Calm and pretty (and lots of kitties)

I have been working in my bedroom. Gone are the heavy quilts of winter. Gone are the warm-toned, patterned fabrics. Lightness is what I am craving these days... and freshness. I have draped the bed in my antique linen and crocheted cotton coverlet. This is so luxurious to sleep beneath. It has a texture and a terrific weight to it. And it breathes, which is a necessity for me, as I am plagued by night sweats (ugh!), but that is a post for another time. So, my bedroom has embraced its feminine side and is not ashamed to show it! Come take a peek.

The tray of flowers and found jars (from yesterday's post) travels well and took its place on my dresser for a few moments. The antique dresser is painted the same shade as the walls, so it remains unobtrusive. The dresser's curves have always charmed me.

The beloved coverlet. When I bought this, all the linen panels were torn. I replaced them with inserts cut from tablecloths. It was a cheap and easy fix.

Detail of a crochet section. These lenghts of needlework give the piece some weight, which I love.




Max rests in the sun. I can't resist cute kitty pictures! Quilted shams and a matelaisse spread covering the headboard add more texture.

Another dresser shot. I made the corona above the bed from voile curtains and a wooden knitting hoop (not sure it is called) and suspended it from the ceiling. A silk lantern hangs from the center and provides illumination for bedtime reading.

A sparkly chandelier on a dimmer switch adds instant romance.

This is a photo taken by my daughter of an abandonned house. It hangs prominently in my bedroom. I clipped the photo to a wire that is attached on the back of the frame. The frame was originally bright gold, but as you can see, white paint was the way to go. I like the spookiness of the photo with the whimsical presentation.

And here we have Whiskers, Igby, and Kitty, all basking in the morning sun. Aren't they sweet?

For me, it is all about lightening up these days. I am even contemplating losing the floral shams. Which do you prefer on the pillows--- white or floral? My daughter commented that my palette keeps getting paler, and she's right. It is about time... I have waited for so very long to embrace my love of whites. There is no stopping me now!

Until next time...

Anne

An oasis of calm...

Today is the end of my work week, and calm is what I am craving. In order for me to shift into the weekend, a brief time-out is necessary. The house is quiet when I arrive home and sneak off to my bedroom, where I am immersed in comfort, from the linens and quilts covering the bed to the soft cream wall color and pale accessories. Today I share with you some images from this most sacred of places, my personal at-home sanctuary.



This image shows my bed reflected in the ornate mirror of the white-painted dresser I bought many years ago. My bed is layered in soft materials, from the headboard slip-covered in linen to the cotton voile canopy, to the cotton quilt I made last fall. The colors are muted; the patterns, earthy. The top of the dresser illustrates my love of white on cream, with the modern vases serving as mini sculptures and a nice juxtaposition against the classical column capital that functions as a plant pedestal.


This hand painted desk serves as a bedside table, work station for creative projects, and perch for watching the birds. The top right corner of the desk displays the inspiration for the detailing on the desk, a sensitive fern pressed in a floating frame. The green garden chair echos the color scheme and adds a metal element to the ultra-soft room.

This still-life sits atop a camel colored bookcase. The grouping contains a variety of organic elements. There is a terra cotta urn filled with branches, gathered from the woods, that are graced with various white ornaments to form a year-round display. The glass jar holds an assemblage of rocks, twigs, moss, dried flowers and feathers, most of which were also found on my property. Here is one way I use the antlers I mentioned a couple of posts ago, forming a bridge between the larger elements of the display. The votive candle in the center provides soft illumination as darkness falls.


Wishing you some peace as you slide toward your weekend.

Until next time...

Anne