Raise your hand if you’ve ever drooled over a home in a magazine or on pinterest and wish you could recreate that in your own house? *Raises hand violently.*

I think part of learning how to turn inspirational photos into reality is just plain old practice and trial and error. Soooo guess what?! I’m joining in with nine bloggers for a monthly DIY challenge where we can all practice turning inspiration into reality, and you are SO SO invited to this party.

Every month, we’ll share an inspiration photo, something super fabulous, and we’ll attempt to recreate it. Not copy it directly – although you’re welcome to if you want! – but to be inspired by it and come up with your own spin.

The (uber talented) Darlene Weir of Fieldstone Hill Design will choose a simple project or design element from a haute couture design and we’ll all do our own spin. These nine bloggers, plus YOU. Yep. Get ready!

The participating bloggers include:
Darlene @ Fieldstone Hill
Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less
Cindy @ Skip to My Lou
Jen @ Balancing Beauty & Bedlam
Edie @ Life in Grace
Rachel @ Surviving the Stores
Karin @ Trophy Mom Diaries
Lauren @ I am THAT Lady
Kelly @ View Along The Way
Melissa @ The Inspired Room

Be sure to pop over to each of these fabulous ladies’ sites to find out more about their personal style, as well as to discover their own decorating strengths & weaknesses!

This is the part of the post where I’m supposed to share my own decorating style. Is “fickle” a choice? I get drooly and lovestruck at Hollywood Regency design with glam, dramatic touches, but that isn’t always apparent in my house. A lot of spaces in my house are happy transitional, which is a mix of traditional and modern. (If you’re new here, check out my house tour to see what I’m trying to say. ha!)

So here’s what happens next: Monday, May 6th, all nine of us will share our inspired DiY projects, while Darlene will provide expert design tips on incorporating the featured design element into your own space. She will then also present our inspiration photograph for the following month. The truly fun part will be seeing what different interpretations of the same photograph this incredibly eclectic group comes up with!

After you’ve had a month to see what Ditto DiY is all about, we will be inviting you ALL to participate! Beginning in the first Monday in June (and every first Monday of the month after that), all you with blogs will be able to link up. (Non-bloggers can share your pictures on our Ditto DiY Facebook Page!)

Be sure to tune in Monday, May 6th to check out our first Ditto DiY projects. This first round – which won’t include a linkup – will be inspired by this image:

{ditto} DIY

This month’s Inspiration, selected by our interior designer:

A chic painted tray and vanity vignette, from the home of nina bergsten, photography by marcus lawett.

The {ditto} DIY Challenge:

Create your own painted tray and vanity vignette.

Designer Thoughts:

“Study the image above, and be inspired by the sophistication and simplicity of this design. The attention to each detail adds up to a beautiful vignette. “

So that’s my challenge this month, but next month there’ll be a new inspiration photo and a new challenge and you will all be invited to jump in. I think this is going to be a fun challenge: attempting to make inspiring haute couture design a reality on a budget.

I hope you’ll join in!