Recently, I read an article by a designer regarding how she achieved her inspiration. As well, when I was at market recently, I attended a seminar with Martin Bullard, another A-list designer, and listened to his source of inspiration. I can tell you that for both designers, as well as myself and many others, the inspiration comes from one word:
Travel. Get out of your box.
These days, everyone is quite consumed with looking at their screens to draw upon ideas of how to decorate. Pinterest and Instagram are starting to become generic. There’s a “look”, a style, that is being copied relentlessly. Jumping into this foray can leave your home, your most sacred space, feeling a bit impersonal. You don’t know which designer did which home, because they are all starting to look the same. The problem with this is that your home can lose its depth, it’s soul, and that is what is most important in building your nest.
My husband and I do our best to get out and go somewhere every year, and that usually means out of the country. Our daughter has been a surf instructor in Nicaragua and Costa Rica for 5 years now. We have made trips to Nicaragua to see her, and the experiences were unforgettable. Granada is a quiet, charming town with lovely boutique hotels that open into interior courtyards overflowing with plants, flowers, and fountains. I dreamt to myself that one day I will build a home with interior courtyards that open to lush gardens…
A couple years later, when we visited the city of Leon, in Nicaragua, I was struck by the art. The museum in Leon is one of the best in the world in my opinion. The fusion of a centuries old Spanish building mixed with art from the 1600’s to the present day is breathtaking. The walls were washed in white, chalky plaster, and the art was so eclectic and beautiful. A current artist had suspended driftwood into modern mobiles that moved in the breeze gently, and, it was very modern-organic in feeling (which is right up my alley!). I was captivated by the simple beauty and did not want to leave.
It’s these moments that we need to bring into our homes. Having time away from your busy life and just taking the time to really see that which is around you can impart a wonderful vision to your home. And, you don’t need a plane ticket for inspiration either… Have you ever taken a fall walk in Lithia Park as the leaves are turning, or driven out to a vineyard in the summer? I think it’s very inspiring to listen to the feelings of joy these experiences create, and then think about how to bring this into your home. Many of my clients have amazing art they have collected when they travel, and once again, it is these memories that make a home fully realized. So, I know that the black and white and woven is kind of a big deal in decorating these days, so the challenge I offer up is this: Take the trends, take your favorite inspirations from your own life, and mix it all together and be your own brand of unique. Your home will thank you for it!
Happy decorating!
