The Idea Notebook: Phase II

Phase II of the Idea Notebook

A year into the process of building our log home -- up to the point where we cleared the land and fine-tuned the blueprints -- I realized that for all of these ideas I'd been collecting to truly be meaningful and valuable in the process of building our log home, I was going to need to revamp my system.

Actually, it was easy!

All I had to do was separate (into two notebooks this time!) all of my DESIGN ideas (separated by room) and all of my DECORATING ideas (also separated by room).

This way, I could tote along with me all of the ideas that were definitely going to influence our final set of blueprints. And, I would also be able to refer to all of my design ideas whenever we were making our final decisions and ordering all of our cabinets, countertops, flooring, etc.

Now, if I'm asked along the way about any of the little details that will be going into the ultimate design of each room of our log home, I'll know exactly where to look. And I can whip out an example of something I like right away.

Before, with all of the "decorating" ideas mixed in with the "design" ideas, it just took too much time to sort through them all on-the-spot.

Phase II of the Idea Notebook has definitely made the process of designing and decorating our log home even easier:

• One notebook is just for DESIGN ideas that have to be determined early in the process... structural details that a contractor would need to know.
• And one notebook contains all of the DECORATING ideas that can still be fine-tuned along the way... up until the final moment that we purchase each item.

For What It's Worth...

You'll notice that one notebook is a standard plastic 3-ring binder (an extra-thick one... with 3-inch rings!). While the other notebook looks more like a portfolio.

For that one I was able to repurpose an old "briefcase" type binder that I used to use for work. It's perfect because it's got handles! And there are pockets and dividers everywhere -- including both the inside and outside covers.

Plus, it's leather. So it's very durable. And, it looks professional too. I don't feel uncomfortable carrying this notebook into say, a Home Depot, a cabinet shop, or a flooring design center.

While a leather portfolio notebook is definitely not required (another plastic 3-ring notebook would have worked just as well), it's highly recommended -- in the event that you, too, have a spare one lying around or you find one really cheap on sale somewhere!

Have fun making your own idea notebook(s)...