My Ideas Book

For those of you who don’t know me, my dream house is a big, old farmhouse just waiting for me to move in and completely renovate it from the inside out. {I know, I’m crazy!}

And even though I don’t live in my dream house just yet, I’ve been collecting ideas for years already…many, MANY years!

I’ve been searching through magazines, newspapers, books, and the internet; looking for inspirational ideas for my dream house, and when I find something I like, I rip it out, make a copy, or print it off and put it in my Ideas Book.

I actually have multiple “Ideas Books”. One is for holiday decorating, entertaining, and gift ideas; another is for gardening ideas. But this one — my favorite one — is the Ideas Book for my dream house.

My dream house Ideas Book is simply a 3-ring binder with notes, pictures, articles, and ideas I hope to incorporate into my dream house someday. I keep everything in clear plastic sleeves and organize it by rooms {kitchen, living room, bath, etc.} so all my ideas are easy to find.

I don’t necessarily want to incorporate all these ideas into my dream house…but at least I have them for reference.

For example, I LOVE this wrap around porch and these dormer windows, but I don’t like the front door or the half-round windows on the main level. I also love how the architect included 5 bedrooms into this modestly-sized home.

I simply adore these Windsor chairs, the bench, the farm table, the plentiful windows, and oh what a GORGEOUS chandelier!

Then in the summer, I’d switch things up a bit and use this metal table paired with less formal chairs.

I’m obsessed with wood floors, beams, trim, etc. so I absolutely love this rustic {yet cozy} reading nook.

And what I wouldn’t give to incorporate this 12-inch wood plank flooring somewhere in my dream house!

I also have a mild obsession with wooden furniture and chipped paint — love this coffee table!

Someday, I WILL have a bathroom like this with floor-to-ceiling bead board, rusty metal light fixtures, and a vanity made from a farm table. I actually already have the table for my “someday vanity”. It’s even painted and ready to go in my basement!

I’m not the most crafty person ever…but I think it’s because I don’t have a place to put my craft supplies. I’m pretty sure a room like this would bring out my crafty side {don’t you think}. Plus, it looks so amazing I’d figure out some way to use it!

OK, so I know all my ideas will not happen…at least not over night. However, I’ve had so much fun organizing my ideas, looking through my ideas, showing others my ideas, and thinking about what my dream house might look like some day.

My Ideas Book is a great way to keep everything in one place, easily accessible, AND since I use clear plastic sleeves, I can simply trash anything I no longer love and insert a new idea.

Do you have an Ideas Book?