apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love that thing. Is there room for a dresser? We're just shown the corner of the room - how many square feet is it. Surely your husband will let you change the color - some other blue? You want to take off the mirrow. I like it.

Click on the slide show in yesterdays home and garden section of the times - http://www.nytimes.com/pages/garden/index.html There is a bedroom with an interesting headboard. Could use something like that to play up the furniture style a little a make it more sexy/romantic to your taste...good luck..

Remember it might take a few tries to get the room to a style you both like....keep moving things around, introducing/removing things till you are both happy with the room.

I've been in the same room 4 years, and it still not right, and there is only me to please....

Maybe your husband would be amenable to adding some kind of trim or wallpaper on a portion of the walls. The most recent issue of Blueprint has some great examples that draw on both traditional and contemporary looks. If you brought in some darker tones, it might help unite the dark furniture with the lighter, cooler wall.

And by the way, I think that paint color is exactly the same as the color of my room at my parents' cottage in Eastern Ontario. Or, should I say, colour... Maybe it's a Canadian thing.

aside from not knowing anything about the size of the room or whatnot, even doing some deep rich blue bedding (striped with another color?) will make it look more put together. a crisp white bed skirt too, k? :) i much prefer a navy to that blue sky blue, but varying the shades will give the room some depth. and then throw in lots of accessories to set off the blue. my feelings about wood: it will live happily with any color, but not necessarily varying styles of wood (such as varying shades of cheap oak veneer!!) so as long as the woods go together, they'll likely look lovely next to varying blue tones. i'd use a lot of white as the blues and woods can be really heavy.

I actually really like the dresser as is, and the paint! I'd do a tall square upholstered headboard to add both softness and some straight angles (versus all those curves), maybe in an oatmeal color or maybe even a soft grey, to help "bridge" with the blue, and I'd add some shams or a throw pillow in a pattern that has a little brown and at least a thread of a blue in it - maybe with a green or orange so things don't match TOO much.

I don't think the contrast between the wall color and the dresser(s) will be so noticeable once you have more fabrics and textures in the room - including a rug.

I love the soft blue. My best friend (who also adores blues and greens) painted her bedroom a similar shade and she has dark espresso furniture along with one lighter piece and it's a gorgeous, airy, soothing room.

How about doing a very simple headboard and upholster it in a nicely textured solid fabric that coordinates with (but doesn't necessarily exactly match) your duvet cover?

My friend's headboard is a very simple shape with a curved top covered in a lovely, nubby light tan linen. It's very clean and unobtrusive and the light tan color blends with the several different duvets she has. I think she got the headboard at Crate & Barrel but I could be wrong, but it looks very much like this one on the C&B site: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1011&f=1480

Anyway...that's my 2 cents. Good luck!

keep the color...and the dresser...you might not be feeling it cause the room does look empty.

my first suggestion is get new bedding.
im not a huge fan of bedskirts..but the bare box spring is a sore point..how bout covering it with a tan fitted sheet. and work from there. i think adding warm accent colors would be an excellent idea.
but the bedding needs work.

and i dont know about you but instead of a head board i see a nice art/photo piece.

i shoot my best friend and her husband once for my portfolio and in one image its the two of them napping in what looks to be a huge blanket...so i enlarged it ( black and white of course) and had it framed in a wood that matched their existing furniture ( actually it was two sdades darker just to add a lil extra something) and they hung it above the bed..

Have you ever tried using this?

http://colorblender.com/

It's a great tool for finding/working with color schemes.

Add depth by layering colors and fabrics. I agree with bellaknollie, it does look empty and sad because it's well empty..... Imagine it with a navy and kelly green bedspread.... and soft area rugs and shiny bedside lamps with orange shades....

that piece looks rather nice but, yes, lose the mirror and the mallre drawers under it to make the piece look less busy and more...modern. I would paint the walls a warm, golden yellow (not egg white; more egg yoke!) to make the furniture pop. But if , yellow is too much, how about a deep "regency" blue and accent it with pops of bright , jewel colors on pillows and such.
also, think about apinting the ceiling, people always forget it's there and you can create lots of drama with it....
what about a wrought iron headboard? depending on the style it could go very masculine or avery girlie...
ever seen that show Get Color?
create a color wheel that speaks to you both and choose from there...

I stumbled across your post, and have never been to this site, but had to respond. I'm a guy and I really feel for your delimma. I received an almost identical dresser from my grandmother, and did remove the top drawers and mirror. That was just my personal preference, though. The dresser isn't an issue at all now, because we built a house that uses shelves in the closet and don't use dressers anymore.

These inherited items are emotionally difficult and a double-edged sword. When my aunt passes away (hopefully a long time), I will inherit another dresser just like that, as well as a four poster bed in which my grandmother and father were born. My wife has furniture from here grandparents, which is disassembled because we don't have room for it. I've already told my wife's parents that they can never die, because we don't have room for their beautiful furniture.

At some point, practicality forces you to cast off the albatross from around your neck. Perhaps your husband would consider removing the mirror as an interim solution. If you have more room or change colors later, he can put it back.
Tom

The first thing I noticed in that room isn't the dresser or the wall, but the bed - or should I say the mattress! I think if you focus on finishing that part of the room with a color and style you like, the parts you like would complement it, rather than overpower it.
Also, does the room have to be set up that way?

First, I'd leave the dresser as is - I think the mirror is kind of nice even if this sort of thing isn't my style. But that's my opinion.

I would definitely paint the walls though. I'd say a navy blue with a hint of gray to it (almost a dark slate blue) or a sage green (since you said your husband likes green and blue).

i feel the potential to have a room straight out of an anthropologie catalog....

I actually like the blue and the contrast of the dresser against it. Plus the color is a great calm hue for a bedroom.

But I do agree with those who say to change the bedding. You can tie it together with the right combinations -- maybe some dark brown pillows on a blue and brown coverlet. Throw in a pop of a bright color for interest (and also to take the eye away from the walls and turn them into a kind of neutral) -- a red or orange, even a bright green could work.

The bed itself is stark because of the exposed box spring and frame. make sure the bedspread hangs down enough to cover that, even if it means buying a larger size. I'd stay away from bedskirts, which will only heighten the ornate look. Instead, go for a very square, and very dark headboard, and make the throw pillows very modern and clean-lined. Solid colors, with some classic small print on the bedspread. I think it will be really beautiful and inviting when you're done.

I think cool blues and browns are a great combination, and the suggestions so far are spot on!

It's hard to tell from the picture what your options are, but perhaps repositioning the furniture might help, too. You might consider an alternative to the 48 x 48 dresser, with the same storage capacity, but a different dimension - like a pair of smaller dressers side by side or a longer credenza style.

I'm digging the upholstered headboard idea & think you could use a bedskirt; I don't care for the flouncy ones, but I think the tailored box pleat style look chic!

I would keep the color of the walls and find a couple of fabulous complementary fabric for bed linens and headboard that ties everything together with the dresser.....something romantic and outrageous that echoes the swirl from the dresser....look at these from reprodepot

http://reprodepot.com/ngwlq.html
http://reprodepot.com/ngwflv.html
http://reprodepot.com/ngwflv.html
http://reprodepot.com/mzllsp.html
http://reprodepot.com/mzdmsp.html
http://reprodepot.com/mztssp.html

here are some headboard shapes
http://la.apartmenttherapy.com/la/bedroom-beds/padded-headboards-006393
I'd play with some full-size paper cut-outs until you find the shape you like best.

Another thought--could the piece be used sans mirror/drawer unit in another room--hallway landing pad or dining room for linens/sideboard?

I like the dresser-even though it isn't my style! That shade of wood looks amazing with blue- maybe you two can find a shade that you both enjoy? I (along with others) always recommend not making any color changes until your room is assembled though. When you get all your bedding etc.. into the room your view of that color may change - you may even like it!

That's a terrific dresser with a lot of character! Such a strong piece needs to be balanced in the room; in my opinion, the wall colour is far too light to do that. I am with Sasha on this one -- I would paint at least one wall dark -- either navy (if you want to see a terrific dark blue wall, check out Craftbar for inspiration!) or a very dark rich grey, and the others a white (with hint of cream). That would be very sexy and rich. That would also make it more modern, and make you feel less like you are living in his granmother's bedroom.

For the bed, I would suggest a simple squared shape to contrast the more dramatic shape of the piece. I would balance the strength of the furniture by having the headboard be proprortionally high for the bed (can you lower your mattress closer to the floor?). One headboard that I have seen which I think would look fabulous is mad up of white leather upholstered squares, stopping about 18" from the ceiling.

For lighting, simple white cylinder pendants suspended on either side of the bed.

For bedding, a lavender silk quilt, with ice and slate blue silk throw pillows (all other bedding white).

Oh! And a flokati rug on the floor.

What about this as an idea: http://designsponge.blogspot.com/2007/07/absolutely-beautiful-things.html
from design*sponge.
And i love the reprodepot fabrics suggested by polkadot.

I would keep the dresser as it is but definitely repaint the walls. For me the cool blue is fighting with the warm tones of the wood. I recommend Cooking Apple Green from Farrow and Ball. It is a really mellow warm green with a hint of grey, see http://www.farrow-ball.com I've used this colour in the bedroom and I'm pleased with how it ties together (and seems to simplify) the various rich tones of our oak and walnut dressers. I also think you need to dress the dresser with your things, it'll reduce the mass of heavy wood on show and make it your territory rather than something of his that you just put up with.

What, exactly don't you like?

Is it too traditional? Not traditional enough?

There are ways to make that color and that dresser turn into a beautiful room, either way.

I also vote for leaving the dresser totally as is.

Think an upholstered headboard a perfect idea, but what shape points back to the "traditional or non?" question.

But, oy, no borders, please. That will make it *officially* "Grandma's room."

I'd also look at the Pottery Barn Bed & Bath catalog for some bedding that makes it all work. They have a great brown and blue toile-like print that is actually fresher than it sounds.

And finally, how happy are you both with the rest of the house? Is he feeling "compromised" elsewhere? Or is the rest of the house working?

You in NYC? I'd love to help...

Annalyssa read my mind completely. I was going to post that design*sponge link, when, lo and behold, there it was, already suggested!

I think that picture is good inspiration for this room. Your dresser has an orangey tinge to it, so I think you could use that to your advantage.

Also, I think rather than abandoning the accents (such as the mirror and curvilinear details) of the dresser that you don't like, you could embrace them; You might surprise yourself. For instance, if you could find a pair of wood stools or short benches with upholstered seats (something in a similar style to the dresser) at a flea market or something, and re-cover them with a fabric you like in your particular color scheme, and then center the dresser on a wall with the benches on either side. I think that would make a nice little visual element in your room.

I have no idea if that description made any sense to you, haha, but I hope so! The other thing I would suggest is finding a nice tray or runner with a nice print incorporating those colors (something light) to soften up the look of the dresser.

Good luck!

If that piece (with mirror) is staying there, just watch the height of the headboard. You probably don't want the mirror sitting too much higher than the headboard.

I remember somewhere on apartmenttherapy there were some guys who made their own paper silhouette headboard--I can't find it now......but look at the new Blueprint--wallpaper headboards:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.4af27a8e9e64e1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=9bd9cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&rsc=brandtray

I agree with the others that you have to concentrate on the bed to hold things together. Well I don't know the size of your room but would it not be possible to put the dresser from across the foot of the bed? Then add proper night tables in a similar shade of wood but modern design. That way the bed area can be "modern" and the dresser can be the only old piece in the room.

Wow, am I the only one who's not crazy about the color of the furniture? Is your husband willing to compromise by painting the wood? My first reaction is simply to paint the piece white -- or other light colors like Maxwell suggested, and the dresser too -- then everything will blend nicely and you can still keep the mirror and the drawers. This way if you get additional furnitures and a headboard in modern shapes but similar colors, it will just seem eclectic, but still be cohesive and balanced.

But if you don't like the wall color and don't want to paint the furniture, definitely go with a warmer shade that will compliment the wood floor as well.

I feel your pain. I have bedroom furniture from my grandmother that goes with nothing and is enormous. Plus mine is veneer so I can't even paint it!

Here is a nice idea from Elle Decor:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elevenhounds/863445117/

I know it is hard to follow my suggestions, so here are some illustrations I found (if you ever manage to get your hands on a copy of the June 2001 issue of the U.K. edition of Elle Decoration, most of the ideas come from there -- it is a great bedroom issue!) --

Here is the suggested headboard (in a nice thick white leather):

http://www.victoriahammond.com/_Articles/Article.asp?CategoryID=56&ArticleID=66

This shows the effect in context:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003542722_bejane27.html

And here is another similar option you can purchase ready-made:
http://www.charlesprogers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_29&products_id=333

The grey paint should be warm and dark; Ralph Lauren has a particularly good selection of greys from which to choose, especially in his Urban Loft collection ( Hudson, Sullivan, Artis Grey, Modern Loft) and ( Garden Spigot, Palais Royale ) -- try out the paint chips in your own space.
http://rlhome.polo.com/rlhome/products/paint/paint_palette_frameset.asp

I think the wood is beautiful and rich; however, I would probably sand the floor, and stain it a colour similar to the furniture, and put on a matte finish.

As for the silk quilt, the ones in the magazines are by Designers Guild (a reversible lavender/turquoise) and Space Boudoir (both of the UK); sorry, no images.

And a pillow (in lavender and purples) from Kristin Heckterman as the grace note on the bed http://www.kirstenhecktermann.com/pages/portfolio02.html

See Scumble Goosie for some painted furniture ideas:-
http://www.scumble-goosie.co.uk/beds/

I'd keep both the wall color and the dresser, but I'd get something else for bedding, as that comforter is way too bland. With nice bedding, window treatments, lighting and artwork I'm sure you can make it work nicely.

You've actually got a lovely Empire period dresser. It is probably veneer because of how the grains work together to create the symmetrical design. I keep thinking if you introduce some orangish tones as well as a neutral the blue and wood tones will come into balance. If everything else in the room remains pretty quiet the dresser can be a feature piece. I like the idea of the large padded headboards bringing a message of comfort and security to the room. Some carefully edited personal items on the dresser will make it look less like an unwelcome intruder.
Good luck :)

ok, you've got lots of suggestions already, but one more can't hurt.... my first thought was that the problem for me was the white comforter. I'd put something in a darkish, warm gray on the bed. And a rug that would pull the gray and the blue together. With a rug down, somehow I think the big piece of furniture would feel more at home.

If you did those two things, the blue walls and the dresser might look a lot different. There'd be more to go, but I'd have to study it some more after the rug went in.

It's not so bad, you'll survive!

Good luck,
JoanneM

Here's a bed that would work, assuming you don't want to try to push the vibe more contemporary.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p7905/index.cfm?pkey=cfurbedall

and the bedding I was talking about:

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p8337/index.cfm?pkey=cbabdvtptn

or

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p8751/index.cfm?pkey=cbabdvtptn&cm%5Flid=65536&pgid=p8337

I'd also add faux-paneled wainscotting, painted a creamy white, coming up to about one third of the way up to the mirror height.

Keep lamps simple and modern, in a darker but slate-y blue.

It goes without saying that you're going to use different bedding.

I think the bureau is so handsome - I don't have any problem with it - or that you're getting another related piece soon ( a dresser).

I wonder how big your budget is?

Let's say you had $3,000 to spend.

Since you're pushing for modern - I'd do as others have suggested - huge art over the bed. Take your own photo? Do you have a good camera? Spend a lot of the money on blowing it up. I know this is silly - but you've invited us into the fantasy of what we would do ourselves!

I'd have a small headboard (the headboard should be very low or very tall - so it isn't even with the height of the dresser.

I'd go to Urban Outfitters for whatever else - spend like $500 there -

I wonder what other stores you're thinking of? Some advice giver I am.

I'm curious to hear your comments at this point - and I'd like to know the size of the space!

I would go one shade deeper with the blue paint, get some new bedding (obviously) in a pattern that picks up the blue, and switch out the dresser knobs for some that are more fun but still coordinate- maybe these from Anthropologie http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&id=770330&parentid=DECOR_HARDWARE_KNOBS_HANDLES&pushId=DECOR_HARDWARE_KNOBS_HANDLES&popId=DECOR_HARDWARE&sortProperties=&navCount=95&navAction=poppushpush&color=cre

Good luck!

Edwin-Switzerland is SO right. It looks like a very small room, but if it's possible I highly recommend allowing your bed to stand alone on a wall and the dresser on another. Right now, the dresser is taking over.

If it can't be moved to another wall, then take it out of the room for a while and decide what you want to do with the bedding. After all, it's a BEDroom. Make the bed the focus and the dresser a pretty, complimentary piece of furniture in the room.

Good luck!

Do NOT paint that piece. No no no no no. Sell it before you paint it.

And as many have said, it is the bed, not wall color and dresser combo that is causing a disjointed look.

But if you want "sexy" you need to go to a slate-y-er blue, about two clicks up (darker) on the paint swatch.

But if you want the dresser to "disappear" you need to go to a warm wall color.

I would keep that piece AS IS. I agree that it would be criminal to muck around with it.

I know right now it's a big annoying baggage-loaded thing that has your bed pushed up against the wall, but thing is, that dresser is an amazing piece. Could a paint job on the walls, some rearranging, and most of all new bedding do the trick? I would opt for a warmer, sunnier look with that dresser if you want it to not stick out. Personally I'd go for something slightly baroque-ish. Take a look at the Joel Dewberry Aviary fabrics; something about the lines in the dresser would look really nice with his prints in the buttery yellow or orangey/chocolatey colors. ...Whatever you choose, get rid of the big white comforter. You need something other than a blank canvas to balance out that very beautiful dresser.

If you can't live with the dresser influx, do you have a small space somewhere else in the house that can become a dressing room, so you can have more space in the bedroom?

correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't think that's a "big white comforter", i think it's a duvet without its cover on because of a recent move? i think the bed hasn't been made yet...
although Tina hasn't responded to any of the suggestions I feel like I want to stick up for her and say "hey, this bed isn't made yet, please don't think I'd leave a bed like that and call it a day".

Just some thoughts on "sexy" rooms (pretty subjective, so just my take...)

That dresser has great sex-appeal -- really! Its voluminous curves make it a very Sophia Loren-ish piece of furniture (and its beauty is in the graining; painting it over would destroy it)...

And to echo the old addage of opposites attracting, its curves need to be countered by equally strong straight lines ( such as a very high grid as a headboard...); its darkness by light (...creamy white walls, flokati rug...); it's heaviness and soberness with lightness and frivolity (...a pretty lavender bedspread, ticklish flokati rug, delicate pillow...).

Like P2 said, "sexy" colours are dark, but I would add that they need to be dramatically dark, not medium toned. Something dark enough to want to curl up in, and dark enough to make the furniture not dominate the room (the problem with the current colour). Dark like a stormy rendition of Rachmaninov...

My husband bought a very similar dresser and I didn't like it the mirror and little drawers either, but they have turned out to be incredibly useful, so now it fits in nicely.

I say leave the wall color and go with P2's 2nd bedding suggestion, ASIAN TOILE - that would balance the masculinity of the dresser and look smashing color-wise.

If you painted that piece there would probably be some Sotheby's or Christy's Anitique Police storming your doors to arrest you, or paint YOU!

Anyway... I think when you have something as real and wonderful as that piece, especially with that kind of burled grain, you'll have to be very careful what you put with it, because if you put something really cheap and sad, this piece will make the other thing look cheaper and sadder.

I agree with a warm wall color to help this piece blend in at least somewhat, though, because it's so imposing it could just monopolize the room.

I just now realized that you used the word "hand-me-down" to describe this furniture. The word "heirloom" is a little more like it. Having family history in one's home is actually kind of wonderful, and having very nice pieces in one's home from family is much better than actually having family live with you, as some people do, if you ask me!

A lot of the best things on the market today are actually either reproductions of antiques, or at least inspired by antiques, so it should be that hard to find things that will be compatible with them.

By the way, those S-curves with what almost look like blossoms on them that support and flank the mirror might be a fun place to start in looking for a pattern to put on the wall, if you decide to do a wallpaper, because I've seen some very modern patterns that have things like that in them. Repeating a specific kind of curve motif like that in a younger generation of some diffeerent kind of decorative element is a good way to build a bridge from past to present.

I hope you end up end up seeing the manse as half-full!

Furniture that square-shouldered and mahogany needs a sharper background. If you're going to paint, pale blue isn't going to cut it. Paint the walls a seriously sharp shade of lavender.

Well, if he insists on keeping the light blue walls and dresser, then you should be able to add to accessorize it. Just kind of ignore his stuff and pile sexy stuff over it!!!

FIX BEDDING:
It doesn't have to be a matching expensive set, just a fitted sheet, plain sheet, duvet cover, throw pillow.
For example, you have a plain white down comforter and exposed mattress! How about getting some nice cotton sheets that are a little silky, then don't have to be made of tacky satin or anything. But, choose some sexier colors, not a wedgewood patterned sheet. Get a throw pillow, not 20, just one pretty sexier one. Get a duvet cover for the down comforter.

Accessorize dresser:
How about a small glassy warm light lamp, a little jewelry box of yours, a small stack of books, some sexy looking accessories on top of dresser, to make it feminine, not grandma-ish.

Hang something on the wall-a big cool photograph, a neat painting. cover up the blue wall.

yes, get a headboard. and maybe move the dresser that you hate farther from the bed.

good luck.

I agree with Curtis. Wallpaper is a good alternative to paint, especially when you are trying to make a wall darker without looking cavernous.

Here are some in similar pale blues, that your husband might like:
http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p297_Elektra.html
http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p74_Indra.html
http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p84_Athena.html
http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p285_Ostara.html

And here is a darker option for example:
http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p267_Janus.html

I'm really curious to know what you decide to do, and whether the marriage has survived this trying episode.
Good luck.

Here's some traditional-looking ones that have kind of a new kick.

This one has warmth, but with some blue in it:

http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/city-park?colorway=light-sage&line=traditional

This is the same one with just some browns:

http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/city-park?colorway=dark-chocolate&line=traditional

They're still not the exact thing that I was thinking when I said that, though.

Please, please, please don't paint the dresser -- it's an antique worth several thousand dollars, which will plummet in value if you destroy the old finish.

If your husband is really nostalgic for a Victorian environment, why not just work with it? Does everyone's apartment have to be an MCM Domino clone?

I would so love this dresser! Work on the bedding, the white draws my eyes toward it. Leave the mirror on it, too as if you remove it the top won't be as nice as you think. I have lots of antiques with modern items.

Maybe a single darker wall that picks up the future bedding. And a rug.

Compromise with the antique/memory part and his new life with his bride.

Good luck!