Help In The Bedroom
April 3, 2009 by Puna
Filed under House & Garden
Update: I’m asking Melissa of The Inspired Room to help me. I had great intentions when I wrote this post of remodeling my entire room. I had plenty of great suggestions, but then I was stuck in the land of indecision. Melissa is giving everyone the great opportunity to win a $200 Home Goods gift certificate and I think that would be a great starting point for this bedroom.
What would I do with a $200 gift certificate from Home Goods? I would purchase some lamps and some pillows. I would purchase a new bed coverlet. And a rug…a mirror would be nice too, a tall dressing mirror. The color I’ve settled on is robin’s egg blue, since most people seem to suggest that color. I’m looking for great original art that inspires me so I’m going to leave the space above the headboard blank until I find something.
Thank you for the opportunity to win Melissa. You are definitely an inspiration.
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Dear Julia of Hooked on Houses,
HELP!
Last week Julia was hooked on toile and I should have posted this then. My bedroom is full of it. Toile that it. I love it, it’s very romantic, very French. And after five years, I’m still not tired of it. However…I think I can add a little color. Just a little, maybe a curtain in a different color? And what color?
I know the lamps are odd. Please ignore those.
I have these chairs in the bedroom that we bought from a vendor at a flea market. I love them, but they’re pink. I’ve been meaning to re-cover these for the past 18 years. I don’t think the husband would want any more pink in the room. I don’t think I want any more pink in the room.
We have a tv in our bedroom. There’s a confession. The wallpaper goes all the way around the room. Everywhere.
The curtains are the same toile.
The bed cover is the same toile. Yikes, are you getting dizzy?
So I want to interject another color into the bedroom…and not pink either!
I have this beautiful rug on the floor that I absolutely love. Maybe red? It’s just not very tranquil.
Julia help me please!
I love your wallpaper! What a pretty bedroom. Lots of potential here!
If it were mine, I think I might try adding some turquoise or robin’s egg blue pillows and accessories. I’d hang some solid white curtains to just break up some of the toile, and hang them to the sides of the windows to make the windows look as big as possible. I like the rug, but I think the patterns are competing too much. Add some solid whites and turquoise and it’ll feel more serene. That’s my 2 cents, anyway. What does everyone else think? -Julia
I agree turquiose would be *the* color to use to really break up the black and white toile. I’m really loving turquiose right now. Also, I think recovering the chair would breathe new life into it and make you fall in love with it all over again.
The first color that came to my mind was Blue as well. I would go more towards a robin’s egg blue, but that’s just me. I also like the idea of white curtains and perhaps white based lamps with the same color blue shades.
Oh – I forgot. I would have to say bye bye to the TV or at least put it in a piece of furniture and would nix the rug too.
No no, not the TV!
Yes, robin’s egg blue. Blue is so soothing.
I agree on the blue. I think the addition of some solids would balance the room very nicely. I might even try a blush pink as a solid! Get rid of the curtains and bedding and rug. I think your room will be easy and inexpensive to adjust because it has good bones. Thanks for visiting my blog!
While I love turquoise with black and white toile, The drama of bright cranberry curtains on an outer rod over a sheer white on an inner rod would be lovely. It seems you like the reds as they show up in your rug. Covering the chair in a dark red or bright cranberry velvet would be dramatic – and slightly masculine without losing appeal for you.
I agree with Marci’s suggestion. I like the richness of the cranberry or garnet color plus it will tie in the dark wood furniture nicely too (along with the rug). So that just leaves the chair – cover it in the same rich color and you’re all set, Puna!
I like the idea of the blue others have suggested, but I think red, khaki or yellow could also be used as accents. Would it be possible to reposition your bed under the two windows? It looks like there is a jewelry armoire there now. I would think about adding some simple white drapes on a black rod with those black rings/clips. Then maybe use hot glue and ribbon to trim the curtains in your accent color. I would probably add a white coverlet to the bed, just to give the eye a place to rest – then add pillows in your accent color. Personally, I probably wouldn’t use too much pattern on the accent fabrics or rug, because it would compete with the toile.
I am feeling red, and you could pull some of the blue from the rug. The tv needs to go, or be hidden. A bedroom is a place away from all that a tv brings into your life. Keep the pillows, but go to a sollid covertlet. Put a color behind the sheers if you must keep them. Your lamps can be different, I like to one on the right best, have the shades bring the color into your room, of switch out into a hexagonal type shape. Love th furniture – hate the TV Can;t wait to see the redo photos
And there was an actual toile party too just recently hosted by A Pretty Organized Palace…, you can check it out here via my blog post:
Beach Toile
Well, the link didn’t work for some reason…, this would be the address:
http://www.completely-coastal.com/2009/03/beach-toile.html
Julia was so right about the amazing potential your bedroom has. Adding in a solid color — the robin egg blue would be lovely. Replacing the curtains with a white or blue and just like Julia mentioned, have the panels hang straight down on the outside edges of the window so you get as much light as possible,(and it makes your windows look larger.)
I would suggest some accessories—a few items that you love, and that could also bring in the color. It is nice to have that touch of color throughout the room, — toss pillows, curtains a throw blanket, or a rug.
A few natural elements would surely help in creating a cozy feeling, (a vase of fresh flowers, or some greenery.)
I have all kinds of tips for this kind of room redesign at my blog — maybe you could pick up an idea or two.
Best of luck, please let us know what you did. I would love to see it.
I like the idea of Robin egg blue as well, but what first came to my mind was a golden Yellow. Big Euro shams, a bolster in something coordinating or solid black, a yellow metalaisse (sp?) on the end of the bed. Unswag the curtains and perhaps put some black roman shades, that would give the hubby some extra dark and provide some needed contrast. My 2 cents!
Thanks for visiting me!
Blessings to you.
Your bedroom is lovely. :0) I agree with the others – I think adding blue would be perfect. I also think that I would add white curtains to break up the toile.
Have you seen Rhoda’s blog, Southern Hospitality? She has wonderful blog – she did a bedroom redo that has the same colors, I believe – with some blue/turquoise accents. I bet you could get all kinds of ideas from her. You’ll have to let us know what you decide!
Thanks for checking out my blue posting, and I came on over to see the room for the possible robin’s egg! Unless this is north-facing or in a very cold climate, I have to agree that some gentle aqua/turquoise would look wonderful. But I’m so sorry you’re feeling paralyzed (aren’t we all, for some of our projects?!). Happily, others are suggesting changes in accessories, pillows and so on, and the great thing is, these items can be bought, tried, and returned to the store if you hate them. That, to me at least, is much less scary than getting the paint brushes out!
If I may respectfully pass on a piece of advice I’ve read elsewhere, when introducing a new color to the room, you should use it in at least 3 places so that it doesn’t look like an accident. For example, you would do pillows + lamp + art, or pillows + throw + candles, etc.
From what I can see in the photos, I’d be inclined to agree with the wise Julia that the rug is gorgeous but might do better in a different room of your home.
Perhaps, if the robin’s egg accessories work, you could later think about recovering the pink chair – that would look wonderful. Calico Corners (expensive, I know, but just for ideas) have some options including Orta Aqua, Collette Robin’s Egg, and Cranston Water.
Or, as a gentler place to start, I saw these beautiful Robin’s Egg Soaps which would be a lovely decorative touch.
I love this room! Black and white toile is one of my favorites. This is probably old news, but I like the idea of the turquoise or robin’s egg blue also. Have you changed it up yet? Would love to see a repost after you do.
I’ve tried to post a comment twice and it hasn’t shown up here
Do you have an e-mail address I can send my suggestions to??
Kelly
Hi Kelly, I’m sorry you had trouble but I’m glad you tried again. I have talked and talked to my host since I’ve had a few comments similar to yours and they understand my concern. I just never know who comes or not:) Have a great Canadian day and we’ll talk soon.