When a Home Decor Photo Inspires You
Early last week I came across this photo while I was browsing the influx of fall decorating magazines in the magazine aisle at my local Publix supermarket.
…it stopped me in my tracks, well actually it stopped my page flipping. :-)
I just couldn’t stop looking at the image. I loved it. I couldn’t explain why in those first moments after I flipped to the page, but I was mesmerized.
Does this happen to you when you are browsing through magazines in front of a magazine stand or while waiting in line at the supermarket checkout?
I love to read decorating and lifestyle magazines. I like Pinterest also, but I find magazines more inspiring as they sell lifestyle along with decorating ideas. There are a few favorite magazines to which I subscribe. For the ones to which I don’t subscribe, I try to find the longest checkout line when buying groceries. That gives me time to browse through all the new issues of the magazines that I don’t get in the mail.
When staring at the photo, I kept asking myself… “Why do I love this table setting so much?” What is pulling me in, drawing my interest?
Is it the styling, the mix of textures, colors and patterns, the cozy feel? The use of the color purple?
Is it one of the actual items? Do the purple cut-glass drinking glasses remind me of cozy meals at my grandmother’s house when I was a child?
When setting a table or decorating anything for that matter, I like to have things that make my family comfortable and items that bring fond memories back. Could the magazine photo be pulling at my heartstrings?
Or is it how the white dinner plate was styled with a driftwood colored wicker plate charger under it and a smaller floral plate on top?
Since I use white plates when I set my dining table and have quite a collection, I am always looking for new and unique ways to set the table with them.
Sometimes I’ll repurpose items to create something unique and special.
Other times, I’ll make things with items found in nature.
My goal is always to make the table pretty in my own style.
So what did the photo say to me? Did it simply say… comfy-cozy, casual fall meals with family and friends?
I enjoy setting the table for all occasions, but in the fall, I like to keep the table inviting at all times of the day, not just at meal time. It is part of my nesting process to get the house feeling cozy for the cold season ahead.
While I stood in front of the magazine rack pondering all this, I remembered something about magazine buying on a whim that my friend, Karen shared with me many years ago.
Her view was when she is standing in the check-out line at the grocery store, paging through magazines, if she see’s something inspiring, she doesn’t buy the magazine just for that one inspiring photo or article. She only buys if she finds 2 other items in the issue that also grab her attention. Then it is worth the expense. I have followed her thinking ever since.
I didn’t buy the magazine since none of the other images or articles in the issue spoke to me like this one did.
So I snapped a photo with my phone with the magazine propped in the rack so that I would remember what caused me to have such a positive reaction and also so I would have a reference to recreate it for my own kitchen table.
After some thought about the photo, I knew exactly why I loved it.
I loved every part of the table setting; it was not just one thing.
Ever since snapping the photo, I have been collecting items to try recreate the look for my dining table. I know I might not be able to get the exact items. My goal is more about recreating the overall colors, textures and cozy feel of the styling in the photo.
I did know that the color purple was one of the things that attracted me. I had to find the purple and white buffalo check napkins. So I went on an online search to find them.
I have found that when you use white plates, having a large collection of napkins in different colors, patterns and styles makes it easy to make the table setting look different. Getting napkins is one way I can change how my white plates look.
I have gathered a few items, bought new purple and white buffalo-check napkins, but would like to find a few more…
…driftwood colored wicker chargers and purple vintage cut-glass tumblers.
So far I have found this collection of colorful cut glass tumblers, but I only like the purple and wouldn’t spend the amount they are asking on a set of glasses.
I now have something to search for when I go out thrifting. Who knows? Maybe I will find a set of chargers or purple tumblers at a flea market or street vendor while I am in Paris. :-)
Has an image in a decorating magazine inspired you so much that you had to find a way to create it for yourself?
