Here is a lesson in being aware of what is right under your nose when you are in your January “I’m going to get organized this year” frenzy.

With the demise of so many of my favorite American shelter mags lately, I’ve had to search for glossies from abroad to get my fix lately. As I flipped through Vogue Living Australia, I marked a few pages to scan and share with you. My favorite image was this one:

I thought “Wow! Those Aussies are so fabulously stylish and creative. Spending a few extra bucks on a foreign magazine is SO worth it to see inspiration like this. They just have a style sensibility I don’t see everyday.”*

Color me embarrassed for myself. After I scanned the image, I realized that the paper was Graham and Brown, and that it’s been right under my nose on the site I work for every day. This is the same image we use for their Viva Turquoise and Gold by Barbara Hulanicki paper right here on this site. Translating this little lesson into my life means I must remember to look around in those forgotten drawers and storage areas that I walk past every day before I go seeking items from more exotic locales!

*This is not to discount the inspiration I glean from foreign magazines and travel. Flipping through images from thousands of miles always expands my design horizons. Austrailia in particular is home to some of my favorite glossies, designers, and bloggers. Here’s another fabulous image from the issue:

cover image by James Merrell for Vogue Living Australia

I cannot find photo credits for the other shots; if anyone knows, please leave a comment so I can properly credit them here!