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Inspiration for Change

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Have you gotten the itch, yet, to make your bedroom into a true sanctuary? To make it lush and inviting? Relaxing or invigorating?

If I didn’t have quite a bit of work still to do on our living room (namely custom slipcovers for 2 sofas and a love seat, throw pillows* and art for the walls) I’d be heading to the hardware store to pick up just the right shade of antique gold paint and a few spare curtain rods (closet doors bug me, especially the hanging roller-track things of the 70s that are in our home; solution: take ’em down and hang curtains!)–that and a nice picture frame or two would go far to making our room that more cozy.

But where do the ideas come from? If you’re looking for a change, where do you go for inspiration?

I found the inspiration for our living room while wandering the aisles of a Tuesday Morning (overstock housewares store for those unfamiliar) where I came upon a small box in a blue and black pattern. We had some blue lamps and brown walls–tadaa!

Other places I like to browse for ideas: Better Homes & Gardens’ website, Apartment Therapy, and IKEA showrooms (they have the power to make me believe I could actually live in 700 square feet if it was laid out correctly). Sometimes it’s a complete room image that seizes my imagination, other times it’s just a single thing or piece of fabric. Touring open houses is also a good way to get ideas; even if you’re not in the market for a new home, professionally staged homes are a fount of inspiration.

A couple of blogs that come to mind are The Cottage Nest and Making it Lovely. I learned about both of these blogs through a BHG competition a while back and have remained a fan and subscriber since then. The former in is in the midst of a move right now but has, in the past, posted great pictures of cottage-style decorating and her own transformation of her (now former) home in the charming cottage style. The latter, though, not only runs her own stationery & more store, pink loves brown, but she is also is in the process of transforming her home. In addition to her own progress pictures and stories, she frequently puts together series taking one or more key pieces and takes them through various rooms and living situations giving a host of options for using investment pieces in your decorating.

What are your favorite spots for interior decoration inspiration?

*I’m not a devotee of shabby chic but I do like some of the elements of it. I created a technique I call “shabby applique” for my living room throw pillows and show the complete how-to in one of my articles for eHow.com.

Interview with a Do-Gooder: Bed Days

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I am an information junkie. Chances are, if you’re reading this or any other blog, you are, too. Several years ago I “discovered” iTunes and the glory that are free podcasts and, somehow (seriously, I’m not sure how since I wasn’t into yoga at the time or anything like that) I stumbled across Kimberly Wilson. At the time her podcast was called hip tranquil chick (now tranquility du jour), the same as her wonderful book about living the tranquil life on and off the yoga mat, and her podcast focused not only on yoga but on creativity, and entrepreneurship, mindful style and just a host of wonderful topics–I was instantly smitten.

Kimberly is a total inspiration–both in business and in life–and one of the many ideas of hers I love is that of the Bed Day. Knowing that the art of bed arrangements was coming up I held my breath (as one does when one is emailing an admired A-list blogger out of the blue) and requested an interview. Despite recovering from shoulder surgery, attending summer classes for he MSW and leading a retreat in Costa Rica she graciously accepted my request.

Without further fawning, here is what she had to say about Bed Days.

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Scraps: What is a Bed Day, exactly? What made it a mindful practice instead of that feeling we all have of days we just don’t want to engage?

Kimberly: A bed day is a day of complete extravagance focused on replenishment. It’s mindful because it is conscious with a focus on nurturing your spirit.

Scraps: It’s natural that a Bed Day would be restorative but do you keep them as mental health days or do you actually take work with you to bed?

Kimberly: Bed days serve the purpose of forgoing being “on.” I’ll pull together my day’s work or writing (if necessary), stay in pajamas, gather hydration, and don lipgloss. It’s a mental health day with a twist. It’s sure to make your to-dos a bit more fun!

Scraps: Name, if you would, your top 3 must-haves for a hip tranquil chick Bed Day.

Kimberly: Pot of tea, beloved pets, good book. Additional must-haves include carafe of water with mint leaves, phone,laptop, planner pad, scented candle.

Scraps: Is there a particular set of preparations that go with a bed day that is pre-scheduled (and, for that matter, are they all planned or do spur-of-the-moment bed days work, too)

Kimberly: I prefer to schedule my bed days as my day-to-day doesn’t allow much open space. So to be sure I get them in monthly or quarterly, I will write them into my planner. It gives me something to look forward to!

Scraps: Finally, what is absolutely not allowed during a bed day (if anything)?

Kimberly: No heavy talks. Bed day is meant to be light, productive (if necessary), and therapeutic to the spirit.

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Sounds absolutely delicious, doesn’t it?

Many thanks to the original hip tranquil chick for sharing with us, today. You can find out more about about Kimberly, her new book, and the rest of her tranquil empire at kimberlywilson.com.

Beds are Not Just for Sleeping!

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It is the weekend and, if I have my druthers, I love to sleep in very late on weekend mornings. My world is just find and dandy if I do not see the a.m. side of noon on a Saturday without a good reason. Sundays, of course, I try to split the difference and be up by 10 so that I don’t feel I’ve wasted a day, but sleeping in on a Saturday is anything but a waste.

Consider…

What is there better to do but wake up, realize it’s rainy and dreary outside and curl up under the covers and read a good book start-to-finish with a cup of coffee or tea beside you? Sunny and warm? Close the shades and put on a disc of gentle rain sounds and pretend.

How wonderful it is to be surprised by breakfast in bed? If it’s noon, call it brunch. Even if you’re just fixing a bowl of cereal for yourself and bringing it back to the cozy spot.

Why not plan an picnic on evening for you and your sweetheart? Spread a throw on the bed, light some candles, play some soft music, and put together a spread of fresh fruit, cheeses, crackers and other small finger foods that you can eat with your fingers or feed to one another. Worried about glasses spilling? A tray table scooted up to the foot of the bed and draped with a cloth will keep messes to a minimum.

*  *  *

This weekend I do plan on spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen working on recipes for the cookbook and participating in a cooking challenge (check out Nibbles on the 15th for the results of that, it has to stay very hush-hush til then).

How will you spend your weekend?

In Search of Comfort

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I have always loved the weight of a big, fluffy comforter on me while I sleep. Even as a teenager, in the heat of a 106-degree summer with no air conditioning, I’d sleep with the lightest nightgown I owned, wrapped in the comforter with an oscillating fan on high pointed straight at me.

For the early parts of my semi-adult life, I had the usual 20-something kit of discount-store specials and whatever someone might have given me and I still had that same comforter from my Mom’s house.

When I married my second husband, he owned his own home and was agreeable to me redecorating, within reason. Color me ecstatic!

Turned out ‘within reason’ meant no changing the furniture, the wall colors or moving any of his stuff.

But I was still in an optimistic mood so I decided I could work within those boundaries.

I had a vision for the bedroom: garden, but not floral. Sage greens and botanicals, and I knew the exact comforter that would be perfect for the room–even though I’d never seen it before.

On our “honeymoon” (another story for another time) took us past an outlet mall on the way home so we popped in for some window shopping. Walking into the Wamsutta outlet I squealed.

There it was, high on a shelf: my comforter.

Wamsutta Garden Comforter

Wamsutta Garden Comforter

I never did get anywhere else with the house in the 3 years we were together. I had plans to update the kitchen, he liked them until I talked about tile. I wanted to replace the knobs on the cabinets. Veto. When we split, I kept the comforter.

Midway through my 4 years of living on my own I decided it was time for a new look. Botanicals were soon to be retired for something else. Something spicy. Something bold. Something red.

Some would say red is the wrong color for the bedroom. In fact, that feng shui research I was doing last week said exactly that–it’s too spicy a color for true rest and relaxation.

Not for me, for me red is a warm color and I’m cold-natured. It’s just the think to keep me toasty warm and cozy. Furthermore, it’s a sensual color fitting for a boudoir, especially when the theme is more Moroccan than red light district.

The only problem was finding that perfect comforter. What lengths did I go to? Department stores, discount stores, outlet stores and mall. Specialty stores were searched and I even went out of state, took a 5-hour drive to the nearest IKEA in the interest of interior decoration.

While that trip did yield a set of sheets and a couple of blankets all in the deep red that I was craving, the comforter options we less than comforting. Still, it was a start and by then it was summer, so the light blanket did the trick while the search continued.

Of course I searched online numerous times until one day, as fall waned, I hit the jackpot on Overstock.com. Bless that big red O’s online heart and their $2.95 shipping, too! I’d finally found it. Who cares if it was only available in King and my bed was a double? Not me! I’ve never been fond of covers that didn’t cover the sides of the bed, anyway!

The Red Bedroom

The Red Bedroom

Between Overstock, IKEA (also responsible for the end tables slightly visible in this picture), Bealls outlet (the lamps), Big Lots (the curtain panels–the left one is covering nothing, our new-old home has some funny ideas when it comes to window placement), and Marshalls (the curtain panel that is covering my blond-wood headboard) and a trip to JoAnns for fabric (in my apartment I couldn’t paint, so I draped the walls with panels of gold and burgundy voile; this house we can and do plan to paint the bedroom an antique gold) I got just the room I wanted.

I suppose if there’s a takeaway from all of this it’s

  • a) don’t let anyone tell you a color is wrong for the bedroom
  • b) never give up–you will find the comfort(er) you’re looking for

Shui What?

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What are we talking about here? Feng Shui in the bedroom, setting up your space to not get in the way of what you want it for–be that sleeping, getting intimate or whatever. In a large house with a lot of people, a bedroom is more than a sleep-space, it’s your personal sanctuary and can serve many purposes from relaxation and rest to creativity and entertainment (I mean reading or television watching, those of you with your minds firmly planted in the gutter).  In a space that has as many roles as shoes in the closet, a little balance can do wonders.

Balance is what feng shui is all about. Positive and negative energies or life forces, astrology and geography, wind and water, yin and yang. Get the picture?

Of course, this isn’t going to mesh for everyone–some folks aren’t into the woo-woo aspects of it or might just be stuck with a space that you can’t make changes to. Bed can only fit one way without blocking a door? Doors in the “wrong” areas of the room? Fixtures that aren’t easily moved or a lack of windows? I’m not talking about knocking down walls or rerouting pipes, but maybe–even in the toughest of spaces–we can make a few changes to improve the space.

At the very least, it can’t hurt!

As I understand it, traditional feng shui is from the ground up–you’d take various things into consideration before choosing or building your home. Modern feng shui seems to be more concerned with making the best of what you’ve got, even if you have the “unfortunate” luck to live in a cul de sac. (Who knew?! My second husband and I lived at the end of a cul de sac and, well, yeah… Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. But it makes you wonder!)

Mostly, though, it all boils down to being aware. Mindfulness.

What Goes Where?

There are many schools of thought as to seem to determining placement and balance of rooms and objects but compass and surrounding landmarks are both pretty popular. Of course, it’s not as simple as directions–the astrological side plays a significant part determining what influences need to be offset or enhanced each month and year. No wonder people redecorate so often! Going into all of that would, honestly, take years of study or major moolah to hire an expert and this isn’t the lifetime for that. What I want is the quickie version, the cribbed notes, the for dummies and then some cheat sheet. Can we do that?

I did find a handy list of Dos & Don’ts fron Feng Shui-diy. I see a lot of wisdom in some of them (I hate having my back to the door when I’m working, for instance) and will just keep ignoring others. (No mirrors in the bedroom? Not on your life! I’ve wanted a pier glass since I was a little girl and now that I have one, in my bedroom is where it’s staying! Though I suppose having an armoire with a door to hide the television screed wouldn’t be so bad–especially it if were motorized!)

Some, of course, are just plane sensible: no shelves over the head of the bed? No kidding. Talk about owie potential there! And not putting a bed opposite a commode? Can you imagine what this would do to light sleepers living with tiny bladders? Definite mismatch there.

So, what do you think? Worth looking into or just a load of something? Can a green plant blunt the “poisoned arrows” of your furniture any more than mirrors can throw negative energy at you while you sleep?