Magazine: Mess or Muse?

It's April which means I'm in Spring cleaning mode. I do this every year. Go through piles of papers and throw away what feels like hundreds of pounds of clutter. It feels so good. This year I have a goal: to remove negative space from my apartment and replace it with positive space. Negative space is what I refer to as those areas that have no purpose: that rocking chair that gets littered with clothing, that one corner that has a vacancy sign for dust bunnies, or that kitchen drawer filled with junk and old candy. Maybe now you can see why my apartment needs a face-lift?

One way to create positive space is to put to use all of the inspiration I've "collected" over time. As it happens, I've aquired some magazines over the past year. Lots of Vogue, Vanity Fair, W, Bazaar. Some bought for long flights, some bought in moments of weakness, when I just needed to smile. Needless to say, they served their purpose. In the wake of new beginnings, is it possible that they can be re-purposed?

In the midst of cleaning my apartment I realized I don't need them anymore (French Vogue excluded) because they take up too much space and I can't picture flipping through them ever again. Side note: when I was younger, I used to collect magazines (mostly Bride magazines ;) and stack them high as towers. It became hoarder-esque and I'm forever fearful of recreating such bad habits.

Thus, the magazines must go. The inspiration doesn't have to though! I went through the magazines and ripped out the images that spoke to me. I'm planning to make an inspiration board out of what I find. Here's the takeaway: negative space = these gorgeous images inside magazines, unopened, suffocated and stuffed in a closet. Positive space = these images, out in the open, breathing positive energy into my apartment. And so the inspiration begins!

Here are some of the gems I've collected:



Inspired by her summery look.



Inspired by Liv Tyler's poise, bottom right corner.



Inspired by how these women lean.



Inspired by the fun and flirty way these women take the street.



This spread was epic. Need I say more?



Inspired by the set-up of this bathroom and the copper ware in the kitchen.



Inspired by these beautifully natural actresses.



Inspired by the flower burst!



Inspired by this reminder of forever summer.



Inspired by Gwyneth always, especially this sweater.



Inspired by this exquisitely dressed woman on a bicycle.



Inspired by Bardot.

It took a few days, but I finally got rid of all of the magazines! Already my apartment feels lighter, fresher, and happier. While organizing, I've taken all of my clippings and placed them in gorgeous new folders I bought at my local art store, Flax, for this very purpose.

Tell me, readers, how's your magazine stack these days? Organized like antique books on a bookshelf? Or waiting to be opened, in search of inspiration?