Melissa Michaels - The Inspired Room: Simple, Doable Ideas to Love the Home You Have

The Inspired Room

Text copyright 2015 by Melissa Michaels

Photography copyright 2015 by Melissa Michaels

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-6309-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6310-7 (eBook)

Cover and interior design by Faceout Studio, Bend, Oregon

Original illustrations by Nicole Johnson

Published in association with William K. Jensen Literary Agency, 119 Bampton Court, Eugene, Oregon 97404.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

To the loyal followers of The Inspired Room blog.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

CONTENTS

My House

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

Think of your ultimate getaway. You know, that special place you envision as an escape from the cares and stress of the world. Maybe its a quaint cottage on the coast or a gorgeous mountain lodge where you can slow down, inhale fresh air, and be rejuvenated with an inspired perspective. While its wonderful to head off on a vacation to recharge, what if you could create that same sense of a retreat every day right where you are?

I believe our home can be a daily destination for relaxation and reenergizing when its filled with meaningful and intentional beauty. Our home should inspire us to go out into the world to do the great things we dream of and then welcome us back for refreshment, just like wed want to experience at our favorite getaway.

What we see around us right now may make us question whether its even possible to turn our home into the oasis we long for, but it is possible. If we start with a sense of purpose and intention for the home we want, we wont end up at a destination that doesnt make sense for our needs. We will end up with a retreat that reflects who we are and what matters most to us.

This book is for you if you ever find yourself dazed or confused, wondering how to move forward with the design of your home when there are so many possibilities, so little time and moneyand so much potential for ending up with a random mix of impulsive, regrettable choices.

START HERE

Make a list of the many things you like, and celebrate the joy of choices and decisions. Along this journey together, youll discover more starting places to help you move toward a home that inspires you.

Getting There Is the Fun Part

How do you get there, to that home you picture in your dreams? Is it even possible with the home you have? Ive pondered those questions with my readers for more than eight years at The Inspired Room online.

While I dreamed of a beautiful home, I wasnt quite sure how to get there. As you probably do, I have hand-me-downs and objects and pieces Ive collected over time. And because I like so many styles and design ideas, when I tried to evolve my style I felt as if my home was going in every direction. I was that crazy-eyed, indecisive woman who would flip through magazines, peruse Pinterest, head out to shop, and become overwhelmed by possibilities!

I like white. I like dark. I like color.

I like texture. I like peaceful. I like lively.

I like serious. I like fun.

I like clean and fresh surfaces. I like contrast.

I like a mix of styles and colors all in one room.

I like informal. I like cozy. I like modern. I like pretty.

I like quality and well-designed pieces.

(But, darn, I dont have the budget for high-end furniture.)

I like dignified. I like classy. But then again, I like quirky.

But I dont like tacky. And sometimes there is a fine line between quirky-fun and tacky.

FOR THE LOVE. Why cant I make a decision?

Do you have design ADD too?

While patience has been and will be required, I get great joy from each small change and step along the way. The good news is that I no longer feel quite so haphazard about what I need or want to do with this house. I still love many styles, but the decisions are easier to make now, and I savor the process of refining and evolving my home in new ways.

Enjoy the journey. Just as you grow and change, your home should too.

Creating an Authentic Home

Shaping one home over time is an entirely different experience than having a professional design a house from top to bottom with a large budget and a completion date.

As a result of my own experience, this isnt a typical design book filled with professional images of beautiful projects from an interior designers portfolio. You wont find design ideas that require admittance to a designer showroom. This isnt an interior design manual at all, but rather encouraging inspiration to create a real home you love and love to live in.

Creating an authentic home is the slow process of learning to pay attention to what speaks to you and how your home feels to you. It invites you to embrace (and appreciate) the joy found even in the smallest details and improvements along the way.

This isnt about following the rules or style trends that someone who has never been in your home tells you to adhere to. It is about rediscovering the simple ways you can tend to, brighten up, and personalize your home.