Get Inspired!
Some people ask me where I get my inspiration from when it comes to the beautiful property pics that I share, and also inspiration for my own home improvements. We live in a world where there is so much information it can sometimes feel like we have information overload, and it’s hard to know where to start!
Depending on your aesthetic and your plans, these recommendations might not fit the bill, but I thought I would share where I most commonly fill my property inspo tank and hope that you can glean a few tips for your own property journey.
This is my go-to platform for all things property. The number of images on Pinterest are seemingly endless, and whatever you search for, you will find pics to suit. During strict money conservation times I have used Pinterest to replace my pricey magazine habit (see below), as Pinterest is free and can act as your personalised digital magazine. Most images that I share on social media are borrowed from Pinterest. Once the algorithm gets to know you better, your feed more frequently shows you images that suit your taste – and when I see a particularly gorgeous one, I share it with you!
Magazines
I know that everything is moving online, but when it comes to magazines I am indeed old fashioned. I love the tactile nature of flicking through a magazine and will often refrain from flicking through my favourite mag until I have a clear moment that I can sit and truly enjoy. My collection of old magazines is verging on embarrassing (even though I have made numerous efforts to cull), but I now have my favourites on a bookshelf which is perfect for mags, and I treat it like my own personal magazine library. I flick through a magazine from several years ago frequently and it’s a great way to determine timeless style versus style of the moment. HOME, Homestyle, NZ House & Garden and NZ Home & Garden are some of my favourites.
The Local Project
If I’m doing some abundant property dreaming, The Local Project never disappoints. Whether it’s their videos on YouTube, their images on social media or their tri annual magazines, they have some wonderful examples of properties from Australasia. Our aesthetic in NZ and Australia’s aesthetic are pretty similar, whereas I find America and the UK have quite a different “look” and it doesn’t always resonate with me. The Local Project is a reliable source of inspiration that suits my style and I highly recommend!
Youtube
I’m fortunate that my husband is as interested in property design as myself, and so we spend a bit of time surfing around on YouTube to find inspirational content. The Local Project is certainly one of our favourites, but we also love ArchiPro, Architectural Digest (AD), Modern House, est living, DWELL, Hunting for George and others…
Open Homes
I love looking at the images of properties coming to the market with Lowe&Co on a Tuesday when new listings are shared with the team. We have such a broad range of homes that we sell, that I’m almost guaranteed a few homes each week that will pique my design interest. The great thing is that you don’t have to be a real estate salesperson (phew I hear you say) to get the insights in to other people’s homes, you can simply visit the open home! Look out for properties that grab your attention online and then pop to the open home on a Sunday to check them out in person.
Plenty of people do this when planning a renovation to get ideas and inspiration for their own home. There’s nothing quite like seeing a special kitchen, bathroom, wallpaper or carpet colour in the flesh to see whether it works for you. Who knows, you might love what those people have done so much that you ditch your renovation plans and buy the house where all the hard work has been done!