The Home Decorating store I love here in town just calls them sample boards.

Red

I've heard them called Presentation Boards, Sample Boards, Story Boards, trying to think of what else .... On tv, I think I hear Story Boards more often.

Material & Finish Boards ...

It's just a plain old "inspiration board," but it really doesn't really matter what you call it--you've seen it (so you have the image in your mind), you know what it contains, you know what it's supposed to do! So go find a nice large cork board and start thumb-tacking or pinning stuff to it (for a small piece of tile, you could hold it on the board by tacking pieces of clear ribbon or tape diagonally over it). Because the doors and millwork are the "bones," you could find a piece of fabric (look at quilting cottons first--they usually have the widest range of color tones) and cover the board with that first.

When you say it would contain "final paint chips," is that really what you want from this decorator board? Or your narrowed-down selection?

I've also heard "design board."

I call it a Concept Board.

Here is a link that might be useful: Like these

Actually, I would say that you are talking about three different things.

An inspiration board, which is what Pammyfay is describing, is a place where you begin to collect things that will lead you to your final design idea...photos, colors, scraps of fabric, shells, twigs, anything that creates the feeling that you are after. I always asked clients to make one for me to start with...because it is imperative to communicate visual ideas visually.

A concept board comes next...it is where you put the things that communicate visually to the client (or that the client uses to communicate to you) the actual atmosphere, the style, the feeling you are after. It can be as loose as a collage, or as specific as a single inspiration room photo, with colors and patterns balanced to replicate the color and pattern balance of the proposed ideal.

A presentation board is what a designer uses to show the actual final choices. It includes the actual details of what is proposed...samples of paint, carpet, tile, cabinetry, hardware, fabric, wood finishes, pieces of furniture, lamps, pictures...every part of the design. It often includes plans, drawings or photographs of details, and perspective sketches as well.

"An inspiration board, which is what Pammyfay is describing, is a place where you begin to collect things that will lead you to your final design idea...photos, colors, scraps of fabric, shells, twigs, anything that creates the feeling that you are after. I always asked clients to make one for me to start with...because it is imperative to communicate visual ideas visually."

I've heard this referred to as a "Mood Board". For some odd reason that term, Mood Board, annoys me.

kmcg85, I thought the same thing. lol I thought "board" was spelled wrong and was thinking "maybe a new decorator." ; )

I like bronwynsmom's definitions. I've done specialty sewing for clients over the years and basically follow her model.

Diana

You really don't need to formalize it into a board. Just take all your ideas and samples and get down on the floor and play. Do it on a neutral backdrop that doesn't interfere or influence your preferences. Also remember to view samples together in their relative proportions, as best as possible.

Here you go. From the Designer Guys:

Here is a link that might be useful: Storyboards - Chris Hyndman & Steven Sabados

We had to do these for a landscape class I took. We were required to come up with a title for our boards--this is amazingly helpful. Every time I'd look at a 'thing' I could ask myself, "is this truly Trashy Tropical?" If not, it went into a folder for things I liked, or gardens I'd do in another house--never on my board. Coming up with a working title will force you to define the look you are trying to create, and make help immensely when you start shopping.

OMG, I love The Designer Guys! Sadly, I don't get them here anymore.

a blasé couturier? a disenchanted designer?

Many, many thanks. I have found helpful links. I have been gathering some samples we like so far. But I guess I am trying to come up with a "theme" for the whole house in general. Kind of like a "finishes" board, like a builder might show, with carpet, flooring, cabinetry, tile, along with paint, light fixtures and fabric.

Thanks for all your help!!
Here is my first attempt at an inspiration board. I feel good about it.

Very funny thepond, I thought it was a joke too.

Good start, thepond. The next step is for you to sit down with a piece of paper (I'd add a little mellow jazz and a glass of wine, myself...) and write down words or short phrases describing what it is about each of your choices that appealed to you.

Looking at your choices, I would think you might say things like "natural materials," "colors of stone and sky," "rough and smooth," "cool beside cool" - things like that. Just write down every daffy happy thing that comes into your head as you study the things.

This is how you develop what is called a "parti" - a statement or set of statements that become your decision rules for every choice you make. Once you feel completely happy with your parti, you carry it around, and say about everything you consider, "Does this satisfy the parti?"

This is how you achieve an overall atmosphere, the thing you really want. Discipline in decorating is the underlying secret of every beautiful room, and it is easy to follow if the parti is made up of your desires and your rules.

Whew. I think the teacher gene just woke up...

I'm still stuck on Trashy Tropical as a design concept. I want it.

To get to the other side!

I like your board, thepond. Very nice.

Ideefix: I want to see your 'trashy tropical' theme.

bronwynsmom: you pulled out one of my favorite things-texture, things that feel good.

to get to the other side....i love it.

Thanks for all your help!!
Here is my first attempt at an inspiration board. I feel good about it.