The Inspiration Behind The Room

I am often asked when designing a collection what inspires me and what is my process for putting a room together. Since I have been doing this for a while for my own children, it has become second nature to me. But I also realize that some of the designs and ideas I have often come from other inspiration. Fashion, architecture and nature all play a part when I design. When I first begin a new collection of prints I usually go to my design journals where I keep things I have collected like patterns on tiles, gates, floral patterns, etc. that have captured my eye. They do not always make it into the final selection and sometimes when I revisit them I often wonder, why did I save this? It’s through this process of gathering and then sifting through newspaper clippings, magazine spreads and other items of curiosity that I begin to form some vision of a collection.

When I was designing the first ever collection under the Annette Tatum label, I pulled out all of the scraps and bits that I could find from my pile of “kids rooms ideas.” To give you an example of how this process worked I thought it might be fun to show you the connection to the inspiration to the finished product. A process that often takes months of trial and error that finally results in a design.

One of my favorite groups this season is Goa Sand. I have never been to Goa, India but  I have a good girlfriends who has taken me through her scrapbooks, stories and textile collection. I am dying to go to India. Hopefully someday soon…

Indian elephant decor as well as the Indian culture offers lovely colors and patterns.

The earthy colors made me offer not only offer the brightness of India, but the softness as well.

It is from this point that I collage a collection of everything that I think could work with this collection. Objects, fashion, furniture, textiles and more make up the collage of inspiration. In the Annette Tatum collection you will find an inspiration board for every group I have designed. See our catalog to learn more and discover a way to create your own dream room. Collect things that you like, keep favorite room spreads from magazines. Notice color combinations in fashion or print and save them for the next time you need to create. Have fun and be inspired.

Annette Tatum

Annette Tatum

Santa Monica, CA based Annette is the creator of the interior decor lines, House, Little House and Annette Tatum Collections. She is also the author of The Well-Dressed Home, which features her universal style guide for translating your sense of fashion into home design.

Comments

  1. LaLaFin2

    March 11, 2010

    Annette, where do you collect your textiles from? I really like this blog, thanks for sharing!

  2. Tracy

    March 11, 2010

    I am doing my daughters bedroom in a golf theme. Would love to know what shades of green were used in the room “see you on the green” Thank you for sharing this information. Great room!

  3. scrapbook maken

    March 27, 2012

    Great publish, very informative. I ponder why the opposite experts of this sector do not understand this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!|What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & help other customers like its aided me. Good job.

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