I thought I would start a series on how to reimagine your home.  You see I’ve spent the last year doing just that.  Some things have been a big investment and other things have just been a shuffle.  We started off with the big things.  Finishing the kitchen, new flooring, and a new bathroom renovation.  The rest just became mechanics.

So after 40 years in this house I decided it was a good time to reimagine my home.  It started with a shower curtain!  My friend asked me how I was going to decorate the bathroom and I told her I was going to let it evolve.  After spending thousands of dollars getting the bones of the bathroom done, I knew I didn’t want to spend money decorating it.  You can read about that here.  Bathroom Reno/Who Says a Bathroom Needs Towels.

 Let’s start with the Bedroom.  When I selected the tile for the floor in the bathroom I realized the fabric in the curtains in my master bedroom would look great with it.  I had these drapes custom made 20 years ago and I was ready for a change in the bedroom.  

I still love the toile so I happily retired it to the bathroom.  Sorry this room is impossible to photograph.

Of course I then needed to do something about curtains in the bedroom.  Years of experience has now taught me to go neutral on window coverings.  Window treatments are so expensive to have fabricated that I am no longer in that income bracket that I can change window coverings on a whim.  Even a 20 year whim.  Neutral from here on out for me!  I had $150.00 to use at Pottery Barn so I chose to pick up some curtains.  They’re fine.  Do I love them, no but they’ll do.  Sometimes you just need things that work.  

A good basic, once you start layering in all the other elements will usually work just as well as custom.  Don’t tell my clients I said that!!!  I then decided a new more neutral dust ruffle was in order.  So I went to the fabric store and settled on grey dressmakers linen.  If you are not a quilter it is impossible to find decent fabric in this town.  Lining the the linen helped to bulk it up and then I took inexpensive decorative tape that I layered on top of a piece of 4″ wide linen that I had in the stash.  I frayed it and that gave the inexpensive trim a more custom look with lot’s of texture.  It’s all about the details.

The area above the window behind the curtains was bugging me so I stitched up some fabric I had in my stash and just tacked it up there.  Then in my stash I had the companion fabric to this piece and just enough to make 2 pillow shams so I whipped those up.  Checking out Ebay one day I discovered a Pottery Barn quilt for the right price and folded it at the foot of the bed.

After that it was time to remove the blue and white transfer ware that has been hanging over my bed, off and on for 20 years.  I absolutely loved this arrangement.  I absolutely loved this arrangement. 

 I had a picture hanging down stairs that I brought up for over the bed.  It worked but wasn’t quite big enough. To symmetrical, and an even number of items. Doesn’t work.  Loved the Antique French Voters Registration but downstairs needed it more.

I remembered I had some pieces of ironstone in my stash and decided to bring those up.  What’s a few more holes in the walls when you have hundreds! 

Then I knew I had to go in search of 6 more plates.  Last week I went down to Lincoln NE to the same antique shop where I had purchased these three years ago.  I walked over to the same booth and they had 6 plates.  They weren’t as interesting but at 2 and 4 dollars a piece it buys me time to look for something more unique.  So for less than $50 in plates and a platter,  the bed is done.

Checking out Ebay one day I discovered a Pottery Barn quilt for the right price and folded it at the foot of the bed. For the walls on either side of the windows I brought in two water color sail boats that were hanging in the living room.  These I actually like quite well. They fill out the walls and I like waking up to them.  Then I discovered yellow!  I am not a yellow person at all.  I had two Pottery Barn sunflower pillows that have been gracing the chairs in the living room for the last year.  I needed to switch those out and just threw them on the bed and boy did I like what I saw.  All of a sudden without intension the room started to take shape.

I wondered what would happen if I added just a bit more yellow.  So I went in search of some cotton fabric to add to my existing sheets.  I found a tiny gold and grey check at a local quilt shop.  After preshrinking I tore off the top of my flat sheet and the hems on the pillow cases and added contrast hems.  

I embroidered the  hems and now I have an almost pulled together look.  I still need to paint but frankly I’m still burned out from all the 2020 house projects.  The wall above my bed probably has 150 holes in it so I definitely need to paint!  But hey planting season is coming up and what’s more important.  Right now give me flowers!!!

Decorating is trial and error and an evolution.  It is hard fought, sometimes frustrating, and so exhilarating when you finally get it right.  Is this room perfect?  No not yet but now I know what I need to make it perfect. Knowing me it never will be.  Once I get it painted I’ll be satisfied, for now.  With very little money I was able to pull this room together with just simple things that I already had.  Some things I have had for 45 years.  Buy what you love and you will keep it in the rotation forever.

What do you think? Do rob Peter to pay Paul? My mom’s saying.  I learned from the master!

Thanks for stopping

Shelley