apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

LOVE the doors, very cute...but I think the draped fabric is unnecessary and takes away from the overall look!! also the fabric on the window, a little too little...I'd invest in a nice full set of neutral color ( like a natural linen/cotton) curtains, hung from a substantial ( yet rustic) rod app 6 in from the top of the window frame,even add a panel of sheers underneath to soften the window!!

I've also seen mismatched lamps with matching shades that work really well together- maybe try black shades to pu the detail of the bedding and contrast the lightness of the wall(doors) behind!!...a touch of black in every room can anchor the eye, esp in a predominantly light room...

I love it!

bgball - you are off your nut. Why would you ever cover up that gorgeous view with sheers?!

Abigail - you did a lovely job. Enjoy!

not completely off of it, but thanks...it was just a suggestion, and considering she did cover up one entire window,maybe not that far off!? Anyway the beauty of sheers is that they open and close quite easily -open you see the view, closed the light is softened,magic!!

Wait just a minute... did we lose an entire window with a beautiful view? Do we get explanation for that?

Yes, MissHoneyChurch (Love your movie)

I kind of liked the view too.

Thank you, Mr. Dangerous. Very apropos of this thread too, A Room With a View

Hi Everone!
Thanks for your comments!

I'm totally still looking for great lamps and shades -- The one on the Right is an antique handmade shade, and I can't find anything similar in shape/size. Suggestions welcome!!

BGBALL: I added the sheer over the bed because without something there it looked like a bed in front of a wall - sure its a better wall, but thats not what I had in mind.

Several of you mentioned covering the window -- There's two reasons I covered it up:

First -- its hard to tell from the "before" picture -- but the window isn't beside the bed, the bed overlaps it about half way. A shorter headboard created a wierd "L" shaped window - a tall one covered so much of the window it seemed pointless.

Second- there's a really bright street light outside thats completely anoying at night. But the apartment complex doesn't let us install better blinds to block it out. I also really like the massive installation of doors.

Thanks for all the comments!!

~ Abigail

Abigail, I just think the row of doors looks and acts like a lovely great headboard, and no other accesorizing is needed!!
I think covering the one window helps unify the space giving it more balance, you don't lose much light and frankly, it's abedroom...thats where you sleep, you know, at night in the dark!!!

Ahhh, that explains the covering of the window, except I wonder how the apartment complex doesn't allow darker blinds, but does allow complete covering of the window?

It turned out lovely.

Juliakay--probably b/c blinds would involve installation? I don't know, just a guess.

I remember seeing something in some magazine where the home owners closed in their windows, and people they knew had a cow. I think that it's an oddly placed window, and I think what you did looks good!

Very creative way to deal with the reality that certain apartments are built with windows that look good on the exterior but make no sense from the interior.

I'm also not feeling the swag but for everything else, you're doing a heroic job of trying to give a boxy contemporary apartment some character.

I'm sorry.....DID YOU BOARD OVER A WINDOW???

That makes no sense. Aside from that, lose the awful hanging fabric and switch out the lampshade on the left and I love it!

St@cy --
the window isn't boarded over
The window blind is closed behind the doors (so it looks normal from the outside) and the doors are bolted together and lean against the wall -- if this wasn't an appartment I would probably use earthquake straps to firmly secure the doors.

I could really use help finding a good repacement for the shade you don't like -- I just can't find anything as cool as the shade I have on the right!

~ Abigail

Cever idea! The fabric probably does look a little cluttered, though I understand what you mean about it looking like just a wall. Hmm...I wonder if the "head board" wasn't so wide, maybe removing two to four of the panels? Then the window wouldn't be covered though...
Could the night stands switch places so that the larger one is under the window?

ok probably more than you asked for, hehe.

Still, clever idea, i like it!

the explaination about why you covered the window makes this more appealing to me. I agree that the sheers behind the bed aren't necessary, they don't really make sense. I would probably go for different bedding to complete the look. Since you already have that sort shabby chich thing going with the mismatched lamps, older nightstands and salvaged doors; i think a pretty quilt would look great.

I'm trying to put a finger on what would serve the purpose that the swags are aiming for, which seems to be to soften the room a bit. Changing out the bedding isn't really an option if you just spent what I think you did, and of course you're already planning to find a really good historic lamp store and see if they can help you with the second shade...

--A black ornamental pillow in a less tailored shape as the finishing touch on the bed. Pity that World Market's plush rose pillows don't come in black, as that's otherwise about right. That's to feminize the tailored black trim just a tiny bit and to give you some roundness in a very squared room.

--A crystal (or cut glass) and silver dish or two on the nightstand with the pottery lamp, to carry through the crystal look.

--A delicate little white china jug on the nightstand with the crystal lamp.

--And then you must put flowers in at least one of these containers!

(I really like your approach and can imagine the state of mind in which I would have gone for the swag myself.)

oh! and possibly add coordinating black handles on the nightstands!

I like the idea of the swag, and it didn't bother me at first. Now that I look at it again, it probably would work better if it were lower--at the same height as the swag over the remaining window. And maybe they would both be better if they were a little more substantial.

Maybe, instead of trying to match the swag over the bed to the window one, the bed swag could become more different and dimensional, e.g. more of a canopy over the head of the bed? So, attached to the ceiling in the middle, and then to the wall or doors on the sides.

High marks for creativity!

How about taking down the swag and hanging a small collection of antique keys along the wall above the panels? You could spray paint them black to make a cohesive collection, or choose an odd collection and put them in small black shadow boxes....

I think it looks great. Cozier. And the doors are such a creative way to make the wall look interesting.

Or, what about something like this (seen previously on AT:SF) - http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/pillows-decorative-office-accessories/manimani-clock-041630

This is a VERY clever idea. Your bedroom looks very restful--well done!

Nice end result, and great cat! :)

wow, that's kind of hideous.

i like the idea, but i think the resulting look of the headboard is at odds with your own style. When I saw the "during" picture, I thought of a very eclectic, old american schoolroom mixed with french flea market type style, not the soft "pink" (this could be the camera though) style you have. Maybe instead of swag, paint the whole thing a soft pinkish grey and hang a glam mirror in the center door above your bed?

I love your idea and covering the window was a great way to create symmetry in the room and frame out the bed. I think the graphic lines on your duvet are at odds with the swag on the window and the shabby chic doors. Hanging textured drapery panels on either side of the window would be more substantial and help to balance out the door panels. Have you considered mounting wall sconces to the doors panels instead of table lamps? Just drill a hole through the door to hide the cords and plug in behind. Aim for 65 inches off from the floor in either a decorative chandelier scronce if you want to emphasize the shabby chic idea or a swing arm lamp is always classic. Great to free up bedside tables for pretty things and essentials. Just a thought.

Sloppy Looking.