{inspired} the files

For as long as I can remember, I've *collected* rooms I like from magazines - like a lot of you, I'm sure. I don't like to keep magazines, so every time I read a Martha Stewart, Blueprint, Domino, Pottery Barn, etc., I tear out the pages that I love or that inspire me and keep for reference. Unfortunately, I had little piles of tear-outs scattered all over my house. So.very.unorganized. And, hard to reference when you don't know what is where.

So, last week I gathered all my tear outs and set to work organizing.

First, I went through EVERY one and sorted into piles: kitchen, living room, etc.

I also threw away the ones I no longer liked. Like I said, I've been doing this for years. It was interesting and surprising to see how much my taste has changed.

 

LOTS of discards.

 

I made section headers to keep all the related pictures together.

 

I also labeled what about each picture I love. There were some rooms I didn't like everything in, and I didn't want to be confused if I went to reference a room.

 

Then I simply put each page in a plastic cover and slipped them into a three ring binder, organized by each tab I made above.

Beyond that, I also pulled out my of.the.moment favorites.

 

Those lucky few went directly to the inspiration board in my sewing room. *LOVE.*

 

A couple of my favorites. Above, love the informal picture display above the fireplace. I'm already trying to figure out where this would work best in my house. Below, I love this fireplace. One of the first projects this year is our fireplace and I am on constant lookout for inspiration.

 

An added bonus: It adds a nice dose of color to my sewing area.

ps. The walls in this room have not been re-painted yet. Hopefully that goes without saying! :)