Lately, I’ve received a lot of messages in my inbox asking how you can achieve the look you envision for your home. Most of the time, the phrases “I just don’t have the eye for that” or “I’m not sure I could do that” are included somewhere in the message.

What is it about layouts we see in magazines, the room designs we see on television, or the warm decor we see in model homes that make us think that our own homes can’t look like that? Do we think it will cost to much? Do we think our kids/husbands/pets will destroy it? Do we think that we just simply couldn’t pull that “look” together?

Regardless of what our issues may be, I’m ready to pull us all out of that mindset (including myself). Today, I’m beginning a weekly series called, “Making Your Dream Room a Reality.” I’m going to take us step by step through the process of seeing an idea you love and turning it into a room you love.

Due to my complete lack of patience, I just don’t want to wait until next week to start the series. So, let’s start right now!

Are you ready?

Part One: Identify Your Inspiration

Once you’ve decided that you are ready to make your dream room a reality, it’s time to identify your inspiration. What is it that inspires you? When I talk about inspiration in a home, I’m talking about things that make you smile, make you feel warm and cozy, and make your heart skip a beat whenever you see them.

Inspiration can be found all around us. It could be a layout in a home decor magazine that just came in the mail. Maybe it’s the seashells you collected on your family’s beach vacation last summer. Perhaps there’s a scene in a movie that features the most wonderful kitchen you’ve ever seen. Whatever your inspiration, it’s important that you identify it.

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott’s former bedroom from Luxist. Y’all are going to grow so tired of seeing this room.

If you are anything like me, you have tons of inspiration images saved on your computer that you’ve found online and mountains of magazines with dog-eared pages. As I begin to refocus my decorating efforts on the master bedroom, I needed to put all of that inspiration in one place so I can see everything at once. I’m a very visual person, as I bet you are, too, if you are interested in beautifying your home.

This weekend, I set up a Flickr photostream for my inspiration photos. I’ve been adding my photos there and labeling them with different tags to help me locate them (i.e. bedroom, blue, DIY, etc). I have been scanning magazine pages into digital files as time allows, so I will be able to house everything in one place.

I’m also hoping that my Flickr photostream will help you when you are looking for a little inspiration. Feel free to search the photos with keywords, comment on the photos you like (or dislike even) and save the ones you love. I have also set up a Flickr group so that you can add your photos if you would like. It will inspire me to see what inspires you! The link to both my Flickr photostream and the Flickr group will always be over in the sidebar, so you can visit it anytime you like. I’ll be updating the pictures almost daily.

Flickr is quick, easy, and free to use, so online resources like this are perfect housing our inspiration “files.” However you decide to organize your inspiration, spend some time this week pulling it all together in one place. I don’t want any “I love this but could never do it” thoughts in your mind at this time. Let’s just find photos and images of what we love and get them organized.

Next Monday, we’ll move on to Part Two of Making Your Dream Room a Reality and start working with those inspiration photos. I hope you’ll join me!

When Marie from Emma Calls Me Mama invited me to participate in her Heirloom Party, my first thought was, “Heck, yeah! What a fun idea for a little blog party!” I was very excited to participate.

But then, I realized there was a huge problem. Um, I don’t have any family heirlooms. Oops! That’s gonna be a little awkward, huh?

I’m lucky enough that I have only lost one grandparent. My father’s father and both of my mother’s parents are still with us. They all have many items special to our family, but I have a hard time thinking that I would love to have this or that when they are gone…because it would mean they are gone.

I was sadly getting ready to email Marie and tell her “no can do,” when I suddenly remembered that we did have something very special. When my husband and I got married, his grandmother gave us her monogrammed sterling silver place settings.

My husband, Tom, lost both of his grandfathers at an early age. He actually never even knew his father’s father, whose surname we now share, as he died before Tom was born. Tom was going to be the last male heir with his surname, so you better believe that when we found out we were having a son a few years later, Tom’s side of the family rejoiced. One more male to carry on the family name!

Tom’s paternal grandmother passed the family sterling silver down to us. As a traditional gal who loves monograms, I was overjoyed. We have knives, two types of forks, spoons, and a few serving pieces. It’s a little worn and doesn’t polish to a brand new shine, but I love to think of the meals shared over these pieces. I also love the little scroll work on the tips.

I understand that there are more pieces in the collection that his grandmother will pass down to us at a later time, but I’m in no hurry to have those pieces. My mother-in-law jokes that she’s taking the monogrammed pickle forks, but I keep telling her I’ll fight her for them. Quite honestly, I’m not even sure that there really *are* pickle forks, but it’s fun to pretend nonetheless.

I really appreciate Marie hosting this party, as I would have forgotten about the silver altogether. We only use our china and sterling on very special occasions, a truth that I’d love to change except that it would mean having to hand wash my dishes, and we know I don’t do that…ever. Maybe I can start making a once a week exception. Eeeh, I’m kind of lazy though.

Do you have any heirloom pieces that hold a special place in your family’s heart? Do tell!