Get the Creative Juices Flowing

Creative dry spells: they happen to the best of us. And lately I'm feeling parched indeed. I'll be returning to my usual twice daily blogging regime next week, and I'm dreading it the way an athlete dreads spring training after a long winter of couch surfing. So in hopes of jump starting my own imagination, I've turned to the spaces of the creative folks whose work and careers I admire.

The two above images are from the house of Tine Kjeldsen, founder of the Danish lifestyle brand Tine K. Home. There's nothing like a bright white blank slate to get the juices flowing! I love that row of low built-in bookshelves along the back wall: the perfect canvas for experimenting with styled vignettes.

The dining room of journalist Amy Larocca. The eclectic blend of pieces, from sleek to antique and from industrial to down-home, speaks to the organic nature of the creative process. No matter how hard you try to force it--and believe me, I try!--things come together in their own natural way.

A nook in the Houston home of graphic designer Ashley Putnam. It's so important to have a little corner of the world to escape to and let your mind wander, and this chair looks like just the spot! Plus he's a serious contender as a late entry to Chairs of the World, no?

If you've ever been to Ochre in New York's SoHo, you know why Harriet Maxwell-McDonald is a major inspiration! Here's her office in her Hamptons beach house. Her deft hand and penchant for natural materials--not to mention her impeccable eye for color--have made her a heroine of mine! See more of the beach house here, and also check out her city apartment.

The kitchen of one of my all time favorite photographers, Amy Neunsinger. I could work some serious culinary magic in this space. Those counters are just begging for my special ability to cover them in  baking debris! Not surprisingly, Amy also uses her house as a studio for photo shoots. With light like that, how could you not?

Of course I couldn't forget stylist Sibella Court! Photos of her loft abound in blog land--and here's an image from her retail store in Sydney. I adore Sibella's slightly madcap approach to props and furnishings. She mixes items you'd never think to put together, and yet somehow it all makes sense.

Finally, the bathroom of artist Claire Basler. Her flower paintings have stolen my heart; were she ever to turn them into wallpapers, I'd plaster my walls with them for sure! In the meantime, perhaps a good long soak in a hot tub will give me the boost I need :)

Tell me: what do you do when faced with a creative block?

P.S. I'm honored to be featured in Joslyn's 'Blogger's Favorites' series!

Image Credits: 1, 2, 8. Elle Decoration UK March 2010 3. Domino March 2009 4. Lonny May/June 2010 5, 6. House Beautiful 7. The Design Files Sponsored Links: Enjoy the real success with latest NS0-153 dumps, 000-200 study guides and 000-153 practice test.

Comments

[ChantaleP]

This is a stellar post! Love the little 'nook' of Ashley Putnam.. What do I do when I have a creative block? Why, I head to the City Sage blog! duh. : )

[Rowaida Flayhan]

Reading you blog is always a great pleasure. You are such an inspiration. I know your birthday is tomorrow! I want to wish you health, happiness, success and prosperity.
Best Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan

[Carole]

Best not to force it. It will come I'm sure.

[Tali]

inspirations:

* Random flicker searches
* www.pecha-kucha.org
* Museum of design in NY http://www.madmuseum.org/
* My favorite blogs:
- http://www.changethethought.com/
- http://www.designspongeonline.com/
- www.annesage.com ;)
* Shopping. (Thrift stores preferred)

Happy Birthday.

Tali

[Maureen Sullivan Stemberg, Interiors]

Anne, This is the best post of any blogger. A+++++ I wish you a very happy birthday, tomorrow. This article, is indeed a gift to us all. I wish for you on your birthday...Much happiness, peace, laughter, a lot of laughter. Keep those creative juices flowing!! ox, maureen

[Stacy]

Why is that yellow couch hanging from the ceiling? Am I seeing it correctly?

[Kristi]

First of all, Happy Birthday tomorrow (it's my mom's too)! Well after this fabulous post I'm inspired. To fight creative block - blogs.. one in particular lately (besides yours) called: a thing for she also has another great one called design relevant - gorgeous stuff, magazines, Filoli, taking a walk, visiting antique stores and flowers!

[Emiliesliving]

Hi,
You have a wonderful blog and it is a joy to receive your newsletter in my inbox.
My tip when experiencing creative blocks, is to clear your head and do totally other stuff, like sailing,jogging, play some tennis whatever.. And if you're not that sporty type, may be shopping does it too!
Have a sunny weekend,
Emilie from Amsterdam

[Will]

I great those creative blocks too often that I would like, so totally hear you on this one. I find it's est to step away from the mac and take a chilled walk with loads of fresh air. Looks like it's your birthday....HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a wonderful day. Will x

[Anna R]

Whenever I feel uncreative, it means that I have not been doing my morning pages. I will daydream back to my childhood and remember how easy it was to be creative without all the rules.

[shoppingsmycardio]

oh, that dining room....perfection!

[jules @ The Diversion Project]

When creativity is waning, one of two options usually fire it back up for me - long, long loooong walk on the beach, and a sit and a read and a sleep on the beach.....or, head into the city, to a new area that i don't usually cross paths with, go to a gallery and a few shops, cafe or two, and *poof* inspriation.

jxxx

[desiree]

yes! I am such an admirer of Tine K and reconised her house by a tiny glimpse of the picture, beside of being a great designer and shop owner they are also very very friendly ;)

[Jane Flanagan]

have you seen Claire Basler's home / studio? It's divine! http://seenandsaid.blogspot.com/2008/09/claire-basler.html

[Laura Fraser]

watch elizabeth gilbert's ted talk on the creative process and you'll feel much better about having a bit of a block! by the way, your blog is so consistently beautiful that it's hard for me to imagine that you, too, sometimes feel your creativity is running low!

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

[Minnie]

I, too, get that block more often than I'd like to admit. This round-up is great. I enjoy looking at the spaces of creative types and do find much inspiration from it. Thanks for the round-up. I'm going to follow some of the other suggestions from others' comments. And, by the way, the way I deal with my own creative blocks as a writer (besides the relaxing activities) is to simply read good writing. And then, I just start typing away, then hit delete a lot until I finally get it right.

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