Using an Inspiration Room for Interior Design

I feel as though I should preface this article by saying that I am a Wedding and Event Planner and am by no means an Interior Designer...in fact, I am the opposite.  I know what I like but have the hardest time actually putting it all together. The idea for this article came from Pinterest.  I love it oh so much, but it has become my undoing...all of these pins where the rooms look so gorgeous and I keep thinking, "Oh, I can so do that" just keep getting pinned and pinned. Then I keep thinking of all that I haven't done and how my kids' bedrooms are just so ho-hum. {Sigh} 

So, here is my post on inspiration rooms and how I plan on re-doing the boys' room. First off, I love blogs...love, love, love them.  My favorites usually have to do with mom stuff, interior design and finally, weddings.  Amanda at Dixie Delights combines both mom and interior design...it's like heaven when I look at her photos.  I am a huge fan and am using her little one's 'big boy' room as inspiration for my boys' room.  For this post I am specifically focusing on the artwork as my inspiration (since that's as far as I am in my own room re-do!)

I adore this room!  I want to take every element out of it and transplant it into my boys room...it's perfection in my opinion.  So, here is how I decided to start...with the art work of course!  I love the crab painting by Catherine Lovett but it is a bit out of my price range.  So, I found something similar that I really like on etsy and purchased that.  

The artwork from Recycled Wood Art is much easier on the budget and still similar in feel.  Plus, it's an original painting and not a print, so I don't necessarily have to frame it (big budget saver!!).

Next, is the art work and prints on the wall.

I love how they are clustered together so I started on the hunt for similar items in the light blue/teal hue to compliment the crab.  I hail from West Virginia and it's very important to me that it is represented in my home...the easiest way, a map.  Dixie Delights highlights maps of Georgia and Savannah on her wall, so again, I went to etsy and found this sweet map of West Virginia.  

(map from Blast from the Past)The map from Blast From the Past is also an original and not a reproduction which I really like but this one will have to be framed.  

I also found this graphic print from Jessica Sutton - JSGD.  It's perfect.  My Jack loves to "rawr" like a dinosaur (he's 2) so I knew I had to have this from the moment I saw it.  Plus it follows closely to my inspiration room photo without being a complete knock-off.

The next item on my list to purchase is from The Old Try Print Shop.  They are my new favorite and I love that they are Southerners also...making it so much more appealing for me.  I am going to purchase this print of lightning bugs (yes, lightning bugs and NOT fireflies to all of you non-southerners out there).  I love it and it reminds me of my childhood.  

I have also been scouring etsy for small, original watercolors to frame but have yet to purchase anything.  Here are a few shops that I have found items that I like for now.  I keep adding them to my favorites on my etsy account, so that I can easily find them when needed.  

Art by Susan Windsor

Art by Seaside Studios UK

Art by Tricia Herald

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For more information on our Interior Design course, please visit our website at the Sheffield School.

Jewelry Design Student Postcard: Debbie Bruce

It is said that it is always hard to be the first--- not so, if you ask Debbie Bruce, the first graduate of Sheffield's Jewelry Design Course!!!  If Mrs. Bruce is setting a precedent then it seems that Sheffield's Jewelry Design Program is off to a good start!

Debbie chose the plains of the Serengeti in Africa with its abundant wild life and palette of lush greens, golds and baked earth for the story to ground her graduating collection.   Her color scheme also perfectly launches us into fall!!  So timely, her collection takes the landscape and translated it into visual motifs-- swirls of forged brass-- and a lush mix of baubles in Golden Jade, Green Aventurine, Phoenix Jasper, Smokey Quartz, mocha and cream colored fresh water pearls and a mix of Swarovski crystals.   Taking these materials and elements Debbie mixed and wove them into myriad of stunning and wearable jewelry silhouettes.

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