(Welcome to Bedroom Month! We're taking inspiring bedroom submissions from our readers and giving gifts. Join us UNTIL THE END OF THIS WEEK. All info is here.)
Welcome to Mariah!
We bought our house last year and have been renovating it on a tight budget. Thus my interior design aesthetic tends to be a combination of flea market, thrift store, ebay, and craigslist chic with a dash of IKEA and Target and DIY. Its still a work in progress and a little sparse in spots where we plan to hang more art and give it a bit more flair. My boyfriend uses the guest room across the hall for dressing and doing work-so that space is a bit more masculine...
Some of my favorite finds:
The lamps were a craigslist find-$25 for both! The shades they came with were dated so I replaced the shades with $20 Target linen drum shades.
The dresser-a really well made flea market piece which would have been a bit country for my taste-with its white distressed finish- had me sold when I noticed that all the pulls are made from copper piping.
The fruitwood nightstands and the bamboo look mirror were found at a local thrift stores. I’m debating laquering the nightstands at some point-any recommendations?
The starburst mirror was a $20 ebay find-though I think it is going to relocate elsewhere in the house once I enlarge a couple photos I took recently.
The most expensive piece in the room is the tiny upper persimmon oil painting which I bought in France last year. It looked sad and lonely by itself on that wall-so I found another persimmon painting on ebay to keep it company.
I made the headboard and bedskirt-and painted the birds above the bed- even that is still a work in progress!
It’s not huge, and it’s not fancy- but it’s my favorite place relax and read AT at the end of the day!!!
-Mariah
I think those lamps are fantastic. They look retro, and only slightly whimsical, but mainly elegant.
I really love the color pallet you have chosen.
mariah, thanks for sharing your room. i really like what you're doing -- love the colors -- and i think you have a great eye. i also really like the suggestions above. we're moving a lot more slowly on our house, and i can only hope that my room will be in the same shape in a year or so.
I love it!!!! Soothing colors. BTW, where did you get the cool vanity? I'm looking for something just like it. I need a vanity, but I hate the brass/black iron vanities and the nicest one I saw in Ballard Design for $499...I don't want to spend that much $$$. And I hate the kidney shaped vanities as well.
Beautiful job--I love the artwork and your amazing online finds. The color palette is also great; I love the blues and browns with the splash of red. My only suggestion would be to get a taller full-length mirror--maybe one on a stand--to keep with the scale of the room and to look more 'finished'.
This is my favorite kind of design effort -- a lot of eclectic creativity, unlikely juxtapositions, potentially unloved objects made vivacious with the care and attention of who brung 'em to the room.
What is the curtain in the corner near the bed? Does it cover a strangely placed window? or something more mysterious?
lovely and well done!
Nice. I love the blue walls especially. Which paint did you use?
Love the room, Mariah! It seems like a very welcoming space. Do you remember the name of blue on your walls? It seems to be sort of aqua -- is that right or is it my computer screen?
I LOVE the color! And it's great the way the shades of blue of the lamp and accessories plays off the wall. It's a beautiful, relaxing bedroom.
Great job. It's such a happy room.
Very pretty, Mariah. Could you share how you made the headboard? I'd like to have something like yours, but it seems like most upholstered headboards are too expensive for what they really are--a board and some batting covered in fabric.
Love it. Simple as that. Just LOVE. Looks like an amazing place to wake up in. ;-)
Mariah -
Seems we have the same color scheme in our bedrooms only my lamps aren't nearly as beautiful. I love yours - great finds.
Also, that chair at your writing desk is gorgeous, another great find.
The wall color and art over your bed is another thing of beauty. Very serene.
Your design feels authentic, I like it a lot. It looks as though you've built it over time, which I always appreciate. Very nice!
Holly
Erica, to do an upholstered headboard is quite easy.
You need a piece of wood as a base. Something like OSB (oriented-strand-board) is more than sufficient because you won't care what it looks like. Have it cut to the dimensions you want. Next, get some foam and spray glue it to the surface. 2" of good quality foam should be plenty thick. Then, take some Dacron and place it over the foam. Lastly, take the fabric you want and staple it onto the board, over the fabric. You will be pulling and tugging the fabric to get it to lay right. It will take time, and getting long, even, straight lines is hard, but doable. Also, if you have a pattern on your fabric, try to make sure it is centered both horizontally and vertically on the headboard.
Here's a link w/ more in depth steps:http://interiordec.about.com/cs/diybedroom/ht/ht_uph_headboar.htm
And where they mention "white sheeting", just use some muslin...it's cheaper.
I like it too! And you have a Gulvase(?) Or a very good approximation to one. Cool.
With the exception of the horrid dresser and carpeting and the heavy handed attempt to strew accessories (Red handbag on aforementioned horrid dresser) about the room in an attempt to look effortless, this room is nice. Better than most featured thus far. The color of the walls is very soothing and although I wouldn't sleep here I would let a distant relative stay the night in such a room.
One suggestion is to get rid of the toiletries on the horrid dresser. I don't mind various personal items about but they should be uniform and stylish (like Kiehls or even Philosophy and beautiful, simple perfume bottles). No one wants to see your Costco sized bottle of Suave.
The curtains also leave alot to be desired. Its a decent start.
beautiful alarm clock - is it a craigslist or ebay find? i think black lacquering the nightstands would really make them pop in your bedroom - a great idea. if anyone has suggestions on how to do that, i'd be interested in hearing them as well.
I love this. It really looks like a loved & lived in space. Very comfortable & unique. I adore the wall color. Any chance you remember what it is?
Hi,
I love the colors in the room. Very calming.
On a side note, it would be great to limit all our criticism to the constructive kind on AT.
Thanks!!
Yes, what is the blue wall color? Name and maker, please.
why is the persimmon oil painting tacked to the wall and in a plastic sleeve?
Oh, Eddie... is it... Is it a bee?
Maria, the persimmons paintings are framed. See them in the first picture, to the right of the curtains. The picture in the sleeve is not of persimmons.
You've done a lovely job in both color and pieces. The lamps are beautiful, the curtains add a rich softness to the room. It's your house so put your accessories wherever the hell you like. And buy whatever you like. Your house is for you, not casual observers.
Mariah, I love your room! It has to be one of the best so far on AT! Your room looks so stylish and yet effortless! And that's a good thing! The colors all work so well together. I especially like the combo of your bedding choices.
I want that bird painting above the bed!!! So lovely.
And I agree, everything looks like it came together over time, and that's the beauty of it.
LOVE IT! The colors and patterns are all great and those are some terrific finds. For a budget room, it looks amazing.
Don't listen to the haters: Not everyone can afford (or likes) Kiehl's moisturizer in pretty bottles and that's fine. It's YOUR room.
I really love your style - fun flea market finds that don't look cheap or cluttered. I love that you pick up the red in having the purse where it is. I love to use purses to accessorize my house too.
Thanks for sharing Mariah - this is one of the only bedrooms that sucked me into clicking on the "more"button and I'm so glad I did!
Becky
I agree that the standing mirror is too short for the look of the room. Otherwise I love everything. Beautiful colors, nice artwork choices, the desk area is great, and while the bureau isn't perfect the fact that it has copper tubing would have attracted me too.
Gorgeous lamps and I like the red bag on the bureau. While some people may think that having your toiletries on the bureau is in bad taste, most of us actually live in our houses. Toys, shampoo, air conditioners and other non-decorative items are a necessary evil.
I also really like your sheets. Where did you get them?
This is absolutely splendid! The lamps are what sold me.
Wow..that blue is so sweet. I really like the casual lived in look of the place. It's what appeals to me the most
Thanks everybody! I appreciate the feedback-and agree that there are certain things I would change, including some of the things our catty friend Edina mentioned (she's on a roll today)! I'm waiting to find the perfect fabric to make new curtains for the windows- I hate the current tab tops.We're also hoping to lay down gorgeous espresso stained bamboo floors in a few months-I can't wait.
The alarm clock is Victoria Hagan for Target.
The paint is Ralph Lauren Faded Seafoam.
The chair was a great yard sale find- set of 3 for $20, so I have them all over the place, and the vanity is a vintage piece as well. I saw something similar in West Elm or CB2 maybe.
I didn't mean to attach the picture of the study (the green room), I'll save those for another AT month!!
Thanks again!
Yes, those lamps were a great find, and I like your persimmon paintings, too. They both have a glowy feel to them. The other side of the room seems a little flat in comparison, so I would suggest trying to bring that quality in over there. Maybe try stripping that dresser and see what's underneath?
Adorable! I like the blending of old and new, and I like that it's funky and vintage without veering into shabby chic. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm shooting for a modern look in my own new place, and I'm having a tough time looking at flea-market finds and envisioning them as modern.
I like the curtains, the carpet, the fruitwood (don't change). It looks elegant, calm, inviting, and effortless. The only thing that's slightly offputting to me is the way the books are stored. They don't look quite cherished enough for their environment.
oh my this is beautiful!!! this room is totally inspiring me!
I'm with Edina. The blue and white is nice, but my Granny Sanford called and she wants her room back. Less is always more and if you try to cram one more bad yard sale thing into that room, it WILL pop. A little blank wall space and a view of a corner will make your room feel bigger... I swear!
A note about piling it on: How interesting would it be if everyone just wrote about how damn beautiful every room on here is? I'll tell ya, 'not very'...
The birds painting was the first thing I noticed -- and wanted for myself.
I agree, and I'm glad Mariah said it first, those curtains aren't ideal for the space. I'd like to see something with a pattern, even a subtle pattern like the Lapis or Hibiscus curtains from Anthropologie...
Or something with yellow. I'm on a yellow kick lately and would LOVE to see some yellow accents in this room. You could totally do it too given your gold frames on your oil paintings, and your teal accents are already in place. I see yellow in your future. :)
Holly
There is a difference between only saying nice things and constructive criticism. I think a taller mirror would look much better but I am not going to say "What a hideous mirror, you have terrible taste", because that is not constructive, but I will say I think a taller mirror would be much better for filling out that corner a little and balancing the sunburst mirror.
And I like all the stuff out on display (lotion, bags etc.) - if you're gonna have it out, at least have it arranged in a vaguely pleasing manner if you don't have the storage to hide it all. Which leads me to ask - please tell me you do have a closet and it's just not pictured?
Hi, great job with the headboard. Can you please tell us how you decided to attach it? Did you stand it up, attach to the bed frame (if so did you still need legs)? Thanks!
You have a really good eye. I ADORE those lamps, and will have to check out the shades next time IÂ’m at Target. The floral sheets are a nice touch. And I love the birds you painted above the bed. All very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.
holly- I'm totally with you on the yellow (as well as on the patterned curtain), glad to hear you agree. I have been looking for shams with a great pattern in yellow-as the sheets already have a bit in them. Would love for Dwell to make the Trellis pattern in butter...anybody know of another good option?
ann- I do have closets, 2 actually-but at the moment they have awful luan doors-which I couldn't bear to photograph. After I paint/replace them, I think the mirror will get hung on one of the closets.
elevenhounds-the sheets are from pottery barn last summer. I've seen them floating around on ebay.
And don't worry all- I'm not taking the few cattier comments to heart. I think uncharitable thoughts about some of the rooms I see on AT sometimes. Whatever I lose out on not being able to buy Kiehl's lotions and overpriced designer furniture at this point in my life, I make up for knowing that I own my house and I'm happy in it.
While I love AT, this isn't Elle Decor (though Simon and sweetie-darling Edina could give that Margaret Russell a run for her money). Some of us are making the most of what we have and looking for a little inspiration, and others are looking to get their barbs in. Live and let live :) though I'd love to see their bedrooms....
Mariah,
Do you like these from Dwell?
http://www.designpublic.com/shop/dwell/2896
Or these Amber shams from Inhabit?
http://www.designpublic.com/shop/inhabit/4196
Did you see this new ensemble from Dwell? May suit your space.
http://www.designpublic.com/shop/dwell/5979
The "Lava" or "Village" pillowcases from Lena Corwin would look great in your bedroom.
http://lenacorwin.com/shop.php
Holly
kelly wearstler has an amazing oversized trellis ("Imperial Trellis" pattern - I'm not sure if you can get it yellow but that could be really cool.
Here are some fun Marimekkos - I could see you picking up more red or perhaps blue or yellow in a fun print:
http://store.txtlart.com/kuusamared.html
http://store.txtlart.com/ruusunenblue.html
http://store.txtlart.com/stillayellow.html
becky
mariah, i love your room...and your fantastic attitude. if only more people had your good graces. and taste.
Beautiful job on your bedroom--a very calming and relaxing space. Your tight-budget wonders give me hope for when I redo my space. I also really like how you've arranged your toiletries on a tray on your dresser--I've never though of doing it that way.
Cheers,
Mlle Kate
The thing that's so interesting to me about this room is that it really does seem centered on that wonderful persimmon painting. Most of the other objects are, to my mind, not particularly great in themselves, but they've been assembled with such spirit and care that the room feels wonderful.
How relaxing...
wow - i love this place! it's sort of flea-market chic, and reminds me of victoria's bohemian modern in SF (www.sfgirlbybay.com) and lisa's (http://www.birdinthehand.typepad.com/).
Mariah,
I adore the feel of this room. It feels warm, welcoming and lived in. Thanks for sharing.
Love the sheets. Where did you find them?
oh my god! people here are out of control! one poster monopolizes like every thread, making three or four comments on each post!! it's like the dinner guest who won't shut up!
and mariah, why are you even defending yourself to anyone?? why acknowledge them! just plow ahead! You're right-- home ownership is great and you are very lucky to own, especially in the DC market!!! Congratulations - that blue is the key to my happiness, and also apparently Granny Sanford's!!!
Your room is very pretty & charming....and has this cool feminine and vintagey vibe. My living room is the same colour & I love it.
I like your response to the cattier comments--I think that those making them need to remember that real people live in HOMES not on the pages of design magazine pages....anyways, good job on everything!!
the lamps are fantastic! i am so envious of that find, ideal lamps (for oneself) for cheap are almost entirely impossible.
also, love the headboard and the side tables. the tables in particular look so great! that curve is lovely.
congratulations!
(and great choice of wall color!)