Simple

Simple

Our Bedroom Makeover




I took a long absence from blogging this summer, although I didn't really plan to.  Sometimes it was hard to find inspiration about blogging when we were working on the house and things were messy.  I spent most of the spring and summer working on our bedroom.  It needed every thing from paint to carpet, but it was a fun project--choosing fabric and finding just the right touches to brighten the room.  I can't wait to start work on the second bedroom!  Here are the before and after photos of our bedroom.



The house was built in 1875 and none of the original features remain, except for the pine floor.  They don't look bad here, but they were old, worn and had wide gaps between the boards, which were a magnet for dust.  To create a warmer and brighter look, I had the floor covered with wool wall-to-wall carpeting. You can see my bureau on the left, which isn't may favorite piece of furniture, but it provides plenty of storage in this house with few closets.  I decided to paint it white to blend with the walls since it originally had a dark stain finish.


 Here's the room with carpeting.  It's not as dark as it looks here.  It's actually a blend of cream and pale aqua fibers.  The aqua is very subtle and soft.  The ceiling is painted pale blue and it nicely complements the carpet.  Jon liked the carpet too, which surprised me.


This is a photo of the West side of the room.  It's been difficult to get good photos of this room for some reason.  Ever since the iOS8 iphone software update, it seems like the quality of iphone photos isn't what it used to be. 



Here's the after shot.  The colors are a bit washed-out in the photo, so the drapery fabric looks muted. The fabric is a blend of ivory, soft aqua, taupe and a touch of butter.   That's Jon's cherry wood dresser in the photo.  I'm not a fan of dark wood, but he loves his furniture and it's beautifully made, so there it is.  I chose the bronze finish on the drapery rods to complement with the wood dresser. 


This is the before photo of the East side of the room.  Notice the lovely patch in the wood floor.  I have no idea why there would have been a gaping hole in the floor at one time.

Much better, don't you think?  I bought the antique botanical on eBay years ago for about $20 and finally had it framed.  I chose a custom white gold-leaf frame with blue highlights in a floral and vine motif.  It's so nice to have found just the right spot for this print.





The script at the bottom of the print always intrigued me.



Another view.

We bought a new bed too as this one was too small for us.  This photo was taken after we painted the walls and trim.  I'm so glad the pine floor is gone!  Some people will think I'm crazy for covering original pine floors with carpet, but trust me.  The floor looks much better in the photos than it did in person.



This photo is too light, but at least it shows the finished room.  I had a headboard made in a wheat-colored fabric with a matching bed skirt.  The alabaster lamps are from Brimfield--purchased about 15 years ago.   I thought about selling them, but kept them and bought new silk pleated shades for them.  The lamps had been in the living room and they look much better here.



The veins of the marble / albaster look black here, but they're actually a soft gray. 



This framed cameo hangs above the bed.  Jon bought it for me after we were married.  We bought a picture light for it, which accents the unusual layered matting and gold-leaf frame.


I wish the color in the photos was better.  Above is a close-up of the linen drapes.


Finally, here's a photo that shows the true color of the drapes and trim.  I didn't originally plan to use trim, but once I saw it with the drapes, I was sold.  It really dresses up the room.  The butter-colored fabric on the right was used to make a Roman shade for the hall window.  I had the same trim attached to the bottom of the Roman shade.


So that's our new bedroom.  I'm pleased with how it turned out. I made some changes in the living room too and will post about it soon.  Thanks for following along!

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful!! I love your drapes and the special memento over your bed. It all has such a soft, comfortable look.

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  2. Beautiful. I love the lamps and curtains the most. Do you know what the manufacturer of the trim?

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    1. Hi Marybeth - Let me check and I'll get back to you.

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    2. Marybeth - The trim on the drapes is by Brimar.

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  4. what a tranquil oasis you have created deborah. i love the softness of the room. i think it reflects your personality. well the personality your blog represents. :) it's all so beautiful! x

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  5. Just beautiful! It looks so peaceful, like a bedroom should. Job well done!

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  6. Beautiful, Deborah! So serene. Really love the botanical and frame you chose - the combination is striking. And I like Jon's dresser dark. I think it grounds the neutral palette. Well done!! Cheers

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  7. Beautifully done! Your room has a nice softness and feels calm. These are the colors I'd like to shift to for my bedroom. I treally like the curtains. I don't blame you about the carpet. I prefer to get up to a floor that's soft and not too cold!

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  8. Beautiful! Love your drapes and the trim. I can just imagine retreating to this calm place at the end of a busy day!

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  9. love every aspect of this before/after deborah. in particular those drapes and trim, the colors and the framed cameo. oh so soothing!
    debra

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  10. Thanks all, for your very kind comments. Much appreciated!

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  11. Lové its calm beauty, the darker chest anchors the rooms softness a perfect design call. As for the fabric choice it's beauty in subtleness speaks volumes. It's rare these days to see someone go from wood to carpets, most of the time it's carpet to wood. In your room of beauty I can see why the change.

    Thank you for the inspiring share.

    Xx
    Bisous

    Doré

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  12. You did not make a single error here...absolutely gorgeous...I could move right in!!!

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  14. Everything looks lovely! I especially like your linen draperies. Good work.
    Thanks for keeping touch and leaving comments on my blog.
    All the Best
    Patricia

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  15. Hey Deborah,
    What a beautiful room! I don't even like draperies but love yours - pattern and fringe are perfect. (I do love shutters and yours look so good with the draperies.) The bed and its trimming are lovely too. It all works seamlessly - Jon's cameo, your rose botanical, silk lampshade. You have been a busy person.
    Enjoy your thanksgiving day.
    b

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  16. Lovely and serene! A perfect place to begin or end a day. All the best, Rié

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  17. Lovely and tranquil! Love the colors and simplicity of decor! Would you provide the vendor and pattern name of the curtain fabric?

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  18. Dear Deborah I am not sure how I missed this; however I want to let you know ow much I love your bedroom. So soft so comforting so artful!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Featuring "Inner Spaces"

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  19. The covering of those wood floors makes me so sad, Your carpeted bedroom is lovely, but I would have vacuumed those wood floors every day to keep the dust at bay.

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