Of all the tools I keep in my designer’s toolkit — and believe me, there are many — Pinterest is one of my most used. The visual, searchable, and interconnected platform is the best sidekick for helping me conceptualize a vision and keep track of specific pieces, ideas, or sources. I know you all love a pulling-back-the-curtain moment, so I wanted to show you a peek at how some intensive Pinning turns into a beloved space and share some inside tips along the way.

A peek at the Pinterest board and the final product of this Hamptons guest bedroom

 

Kicking Off with Ideation + Organization

When it comes to my business, I most often use Pinterest for ideation and organization. When I kick off new projects, one of the first things I do is create boards to help me curate a visual approach, cultivate a feeling, and source actual products. Some boards have hundreds of Pins (meaning very few of them make it to the final result), but every single Pin serves a purpose in the grand scheme of the design process.

That said, my team and I also use secret boards (meaning they’re hidden even from those who follow me) to track product availability and supply chain updates and to see how items will look together visually. I could love a sofa and a rug separately… but seeing them together alongside a color palette and a vision board — that’s when I know my answer.

How it started vs. how it ended up at the Lakeshore Oasis

Communicating Visually With Homeowners

We’ve all been there — you know the feeling or ambiance you want to achieve, and you know what you don’t want to achieve (equally as important), but in the end, you’re having a hard time conceptualizing the specifics. Enter: vision boarding. I love bringing our ideas to life with room-by-room vision boards (a virtual tour, if you will?) that serves as the perfect opportunity to test the waters and gather some really beneficial feedback, both large-scale and granular. This is one of my favorite ways to tap into the power of Pinterest, as it offers the unique platform to develop and share visuals all while editing swiftly and efficiently as we work through the ideation phase.

It’s all in the details for every design moment. I even Pin potential paint colors to help determine color schemes, as seen here in the Colorful Lakeside Retreat.

 

A Time Capsule + Portfolio In One

Not only is Pinterest a powerful tool for current and upcoming projects, but it also serves as a record of past inspirations. I keep several boards filled with key terms (such as “bar setups” or “outdoor spaces”), where I Pin images and products that speak to me on the whole but don’t necessarily correspond to a specific project. Then, when I’m feeling creatively blocked or just beginning a new project, I can look at those boards and see Pins that have spoken to me for years. I also like to add photos of my completed projects to share the work I’ve accomplished and feel proud of… To see my inspiration and my accomplishments come together is such a treat.

Putting Pinterest to Work

Whether you’re completely new to Pinterest or know the ins and outs like myself, I think this might be the perfect sign to create a vision board for that one room, project, or dream you’ve been sitting on.

Go through your home feed and save each item or photo that speaks to you. You can get as granular as you like (“Duvet Options for the Upstairs Guest Room”) or go broad (“Interior Design Inspo”). It doesn’t matter how you organize, so long as it makes sense to you. From there, let Pinterest work its magic — the more you Pin, the more it’ll show you new ideas based on your habits and preferences, and it’s often spot on. It’s a vision board, wish list, shopping cart, and personal shopper all in one… so don’t be afraid to use it as such!