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[curlywhitedog]

I have a pretty good eye for decorating so I do my own thing. In the summer of 1988 our local newspaper was planning a feature article on outside entertaining and based on a recommendation from our pool company they came to see my yard and subsequently asked if they could use it for their article. OMG, I was thrilled and of course I said yes. Just a few months later they contacted me again and asked if they could come back and do some interior shots for their holiday edition. It's an amazing feeling to see your own home in print...just amazing. My mother, God rest her soul, carried those two articles in her pocketbook for years...lol, she was that proud.

Maria

[Sister Golden Hair]

I shop mostly at antique stores. I have always liked old things and use them for something other than what they were used. There are certain things that I like and collect, bunnies, flower pictures, baskets, candle holders, any old make-up jars, perfume botttles, etc

[~moxie~]

I recently received a catalog called Birch Lane. I have gotten wonderful ideas on how they dress tables and the like. I keep a binder with all the things I would like to do in my home. Of course you can't do it all but there was a wall in their catalog that has inspired me to do something similar in my home. And several ideas you can do over your bed. Here is the link to their blog and you can order their catalog if you like what you saw.

http://www.birchlane.com/

[vac]

I check out a lot of blogs regularly -- Apartment Therapy, Domaine, Domino -- I get tons of ideas there. Also love Pinterest.

[lolakimono]

TV ads, Pinterest, Houzz, etc. and e-mails from places like Pier1, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, Plow & Hearth, L.L. Bean, and Crate & Barrel.

[jlkz]

Inspiration usually starts with a unique item and how else I can use it. Next comes color, if it's a color that won't work for me, I get the spray can out and transform it. Usually, that item becomes the center of the creativity wheel: I'll find other things to go with or complement it. This is how I've help decorate my own and others places. For me, the creativity starts I. My mind; I don't look at catalogs, HGTV (not in my cable package), nor furniture stores--- somehow that's copying. Folks are always complimenting my arrangements and decor: they usually say that they never thought to do so and so.

[StylishLady]

I am influenced by what I see in catalogs, on HGTV, and occasional visits to model homes in new developments down here.

[~moxie~]

On 5/24/2014 ~moxie~ said: I get mine mostly from catalogs or decorating magazines.

I agree with you about the spray paint. I am the spray paint queen. I am in the process of spray painting a metal huge piece red on my porch my porch is red and black. I also am going to spray paint a couple pieces that I have enjoyed over the years and change them to turquoise. But as far as taking inspiration from furniture stores or catalogs or magazines I have to disagree with you there. Most of the designers use those items to gather inspiration for the rooms that they are going to the design. I have a clock wall in the great room. I have not been happy with how it's turned out. Even though others love it. But I got great ideas from a catalog the other day. And I'm going to introduce some of those ideas onto that wall.

[jlkz]

Creativity is as unique as the individual: what works for one person may not for another. The important thing is that you do what works for you and gets you where you want to be. And, if you can help someone else out, that's icing on the cake. I can remember being in Homegoods and watching as a woman had a love/hate relationship with a lamp she so wanted-except for the color. I finally went over to her and made a few suggestions as to how she could overcome the color issue with paints. I think Homegoods owes me a commission!!!! LOL

[qualitygal]

Necessity is the mother of invention. Works for me.