show and tell.

a friend of mine recently moved into a charming new home. 

as she settles in, she is eager to make the space uniquely her own.

this morning she asked if i would come by and help begin planning its stages.

where should i start?

what do i spend the most money on?

what colors would look good?

having a design plan so you can budget and buy accordingly is smart.

but before you can really outline anything, it helps to know what you desire creating.

so.

grab a file or a box. create a pinterest board. pull out the ol' corkboard.

every time you see an image that delights you — whether it has anything to do with home design or not — put it in the box.

this might include pictures of beautiful cities, flower arrangements, a wardrobe color scheme, wildlife photography, even gorgeous lighting. consider invitations, book covers, and seasonal fruit. have your camera phone ready because inspiration is everywhere.

whatever elicits a response, capture and keep it.

collect images + notes + pins + photos for 2 weeks to 1 month.

no censorship or editing.

just go with what fancies you.

after a few weeks have passed, look at your images. scrutinize for patterns. what you are drawn to will repeat itself on your torn out pages, pins, and/or collage.

this is where you start. by first knowing what you LOVE.

maybe you are already in a home, knee deep in the process and still can't clarify what you love.

take pictures of your home with a beginner's eye.

document your space objectively. themes will emerge that either enlighten you to your preferences or uncover some necessary editing.

either way, until we make it a point to answer the question. . .

WHAT DO I LOVE?

we won't know where to start.

xo