apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

For some reason this strikes me as a very cool room, I'd love to see something in a nice rich blue. Don't know what your budget is but something like this:

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODr015&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1RUGWIN&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1RUGWIN

would be gorgeous against the b&w in the bedding. I'd like to see more blues and greens in the pillows and rug too, this room seems a bit monochromatic for my tastes.

i agree. it's too monochromatic. add a splash of color to your room with your curtains. if you're on a tight budget, go to ikea or even a fabric store and make something yourself. i would avoid prints and stick with solids here.

since you can't paint your room, you can think about hanging up a big canvas or something to liven it up.

Well, I'm a sucker for lush fabrics and textures, so I'd pick up the reds and golds from your painting and the wood side table, and go with something outrageous like this:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hsh/347260821.html

Since the main colors in the bedroom are black & white you can really do any color that you fancy. I would agree that you should stay away from the prints, but other than that I think any color would work. Maybe pick a color from another room to bring in? Or just pick one of your favorite colors!

Curtains are soooo easy to make and there are so many fun fabric stores in the city like Britex downtown, and Satin Moon on Clement. I guarantee that while wandering through all the bolts of fabric you'll hit on something totally inspiring and 'just right'! Good luck!

I would go with red curtains -- mirror the lipstick on the print. It would definitely add to the room, and if the color is dark enough shouldn't detract from the bedspread/print focal points. So long as you don't have a heater below the window I would also go with full lenght curtains rather than short ones.

Red, yellow or gold to go with the print.

Or, if you're feeling bold, fuschia or hot pink ;-)

I agree with madteaparty - go for red! Add some red throw pillows on the bed, and maybe a shaggy red rug on the floor. Take that lovely picture with you to the store so you can match it exactly (or as close as possible).

Thank you everyone for your awesome comments and suggestions - just another reason why I love AP so much! Much appreciated!!

-Gina

I REALLY like Anne's suggestion for the blue. A solid color, I agree with everyone would be better than a print, but personally I feel blue or hot pick is a more modern choice and that red, black, and white feels very 90's Z Gallerie. That may just be me, though.

Also, sometimes your perfect curtains are hard to find, so I second making them. If you don't sew, you can just iron on stitch witchery (at fabric stores) for a quick hem.

I'd go for luxurious silver satin curtains, long and drapey.

It would balance the light on the right, and seems to go with the artwork style-wise. (Think long flowing evening dresses).

I know you didn't ask for extraneous comments, but you almost have a very nice elegant-classy look developing in your room- the main thing detracting from it is the rustic-looking wood bedside table. Can you paint it, or do you have another option for it?

JG - Any suggestions for painting my side table?? I purchased it at an estate sale for $2 - and then refinished it myself, so I am not attached to the color of it.

For the side table:

Well, you almost have an art deco / moviestar glam style going... (very nice!)

I would say, maybe black and mirrored drawer front! Or you could use flashing or the "stainless steel" Con-tac paper or even silver paint instead of the mirror if it is too hard to deal with actual mirror. Change out the pull for silver or glass.

Like this, for inspiration:
Mirrored console table:
http://www.johnlewis.com/jl_assets/product/230223529.jpg

Or you might be able to work with the wood and do something similar to this style:
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2987/jacquesemileruhlmanndressingta.jpg

For that, add round mirrors over each table. Replace the knob. Add some silver or gold painted dots and painted "inlay".

The parts that are making it look rustic now are the circular joinery end bits (can't quite make them out- the darker bits on the front) and the jagged trim part under the drawer. Maybe you could adjust those parts by strategically putting some of the painted dots there, and maybe cutting/sanding the jagged trim part? An arc would look better than the jagged trim and be more deco.

Some suggestions/directions anyways! Hope they help!

I can't see what the table on the other side of the bed looks like, so I'll leave that to you! :)