bedroom step 1

I have had the same mish mash of bedroom furniture for probably 10-12 years. A collection of random pieces that were picked up during moves and my days at Crate & Barrel. Nothing matched - and not in one of those cool vintage-y kind of ways - more in one of those, hmm I wonder how she decided to use a buffet table in her bedroom, kind of way.

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I finally decided on a new bedroom scheme and have started to implement my plan - first up was a new, more organized way to store clothes and my "get ready" stuff. And to loose that horrible white furniture!

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I am still on the fence about this bookcase on the left - paint it? stain it? sell it? Dunno yet, but am thinking I may sell it and get a low white lacquer piece. Oh and I'm still testing color chips (peeking out from behind the photo above the bed). Cannot seem to find just the right navy blue...
Say hello to the IKEA Bestå shelf with beautiful white lacquer doors! I love, love, love it!

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Everything is tucked away inside and I was so surprised at how roomy this baby is!! I fit everything from a five drawer dresser, three drawer night stand and all my make up, lotions, potions and more!!! There are a few tweaks I need to make - need lighting and a mirror inside for make up application and such, and I'm not sold on the lamp next to this thing. Maybe a bench with a tall lamp or something... will keep my eyes peeled for something fun.

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But, hey, step #1 is finally done!! Woo Hoo!

navy bedroom

I have a new obsession ... I want a navy bedroom.  I know it's a little dark and masculine, but I think I can 'chick' it up!  A few years ago I was in the Polo Ralph Lauren store on Michigan Avenue where we stumbled into a room that I continue to think about today.  Below is a quick photo I was able to snap (before getting yelled at) of this amazing room.  This is iPhone photo (1st gen) so you can't really pick up the detail, but it was amazing and dramatic and just looked so warm and rich.  The walls were covered in a textured wallpaper in the most deep, dark navy blue - the photos were all in black and white and framed in shiny silver frames - the furniture was a mix wood with of rich leathers in multiple brown tones and mirrored dressers - the lighting was super dramatic.  Loved it.  Loved it.  LOVED IT!

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So, here I am years later and still thinking about that navy bedroom.  I have ordered some paint chips to see if I can find a rich indigo that would work for me.  I already have fluffy down bedding in crisp white, power blue, champagne and chocolate.  I already have the black and white photo theme going, except they are all in black frames - easy fix.  Then there's furniture... 

My bedroom is a miss-mash of crap furniture I've collected over the years out of necessity.  I have grown quite unhappy with it over the years, but it's been very low priority.  Till now I have had major struggle - dark walls + light furniture? - dark walls + dark furniture?  - light walls + dark furniture?  Oh how I have commitment issues... 

I feel like it's time to make a plan.  Start to collect ideas, colors and small objects that will lead to the desired finished project.  I have found some super fabulous examples .. 

Oh and then I read about the calming effects of dark tones.. 

"The deepest most saturated blues recede like the midnight sky and are peaceful and relaxing. In color therapy, where the psychological effects of color are studied, deep blue has been shown to improve our powers of concentration and memory; we tend to become introspective, imagination flourishes and our creative juices flow.

It’s a good color for a library, producing a peaceful ambiance in which to study. Indigo’s relaxing ethereal side is conducive to a bedroom.

Extracted from the leaves of the indigo plant, indigo was one of the most rare and expensive dyes in ancient times."

Oh beautiful blue ... how I love you!

Santa Monica blue

I spent the evening painting my very long living room wall a very rich, jewel toned blue. I love it, but am not sure I love it with the beige color I have on the other walls. I may find a different color for the rest of the room. I think I'll hire someone to do that… lots more trim and doors to tape off. I'm not great with the taping, though this was probably my best effort to date.

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new color scheme

So as I sat watching Sex and the City (the movie) I got inspired to introduce some color to my very beige life. I've been in my condo for three years, it's time to really make it something fun and creative ... like me. ;) Anyhoo.... when Carrie redecorated her apartment, the walls are painted this awesome blue and I'm thinking I might seek that color out and do the long wall in the house that color... That's 29 feet of blue!! But look how amazing it looks in her room...

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I have all of the same coloring of furniture and etc, so I think this would totally work. I don't think I can go as bold to paint my whole room blue, but one big long wall I think might be cool. I'll have to see. I have always liked blue - probably my favorite color - but feel it's kind of "cold" as a color. But I think with moody lighting like in the photo above, it could be amazing and warm. I picked up a slew of paint chips today and will tape them to the wall to see which one suits the room. Ahhh... summer project!

Colorsofsummer

I was surfing some design blogs and found this little complimentary "colors of summer" and thought that would be good inspiration for my room. This is a little more green than blue, but I still think the palette is a good one that would work for my room. Kick up the color a notch! Bye bye beige!