look, outside, old buildings with worn color, fruit, flowers and of course fashion.

Talking with Tami said...

Hello pretty lady lol. Im on my third "vision board" as I call them. It has a pink background and on one side I have all celebs I would like to interview this year and on the other side is things I would like to have.

I want new bedroom sets for my kids,new linens,new coach items,gucci shoes,and magazines that I would like to be in etc...so far alot of it has happened for me too funny! As things come to light on the boards, I check them off. Last year I wanted a new house and we got it lol,it really works if you believe!

Bel said...

I'm moving countries, so am in the middle of creating "Inspiration Folders" so I can take them with me!! I hope to transform them into a board once I settle into the new destination.

I'm really inspired by Kat McLeod at the moment - her illustrations regularly appear in Vogue Entertaining & Travel, so you may well have seen her work! Absolutely adore her use of colour and blended textiles. She is such a talented young lady.

*moggit girls said...

We are inspired by crisp, clean designs...simplicity. Living in the moment and getting rid of the un-neccessary!

theHotness Grrrl said...

My inspirations: Michelle & Barack Obama, cinnabar, violet purple and marigold yellow; Maasai handmade bead necklaces; Moroccan sitting rooms

barsha said...

Hi,

I think the best inspiration for this year is your blog,it is simply amazing and guess what, I have made a small collection of plain bags which is hand painted, ispired by ur blog. will mail u a few photgrapghs of the same,the whole collection is in cream and black color.

Niki Jones said...

Hi Anna, coming out of lurksville to answer your questions.
Well in a few words lots of WHITES, WOOD, BRIGHTS & WELL LOVED PEICES(whether it be art, couches, throws or flowers)I have just posted an inspiration post on my blog(you get a mention, bless). Your Straddie house is to die for. I am in love with chunky wooden battered peices, white walls & wood floors, all decked out in Clear blues, Bright Red, Hot Orange & softer touches of pinky/reds & stripes & florals. I am so loving a real beachy, family look right now with lots of little kids artworks & I am dreamimg of when my all white kitchen goes in.

Niki x

Clementine said...

How lovely! I must start one concentrating on green, I looooove green! x

Sara said...

That board is GORGEOUS! It is inspiring me big time...Thanks!

Anastasia said...

Hi Anna - loved the article in
'Country style' the house looks amazing!!!
a great idea Anna about a 2009 inspiration board...im currently loving lilac and creme colour combinations, Ali McGraw in 'Love Story' for fashion style!

MT said...

I got a bunch of beautiful lillies from a friend a few days ago and every morning when I go come downstairs the smell and colours of the flowers make me smile so they are definitely making it to my inspiration board!
I am loving greys, silver, charcoal and metallics at the moment.
The person who is inspiring me most right now is Audrey Hepburn - I got a beautiful book of photos of her for Christmas!

Lauren said...

I've honestly not thought of doing an inspiration board for myself!!! (I do them for clients all the time!!) I will start thinking & can't wait to get started!! :)
thanks for this post!!
xoxo

Petunia said...

I haven't done a board for this year yet. I feel very uninspired and am worried about too many things. I know they work so I can't figure out why I can't get interested. It's one of the reasons I came to visit your blog tonight. It always feels and feels so full of hope and inspiration.

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

I always work with inspiration boards when I'm writing. I have to clean out all my office clutter before I can start one this year. I love that image!

Julie Richard - Shelter said...

Great Image...I love reading your blog Anna. I have a great image board, it's just the oversized tack board sold via Pottery Barn, but I love that it's neutral and I love that it's large..As far as being inspired..I love oversized, graphic prints lately..but I'm also drawn to comfort..Cozy sofas, reading nooks, cotton fabrics, inviting color etc...Good Luck.

Best,
Julie
SHELTER
www.shelterinteriordesign.blogspot.com