Whether you are an architect or a builder, whether you are a real estate agent or a designer, we all need one magic ingredient to spur us on in our work - inspiration.  To be the best professionals we can possibly be, where on earth do we get our inspiration from?

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As I sat down to write this blog post, I had a change of heart about the topic about which I’d write. I was going to write about developing successful exterior colour schemes for commercial outcomes, but it just wasn’t flowing.  So I turned to our dog Billy to consult him on the matter – as you do!  Billy had nuzzled up to me and buried his little, black nose into the back of my jumper. Staring at Billy and still drawing a blank, I mumbled in jest that I’d call my blog post ‘Billy the Blog Dog’ and just when I was about to give up on finding a great topic for you, it struck me out of nowhere.  I’d write about inspiration itself, and about where it comes from!  Often inspiration comes along when we least expect it, however, there are some things we can do to encourage it to show up.

Billy, the Dog

Happening upon this month’s blog post topic was a pretty good case in point.  Often when we search too hard for inspiration, it eludes us.  Just as I was about to give up on finding a great topic - ta-da! – one appeared as if by magic. It was in that moment of not trying, that moment that I allowed my mind to gently wander and admire how cute Billy looked snuggled up next to me, that inspiration jumped onto the centre stage of my mind, took a long theatrical bow and presented me with an idea.

As a designer, inspiration is really important to kick start the creative process. I imagine that it is just as important if you’re looking to feel inspired about selling real estate, inspired to drive a construction project to completion on time and on budget, or if you’re looking to feel inspired as an architect to design a magnificent building.

My inspiration comes from many sources. When I’m working on a Colour Consulting project, looking for ideas for colour schemes, I find much inspiration from nature. Nature often presents me with amazingly intuitive, beautiful, unusual and yet totally harmonious colour schemes.  As an example, you can see how nature inspired my colour work on the Sovereign Hills Project here. 

For this project, I had to develop 5 different exterior house colour schemes for a 3,500 home master-planned community. I drew my inspiration from the natural environment surrounding the development, which is located in a very beautiful part of the NSW north coast, Port Macquarie. I took the key colours from the Ocean [blue], Stone [grey], Forest [green], Earth [brown] and Sand [yellow] and built my colour schemes around those themes. 

I am also inspired by fashion and movies. When I set about creating a particular mood for a room, I often think of the theme and feel of a film or a song. Although inspiration and motivation are slightly different things, I find that when I am inspired, that motivation naturally follows. So it could be that inspiration is even more important than motivation. 

Sometimes flashes of inspiration will strike when in the shower. Apparently the negative ions [which have a positive effect on humans] from the water clear our minds and allow our ideas to flow.  I’ve also heard about and experienced the notion of the subconscious mind bringing inspiration in answer to a question or a problem. Often the subconscious mind dishes up its inspiration at 3am in the morning when I wake with that ‘ah ha!’ feeling and know without a shadow of a doubt what to do and how to do it. I recently made some artwork for a bedroom. I had a general sense of the kind of colours and style that would suit but no specific notion of what I would make. I adopted an open, receptive, curious, broad sweeping mind set and soon the ideas started flowing. Of course, it took lots of effort to create the artwork. As usual, it was 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. But it was worth it. The result was beautiful and very much appreciated. 

Thinking again about interior design, sometimes inspiration flows from something that might at first appear to restrict me. Often interiors already contain items that can’t be changed. Instead of looking at this as an obstacle, I look at these existing items as sources of beauty and inspiration. I recently developed room designs for a private residential project.  The client had the following existing items: furnishings, artwork, accessories etc. For the dining room, I built the interior design around the client’s contemporary, yellow and orange sunrise abstract painting. I found a stunningly beautiful, contemporary fabric for the dining chair upholstery and other golden and yellow hues for the accessories.

The client also had some lovely blue and white ceramic vases. They formed the basis for my inspiration for the colours, furnishings and accessories for the living room. 

Other cultures and travel are a great source of inspiration for my work too. The project just mentioned is being designed around a Balinese resort theme, with hints of Morocco and relaxed Australian coastal style.

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Sometimes to feel inspired, we also have to make sure we feel healthy, balanced and relaxed, so I do think that lifestyle and health play a big part in encouraging lady inspiration to pay a visit. Some ideas to get you in the right frame of mind and body to be receptive to inspiration are as follows:

• Go for a long walk outside, preferably somewhere naturally beautiful.

• Do some exercise that you enjoy. It doesn’t matter what it is, just do it! Swimming, walking, running, yoga, cycling, gym classes, weight lifting, sailing, skiing or surfing - It’s all good, not just for the body but also for the mind.

Billy the Blog Dog enjoying a swim

• Meditate. Personally I don’t find this one very easy, however the benefits are well documented, especially if you find a form of meditation that keeps you focussed on the meditation instead of thinking about what to have for dinner. 

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•  Listen to music. Recent studies suggest, that it isn’t only classical music that increases our mental ability, but any kind of music, so tune in and sing along.

• Get enough sleep (minimum 8 hours), eat healthy food and drink a lot of water and herbal tea to calm and sooth your body, so it is open, relaxed and receptive to quality ideas.

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• Ask a question before you go to sleep. The answer may be there for you by the morning.

• Take some solo time for yourself. Time alone can clear the mind and make space for new ideas.

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It seems a mystery, that place where inspiration comes from.  Who is to say what lights that spark within us that makes us feel so full of positive energy and motivation to put time and effort behind an endeavour? Tonight, Billy the Blog Dog was my inspiration to write about the source of inspiration. I encourage you, no matter what property profession you work in, immerse yourself in your sources of inspiration. The more inspired you are, the more motivated you will feel. And let’s face it, when we feel motivated, work is effortless and enjoyable.