Fun reader question - ideas appreciated!

So, Laura posed this question to me awhile ago and I've been compiling ideas for the last couple of weeks:

"We're about to get an antique brass bed from my parents, but it's been
really hard to find examples of similar being used in well-appointed
bedrooms! So I was wondering, have you seen any great examples of this
style?

(I'm also hoping to go for a Scandinavian or lightly nautical theme,
once we get it. We have wood floors and I'm painting the walls a very
light grey.)"

I thought this was a good challenge, as one often sees brass beds only in victorian, floral-type bedrooms. The photos I found either feature a brass, or similar bed, in a way that keeps things from getting to frou-frou, or is a bedroom where I feel a brass bed would fit in well without detracting from Scandinavian sensibility and nautical details.

Here's a really nice example with the gray walls, and I think that a brass bed would work, as long as you kept your bedding free of frills and lace or flowers. Maybe a solid or stripes. Instead of the starburst mirror in this room, try a fish eye, or convex mirror for a nautical touch.
via house to home

An ornate bed works in this very Scandinavian bedroom because the colors are primarily neutrals and other elements, such as lighting and artwork, is modern.
via house to home

Here's another bedroom which features pale walls, and I think that with all the modern elements in the room - like the bedding and artwork, that a brass bed would still feel chic.
via DecorPad

This bedroom is minimal, but still cozy, and I think that just a couple of nautical touches and a brass bed (keep the bedding crisp and simple) would work. Keep a couple of organic touches around too - like the branch ladder featured in the corner of this bedroom.
via DecorPad

This bedroom is already very nautical, and I think that if you kept the bedding similar, and got rid of a few of the overly "campy" objects (the flag, the wooden fish,etc.) in this room, that a brass bed could work.
via house to home


If you don't mind a slightly more feminine look, as long as it's not frilly a more modern floral could work. Switch the green stripes in the rug for blue, maybe some nautical-themed art, different curtains, and you could have the look you're going for.
via So Haute


The above two images are from Ikea, which usually has a Scandinavian look, and you can see references to nautical in the later image, which I think would be fitting for a brass bed.

So folks - any ideas for Laura?

Inspiration to go bold with color and/or pattern

I'm probably a bit braver when it comes to pattern than color - even though I love color so much - especially the jewel tones that are so abundant right now. I think I run into issues choosing a color - so I always fall back on neutrals, grays, or whites. The more I seek out bright colors and patterns, however, the easier it is to imagine using them in my apartment.

Blue and white is possibly my favorite palette - and I love the white chair with the bold blue flower motif.


If your mixing patterns - especially with a wallpaper pattern - make sure the scale of the wallpaper pattern is unique - no other object should have the same scale pattern. Notice that the scale of the rug pattern is larger than the wallpaper.
via BHG

The blue and pink make for instant romance. The headboard is actually a really affordable DIY - mirror tiles from Ikea.
via Sunset Magazine



via House Beautiful

via Domino Magazine

Got the blues?

I'll be honest with you. I do have the blues at the moment. I know I said I wouldn't bore you with the details...but here I go. It's been a tumultuous few weeks, with two suspensions from school for my son. And today he was formally 'excluded' from school - they don't use the term 'expelled' any more. He is now on the waiting list to go to a 'learning centre' for ten weeks, where achieving behavioural and attitudinal change is the goal. It is an intensive environment, with one teacher for every five students.

In the meantime, I've taken emergency leave from work and can just hope that he gets into the learning centre soon and that it turns out to be just the ticket for helping him learn to control his emotions. We went to the library today and just had some quiet time together.

So there you go. Now it's time to think about something happy! And for me that always means beautiful homes and lovely images! I've chosen lots of pretty blues today - fresh, cool and soothing. With white as the background, as always. Such a classic. I hope you like these images!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day, lovely people! I can't tell you how much your readership and your thoughtful comments mean to me. You brighten my day when I need it those most. Thank you.

Images 1 Anne Naumann 2 & 3 Skona Hem 4 Veranda via The City Sage 5 Wallace Cotton 6 Charlie Drevstam 7 Polly Eltes 8 Coastal Living via Dreamhouse 9 via Apartment Therapy 10 Morten Holtum 11 Alfresco Emporium

Best wishes,

Feeling a little blue (and white)

I really am feeling a little blue tonight. My father died a few months ago and today I saw (and held) his ashes for the first time.

So here are some 'blue' pictures to brighten up my mood. I hope you like them too.

The first is from Vita Rummet, a gorgeous shop in Sweden. I could run wild in here!

Some gorgeous crockery, from Eva Lindh.

I don't know where this picture came from, but I want to dive into this bed!




Some cushions from ex-Aussie resident Appley Hoare

Another Eva Lindh picture. Love the squishy cushions (and the cute shoes!).