Un-Matching the Bedroom

Like many newly-weds, when my husband and I moved into our first home we had a mishmash of furniture hand me downs. Most rooms were almost empty and the few things we did have were nowhere near close to matching.

So when we finally saved enough money to purchase new furniture, we began in the bedroom and were determined to buy a matching set. We started with the bed and two dressers and then over the course of the next two years added the matching bedside table, bench, and mirror one piece at a time. Perfect – or so we thought.

Some would say pretty but it is just not our style (OK, my style) anymore. Truth be told, my husband still likes it. Although the furniture is very good quality, the arts and crafts motif does not fit with the rest of the house and I prefer a more “collected over time” look.

What to do?

My plan is to slowly start un-matching this room. The first item to go will be the bench. I plan to list it on Craigslist and then use the money to purchase a new bench.

Also included in the plan will be moving the bed to my son’s room. At the moment he has only a bedframe, and this style of bed – to me – is more fitting for a boy’s room than for a master bedroom.

Changing out these two pieces of furniture will go a long way to making this room less matchy-matchy. Eventually the mirror, tall dresser, and side table will also be relocated like they were acquired, piece by piece, over a long period of time and as they are found.

The ironic part is how things seem to have come full circle. We began with a mix of styles, went to a matching set and are now going back to a more eclectic look.

So, how about you? Do you prefer a room which looks collected over time or one which is made up of matching pieces? I am interested in hearing your opinion.

The Details - Living Room Redo

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my recently revealed living room redo. I received lots of great questions and decided instead of individual responses I would share the answers with everyone.

Pillow Fabric
The red and white pillow fabric is from Calico Corners and can be found here. It is called Stockholm and is available in several colors. I loved the bold print and Scandinavian feel – the look I was going for in this room.

Curtains
The curtains are also made from Calico Corners fabric. I choose an off-white linen called Jefferson Antique White which can be found here. They are lined with an off-white lining but are not interlined.

The curtains are simple, rectangular panels with drapery pins inserted across the top and hung from rings.

Mirror
The mirror is a floor sample from Ethan Allen.

It was slightly damaged and was a great price. As far as I know it is no longer available.


Paint
It only took one weekend to paint the entire space – of course having a great crew helps! As you see the walls started off red.

To cover up the dark color we used one coat of dry wall primer (a recommendation from the paint store) and two coats of SW Aria Ivory.

Rosmaling Plate and Sewing Box
Both of these painted pieces belonged to my grandmother and are two of my most prized possessions. I am half Norwegian and as such, enjoy having a reminder of my heritage in my home. Both items were created by Enid Grindland – Vesterheim Museum gold medal winner. You can see more of Enid’s work here.

Rosmaling is a style of decorative painting developed in Norway during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Rosmaling literally means "rose painting". This type of painting first appeared on small objects like plates and chests. Later it was used to decorate furniture and eventually the walls and ceilings of homes and even churches. (information from here) There are several different methods of Rosmaling and my plate and sewing box are two distinctive styles.

Marble Top Table
This quirky little table came from the same store as the lamp and orange chairs (in my dining room).

It looks a little French and as if it was made from two different tables. I bought it for its size and uniqueness – of course the marble top table won me over too!

Sofa and Chairs
The sofa and chair set was given to us by my husband’s family. I refinished the frames and then had all three pieces reupholstered. If anyone knows the correct name for this type of furniture I would love to know as I have never been able to find out.

The reason one chair is tan and the sofa and other chair are blue is because this is what the upholsterer told me was “normal” for this type of set. Fifteen years later, I am not so sure this is true, and wish both chairs were done in the same fabric.

So that is the story on my living room. I hope I covered all of your questions. If I forgot to answer yours or you want additional information on something, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am always happy to help!

May Blog of the Month – Pure Style Home

If you have ever wondered what it is like to be a professional designer, then you will absolutely love the RDH May Blog of the Month - Pure Style Home.

Lauren Leiss - an interior designer, wife, and mom to two small (and very cute) boys - shares her real life experiences in the design world as well as in decorating her own home. Lauren’s blog, like her decorating style, is real, genuine, welcoming, and honest. Her designs are a mix of old and new and combine the unexpected in a new and truly fresh way. Needless to say, I am a big fan of her amazing style!

Pure Style Home / Lauren’s House

Pure Style Home / Lauren’s House

Pure Style Home / Pure Style Home Portfolio

I have watched in awe and admiration over the past several months as Lauren has had her blog and home featured in the December 2010 edition of Better Homes and Gardens, began designing her own fabric and furniture lines, created a fabulous room for a showcase house, and finished several projects for clients as well as in her own home. She also has an online store coming soon!

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Lauren’s most recent project is “The Hideaway” in the DC Design House for Children’s Hospital. The picture below shows Lauren sitting in the Mad Hatter Chair which she designed. The Ikat curtains are made from Happikat, a Lauren Leiss Textiles design.

via Things that Inspire

The main focal point of this room is the large Princess and the Pea stacked mattress window seat –the perfect spot for curling up with a good book. Several of the pillows feature Lauren’s fabrics.

This space also showcases Lauren’s signature mix of old – drop leaf table, ceramic green parrots, paintings, and antique desk chair – and new - croc leather parsons desk, glass lamp, floor lamp, and chairs.
 

Besides sharing her latest projects and endeavors, Lauren also offers valuable design advice such as how to create an authentic home, what it really costs to furnish a room, how to begin a project, behind the scenes in interior design, and much, much more!

I hope you will visit Pure Style Home to see for yourself all the incredible things this talented designer has been up to! A big thank you to Lauren for allowing me to feature her work and her blog today!

How to Sew and Attach Welting

Welting is a decorative trim which adds the perfect finishing detail to pillows, cushions, slipcovers and more by accenting the design lines and drawing attention to seam lines. It can be purchased in a variety of colors and sizes but making it yourself is quick and simple.

Supplies
Cording – For this tutorial I used 8/32”
Sewing machine with zipper foot
Matching thread
Scissors
Pins
Needle

Directions
Measure the item around which you will be attaching the welting and add 3 inches. Cut cording to this length. For this tutorial I will be using a 20 x 20 pillow so I cut my cording to 83”.

Cutting Fabric Strips
Professionals recommend cutting the fabric strips which will encase the cording on the bias, meaning on the diagonal of the fabric. Bias cut fabric is more flexible when going around corners and curves. I usually try to use this method, but have to confess I have on occasion - when the fabric is stretchy - cut my fabric straight across and it still worked out fine.

In most cases, one strip of fabric will not be long enough, which means cutting multiple strips. For this example I needed two.

To determine the width of your fabric strips, measure the circumference of your cording and add twice the seam allowance. For my cording, this meant fabric strips which were 1 ¾” wide – ¾” for the circumference of the cording and 1” for the ½” seam allowance.

Cut the number of fabric strips needed to go around your item.

Piecing Fabric Strips
Place two ends of bias cut fabric strips wrong side together as shown below.

Pin and sew along the diagonal using a ½” seam allowance.

Press seam open. Add additional strips using the same technique if needed. Cut your fabric strip a little bit longer than the cording.

If you did not cut your fabric strips on the bias, place two fabric strips, right sides together, at a 90 degree angle as shown below.

Cut on the diagonal and then proceed as above.

Making the welting
Fold the fabric strip around the cording – leave about ¼” of the cording showing out the end – with right sides out and long edges matching. Some people prefer to pin in place and then sew. I find it easier and quicker to just wrap the fabric around the cording – adjusting as I go – while sewing.

When you come to a point where two fabric strips have been joined, make sure the seam is pressed open.

Sew using a zipper foot. I usually do not sew the last few inches of cording to make it easier for attaching the two ends of the cording together.

Attaching Welting
Once your welting is all assembled it is time to attach it. As I mentioned earlier, for this example I am using a pillow. Start on the bottom edge of the pillow or the back edge of the item to which you are attaching the welting.

Pin welting to fabric  - clipping at curves - with unfinished edges aligned on the right side of the fabric.

When you have gone all the way around, cut your cording to exact length needed. You may have to rip out part of the seam of the cording. Leave your fabric about 1” longer than the cording.

Sew ends of cording together using a needle and thread.

Fold fabric back and overlap raw edge of other end of fabric with folded edge. Pin.

Using zipper foot and sewing machine, sew welting to pillow.

Simple, easy and quick! To finish the pillow add a zipper and then back piece of fabric or just the back piece of fabric sewn closed with a needle and thread.