Curtained Bed

Happy Tuesday friends!  Wanted to pop in today to talk about bedrooms - most specifically about curtained beds.

Often, curtains surrounding a bed is associated with the old fashioned canopy bed of the 80's - oh what the eight-year-old version of myself would have given for a canopy bed... unfortunately, that's not quite what I'm referring to.  

I'm referring to the revamped version of the traditional canopy bed - the new version where the curtains meet the ceiling, and cocoon the bed while remaining fully detached from any bed frame.

Still not sure what I'm referring to??

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See what I mean?  

The curtains are actually connected to a track or curtain rod that is attached to the ceiling, and these new curtained beds offer the softness and same cozy effect as the more traditional canopy bed, without the closed-in, borderline claustrophobic feeling that they sometimes give.

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I'm 100% in love with our upholstered headboard, but I do really love the look of these - especially with the white or lighter shades in the curtains.  

So clean, and light feeling, and while a canopy bed can feel a little stuffy, and overly traditional, these actually feel quite modern.

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What I love most, is that they seem relatively easy to install, and inexpensive.

They would be fabulous in a studio apartment, for separating the "bedroom" from common living spaces, or even in an open loft space, where it can be really tricky to carve out each "room" from a wide open floorplan.

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The other thing about using curtains to flank a bed that I really love, is that you can save some serious money on the bed itself.  

Headboards and bed frames are really pricey, so this would be a really great option for those on a budget, who are looking to make a large impact in their bedroom without spending a fortune.

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All you need are some sturdy curtain rods, curtains (or sheers even), and a standard bed-frame, box spring, and mattress.  

I'd also encourage the use of a dust ruffle to hide the less than attractive metal bed frame - something simple like the one in the photo above would be perfect.

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On average, the cost of a queen size headboard or bed would range from $800 to upwards of several thousand dollars, whereas if you shop smart for the materials you'd need for a curtained off bed, you could pull off this project for less than $200 easily.  Depending on the hardware, you could even swing it for less than $150.  

What's great is that the curtains take the place of a headboard, footboard, and bed frame, and make it feel really grand, and expensive.  If I were to do this, I'd probably stick with lighter fabric for the curtains, but there are several different styles for this that I've seen and like.  The trick is to find curtain panels long enough to go from floor to ceiling - if the curtains are too short, it's a no-go.

Ikea is a fabulous source for curtains - some of my favorites are these curtains for the lighter linen look.  I actually have them hanging in our living room (white) and dining room (light grey), and I just love them.  They are thick without being too thick, they are quite long (98" which would accommodate an 8' ceiling - add curtain rings for extra length) and they have a really nice organic texture.  

This person actually used the Aina for this exact project (link here):

 **I think I might make the curtain rods just slightly longer so the curtains hang straight down... they look a bit short which is resulting in a bit of a "leaned" feel...

I also like these heavier velvet curtains for a deeper, cozier feel.... and hey, if they are good enough for Emily Henderson, they're good enough for the rest of us!

These curtains would be really fun in a child's bedroom flanking a bed... 

Aren't they just darling?

I'm also no expert, but I feel like they'd create a really peaceful place for nap time.  Heck, maybe I'll start adopting the daily nap if I got to sleep in a light and airy, curtained off bed.

What do you think? Would you ever try out a curtained bed?  

It seems like it would be so peaceful to be able to close the curtains, and for light sleepers who are easily bothered by light, this seems like an ideal solution to me!

Bedroom Design Board - an Emily Henderson Knock-off

Emily Henderson is a design goddess.  

She just posted this bedroom yesterday morning, and of the people I follow on Pinterest, I saw this room pinned, and re-pinned by about 10 different friends (and when I say friends, I mean for the most part random Pinterest "friends").

Anyway, this room is SO SIMPLE, but so lovely, so I just had to come up with an affordable version for the rest of us to mercilessly copy.

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I love that everything in the room is light and bright, letting the headboard take center stage.  SO GOOD.

The chandelier MAKES this room, and so I kept the original chandelier in my inspiration.  It's actually quite affordable from Shades of Light - if you're ever in the market for a chandelier you'll see that they can run up the cost quickly.

With the bedding, the headboard, the lamps, the nightstands, and decorative pillow, we're talking about an entire room makeover for well under $1000.

Here's my own version...

Where to Buy:
   1. Navy Tufted Headboard
   2. Washed Linen Bedding
   3. Rast Nightstand (for Campaign Makeover)
   4. Geometric Lamp
   5. Jonathan Adler Chandelier (minus the shades)
   6. Yellow Woven Throw Pillow

Pretty close to the original, rigghhhtttt???

You can actually get the headboard she used from Target, which is also REALLY affordable, but this option from Wayfair, was ~$300.  Even less costly than the Target version!

You'll notice that the nightstands will require a little DIY, but it's really minimal.

To make these into a pair of cute, and SUPER affordable nightstands, go pick up two Rast 3-drawer chests from Ikea ($30 each).  Pick up some brass hardware - 6 pulls per dresser, and a few brass brackets from the hardware store - and paint these dressers in a nice medium grey.  I like Benjamin Moore's Stonington Grey.

I'm so in love with this space - makes me want to recreate it in real life!

Surprise Source for Bedding

When I think of Lands End, I think of monogrammed totes and my dad's fleece lined jackets.  I do NOT think of bedding... until now.

When we originally were planning on getting a new bed, I wanted to get hotel style bedding, but with Restoration Hardware's costs through the roof, we scrapped that idea, and went with a solid white duvet.  

Fast forward several months until today... I was checking email, and randomly got a message from Lands End.  Quickly browsing through the site, I discovered that they not only carry bedding, but that 

    a) it looks nice

    b) it's affordable

    c) it looks incredibly similar to the hotel bedding that cost thousands (yes, THOUSANDS).

And you can Monogram them!  

For $179, you get the King Size duvet, and two king shams... it's a STEAL if you ask me!  I also liked some other other options - the light blue duvet below was really pretty, and the navy and white trellis pattern is very "zGallerie"...

Lands End - who knew!

White Bedding Inspiration

Decisions, decisions...

In my last bedroom post, I was admittedly overwhelmed by the choices for bedding.  Honestly, I still am, but  I've made at least one decision that should keep the ball rolling...

I'm going white.  

It was actually this photo that really sealed the deal for me.

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I just really loved how clean it looked, and it really appealed to me that I could swap out the pillow covers without commitment.  We could do lighter fabrics, florals, and punches of coral and aqua during the warmer months, and heavier fabrics, faux fur, and darker colors in the winter.  For a girl who can't make up her mind, this is definitely the way to go... no?

Last week, my mama and I set out on a mission to find "the perfect" down comforter.  She probably was at her wits end with me continually asking... Is this one fluffy enough?? but alas, we found one, and so I'm on the road to getting the bedroom moving along.

After getting the comforter, I spent a lot of time trolling Pinterest to find white beds that inspired me, and these pictures together should give a good idea for the look I'm going for (and keep me focused in the process)...

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I especially loved this one, with the thick black border and the eclectic mix of black and white.  We DEFINITELY need to get some color going in our room with all the creme and white going on, so black isn't going to work for us, but the pattern is what got to me. The euro sham here is almost an animal print, but isn't, and I love that.  If only I could find that in navy...

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The color combo here struck a chord with me.  All that navy, and the mix of patterns and textures.  I also love the pops of poppy and orange.  Even just a vase of flowers does the trick.  As a side note, if anyone knows where I can find that fabric covering the lumbar pillow, please contact me.  I spent a solid hour searching without luck.  I love that its part ikat, part polka dot.  To me, it's playful and it just makes me happy.

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Another great fabric here - is it chevron or zebra?  Who really cares - it's fabulous!  I also love the white lamps against the navy wall, but obviously I'm not going to be painting the walls navy in an apartment we may not be in too much longer...

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Rustic meats sophistication.  I LOVE this... but again, we'll need more color in the pillows.

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Finally, a subtle stripe, with a trellis pattern, and some fun scroll designs - not to mention the coral printed stools.  This is definitely more coral than we are going for, but I love it all the same.

Notice a trend though in these beds?  I am really leaning towards blue and white - crisp and clean.  I'm going between navy and cobalt blue - perhaps a blend of the two??  Either way the navy will being more character than plain black, while still allowing us to mix in other colors over time.

A few of my favorite patterns:

Diamond Ikat by Lucy Patterson


Casablanca Blue Ikat by Lewis and Sheron


Duralee Kalah Blue
I love this one, but perhaps the background is too off-white to be paired with crisp white bedding??

Anyways... just some food for thought.  I am giving my wallet a rest after the holidays, New Years, and rent, so I have plenty of time to stew on these ideas...

Bedroom Updates

Over the Holiday Break, I plan on finally making some serious progress on our bedroom!  Yep - it only took me a full year of inspiration boards, varying color combinations, and swearing up and down that this room was next on my list.

Yesterday, our BEAUTIFUL new rug arrived after being back-ordered for a month.  Remember this post where I agonized over the creme colored rug vs. the navy??  Well, my practical side won this fight, and I ended up opting for the creme colored trellis, and as undecided as I was in the moment, I could not be happier!  It is super luxe in person, and I can't wait to roll it out in the bedroom.  RugsUSA - I heart you.  I really do.

If you like this rug, you can find it here

An update on our bed... Kris and I have decided that a new mattress will be our Christmas gift to each other.  I had no clue that a good mattress ran around $4K, so while it's no puppy with a big red bow around it's neck, it's dang good present in my humble opinion. I'm so excited for a good night's sleep, and no back pain when I wake up (god, I sound like I'm 90 years old saying things like that!)

The other part of this present for ourselves??  New bedding!

I ordered a few options during Macys' Friends and Family Sale last week - did anyone else hit them up for 60% off??  Holla!

Everything has shipped, so the bedding should be arriving towards the end of this week!  Yippy!

First option is the soothing creme colored bedding.  This would mean that our entire room would be light colors with creme colored carpet, creme drapes, and creme bedding.  Hey, we don't have kids... we can do things like this!!

I'm not a huge fan of those faux french looking throw pillows, but I love the quilt-like comforter and European shams.  Definitely looking forward to seeing this one in person...

Option number two is actually one I've had my eye on for a while - its an abstract paisley with a pale blue background.  I love the quilted coverlet in this photo as well, so I was sure to order that too.  This option definitely lends more visual interest with the pattern, but I'm not sure how these colors will translate in person.  Is that tan going to look olive in person?  Gold?  How will the fabric feel?

Regardless, since we are upgrading our mattress from a queen to a king, we'll need new bedding one way or another, so at least we have some initial options!

Here's how I see the room coming together with each...

What do you think? Yay, or nay?  Should I keep looking?

I think I need to see the fabrics in person, and get everything in the room to really decide which one is the keeper!

ANOTHER Bedroom Post (sorry!)

Ahh the bedroom - all talk, no action on my end so far!  I swear, this room really is next on my list for a makeover said the girl who cried wolf.

Do you remember this inspiration board I had put together for our bedroom??

I still love it, BUT... the rug is going to end up being too small!  It took me oh... six months... but I finally took measurements, and the 5x8' rug that used to be in the living room is not going to work in the bedroom!  You literally won't be able to see it from underneath the bed.

So, I've decided to sell it, and get something larger.  With the option to choose a new rug (which by the way, RugsUSA is having a 60% off sale that ends today) my options for the room just got a whole lot more exciting.

You all know how much I ADORE a creme colored upholstered headboard with nail-head trim... but after months of thinking, I've come to the conclusion that a headboard in this color won't stand out against our off-white walls and it won't add much interest to the room (sad).  I've shifted gears, and I'm going to be brave with color!

What color??  Navy!  I am now thinking of a lush navy headboard that will be the room's centerpiece.

Taking a look on RugsUSA, I've narrowed down my choices to these three rugs...

Amazing right??  Not only are all three of these available in 7.6'x9.6' measurements, but all three are below $300 - one of them is even below $200 (can you guess which one??).

I can pretty much guarantee that Kris will veto the zebra print rug immediately, even though it looks so soft, the grey is so pretty, and I love a good zebra print if it's not too crazy.  I'm not even going to pick that battle...

I love the bold pattern and the rich color on the navy rug, but I worry that it will be TOO graphic (is that possible?).  On the other hand, if we go for a navy headboard, this rug would really tie everything together.

The third option is a pretty neutral trellis rug.  This rug (like the zebra) looks incredibly soft, and I love the colors, but while it will be versatile no matter how much I change up the room, is it boring?  Also, is the trellis pattern too similar to the rug in our living room?

I need to make a decision today since the sale ends today - if I'm not getting 60% off, I can't justify a new rug.  To help me make this decision, I've put together two new inspiration boards for the bedroom.

Here is the first one...


I like this option... I yellow and navy look so great together, so I could use the extra fabric from the roman shade in our hallway to make a few pillows, and whip up a quick navy chevron lumbar pillow as well.  I keep coming back to the fact that the rug is simple, and that it will go with everything, no matter how many times I change the accessories up.

I also like the idea that I can move it into the living room for a very different look since these rugs will be the same size!

Next up, is the inspiration board with the navy rug...

This just looks awesome, right??  Aside from looking super styled and tailored, the navy rug is also less expensive!!  It will be just $200 with taxes tacked on!  I think I am leaning a towards the navy rug, but my head keeps telling me that the neutral trellis is the "safe" choice.

I have some thinking to do, but by the end of today, I might have a new rug on it's way!!  No tricks this Halloween, just treats!!

Upholstered Headboards

I originally fell in love with upholstered headboards in Sex and the City - do you remember the episode where Charlotte finally ditches the decoy ducks and plaid wallpaper in her and Trey's Upper East Side apartment (much to Bunny's disdain)??  Charlotte replaced the dark hunting lodge vibe with light colors, and a beautiful upholstered bed.  It was love.  When that episode first premiered, I remember thinking, I'm going to have a bed like that in my house one day....

Now, upholstered headboards and bed-frames are very "on trend" but it doesn't deter me from wanting one.  Actually, I feel like there are so many options now since they've become popular, that it's to my benefit!  My favorites have nailhead trim, and are stuffed to the point of almost being overstuffed.  I love tufting of any kind, and as we are getting a new mattress very soon (feels like I've been saying that for months now) it's time to start making some decisions...  here are a few of my favorites I'm using for inspiration:

Simple lines and nail head trim... fabulous!

Contemporary Bedroom design by San Francisco Interior Designer Brian Dittmar Design, Inc.

I love the clean white, and more dramatic curve on this one...

Contemporary Bedroom design by Toronto Interior Designer AM Dolce Vita

This headboard by Centsational Girl has always been a favorite with the cut-outs on the side...

Traditional Bedroom design by San Francisco Media And Blogs Centsational Girl

I love the rolled footboard, and deep tufting here... unfortunately this is way too large for our room

Traditional Bedroom design by Denver Interior Designer Chalet

The deep tufting and curved sides make a headboard with straight lines a little more unique

Modern Bedroom design by Philadelphia Furniture And Accessories usona

Finally, this may be a teenagers room, but this bed frame is absolutely classic.

Eclectic Kids design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Courtney Blanton Interiors