Hey Everyone, before we get into my bedroom redesign, I’d like to share a few words.
Wow! Whoa! and Holy Crap!
It’s been an incredibly intense few days with Sunday’s post about the home furnishings giant, Houzz. And on behalf of the interior design community who are unhappy with their tactics, and myself, a huge thank you for your support!
Most heartening, is that hundreds of you signed our petition to get houzz to stop their deceitful practices. Thank you again for that, too! I have nothing to do with the creation of the petition, but I say “our” because it is our collective voice that we are hoping will make a difference. If you have not done so, please click the link to sign up. It’s very easy and will only take a minute or less.
And in other news, I’m going away again tomorrow for a blogging summit!
(That is, the plane will take off as we’re supposed to get another big storm!) It is sponsored by my ad network and it’s in Austin, TX. I’ve never been, so I thought I’d try something new and see a little of Austin which I’ve heard for years is an awesome city.
However, of course, we are all horrified over the recent bombings.
The world has gone mad and I don’t even know what to say any more. Just shaking my head in disbelief and praying once again for the victims and their families.
Note: I did not finish the post last night. (It is Wednesday morning now.) The reason being, I was trying to organize the re-booking for flights, etc– only to discover that it was all for naught as all flights canceled today. And all flights are booked for tomorrow.
That left Friday when I wouldn’t arrive until the end of the second full day and then it ends after lunch the next day. So, I decided to go with the flow and stay home.
Bummer.
Alas, it’s not like I have nothing to do here. Au contraire!
The post should be entitled, “Spring has Sprung with 12″-18″ of Snow!”
But, it’s about the plans for my bedroom redesign.
Finally!
However, before I show you, I want to thank so many of you too, for your wonderful ideas! It’s a testament that even designers need help when it comes to their own spaces. Well, this one does!
And while I can’t incorporate everyone’s vision, there’s one that’s been suggested numerous times and I’ve always poo pooed it; even though it IS a great one!
Like a hang nail caught on your pantyhose, one phrase stands out from the horrible professor at the New York School of Interior Design. (back in 1988!)
I’ve spoken of her numerous times. And I find it ironic that the witch with a B (she really was) has had one of the most positive effects on my career. Her mantra was:
And she’s right. Don’t ever close yourself off to any idea, even if at first, you believe it’s impossible.
Okay, Laurel, what is it already? Don’t you have other work to do?
Oh dear, yes I do!
drum roll~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The great idea you guys have given me to incorporate in my bedroom redesign.
Where will it go? Well, if I put the bed on the opposite wall in front of the window (Sorry Feng Shui proponents), the screen can go in the corner adjacent to the radiator.
And it’s perfect because the window in the far end of that same wall is also on an angle. (yes, the finial is missing from the rod. (there are fabulous sources for drapery hardware in Laurel’s Rolodex) It just fell off one day and I couldn’t get it to go back on.)
Window on an angle
A slightly fuzzy image. (and yes, that’s a make-shift rod that came with the apartment) The screen will go in the corner where the painting currently is. The bed will be opposite where it is, so that when you walk into the room, there will be a lovely view of the screen and it will feel far more open.
And of course, I’ll be able to gaze on the lovely screen for hours on end.
You guys already saw the rug in this post.
And now, for the mood board for the bedroom redesign!
I think this conveys the over-all feeling of the bedroom which is soft and pale with some touches of dark. If you put your fingers over the screen and black table, do you see how the room, while still pretty falls a little flat?
So, let’s go over what’s going on starting with the walls.
It’s been nearly a year and the entire time, I’ve been thinking warm and blushy. Not pink, exactly, just warm.
Well, I found it.
Last year, they found my post which always impresses me and said if I ever wanted to “work something out” to get back to them.
Well, I got back to them a few weeks ago and told them what I wanted.
And after a little back-and-forth, they’ve agreed to sponsor the wall paper!
This must be how Cinderella felt when her fairy godmother showed up and started in with that wand waving trick of hers!
LAUREL!!! WHICH ONE IS IT??? JUST STOP YAKKING ALREADY!!!
Excited much? ;]
It’s called Anastasia in the sand colorway.
Although, this is about as helpful as looking at craters on the moon with a pair of dollar-store binoculars.
And they do have a blow-up but it’s in the lilac color-way and it still isn’t that big.
Okay, hang on…
Taken with my I-phone 7. Not bad, eh? This is the sample they sent me and I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I am!
But, there’s more. And it’s BIG
I wanted to show you some more images from Mural Sources. Well, the other day, I found some on pinterest that are very nice, but still not good enough, because sometimes pinterest reduces the images. So, I copied one and put it into google images. (you can read about my trick here)
And up popped the fabulous mural designer Paul Montgomery.
So, of course, I started taking a little looky around and YES! Mural Sources has the same designs as Paul Montgomery only not hand-painted. You can read about that here.
hmmm… I certainly hope that we don’t have another controversy on our hands!
I immediately sent an email to my rep at Mural Sources and a couple of hours later had an email from Paul Montgomery, himself!!!
See, I told you it was BIG!
But before he answered, I found the answer for myself.
And guess where I found it?
Yeah!
I found it on HOUZZ!
One thing I failed to mention in my post, that I probably should have is that their forums for me, have been a wonderful source of information. I’m not linking to it, but if you’d like to read it, just look up, “mural sources houzz forum” something like that.
Paul in his studio working on an original hand-painted Chinoiserie design.
Paul and I shared a few emails and he couldn’t have been nicer or more gracious and did give me permission to share the information. The upshot is that while they don’t advertise it, they realize that there’s a huge untapped market in the printed version of their hand-painted papers.
And as I said, the quality is extraordinary!
Oh, I featured Paul Montgomery hand-painted papers in this post almost exactly three years ago!
I’m not sure if this is an original or the archival printed version. This design comes in both versions.
This design is in both versions as well.
But they don’t just produce Chinoiserie panels.
They have dozens of gorgeous American, English and European panoramas and I adore them all.
The same scene above and below with two different gorgeous panoramic papers
Love both. If you love Grisaille please click here and here
A small detail of more fabulous Grisaille called Paradiso at Mural Sources. The depth and subtlety of color is extraordinary!
Fabulous! I believe that this one is in both versions as well.
Next up is Lighting
The Malibu Chandelier from Serena and Lily
Someone had mentioned that they thought that this chandelier would be too beach-y in New York. Sure, it is if it’s paired with blue and white and cerused wood and so forth. But my objective is to show that Serena and Lily products which might look beach-y in one setting can look eclectic and beautiful in other styles.
Love this elegant Shiloh Lamp from Bradburn home.
Or how about this gorgeous brand new to the line Volos Greek Key table lamp
Roman Shades for the Windows
For Windows, it’s difficult to find what I want. But I want a sheer off-white linen shade.
something like this.
And behind it, a simple roller shade.
The roller shade is for the times that the sun is BLINDINGLY bright because my room faces south and west. Most of the time, the roller shade will be up.
Cheryl Tauge
This is close but the tales are a little too big. And my window isn’t nearly as wide as the main one.
Another good thing is that I can cover up the air-conditioner if I want to.
I would love to do a beautiful radiator cover similar to the ones we did in the Bronxville home a few years ago. My radiator cover would be deeper, of course. For more images of this bathroom, click here.
You might’ve noticed that there’s a cool Ming-style coffee table at the foot of the bed. I love that shot of dark, but at 26″ wide, it’s a little too deep. But I think that this is an awesome coffee table for my living room, so I’ve added it to the vintage hot sales page.
So, last night, instead of finishing the post, I had a bee in my bonnet and determined to find just the right table.
And I think that this one will work nicely. I got it for $200 on Chairish! I’m going to work on it some, though. I would love a wood top instead of glass and I’d love to add the gold accents. So, that’s some work, but I want to make it look older with the paint. This one is only 18″ deep. I want it to be more like a bench and then I can style it.
If interested, the shop is The Golden Peach on Chairish. The owner Sarah, is darling.
I have a few options with the dresser and book-cases, or I might get a new cabinet and put the TV inside.
For now, I’ll keep my dresser and get some new hardware. And I’ll probably paint the night stands.
As for linens. I need to work on that too! So, there’s still more to do, but with the basics taken care of, it’s a lot easier now.
Well, it’s 9:15. I just looked outside and just a few inches of snow and I heard a plane flying over head. Oh well, they canceled the flight last night.
xo,
For more bedroom ideas, please look at this post which gives seven different combinations!
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59 Responses
Adore your blog! I think a fab post or series would be if you designed/built your dream home, what would it look like. I’d love to see that.
That’s an awesome idea Courtney. Thank you!
Dear Laurel,
Love your mood board, and also the way you show how the different elements work together. Please please please could you use some details to pick up on the touch of beautiful blues (kingfisher and nearly cobalt) in the mural?
Some victorian kingfisher and cobalt glass vases could go in the glazed bookcase/cabinet, and you could have a sumptuous kingfisher throw (silk velvet?) across the end of the bed or draped over a chair.
Can’t wait to see the room when its finished!
Thank you Kirsten!
Over the moon! (Did I just date myself?) Hopefully when completed, you will post the finished project which I am sure will be beautiful. With anticipation of the reveal. -Brenda-
Hello Laura I love the colors for the bedroom it looks great
Thanks so much Martha!
Hi Laurel. Sorry to not be clear
This is the one I was asking about
Wanna See The Plans For
My Bedroom Redesign?
Right under this header in gray blue white and a peacock
Oh, in the note I sent out to subscribers. I thought that you meant the post. I’m sorry, but I don’t know which one that is. It’s just an image I took off their website.
Well, I’m skipping straight to the comments after seeing you had to cancel your trip to Austin. Bummer! I was so excited to see you were coming to my hometown! (Well, not born here, but got here as fast as I could in 1974). But now it has gotten too large for my tastes and we are slowly moving to the country, back to the county where I was born… (And I’m sure you saw by now that the bombing scare is hopefully over.) My older daughter was already boarded on a plane yesterday morning bound for Philly for a conference when the flight (and then the trip) was cancelled…This weird weather stuff is messing everyone up!
Also, while I’m commenting (which I only do occasionally), I wanted to make note that I am not the Anita whose living room was recently under scrutiny 😉 I have posted under different names (Nitalynn, Anita) but can never remember which I used last. I will try to stick with “Anita Lynn” to avoid any confusion.
Oh man, I can’t keep most names straight unless they’ve posted numerous times and/or emailed me.
I have only one question. Why couldn’t the snow have come on Sunday when I was supposed to go back? haha.
Laurel: Very very pretty and I love the screen in there !!
Me too!
I went and browsed the Mural Source site and was blown away by the beautiful murals. I have never had scenic wallpaper, but love it in the photos. However, I have always wondered whether you would ever put a nail through your beautiful paper (to hang a picture, or plate) or whether you would just have the mural as the room’s art. Just wondering….Looking forward to the finished room.
Hi G,
That’s a very good question. I do like a little art over the murals. My walls are plaster, so don’t need to make a big hole with an anchor.
Laurel,
I love your choices so far! It is going to be beautiful. I just ordered a few samples from Mural Sources to try. Planning to frame some panels. As always, thank you for the inspiration and detailed information. Looking forward to your big bedroom reveal. I’m in southern Connecticut, so I feel your pain with our wretched weather. Stay warm!
~Susan
Hi Susan,
Too funny! I was just writing about how sweltering it is in my apartment. I’ve had the AC on for two hours!
I actually said, “WOW”, out loud, several times. Those murals!!!!
Agree 1000% with your objective on the Serena and Lily and I think the chandelier will be gorgeous.
Now, this is embarrassing, but I have a weird window problem in my (ugly) bedroom. They are at a terrrrrrrrible placement in the room. I can’t figure out how to hang treatments to look nice…
AND THEN I SEE YOUR PICS AND I’M ALL, “DUUUUUUUHHHHHHH”! I CAN HANG JUST ONE PANEL!!!!!!”. My mind has exploded.
Sorry for all the shouting, but I was very excited to see your windows. And mad at myself for not exploring all the possibilities. 😉
Thank you!
PS – this made me lol:
The post should be entitled, “Spring has Sprung with 12″-18″ of Snow!”
You would’ve loved Mrs. E Sarah. The woman sitting across from me was pregnant at the time and I was a newly wed. Anyway, we bonded for life over that crazy c. She was a piece of work!
I did not plan the one sided drapes. The place came that way. But actually, I think it would feel claustrophobic with three more panels. Plus the damned radiator makes it impossible. If only the radiator was 6″ smaller on each side. Believe me. It works verrrrry well. In fact, so well that it was 96 degrees in here a couple hours ago. I have a window open and the AC on now and feel much better.
Yes. Crazy-time!
Laurel, that looks lovely. Have you considered your favourite paint color opal for the ceiling? My bedroom has a (now discontinued) scenic wallpaper with creamy background and vines, flowers and birds. Opal is perfect on the ceiling. I wonder if it would work with yours.
Hi Susan,
It very well might! But it’s a cove ceiling is the thing. And I was thinking of painting the ceiling which comes down a whole foot then there’s moulding. Well, all of it, one color. I’m thinking that Benjamin Moore 904 – White Blush will work. (one of the 12 whites in the Laurel Home paint collection)
Thank you for the suggestion. Funny you should mention because I just recently noticed your Springtime Palette (in a blog) contains many of the colours in my house already and I have just recently been using it to choose a new paint colour here, a wallpaper for the front hall there, etc. Thank you for all your beautiful work.
Thanks so much Susan! I love that palette of colors and so glad to know that it’s worked beautifully for you too!
Hi Laurel
New subscriber here—2 months maybe—and I totally love your blog. You always bring a smile to my face and often a chuckle as well. Thanks for being a day brightener!
So happy to brighten your day, Desiré. It certainly brightens mine to read that!
My taste runs to contemporary but I admit I was drooling over these beautiful murals. I’m not likely to commit to full-on wallpaper, but the idea of creating framed panels as shown in the Paul Montgomery picture is genius. I look forward to your blog each week as well as Friday sales posts.
Hi Diana,
Well, the panels are already here. I am toying with the idea of looking into having the wallpaper put up in a way that it can also come down easily. I think that would be an interesting exercise, if nothing else.
SO,so pretty.
Thank you MH!
Laurel:
I love the new bedroom design. The color ways are beautiful. I had a question about the first wallpaper/ mural in your post , the very light blue and white one? Do you have a source? Thank you!!
Hi Natalia,
Do you mean the other bedroom post from last year?
That’s from Fromental. Otherwise, I’m not sure which one you are referring to. The first one is green. Do you mean the one in the office? That’s probably Bresil from Paul Montgomery. The one from mural sources is Brazil
Laurel,
Love the mural and all of the other pieces, too! You know I love the bed in front of the window. The lamps are beautiful…either one. Can’t wait to see it finished. XO
Thanks so much Nancy!
This should be a beautiful bedroom! I was hoping you might think about hanging the screen over your sofa in the living room, though. We did that all the time at an antique shop I worked at in Birmingham, AL. (The King’s House) It would always be a great balance for any large piece of furniture, built-in or fireplace wall that would be opposite the sofa wall. The murals you pictured are fabulous. The only problem would be choosing which one to use! Sorry you couldn’t get to Austin. It is a wonderful city, and this would have been a perfect time of year to visit.
Hi Donna,
Well, that would be stunning, but the screen would need to go from the very top of the sofa, all the way to the start of the cove of the ceiling. And then there’s the picture rail sticking out. Not enough breathing room. Besides, then what would I do with my “Melchior D’hondecoeter?” haha.
And yes, I spent several hours obsessing over which gorgeous mural too.
It will be gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the final results. I scooped up the last cream-colored Shiloh lamp at OKL last week although I am probably returning it as soon it arrives since it arrives in April. I learned a valuable lesson about OKL; you must cancel or change orders within 24 hours. I tried to change the order 2 days after making it and they would not let m do it, even though it was going to be a month before the Shiloh shipped! I have spent a lot of time reading your articles about table lamps, shades, and tables, trying to select the right width and height of lamp for my spaces. It truly is difficult to find smaller-sized table lamps for 8 foot ceilings and narrow tables. Shiloh is just too large and tall overall for the space; I should have measured better but I have been infatuated with the Shiloh for so long that I did an impulse buy. I chose the Visual Comfort Petal Desk lamp for the space instead.
Hi Eleanor,
Oh I know! Re: the right sized lamps for 8-foot ceilings and smaller tables.
I JUST LOVE THIS. You continue to impress and inspire. Thank you
Thanks so much Caron!
I love your bedroom plans Laurel! I can’t wait to see how it all works out. It will be beautiful. And those wallpapers are simply breathtaking – what gorgeous designs.
Thanks Karen! I feel very fortunate!
Love the panoramic papers.. reminds me of the vibe at my grandparent’s house. Hope everyone on the east coast is digging out of the snow.
Your grandparent’s have or had great taste! It was only a few inches of very wet snow and it’s a bright day. And at least 40 degrees, so it’s melting fast.
Just yesterday I was looking for bedroom inspiration, and of course looked to your posts and mood boards for that, as I love your sense of style! Your bedroom looks beautiful so far, especially with the murals, and your screen will be showcased wonderfully. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Heidi!
HI, Laurel! Very inspirational post! Thank you! Btw the forums on Houzz used to be another website that Houzz bought called gardenweb. A lot of people were upset to put it mildly when that happened because those forums were amazing!
Hi Lilia,
Yes, I do know the garden web and then at some point did notice that it was run by houzz and now, I don’t see anything about the garden web. This particular thread is excellent. Here it is from houzz (and btw, that’s a nofollow link!)
I love the plan for your bedroom!
And I had to pipe up about what a small world it is. I attended a church with Paul and his family for about 10 years. Still run into them occasionally at the grocery store. He’s just as gracious and kind in person. And humble, too. I’ve toured his studio more than once and his artwork is amazing!
Verrry small world! People like that are rare and I’ll be honored to have his designs on my walls! It’s an added bonus, because I really had no idea! Later, I did find the information on the website, but it’s in no way front and center.
What a wonderful post Laurel! Thank you so much for sharing Mural Sources! Was looking to go with De Gourney, but now thanks to you , have more options.
Also, loved the white and blue wallpaper in Ashley Whittaker project picture… would you mind sharing who is it by?
Thank you !
Hi Elena,
Thank you but I’m not familiar with that paper. If anyone knows, please chime in!
Laurel, you’re becoming famous! Congrats on the great new bedroom and the much-deserved recognition of your influence by these design business-folk.
I first discovered that beautiful Paradiso mural when you posted about Grisaille and I went poking around the Mural website. The first five panels would actually work wonderfully for me. However, the remainder doesn’t and neither do all the other murals as my house is a timber frame high up in the Rockies and I don’t want to stray too far from those design roots. I need something like a Bierstadt or Moran landscape- which I discovered at an outfit called Murals Your Way. They also make them to one’s exact dimensions so I wouldn’t have to lop off a foot of lovely mural, either. Have you heard anything about that company? There certainly is a price differential, which leads me to believe they’re not as high quality as Mural Source, but you never know.
I gather that you haven’t ordered yet. They are completely different. I don’t know what the printing is like, not having seen them. I looked at the bierstadt. Can’t tell much from their photos.
If the first five panels work for you then I’m wondering if there’s a way to do panels and just stick to the ones that work.
Thanks for taking a look at that, it’s much appreciated! I am kind of falling in love with that Paradiso mural… and I do think one can get just the first five panels (or whatever series of panels one chooses, it’s a HUGE mural). But the Bierstadt is VERY different- thanks for pointing that out… so I guess I’d better nail down the whole-house palette first and stick with it, sigh. Uniformity is not my strong suite, with so many pretty things out there.
Well, it can be eclectic, but I wouldn’t go too formal with the furnishings. It sounds like it will be a warm, cozy home!
Thanks for putting yourself and your sanctuary out there, it’s really fun to see all the loveliness 🙂
Thanks Cathlin!
Laurel,
Ok, so it is bedtime and I should be in bed but just read your post. I cannot remember how I stumbled on to your site but look forward to reading each one. The winter has been a long one and your conversation with someone like me, I live in fly over country, brings a smile to my face. So thanks!
And………the mural examples are stunning! I have seen these featured in historical homes and find them beautiful. Then again I love toile so perhaps that is why I like the murals. Can’t you just imagine what climbing into bed will feel like when the project is complete!
Bedtime!
Thanks so much Barbara!