I remember when I first began decorating. I always chose the most complicated patterns for my rooms with bold patterns and lot of colors. There’s NOTHING wrong with that, however, it does make it work difficult (but not impossible) to add other fabrics to the room. In fact if I use one of those complex patterns, I try to use no more than one in any particular room.
Over the years, I find myself moving more and more to very simple, and even rustic patterns. I really love a simple stripe or check. I used to find those patterns way to pedestrian, but now I am drawn to their simple elegance.
The reality is there is an elegance to these simple patterns. More and more I appreciate how they are pleasing to the eye, and create a more timeless appeal. I find that I don’t tire of the simple patterns and solids as quickly as I did the complicated patterns. The more complicated patterns often come and go with the trends. So if you want splashy patterns, I think you need to go for it. Just keep in mind that those patterns seem to look dated more quickly. Of course at the end of the day, even if everyone says your fabric is dated, if you like it, then keep it! I learned that lesson the hard way.
Here is the before of this room. Every time I show it on Facebook, someone says it looks like the hospital ward on Downton. That actually cracked me up. I had to agree, but I still liked it!
And here is the after again. Those are the same euro shams, just turned backwards. I may have to add a little lavender ribbon to the dresses!
I found the duvet covers on Pottery Barn Kids, and they were on clearance, so they may be gone by now. They were about 70% off, which was sweet. I just found some lavender euro shams, so I can’t wait to add those to the beds.
If you are wanting to add vintage items to your home, I’ve curated a list of items I think are some of the best. You can find the article at Bali Blinds where I am a paid contributor. BALI BLINDS BLOG – THE BEST VINTAGE ITEMS TO COLLECT
Love, love it Anita….and always love seeing this beautiful room…can’t wait to see those lavender shams.
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
As you know this is one of my all time favorite rooms. Love it all dressed for warmer weather, just so sweet!
Hi Anita,
Love your guest room. What are the frames with the little girls dresses in them? I love the shape.
Thanks for sharing.
Those are from Creative Coop. They only sell wholesale, so you may need to find a retailer.
Please tell me about the little dresses in the darling frames. How can I copy that, or buy it?
I have two adorable little great-granddaughters and I would love to do that with their
darling little special dresses. Can you help me? Thank you.
These are two family dresses and one I bought that it is vintage. I guess you can use dresses your great-granddaughters have worn or buy vintage dresses on ebay or at an antique mall. I hope that helps.
Anita: I have just spent 3 days shopping for pillows for my living room to go with some I made when brighter colors were in vogue but they are beautiful and perfect for spring: a pitcher of tulips: white, some red and yellow on a black background. Well, I FINALLY found great green, gold and natural ones that do the trick. My couch is RED! I now prefer ticking, checks, plaids and feed sack material. I never seem to get tired of those.
I think I have your room on Pinterest and love it!
{{HUGS}}
Joy from theoldefarmhouse.blogspot.com
Your bedroom really does show how well neutrals work as a backdrop for a little pattern, from time to time. Those duvet covers are so pretty!
Anita,
The coverlets are so lovely and add just the right note of spring to the room. Such a happy space… 🙂 And since I’m a little paint-obsessed these days, could you tell me what paint color is on the walls here? It’s one of those great non-color colors. Perfect underpinning for a neutral based room and works so well with the various pops you bring to the room from time to time.
Thanks,
Lory
I love some of your ideas, but it’s not practical for the general run of the population to do what you do. We try to incorporate things into our homes that stand the test of time. We don’t have the luxury of switching out a sofa or table on a whim. I know, when you’re “in the business” you have to play to the magazines, etc. Still, you should just remain true to yourself and what you like. Not many of us have the money to constantly change our decor. Having said that…….I want you to know you were the inspiration behind my daybed cover–I loved your style. Of all the ones I “googled”, yours won out and I made one similar–so thanks. I was sad to read that you had to put all white items in your cabinets for a magazine spread. Why did they make you change when “who you were in the beginning” was what grabbed their attention?
Maggie, this post was about using neutral bedding so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to change your look. The point is if you use a neutral base, then you can totally change the look of the room by changing out a quilt at the end of the bed and putting a throw or blanket there instead. Many of these looks I used a quilt or blanket I already had in my house. One look used a tablecloth wrapped about a duvet for a new look. I used things I already had in my house. The point of the post was how to change the look of a bedroom WITHOUT spending much money WITHOUT replacing big ticket items.
Maggie, yes I am in the ‘business’ and change things out often, but I sell a lot of my old things and that usually pays for the new things. I do remain true to my look. I am not changing things to make others happy, I like to change things for myself.
As for the dishes, I loved the new look with the white dishes. And I sold some of my old dishes to pay for the new ones. I have had many of those dishes for ages and to be honest, I was bored with many of them, and wasn’t using them.
Glad to hear about your daybed cover!!
Anita, I love how the lavender “pops” against the neutral backdrop. I agree, so,easy to change the look when you stick with a basic, neutral palette. Love that lavender for Spring!
Every time I come to this blog, I have an “Ah-ha” moment! lol! Recently you were talking about using neutral colors in your home, and that made so much sense! And the fabrics, maybe that’s why I’ve srtuggled in the past to “bring it all together”…I might have to reconsider some of my choices I’ve recently made. Thank you for posting this:)
Well – if that looks like the hospital ward at Downton Abbey then
I need to get sick !! Love, love, love the room – both the before and after – Can’t wait to see the next incarnation –
I adore gingham checks and stripes too. The lavender colour looks wonderful and is a gorgeous colour addition.
Oh I just love these !
( I laughed out loud at the Downton reference LOL !!! )
Ikea has a smaller check available that I’m going to pick up for MY bed ! )
Love the size of the checks on yours – such a soft country look – so pretty
xxx
Hi Anita, I just wanted to stop in, as I’m catching up through the Scoop, and tell you how fabulous I think your latest projects shared are – the bed covers, the drapes and the grain sacks. They really look terrific. I liked the bedroom (Downton ward, that’s funny) before, and like it even more now, which I didn’t think I could.
Thanks for your part in co-hosting the Scoop each week – it’s a great place to be, and I appreciate you all.
Rita C at Panoply