in·spi·ra·tion
ˌinspəˈrāSH(ə)n/
noun: Inspiration
The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
As an interior designer, I am asked often where my creativity come from. My answer for so long was that I didn't know. A puzzle solver by nature, I decided to give this some thought.
The spirit of interior design is born from a need or desire to create a space that serves a purpose in a pleasing way. When listening to my client express their wishes, the space we are addressing is speaking to me as well. My mind is visualizing the use by moving vertical and horizontal blocks of colors around. The vague shapes of furniture, art, plants, window treatments, lighting, wall or ceiling built-ins float around the room in what I liken to seeing ghosts. The ideas are half-formed but visible to me. My mind is stretching the sofa a little longer or morphing the cocktail table from round to oval then back again. Pushing a chair and plant into one corner while a color deck is flipping to just the right accent hue of the future fabric. By the time I leave, I see the room near completion.
A LITTLE HISTORY:
The word "inspiration" items from the root of the Latin inspirer, meaning "to breathe into" and refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavor. The Greeks believed that inspiration or "enthusiasm" came from the muses, as well as the gods Apollo and Dionysus. In Ancient Norse religions, inspiration derives from the gods as well. Inspiration is a divine matter in Hebrew poetics. In the Book of Amos the prophet speaks of being overwhelmed by God's voice and compelled to speak. In Christianity, inspiration is a gift of the Holy Spirit. In modern psychology inspiration is not frequently studied, but it is generally seen as an entirely internal process.*
When I need to create a unique furniture solution for a space, I look to my photo library. It has just shy of 16,000 images from my travels across the U.S. and Europe. All where taken with the thought that someday I may want to use a noticed feature, color or outline to create something new. The pink desk I designed and built for a young girl to do her homework at was inspired from a desk I saw at the flea market in Paris.
Inspiration for a room color or theme for a space can come from a client's hobby such as wine collecting or a textile brought home from travels in Africa. Anything that inspires you will inspire me. My sincere desire is always to create unique surrounds that will inspire my clients to be happy, comfortable and proud of their homes or businesses.
* reference Wikipedia
Vintage desk I saw at big flea market in Paris
Pink and white lacquered desk inspired by a desk I saw at a Paris flea market.