New views of the bedroom

So, I didn't feel like blogging for a few months, but now I kind of do again.

Some rooms in the new apartment feel like we've been here forever. And then others feel like it will be forever before they have that settled-in feeling. Our bedroom is one that is feeling pretty good to me, but that's probably not surprising since it has been the star of my only posts during the past few months.

Oh, whoops. This next picture illustrates that I'm not done in this room.The blue slipcovers are still not finished. But look, they're in our bedroom now instead of the family room. See? Everything is different.

The gold mirror came to us from my aunt and uncle's basement. You know what? Many of the other things in this room came with it. The armoire, the campaign dresser between the chairs, the glass lamp, ummm ... even the chairs. I'm so grateful, as 1) this keeps our house from looking like an Ikea showroom, and 2) I like when the things in my house have a history and not just a barcode.

There's one more corner of this room that is not ready to be revealed, but it will be soon.

In other news: Isn't the start of fall the best?

New pillows

New pillows = my bed's version of back to school shopping.

Changes!

We moved. Only a few miles away, but it's a lifestyle change fo' sho'. Goodbye, city bus commute with interesting and smelliful seatmates. Hello, shady suburban sidewalks and grocery stores that actually have parking lots. Do you know how nice it is to be able to get in the car, drive to the store for (insert needed item here), and be back at home in 10 minutes? I love it. This pretty much confirms that my heart belongs to the suburbs.

We are not all the way moved in yet, but most everything is out of boxes and stored in its holding place. Now it's time for the fun part - choosing what items go out on display and stacking books and placing coasters in convenient spots. That kind of thing.

And this is our bed, with the sheets rumpled just the way they should be (because ironing linens is not the best way to spend a summer day) and our brand new headboard. See the lamp? There are two of them, and I am searching for new lampshades. See the books? I'm proud of my growing collection. I don't add to it until I have finished what's there, and I only buy when I have a coupon. It's a slow and rewarding way of adding to the shelf.

Bed vs. commute

Perfection in the form of white down.

Someday I will look back at these posts and wonder, "why are there so many pictures of beds?"

Then I will look at this picture and remember that soft, fluffly beds are hard to get out of your mind when the reality is a slushy, cold commute.

It is pretty, though. The view is of Central Square in Cambridge, with a straight shot down Massachusetts Avenue toward Boston. You can even see my favorite building off in the distance - the John Hancock Tower (an I.M. Pei creation).

Bedrooms tailored and sweet

Usually it's the bedrooms with fluffy details that speak to me, but sometimes tufts and pleats are just as sweet. Especially if the tufts in question are on pink pillows.

I love cream and white together, and here's that combo again in a room with a creamy tufted headboard and crisp white sheets. Note the pleats of the creamy bedskirt ... lovely.

My absolute favorite detail of this room is the slipcover on the nightstand. This is a look that might come into play in my own house someday, as I have plenty of not-so-great furniture that is just crying to be covered with a pretty fabric.

Bee happy: A painting from Etsy and other pretty things

This painting by RozArt is so pretty. Never mind that it's of bees and gray clouds, two things that don't exactly whisper "soft bedroom retreat." Something about it is just so soothing.

Bee 38 by Roz 16x20, oil

I see it hanging in a bedroom like this

with a soft velvet tufted headboard

(Urban Outfitters)

and a giant mirror with pretty details like a beaded frame.

(Restoration Hardware)

It's all kind of glamorous for something that "bee"gan with a single oil painting!

Friday is my day

Fridays are my favorite. Two glorious days are right before you, ready to fill with Whatever. You. Want. I love that. In the summer I daydream about Saturdays and Sundays that consist of neighborhood strolls and barbecues. In January, I have other plans for the cold, dark days.

Like this -

Except maybe without the gloomy painted woman staring down at me. That would be a creepy Saturday.

I do have more ambitious plans for this weekend, too. Finishing the slipcovers, for one. Also a possible trip to Ikea (and beyond?) in search of a desk chair and a replacement part for a broken Hemnes dresser. I hope it's cheap to fix. Grrr, temporary furniture is not supposed to require maintenance!

What about you -- what do you have planned for this weekend?

Colorful bedding for my alter ego

This is my sister's puppy. His name is Tommy. If you hang out with him enough, you will come to realize that he is perfect. He never misbehaves, and knows "sit," "lie down," and "roll over" exceptionally well for a four-month old pup.

But, Tommy has an alter ego name Roger. Roger is very, very naughty. He occasionally forgets to ask to go outside, and finds an inside corner instead. His teeth are as shop as staples -- in a heartbeat, they will tear through pajama pants you've had since 1993.

As you can see, Roger and Tommy are the identical kind of cute.

Tommy and his alter ego are slightly related my post today. You see, for a couple of years now, I have been all about crisp, white sheets. I still am.

(Hudson Park)

But for some reason, on the first evening of 2010, I found myself staring lovingly into my screen. At these sheets:

(Drowsy Vine sheets by Plover Organic)

And these:

(Azure Vine sheets by Plover Organic)

And even this colorful quilt:

(Lilac Crescent/Gold Waves by Plover Organic)

Tommy the puppy has an alter ego. It appears I do, too, and she loves colorful patterns.

You know what else my alter ego loves? The guest room in Amanda Peet's apartment. I know this because these pictures have been filed for later for a long time now.

I love the varying shades of blue and silver, and the occasional pop of red or yellow.

Color, color, everywhere. It's so refreshing! Perfect for the new year.

Vacation means never having to make the bed

My week-long vacation begins today! I'm in the mood to lounge around in pretty places and not do much of anything besides look at pictures of other pretty places.

Sheets that are slightly rumpled is one of my favorite looks for a bed, especially when I have lounging on my mind. The picture below is probably a little bit too girly to ever pass in our bedroom. Something about the pink hearts, I guess. But I love it, especially the sheets paired with the brown plaid wool blanket. It keeps it from being too frou-frou, and instead makes it casual and warm.

Don't you want to be sitting in the spot right where the sun is hitting the bed?

Here are the heart sheets again, paired with the same warm gold tones. This time the hearts are blue. Manly, even. I love the mix of blue patterns in the pillows and on the headboard, and how the blue is carried over into the wallpaper and the flowers on the night table.

I'm playing a little game here. Each picture has something in common with the previous picture. Can you spot the common link in the next photo?

That's right, it's the casually folded mustard-colored wool blanket at the foot of the bed. I love the drab color next to the red wool on the chair. And, red happens to be the next common link, though the red blanket in the next photo is a little brighter than the one above.

And once again, there's a drab-colored blanket folded at the foot of the bed. The browns and greens are so perfect for these otherwise feminine spaces.

The next picture has layer upon layer in what happen to be my current favorite colors -- pale pinks and blues and mushroom-toned grays and browns. I love how the layers of blankets are cozy, yet there's not a down blanket in sight. It's slightly reminiscent of another one of my favorite layered beds.

And now, for the big reveal. This is where I will be doing my actual "lounging" today:

Buzz-kill :(

Recreating the pink bed

I'm revisiting this image:

But this time, I'm going to tell you how to get the same look. Live the dream!

Let's start with the bed. I choose the Edland from Ikea, at $299 for a queen. You could paint it black or leave it white.

For the rug, I give you this 8' by 10' Kilim Stripe Rug made by Nate Berkus for HSN. It's $159.

Now for the elusive pink blanket. This Pine Cone Hill Fleece Blanket was on sale for $159 on Nov. 11. After that, it returned to its usual price of $188. It seems like it has the right look and drape, so it might just work.

You'll need a white blanket with similar drape to layer under the pink blanket, but there's no need to spend a lot of money if you don't have one already. This white cotton flannel blanket is $39.99

I am going to skip the set of basic white sheets, since that's something that most of us own (or at least know where to find). You might notice that the top sheet on the inspiration picture is a very light, silvery grey.

I found a 1000TC Egyptian Cotton Sheet set in smoke, priced at $119.99. This is a subtle enough detail that if you're looking to save money, this might be a good one to skip.

It wasn't easy to find a charcoal grey pillow to use as an accent pillow. I saw lots of sheets in that color, and chances are you could find one or two pillow cases at Homegoods. But for the purposes of this blog entry, the Channel-Stitch Quilt and Sham from West Elm in slate works great. It's $24.

I'm not as interested in finding a good night stand. I think craigslist, garage sales and second hand stores are the best places to find furniture like this, especially when it's painted. But if you don't have time for the hunt, I like this Scalloped End Table from Walmart. It's $59, which doesn't hurt.

And, to go on top of the end table, I think any of these Hobnail Mercury Glass vases from Mothology fit the bill. They're in the $62-$84 range.

I found the Eleanor Frameless Mirrors on the Pottery Barn website. Any of them would work, but I think one of the bigger ones would be good.

Last but not least is the wallpaper. I think Farrow & Ball Silvergate might be the same as what is pictured in the inspiration photo.

Upholstered in black

Spots of dark upholstery in otherwise light, bright rooms. The black actually matches the color of the uniforms in blog prison, where people end up when they don't attribute sources to their photos. If I stumble across the origins of these pictures, I'll make sure to add the information!

The black doesn't look harsh in any of these rooms. I think it's a combination of the smoky tones instead of a midnight black, and the feminine detailing of the white wood furniture.

I hope my blog prison cell has pretty white furniture and lots of windows.