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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: design

Finding Inspiration through Nature

16 Monday May 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, The Great Outdoors, The Home

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design, moss, natural, nature, nature inspired, organic, plants, trees, woodland

Finding Inspiration Through Nature

Finding inspiration for any event or project is really important. It helps bring out creativity and push you to come up with amazing ideas. Nature is one place I have always trusted to give me inspiration. Whether it was a painting, a poem or designing an interior space, Mother Earth has never let me down. The fact I love about nature is it will never die or get old and certainly never become outdated. With the beautiful elements of nature, you can create spectacular designs that will stand the test of time.

I took a photograph in New Hope a couple of years ago that popped up while I was looking through old work. This scene has always been in the back in my mind because I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I loved how the building was old and had ivy growing all over it. It showed a sense of age and vintage appeal I really connected with. Although a bit overgrown, the grass added a nice element to the space. The green tones and softness in its freedom brought a nice texture to the water behind it. And how can you not love the view of the trees across the water. You can’t see it here, but there is a bridge to the right that introduced a hard element to the area, making the naturalness almost fantasy like.

As an inspiration, this setting brought images of moss, dew and various neutral tones to the surface. While playing with these pictures in my head I came up with a conservatory theme. I love this idea for a room in a home, especially for a foyer or a sitting room. This, for sure, will be something I explore in my new home.

When pulling inspiration from the photo, try not to be so literal. I would recommend bringing in wood furniture that has a rustic, aged feel. Gray blues would be nice on the walls. This would mirror the sky and water. Incorporating real plants is a must. I imagine leafy plants and herbs in terra cotta pots and various clay vessels. Showcasing vintage crates and cheese boxes will bring more vintage appeal. Laying down moss inside of them would look earthy and raw.

I wouldn’t include metals so much as I would glass but bronze and rusty finishes would be fitting. Old jars of all sizes and colors would be great. Fill them with small rocks or pebbles, even tiny succulents would work. You want the room to feel lush without being congested. Be careful not to modernize it to much. This theme is not about being modern or contemporary, it’s about authenticity. Floors should be natural elements such as wood, brick, stone or cork. It will help tie the whole space together.

Here are some more ideas and products that will inspire this theme:

Weathered Birdhouse

Illusorio Console

Bodhi Desk

Mirrored Dresser

Garvey Chair

Banda Armchair

Aged Herb Pot

Vanuatu Twilight Wallpaper

Are You Being Served Wallpaper

Inspiring Invitations

28 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Invites & Save the Dates

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Tags

design, events, invitations, invites, parties, weddings

So you have something to celebrate and you’ve decided to throw a party. It can be a birthday, a baby or bridal shower, engagement party or just a little get together to catch up with some friends. There is one thing you must have. Invitations! Yes, you can buy them and fill in the blanks or have them personalized with your info online, that is somewhat easy. The real challenge is making them meaningful.

Sure you can send out simple invites. No problem. However, when a celebration comes around that is truly one of a kind, you should put a little more effort into it. Just think of the event and the decor involved. Your invitations should reflect the event so your guests get a little sneak peak as to what is up ahead. It is also nice if they reflect you or who the event is for.

Personally, I feel the invitations and save the date’s if you’re planning a wedding, should excite your guests. Don’t you want them to count down the days? Sure! Especially, if it’s a big event. I mean, you’re celebrating for a reason. This is your chance to show some style, uniqueness and authentic design. Start putting down the bricks and lead your guests down the yellow brick road, all the way to your fabulous event.

There are no rules except one: make sure the text is readable. If your guests can’t make it out, you might not have everyone come, haha. I love designing items like invitations. Like cards and stationary, you have a certain amount of space to work with so you don’t really need to think about size. It’s all about the design. So this is why I say make it spectacular. It’s the first thing people will see!

Here are some invitations I found that I feel are really great. I hope they inspire you as much as they did me. Remember, think out of the box and explore your options. Research, research, research! Get creative and have fun.

Vintage Charm

23 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Decor Ideas, Events & Parties, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

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antique, birthdays, children, cupcakes, design, dessert, eclectic, events, parties, vintage

Throwing an event with some vintage charm is a great way to add a nostalgic feel. It can be a birthday party for your kids, a dinner party with friends or a wedding reception. Vintage style can be added to any kind of event. That is what I love about it. Plus, it looks so beautiful. Muted pastel colors are great for spring and summer while darker tones like reds, golds and browns are great for colder months. The possibilities are also endless.

Looking for vintage items to use are quite easy. With all the antique shops around and garage sales close by, its kind of hard not to find cool objects. It can also be cheaper, which is a bonus. It is just a matter of creating somewhat of a theme. You can be eclectic and mix it up but make sure it all blends together somehow.

If you are having a dinner party try vintage settings and simple flowers in old jars and vases. Go the extra mile with embroidered napkins or a tablecloth. You can also out put antique candlesticks. For cups, try mason jars or a design from the era you chose. Present food in decorative containers and platters to keep the vintage feel fresh. Dessert is where you can have fun so get creative. Display yummy treats like cupcakes, pies, cookies and candy on pretty dishes and antique tiers. If you really want to be authentic, dress the part and your ready to go!

Birthday parties or celebrations for children is an excuse to really get creative. Think of things kids love like animals, toys, ice cream and games. So places like the zoo, the circus, an ice cream shoppe and festivals would make great themes. Decorate the party area with your theme and take all the guests back to the good old days. Create ice cream sundaes, a vintage candy bar and cute cupcakes. You can give little toys from the 50s or 60s as favors and they will love them. Sounds like fun to me!

Table Goodies

19 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Crafty Ideas, Decor Ideas, Events & Parties, Everyday Design

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design, diy, doily, events, flowers, milk glass, natural, organic, table runners, table settings, unique

Table Goodies

The table setting is always an important element of an event. It doesn’t have to be crazy. Actually, it shouldn’t be crazy at all. If you are designing the table people will be eating at then I recommend you don’t put flowers or any decorative items in front of their faces. Guests should be able to look at each other and talk. I am not a big fan of events where the host is blatantly trying to impress everyone with elaborate designs.

If you are trying to spice up a table with a buffet or dessert, all you need is a few pops of happy to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Just remember, when food is near don’t include candles that smell. Why have them compete? The food should smell tasty enough!

Here are a few cute and unique ways to brighten up a table at any event. Keep it simple and you already get two thumbs up.

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