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Making a Royal Statement – Traditional Style with a Twist for the Bedroom

Friday, February 5th, 2010

 

Your home is your castle, no matter if it is a cozy cottage size or a many-room mansion. But you can give the rooms of your home a traditional style with a twist. While traditional style might look all the same, there can be some subtle and not so subtle differences between one traditional sub style and another. Queen Anne, for example, typically stands closer to the floor and has an overall delicate, feminine appearance with its curvilinear forms, of which the most recognizable is the cabriole leg.

 

While Louis Philippe is another traditional sub style, it is diametrically opposite to Queen Anne style. Lines are rounded rather curved and furnishings tend to have a squared-off look. Victorian style is actually quite eclectic, due to the extent of the British Empire and the ensuing influences it had on social trends and interior design. Today, we will be discussing how to design a bedroom fit for royalty. It’s not just about selecting furniture styles with royal names; it’s also about creating a richly textured environment with the right colors, a mixture of luxurious fabrics and regal accessorizing.

 

Queen Anne

 

Woods commonly used to make Queen Anne bedroom furniture were walnut, maple and cherry. The rich glowing cherry finish of the American Drew Cherry Grove Low Poster Bed is in keeping with the spirit of this style as is the decorative detailing that includes a broken pediment headboard, carved accents and reeded posts.

 

For a traditional style bedroom to have a royal feel, bedroom furniture should be formal and imposing. With its delicate fluted pilasters, regal height and liberal use of decorative molding, the American Drew Cherry Grove TV/Wardrobe Armoire will be an ideal choice for preserving the mood of the room while indulging in modern conveniences.

 

The American Drew Cherry Grove Highboy Complete Chest is perfectly demonstrates the grace and elegance of Queen Anne furniture.

 

Another aspect of making a royal statement in the bedroom is indulgence. Adding the Skyline Queen Anne Tufted Storage Bench or the Powell Jamestown Landing Wood Makeup Vanity Table with Mirror will give you someplace to pamper yourself in style.

 

Victorian

 

Victorian style can refer generally to furniture made in the second half of the nineteenth century including the beginning of the twentieth. More specifically it refers to furniture produced during Queen Victoria’s reign, from 1887 to 1901. For the first time, furniture was mass-produced, so it became relatively easy to craft pieces with elaborate and lavish embellishments and decorative detail. Since the British Empire during Queen Victoria’s lifetime spanned several continents, furniture designs were greatly influenced by a variety of Middle Eastern and Asian cross-cultural currents, making Victorian style an amalgamation of many styles.

 

The Lexington Barclay Square Blakeney Poster Bed with Optional Canopy will definitely make you feel like royalty. The finish is luxurious, adding definition to the profiles of the bed and enhancing the “formal” yet elegant appearance of the posts.

 

Victorian style is also characterized by heavy furniture pieces with unusual details. Even a royal bedroom needs to be functional. While the Lexington Barclay Square Winslow Nightstand is an ideal place to keep useful items like a bedside lamp by the bed, the “flattened ball” shape of the turned legs combined with blunt arrow feet gives this night table a unique profile.

 

An accent chair, especially in a traditional style master bedroom, gives the room that special stately finishing touch. The remarkable pattern of the Ultimate Accents “Paul” Python Chair is distinction enough, and then the brass accents and shell motif make it truly Victorian.

 

Louis Philippe

 

For those with more “modern” sensibilities but still would like to make a royal statement when decorating the bedroom, Louis Philippe, while still traditional is markedly different from both Queen Anne and Victorian. This style typically possesses much less ornamentation than many other traditional styles. The Stanley Furniture Translation Cherry Low Profile Sleigh Bed incorporates traditional Louis Philippe elements like bracket feet and shaped moldings.

 

 

Both the Stanley Furniture Translation Cherry Door Chest and the Stanley Furniture Translation Cherry TV/Wardrobe Armoire display other common traits of Louis Philippe style and that are paneled doors and the artistic use of veneers.

 

Protect your jewelry in royal style with the Powell Louis Philippe Marquis Cherry Jewelry Armoire. The lines of this jewelry armoire are strictly Louis Philippe while the distinctive antiqued drawer pulls add visual interest.

 

For the ultimate in luxury why not have both a mirror and a jewelry armoire? The Powell Louis Philippe Cheval Jewelry Wardrobe is very multifunctional, which is important for a bedroom environment.

 

Nothing says luxury like including an electric fireplace into a regal bedroom interior design. The Classic Flame Scottsdale Antique Mahogany Electric Fireplace with Black Granite Top displays another characteristic Louis Philippe design element. Like using veneers for decorative detail, stone, especially marble, was used to give texture to a furniture piece.

 

No matter what style you choose for the master bedroom in your castle, the bedroom furnishings should be grand in scale, with a stately or regal presence. Bedroom furniture like a four poster bed or a canopy bed will make you feel like royalty.

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DIY Headboard and Other Options

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Headboard1

“Make Upholstered Headboard” was first posted by my predecessor, Nicolette the Design Diva, on July 7th, 2009. After reading the blog entry, Sandra Barton made her own headboard and she recently sent me the pictures to show other Furniture and Design Ideas readers that it’s not too difficult.

Sandra writes:

Hi Heather,

Headboard2

Here are some pictures of the headboard. The instructions were great. I did add some coordinating upholstered buttons to give it a more tailored look – I measured and drilled holes in the back of the plywood and then used quadrupled button thread to pull it tight. All in all, this cost me about $100 to make.  The most expensive supply was the foam.

Thanks so much … Love your blog!

Sandra Barton

Thanks for the kind words, and thank you for sharing this with us Sandra – your upholstered headboard turned out great. It’s always good to hear from readers and even better when they send pics!

If you’re DIY-ing your headboard, then like Sandra, you already know how you want it to look. But what if you’re not DIY inclined? Here are some tips on how to get the headboard you really want.

The bed or headboard, like the Fashion Bed Group Dunhill Wood Headboard, is the automatic focal point of the room. Consider what kind of “statement” you would like the headboard to make. After all, when you (or someone else) enter the room, it will be the first thing you see. Do you want it to be imposing? The old headboard was made of wood: do you want your new headboard to be upholstered or to be made of metal? Would you like the look of a traditional poster bed but don’t want a footboard?

When purchasing a headboard for a room that has already been furnished, you will want to match the headboard to the bedroom’s existing décor. This means it should be the same color and/or style as your bedroom furniture and should blend with the other color elements in the room such the walls or the curtains.

The most obvious requirement when selecting a headboard for your bedroom is that, if you already have a bed frame and don’t intend on replacing the mattress/foundation (box spring), then the headboard size will have to match the mattress size.

But there are other things to consider as well. If you are in the habit of reading in bed, you may want the added comfort an upholstered headboard will provide or the convenience of additional storage a bookcase headboard offers.

Don’t forget height. Especially if you are selecting a headboard for a bed that has a plush or thick mattress, you will want the headboard to be tall enough to be seen. Buying high or tall headboards or pairing one with a low-profile type of bed can be useful when you want to showcase a specific type of material, such as a leather headboard, or a modern metal headboard like the Fashion Bed Group Brooklyn Metal Headboard with a unique design. As you can see in Sandra’s second picture, the height of her upholstered headboard really makes the bed “pop,” a combination of how tall the headboard is and the fabric she chose.

When buying a headboard, also give some thought to how it will work with your current bed or bed frame. Some bed frames are independently freestanding, but most are designed to be mounted on a wall, like an upholstered headboard. Don’t panic! If you have purchased a headboard that ends up not playing nice with the bed frame you already own or just bought, you can always secure it to the wall and place the bed in front of it.

Thanks again Sandra for sharing your DIY upholstered headboard with us. For those of us who can’t find the time to DIY, Cymax Stores is offering 10% off Skyline Furniture headboards, including upholstered headboards. Should you like to take advantage of these savings, use the coupon code SKY10 at checkout.

To view other entries in the “Design Files Of Heather B.” series, click here.

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One Bed, Three Looks – Product Spotlight

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Modern style bedroom furniture is often instantly associated with metal, high tech plastics and glass. When wood is used as a construction material, it is typically bleached and lighter in color. But the Global Furniture USA Soho Bed, even with its lightly distressed dark wood finish, is definitely modern in style and design. The headboard panels that extend out over the built-in nightstands actually flip up and include night lights. Talk about form is function!

Décor Option #1 – Neutrals

Neutral Palette

With the Global Furniture USA Soho Bed as the bedroom’s focal point, choose an earth toned color palette (all colors are by Behr) for the wall color.

Once the walls have been painted with any one of these shades, dress the bed with bedding to match. The Nygard Home Soho 10 Piece Bed In A Bag Set includes a comforter with a quilt weave that is beautifully textured.

The Brink & Campman Area Rugs- Luna Collection Fields 91801 brings each one of the neutral/earth tones in the bedroom together. In keeping with modern style design attributes, the pattern of the area rug is geometric but not uniform.

Décor Option #2 – Neutrals with an Accent Color

Neutral Palette2Neutral Palette3

The Global Furniture USA Soho Bed is very versatile. The textured veneer end panels of the headboard created visual interest. Placing the platform bed in a neutral toned room against an accent wall will really draw the eye naturally toward the bed.

The neutral shades chosen for this palette are cool or blue toned neutrals. Use the lighter color on three of the bedroom’s walls; the darker one as the accent color.

The Manor Hill Plaza Mini Duvet Cover Set can be matched to any of the above color combinations.

The Brink & Campman Area Rugs- Himali Collection Shade 94508 definitely complements the bedding, adding yet another dimension to the room.

Décor Option #3 – Neutrals with Bold Accessories

Neutral Palette4

Using whites as the predominate neutral shade, color is brought into the room by selecting bedding and other accessories, such as an area rug, that are bright and bold.

The Mystic Valley Traders Profiles Plum Bedding Set has tones that appear in the area rug.

The asymmetrical pattern of the Brink & Campman Area Rugs- Icon Collection Confetti 772501 is totally in accordance with modern interior décor.

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Decorating with Benches

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Who sits on an indoor bench or even an outdoor bench for an extended period of time? Because benches are designed to be used as temporary seating, you might think they’re not worth the expense. However, the versatility of an interior bench just may surprise you. As an accent furniture piece, it can be adapted to virtually any room. While it might be unusual to spend an extended period of time seated on a bench, having one or two (or even three) in your home can definitely improve the room’s interior design, making the space more practical and functional. Because benches are so distinctive, from traditional to contemporary, they will even add a sense of style and elegance to any room they are in.

Benches in the Bedroom

The bed bench has been well received by those designing their ideal master bedroom as a convenient spot for putting on shoes, setting down a purse, or depositing a stack of laundry until it can be stashed away. Often placed at the foot of the bed, the bench helps define the bed itself, the natural focal point of the room’s design. Bed benches like the Tommy Bahama Home Island Estate Plantain Bed Bench, which are typically backless, have taken on an identity as a hallmark of upscale traditional décor bedrooms.

Particularly if there is a shortage of cupboard space or the bedroom is smaller in size, consider a bedroom bench that includes storage. The Prepac Fremont Espresso Cubbie Storage Bench, with open storage spaces and a seating surface, is a very popular choice.

The Coaster Danielle Leather Storage Bench at the end of a bed in a master bedroom or guest bedroom is a practical yet decorative way to disguise clutter. It is also a great place to store extra blankets or pillows whether for yourself or a guest.

Benches in the Hallway or Foyer

An entry way bench, like the Southern Enterprises Storage Seat Bench makes the foyer or the entrance of your home welcoming, a symbolic gesture to come in and sit down. Many types of hallway of foyer benches include cubbies, lift-top storage and baskets or shelves. A storage bench is an ideal place to store footwear and outdoor accessories.

For families and those that have a larger entryway, a rectangular and longer bench will be ideal. The ability to locate such a bench like the Stanley Furniture Sunset Key Nautilus Maple Shell Bench adjacent to your foyer closet is a desirable layout option as it provides symmetry to the area and provides a visual aesthetic quality with established appeal.

A hall tree coatrack is a functional furniture piece that include useful features like hooks, hidden storage and sometimes even mirrors. The Home Styles Furniture Full Hall Tree Storage Bench is a great example of how much storage capacity a hall tree coatrack bench can have.

Benches in the Kitchen or Dining Room

Bench seating with backs can be used to create a breakfast nook.

A backless bench placed underneath a window can be used as a window seat in addition to providing seating at the dining table.

The Hillsdale Verona 6-Piece Rectangle Dining Set mixes dining chairs with a bench adding another dimension to the dining table and creating visual interest.

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Amish Interior Decorating – The Bedroom

Friday, January 15th, 2010

When the Amish first came to the United States, they settled in Pennsylvania. Today Amish settlements can be found in all across the US. However, no matter where the Amish settled, the location of their communities had one thing in common; they were surrounded by forests, a readily available source for the furniture the Amish have become renowned for. Traditionally, Amish furniture was fashioned from white or red oak that was plain sawn or quarter sawn. But with the establishment of communities in other regions of the country, woods including cherry, maple, hickory and walnut are also used.

Due to their beliefs, although some methods involving modern technology are allowed, Amish bedroom furniture is mostly handcrafted, using traditional woodworking techniques such as chiseled mortises, tongue and groove joints and dovetail joinery. Great attention is paid to utilizing the grain of each piece of wood to its best advantage. Lines are simple, with a refined rustic feel. For this reason, Amish interior decorating is particularly effective in a bedroom where the whole point of the design plan is to create a tranquil atmosphere.

You don’t have to go searching for genuine Amish furniture to attain the desired look. It’s easy to create an Amish décor by choosing solid furnishings with clean lines, square or “boxy” profiles and a handcrafted appearance. Amish furniture typically incorporates several styles including Mission and Shaker, styles that again are known for simple lines, traditional woodworking techniques and being well-made and durable.

Amish Palette

Don’t fall for the decorating myth that Amish interior decorating lacks color. Not so. Take inspiration from an Amish quilt and use heritage colors like softer blues and grays, gentle creams, sage greens and earth tones. Heritage colors are ones that are technically made from natural pigments. They are generally more expensive and can be harder to find. However many paint manufacturers, like Sherwin Williams, offer shades that closely mimic heritage ones.

Draw the eye into the center of the room with the Linon Mission Bay Queen Bed. Decorative detail is uncomplicated, but the closed slat design of the headboard and footboard gives the bed a handcrafted feel. Its profile, with the emphasis on simplicity, is actually soothing.

Because Amish furniture is crafted from timber that was milled mostly without the benefit of modern technology, it tends to be solid and oversized. The antiqued drawer pulls and handles of the Tradewins Mission 12 Drawer Dresser have a vintage design.

Especially when designing an American country, mission, Shaker or Amish style bedroom, an armoire, like the Brook Hollow TV Armoire in Dark Oak instantly lends the décor a vintage or heirloom look.

The focus of Amish interior decorating is on function. When accessorizing your Amish style bedroom, don’t forget items like baskets, pictures depicting simple country scenes and table lamps and bedside lamps with rustic or antiqued metalwork. Since quilts are an integral part of Amish culture, add one to your bed and buy a blanket chest to store it in or a quilt rack to display it in style.

Next week in part two of this Amish Interior Decorating mini series, we’ll explore ways to give a living room an Amish style makeover.

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Rethinking the Modern Metal Bed

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Bed with Frame

Metal beds are very common, but a modern style bed made of metal possesses a unique contemporary beauty. They typically have clean, uncluttered lines and a sleek appearance. Since the bed sets the tone of the room, it’s important to get it right when you are decorating the one room in your home that is also a sanctuary after a long day.

Not Just One Style

Gabriel Full Metal Bed

At first glance, it might seem that modern is well…modern. It is characterized by clean, streamlined lines, architectural forms and the use of geometric shapes and asymmetrical profiles. But modern metal beds come in a range of styles and designs that are as individual as the person looking to buy one.

Because of their minimalist nature and construction material, modern metal platform beds that have highly polished finishes can be visually striking and have a dramatic impact on the room’s interior design. When the welded joints of a metal platform bed made of heavy gauge tubing are exposed and finished with brushed nickel finish, it can have a distinctly industrial feel. Metal platform beds in a modern style that has either both a headboard and footboard or just a headboard sometimes have the appearance of artwork, because of stylized profiles and metalwork accents.

Sleigh beds are typically associated with traditional style than they are with modern. But many manufacturers use the graceful, curvy profile as a jumping off point for their own modern interpretation of the classic sleigh bed. A metal sleigh bed commands attention. Subtle with style and sophistication, it pairs rolling curves with linear lines to create an updated look that is both adaptable and versatile.

Matching a low-profile metal bed with tall posts creates the illusion of grand scale, without sacrificing precious space. This kind of modern poster bed is very contemporary, because clean lines are emphasized by the metallic finish for a look that is distinctive yet restful.

Modern Metal Bed Construction

American Drew Camden Black Metal Bed

A wide range of ores and elements are used to make modern metal beds. When two or more elements are combined together, it is called an alloy. Tubular steel is a common construction material for metal beds. A metal bed made of tubular steel is lighter than one made of standard or premium iron, but can be just as strong and durable, depending on the gauge of tubular steel used to make the bed.

Modern metal beds crafted from iron are strong and long lasting. Typically, the frame will be made of iron, but if the bed includes any spindles and/or straight bars, they are constructed from some kind of heavy gauge steel. Decorative accents, such the bars to connect finials to the bed posts, finials and metelwork elements are often made of cast iron. A well-made cast iron bed will last for decades. Most modern style metal beds are made of one type of alloy or another.

Buying Tips and Decorating Ideas

14 piece bedding set

When a modern metal bed with a distinct design is perfectly matched to the bedding as well as the bedroom’s overall décor, it creates a bold new look that has an edgy, cosmopolitan appeal.

Metal beds can look trendy, stark or elegant. Decide on the look you want to achieve before making a final purchase.

Modern metal beds often conjure up the image of sharp edges, stark lines and cold finishes. Don’t let appearances fool you. A metal bed with a unique design is the essence of cool. And it’s comfortable too.

Decorating a room modern style room and furnishing it with a metal bed is an economical way to go. Even high-end ones are generally more affordable than their counterparts made of wood.

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Contemporary Style that’s Black and White

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Etagere in Carbon Black

Decorating a room in contemporary style is a good choice when a traditional style living space makes you feel like you can’t relax and modernism has the same effect, but a different reason – it appears cold or bare to you. But what is contemporary style? Contemporary style and modernism are often mistaken one for the other or the terms are used as synonyms to describe just one style. As discussed earlier this month in my mini series on modern interior design, modernism has virtually no decorative detail; lines are angular; and profiles are typically geometric but just as often asymmetrical. While both contemporary and modern emphasize geometric forms and clean lines, contemporary furnishings incorporate decorative detail and profiles are more relaxed and tapered or curved rather than angular.

Today, we will design a bedroom, living room and dining room starting with what might easily be described as a typical modern color palette of strict neutrals – gentle beiges, well-defined grays or pearl whites but pairing it with black and white furniture. At first glance, it might appear too simple, but even though the lines and profiles of these pieces could be called modern, the look is definitively what I like to call urban contemporary. Urban contemporary furniture is ideal for apartments or condos because furnishing tend to be smaller in scale. And it’s all in the details; a mix of wood and metal paired with black and white for a look that is sophisticated yet truly comfortable.

The Urban Contemporary Bedroom

Black Bed

The Lexington Black Ice Graphite Panel Bed 5 Piece Bedroom Set in Carbon Black is perfectly suited to an apartment or condo bedroom. The platform bed, even though it stands low to the floor, is visually impressive because of its tall leather headboard with a sleekly polished nailhead trim. It actually makes the room feel larger. The metal decorative detail of the headboard is reinvented in the hardware used for the dresser, chest of drawers and nightstand. Look closely – the drawer pulls resembles filing cabinet hardware, giving these case goods a unique appearance.

Since the furniture is predominately black, we want to bring white into the room for contrast. Shag area rugs are making a comeback. A large white one will provide plenty of contrast as well as a cushy place for toes. Select bedside table lamps with a polished silver metal base and white shades. Tie the furniture in with the floor covering by choosing black and white bedding. Personalize this room with the accessories and finishing touches that are right for you and you will have created a bedroom a contemporary urban flair that will be a comforting as it is esthetically appealing.

The Urban Contemporary Living Room

Carbon Black

Urban contemporary is also exclusively suited to the open concept design that is becoming so popular in today’s living spaces when the living merges into the dining area and the boundary of the kitchen might be defined by a breakfast bar or counter. I like the crisp look and feel of the Lexington Black Ice Sapphire Leather Sofa in White and the spectacular effect it has in the room when it is matched with the Lexington Black Ice Tungsten End Table in Carbon Black. Although it doesn’t provide such a dramatic contrast as the silver nailhead trim on black, the metal accents lend this leather sofa a chic designer look. As mentioned above, it’s all in the details, and the tabletop’s polished silver inlay is proof positive. Brushed metal, highly polished metal or glass accents are a common characteristic of urban contemporary style.

The Urban Contemporary Dining Room

7 Piece Dining Table

The Lexington Black Ice Platinum Dining Table  7  Piece Dining Set in Carbon Black is everything you want dining furniture to be – practical, functional, comfortable and beautiful to look at. The china cabinet has beveled glass doors with a chic “X” groove for that perfect stylish touch. The dining chairs are leather with tapered backs and legs and backrests that have silver nailhead trim. This tabletop also has a silver inlay, while the reflective surfaces of the table legs add another dimension to this urban contemporary design.

The emphasis of urban contemporary is on functional furniture that is cleverly disguised as chic and contemporary. The result is furnishings that reflect an urban lifestyle that demands flexibility and practicality with a metropolitan flair.

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Cottage Country Bedroom Teen Style

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Country cottage style is perfect for a girl teen’s room because it has a cozy, comfortable and welcoming appearance. Floral patterned fabrics; carpets or area rugs made of wool with a hand-woven look; and window treatments with a valance and tie-backs will give a teen’s bedroom a vintage feel that is bright yet refreshing. Furniture is made of pine or oak with natural or white-washed finishes. The mood of a country cottage style bedroom is relaxed and lived-in. 

Contentment Slat Bed in White

Her bed is not just a bed – as well as a place to sleep, it will be the place she flops down after a rough day at school; curls up to have a good gossip with her BFF; and stretches out to listen to music and just veg. Now that she’s getting older, give her more space and upgrade the old twin size bed to a new full size bed. The slatted headboard and footboard combined with a white, distressed finish, decorative molding and round finials lend this bed a country cottage chic that is timeless and charming.

Quoizel Satin Lace Table Lamp

Choose a nightstand that will have plenty of storage; one that has either all drawers or a combination of drawers and shelves. This will give your daughter a place to tuck away her diary, a favorite book, fashion magazines, tissues and those other important items that are necessary to keep close by the bed. Add old fashioned style lamps that will shed a little enchantment as well as a little light.

Barrister Bookcase Set

Nothing says cottage country like larger-sized furniture pieces such as a wardrobe armoire or a barrister bookcase. Putting the bookshelves behind glass adds another element of style to your teen’s room. It also gives her the option of using it for more than just books; she can showoff her trophies and other collectibles without having to worry about them collecting dust. If you’re decorating a smaller-sized bedroom and an armoire or barrister bookcase sounds appealing, you should be able to find scaled-down versions that will fit your country cottage interior design plan.

Vanity Table Set with Mirror

She’s a teenage girl. Giving her a place to do most of her primping will (maybe) cut down on the amount of time she occupies the bathroom. A makeup vanity provides the perfect solution. This particular vanity is ideal for our cottage country teen bedroom because of the hand painted floral design and the photograph panels on either side of the mirror.

It’s fairly simple to create a cottage country style bedroom for your teen that will last her straight through to her college years. Remember to choose lighter colors such as lemon yellows, pale greens, gentle blues and soft pinks. Don’t be afraid to mix materials: wood furniture, wicker storage baskets, bamboo hamper, brass or bronze picture frames. Accessorize with vintage accents like jugs, galvanized buckets and a cheval mirror. The final result will be a bedroom that your teen might even let you enter from time to time.

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In an English Country Bedroom

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Wyndham Cherry Sleigh Bed

English country, like many interior decorating styles, has several distinctive sub styles. English country takes on different faces to reflect the different types of English country homes, from the imposing manor to the cozy cottage. When decorating your bedroom in English country style, first decide if you want to achieve the more formal look of a country manor or the pastoral charm of a country cottage. But no matter which sub style you choose, the emphasis of English country interior design is on bringing the tranquil elements of an English garden indoors.

The Formal English Country Bedroom

Homelegance Madison Country Distressed Cherry Panel Bed

To attain the English country look that would be found in a country manor choose a darker color palette for the walls, floor and window treatments. Cover the walls in true English country style with a combination of floral or striped wallpaper and paint in jewel colors like jades, heritage pinks, wine shades, deep rose or periwinkle blue. For a more formal English country décor, autumnal colors would work as well. Another option for the walls is to start with wallpaper or paint and pair it with dark wood paneling. If wood paneling doesn’t fit your decorating budget, paper or paint the walls but add a chair rail for visual interest.

Use a mix of floral and striped patterns in heavier materials, such as velvets, for the curtains and any bedside table coverings you might use. Area rugs should be thick and plush, richly patterned and in deeper shades of reds, browns and blues, Persian or Oriental in style. Throws and accent pillows like bolsters and neck rolls should have tassels. Bedding is a mix of floral, stripes and solid colors. If floral patterns aren’t to your personal taste, choose a bedding set that has a textured pattern such as diamond or scroll motif.

American Drew Cherry Grove Low Poster Bed

Furniture is made of medium to dark woods like cherry, oak and mahogany. Finishes are medium to dark as well, with matte, distressed or softly polished finishes. The bed should be the focal point of the room; typically an impressive four poster bed. If the ceiling of your bedroom won’t accommodate tall posts, select a bed with shorter posts. Another viable choice for a formal English country style room is the sleigh bed.

While looking as though it is fit for a country mansion, the bedroom furnishings still should possess a country charm with classical decorative detailing such as fluted posts, curved moldings and blunt arrow or bun feet. Lines and profiles of dressers, nightstands and armoires, should be curvy and fluid. Not as stylized or “busy” as traditional furniture, English country is still formal but outlines are more relaxed with softer shapes. When adding seating such as an armchair or bed bench, again toile or floral patterns would come into play and the seating areas and the arms of the chair would be overstuffed.

Pulaski Beckenham Collection Poster Bed with Leaf Carving

Accessorizing the formal English country bedroom is an exercise in “more is more” but in a way that avoids the space from appearing cramped and cluttered. Jugs of flowers are a must. Include china figurines, knickknacks and other collectibles that have a pastoral theme. Picture frames are of different shapes like oval, square and rectangular with intricate decoration.

The Informal English Country Bedroom

Hillsdale Wilshire Antique White Post Bed

For an English country look that would be found in a cozy English country cottage choose lighter colors for the walls, pastel yellows, greens, mauves, sky blues and pinks. Stenciling is a popular decorative accent for both the walls and furnishings. Wallpaper in a small floral pattern such as rosebuds or forget-me-nots would be most suitable. Wallpaper or a paint color paired with wood paneling is also appropriate, but the paneling would have a lighter wood or washed finish.

Use a mix of floral and striped patterns in chintz, wool or cotton for drapes, bedding and accent pillows. Area rugs should have a comfortable, woven appearance. If you decide to use a Persian or Oriental rug, select one in lighter or pastel colors. Again, as in our more formal English county interior design, bedding will be a mix of floral, stripes and solid colors.

Hillsdale Cherie White Metal Bed

While English country furniture is generally made of wood in lighter finishes such as white or pine, a bed made of brass or a metal bed with a white finish would not be out of place. Anything that will make the room feel welcoming and lived in will work to create the desired overall effect.

American Drew Camden White TV Wardrobe Armoire

For an authentic look furnishings should include at least one of the following: an armoire, a hand-painted chest or an over-stuffed bed bench.

Select a bedding set with as many different textures as possible such as accent pillows in plaids, wools and stripes and a quilted comforter. Accessorize with personal touches. Include artwork with an English countryside theme or small “samplers” of embroidered English proverbs or sayings.

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That Certain Style of Bedding

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

When decorating the rooms of our homes, we choose a specific style like country, contemporary, transitional or traditional. Regardless of the style we have chosen for our homes, what about applying the same principle to the bedding we select? Since each style evokes a very distinctive mood, you can change the look and style of your bed as your frame of mind dictates, much more easily than you can buy new furniture and repaint the walls. Particularly now that we are heading into the winter months, making the bed as cozy and inviting as possible is a great way to cut down your heating bill while giving your bedroom a little makeover.

 Country Style Bedding

 Laura Ashley Glenmore Comforter Set

The style most closely associated with warmth and comfort, country style says “homey” and “welcome.” The appeal of dressing a bed in country style bedding is its ultimate charm. Pillow shams and bed skirts will have ruffles more often than not. The materials of choice for sheets are cottons, linens and natural fiber blends, while wool is popular for throws and blankets. Ginghams, plaids, stripes and floral patterns are standard fare for country style bedding. Patchwork designs are a common motif for quilts, comforters and duvets. Top sheets, bed skirts and pillow shams can have scalloped borders for added pastoral charm. The best part of country style bedding is its variety; from the earth tones and bolder shades and patterns of rustic elegance to the pastels and florals of whimsical country cottage, there is sure to be a combination of bed linens that will complement your décor, whether it’s country style or not.

 Contemporary Style Bedding

 Daniadown Vogue Mauve Flat Sheet

Contemporary style is a reflection of the current trends. It’s noted its clean lines, uncomplicated profiles and the use of simple geometric forms. Comforters and duvets with geometric patterns are a familiar theme. Color palettes include neutrals and contrasting colors. Bold colors are often applied as accents and layering textures is a common method of creating visual interest in contemporary style interior design; ideal principles for dressing a bed so that it will be a welcome place to retreat to after a busy day. Pillow shams and bed skirts typically have a tailored or pleated border. Sheets are made from cotton/polyester blends. Contemporary style bedding embraces a range of themes from Asian motifs to landscapes created by utilizing stylized negative space.

 Transitional Style Bedding

 Manor Hill Traditional Jacobean Mini Bedding Set in Spice

Blending elements of traditional and contemporary styles, transitional style has an eclectic look and feel that is sophisticated and trendy yet simple and uncomplicated at the same time. This is largely due its soothing neutral and earth tone palettes, an emphasis on uncluttered detail and a less formal approach to the use of color and shape. Fabrics for bedding are typically a mix natural fibers and blends, from cottons to textured chenilles. Because of its eclectic nature, transitional style bedding possesses a casual elegance that is ideal when mixing and matching with other decorating styles.

 Traditional Style Bedding

 King Super Premium 18-Piece Bedding Set

While traditional style bedding can be stately, formal and downright impressive, it can be very comforting in a bedroom environment, lending the décor a sense of historical tradition and timelessness. Inspired by the fashions, trends and social customs of the past, traditional bedding is rich in its use of color and bold in its design, maximizing classical motifs such as shell, scroll and flora motifs. Bedding fabrics can be as opulent and extraordinary as damasks and silks, but sheets, shams, bed skirts and pillowcases are typically made of cotton with high thread counts. Due to its distinctly ornate appearance, traditional style bedding has a luxurious look and feel that is perfect for keeping the chill of winter away.

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