bedroom updates and inspiration

For the past two weekends, I have been working on painting our bedroom. Weekend one involved patching holes and edging around trim, windows and doors. Yesterday, I did a second coat of edging and one coat of rolling. The walls were a lime green so its going to probably take three coats of rolling. Its been slow going but if I squint my eyes, I can begin to see it as the calm and cozy room I imagine it to be.

I see the space as being primarily white with lots of texture - serene but still interesting. So far I have selected paint colors - Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee for the walls and BM Simply White for the ceiling and trim. We also have installed bamboo shades and have ordered a modern ceiling fan. In terms of furniture, we have two matching nightstands that I plan on refinishing. A bird's eye maple dresser from my parent's house that I love and definitely want to keep. Another high boy style dresser I would like to replace and I have already blogged about dreaming of a new bed. We also have two vintage white lamps and a cowhide rug. Overall its a good base but there is definitely still room for a few more standout pieces. 

I have been looking at images to help get my head around the overall feel and to also show Jeff what I have in mind. 

via Emily Johnston

With this room its the bed that totally sends me swooning. The general feel is really close to what I am after with have an antique bed and everything else being really neutral.

Megan Mullally's house via Elle Decor

In this image its the art. Its simplistic but impactful. I have a few Kevin Russ photographs I plan on hanging in the space maybe in an arrangement similar to this. 

home of Charlotte Tracy design by John Allee and Hannah Childs vis REMODELISTA

Its the lighting that does it for me in this room. Got to have a little bit of brass to warm up all the white. 

East Hampton home of Tom Scheerer via House Beautiful

Finally, I love the mix of styles and scales in this bedroom. Its unexpected but still cohesive. It also masters the blending of the old with the new which is something I really hope to achieve in our space.

our screened in porch

This weekend was absolutely beautiful - tons of sunshine and just a little chilly. And while I wish I could say we spent the whole weekend outside...we did not. Unfortunately, we had lots of errands to run, radiators that needed to be "burped" (more on that later) and a bedroom that I was determined to start painting. I have, however, been thinking a lot about how I want to use our outdoor space specifically our screened in porch. Its a fairly large space so I want to create one area that is more hang out/lounge and one for dining. We have already purchased this Restoration Hardware Belvedere outdoor sofa (I got it at the RH Outlet for an amazing deal) and a really cool vintage rattan and glass table. 

To the lounge area, I want to add two chairs and maybe a side table depending on how large the chairs end up being. I want the porch to have a neutral color palette of white, woods and gray so I am thinking maybe a rattan chair with a white cushion or maybe something more modern like these retired Hogsten chair from Ikea with a sculpted concrete drum table from West Elm.

If we were to go with something like the above for the lounge area, I would want to do a round teak table to tie in the sofa frame and then maybe four white canvas director's chairs to soften the material palette. We also want to put a firewood storage rack out there to keep supplies handy for our wood burning stove. 

directors chairs by Serena & Lily - table by Smith Hawken for Target - wood storage rack by L.L. Bean - firewood carrier by Schoolhouse Electric

Have a good Monday everyone!

dreaming of a new bed

If you have been following THE PLACE HOME then you know I am a bit obsessed with bedrooms specifically beds. Its not a new affinity but one that started when I was a kid. By probably the age of thirteen, I learned that I preferred my bed to have white linens, a down comforter and super soft sheets. I still feel the same way today and although I have adapted somewhat in order to accommodate a man and a dog, I can't see straying too far from these three requirements.

Back while we were in our rental house, this obsession with beds started to grow to include bed frames. Being in a rental, however, kept my desire for a new bed somewhat in check by not wanting to invest in something that wouldn't work in our next home. Now, however, the obsession with bed frames specifically finding just the right one for our master bedroom has really grown into a full blown addiction. After countless hours spent surfing Craigslist, Ebay, Chairish and many other antique online furniture dealers I have narrowed down my specifications to the follow.

1. It must be hand-crafted - I am not trying to be a snob when I make this specification but rather I see this bed as something that we will have forever and I want it to last. A bed is one of the largest pieces of furniture in a house and I think its important that it be well made and that you love it. For this reason, I either want to find an antique that has already stood the test of time or a bed crafted by a skilled carpenter who is committed to creating quality furniture.

2. It should be wood - I think wood bed frames are just so classic and I have a vision for our bedroom of being primarily white with wood tones and lots of layered textures. That being said it needs to be either stained a natural color (not too yellow) or a darker color (not too red). I am not a big fan of mid-tone woods as they tend to be too orange for me - probably walnut would be my ideal.

3. It must be a low four poster - I love a four poster bed (see this post) but after getting our furniture in the bedroom and placing the bed, I think the end posts would be too obtrusive in the room. For this reason, we need a low four poster so that I can have still have the style I want and the bed will be well proportioned in the room.

4. The headboard needs to be approximately 2' - 3' tall - Being that the bed is in front of a window, we need something to lean up against/not fall out the window. Just being practical here. 

5. It must have side rails - The way our stairs switch back into the master, you really see the side of our bed. I currently hate how right now you see our ugly metal bed frame. I also am not a fan of a bed skirts as they just seem to get misaligned and wrinkled. Rails are just part of having a well-made, sturdy bed for me.

6. We somehow need to afford it - Probably the hardest specification as we have lots of expenses right now and a bed is not exactly a needed item. This is why I will continue to search and search and most likely try to find a hidden gem at an estate sale or Craigslist. 

These are my current two favorites.

Gwendoline Spindle Bed by Bradshaw Kirchofer

I have loved the Gwendoline Bed since I came across it last year (see this post and this post). It is has the amazing spindle posts that I love and meets all of my other requirements. 

four poster spool bed by Cottage Woodworkers

This bed is hand crafted out of Canada and I absolutely love its wood tone - not too yellow and not too red. I also really like the shape of its posts. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!