Thursday, June 25, 2009

CONDO2CASTLE: Mix It Up With Your Bedroom Furniture

When I first bought my home, I went out and found a great furniture warehouse and just started saying "I'll take that, I'll take that, I'll take that." You see, I'm typically an impulse buyer, and my first instincts rarely let me down. I furnished my totally empty home on a budget and it's worked out really nicely over the last six years. However, as I've started to really think about my home and what I'm asthetically drawn to, I've realized that my initial instincts no longer fit the bill...especially in my bedroom.

At the time, I hated dark wood and thought it made my house feel smaller - BOY was I wrong! I also felt that in order to look like the home of a grown up, I needed a matching bedroom suite of furniture. WRONG AGAIN!

In order to really have a lovely home, filled with depth and elegance, I now believe that it's even more beautiful to mix it up in the bedroom. Woo woo, that sounded kinda naughty! ; )

Take a look at some of these examples from House Beautiful...see the one thing they have in common? Their bedroom furniture speaks nicely to each other, but isn't matchy matchy!

I'm loving that the room in the pic above doesn't have a nightstand, but rather a unique table and a chair which serves as a bedside table. Notice the bookshelf is painted, the stand is mirrored, and the chair is leather, and yet, the fabrics and art connect the whole look together.

I love the leather otoman, with the silver tea try as a nightstand as well. The nailhead trim and the accessories on top speak nicely to the silk-shirred headboard.

This bedroom is 100% glamour. I REALLY LIKE the his and hers nightstands...the mismatching pieces, yet coordinating lamps really add depth and character.

Finally, this room is heaven! The ornate painted chest (with monogram - TO DIE FOR!), the iron canopy bed, and the bench, all could work in different genres of rooms, however, they JUST WORK along with the couch on the side. In the past, this would have never occured to me, but I find it absolutely divine!

As I get older, and my home decor style matures, I'm so thankful for the bloggy community and for my favorite magazines. Only six months ago, I considered buying a whole new suite of furntiture, and don't get me wrong, I don't think that's bad. But in my small condo, having unique pieces with individual stories of purchases in JUST the right place at the right time, makes my CONDO feel less like a cookie cutter box, and more like a CASTLE! What do you think? Are you with me???

By the by, I'm sharing this post over at Hooked on Houses for Julia's Hooked on Friday's linky party. Please go check it out!!!



10 comments:

Tiffany said...

I completely agree. We do have a dresser and vanity that match, but everything else is unique. :) Our living room on the other hand, nothing is a set.

southerninspiration said...

I totally agree, too....and my tastes have definitely changed over the years...I love things that go oh so well together but aren't matchy matchy......
Love your inspiration pics!

Suzanne

Julie {Angry Julie Monday} said...

I agree. We have metal, wood, etc..

I'm learning sooooo much from all the decorating bloggers!

Nancy said...

Having all the furniture in a room match was a hard and fast rule in the past. Now, anything goes. Just be creative and you can make unlikely things go together.Check out my posting "Design Rules and Guidelines." It might be helpful. I hope so.

Atticmag said...

I am definitely "with you" and glad to have discovered your blog via Hooked on Fridays. Love your blog name....hilarious :-) Jane T.

Claudia said...

100% on the same page as you.

I tell my clients daily... HEAVY on the mix ...light on the match.

Sometimes they look at me like I am talking a foreign language.

TTFN~~Claudia ♥

Anonymous said...

I agree. no matchy matchy! love the pics.

Jane said...

I too have learned that the collected look feels better than the "bought it out of a box store" look.

daily decorator said...

We are on the same page! Those bedroom pics are just dreamy! It is amusing to see how your decorating tastes change over the years. I always suggest to new homeowners to decorate slowly over time piece by piece.

ImagineCozy said...

Loved your post! It has to be one of my favorite topics. I teach about this kind of thing and it is such fun helping people to see that they can create a much more unique feel when they find pieces that they love and put them together with something else that looks good, but does not match!

Great post.