I remember how difficult it is to get started when you have a bare, flat yard. I kept staring out the windows, trying to imagine what I could plant where. It helps if you have someone stand outside while you look out the windows. Have your helper walk around from place to place, waving his/her arms, and maybe even holding a broom up overhead. Try to imagine your helper is a bush or a tree. When your helper gets to a spot that looks good from the inside, make a note of the position, or have your helper plant a garden stake (much easier to move than a tree!) Then go stand outside, or across the street, and see if that really is a good place for a tree. Use pots of annuals which you can move around until you find a space placement that suits you. THEN dig a bed. You can always set out empty boxes, or laundry baskets or even chairs to find spots for a shrub. Anything of a similar size that's easily movable will do. Here are some general principals I've found helpful. If the front is your main entrance, plant things that you will be happy to see when you come home. Start planting close to the walk and steps. This will encourage you to expand. Take it slow. I read once that you should live in a house though one set of seasons before you do any major changes. I translated that into planting annuals at first...which will have to be redone anyway. Fall is really the best time to plant trees and shrubs, as then they will get lots of rain. And, they will be cheaper at the 'year end' sales. Plant evergreens and long season perennials in the front as you and the neighbors will be looking at this area every day. Don't be afraid to take out something you don't like. Try to transplant it, or give it away. If it lives, fine, but you don't have to put up with something you don't like. Bare ground will make you feel better than a plant that irriates you. Don't plant acid loving plants close to the foundation of the house or near the cement path or sidewalk. They won't thrive. I figured this out after losing a row of azaleas, one by one. You can buy spray paint that is specially made to be sprayed holding the can upside down, so you can mark the edges of the beds. Just make sure that it isn't 'clear' paint. (Yes, it does come that way - a friend did this!) Or take a container of flour out and use that to mark plant placement or bed edges if you want a very temporary marking. The front yard is your house's public face and a place to show off your gardening skills. Rather than screening off the street, plant so that people driving or walking by will have something pleasant to look at and your visitors will find inviting. And for safety reasons, you don't want to 'hide' your house. Burglars go for entrances that are screened off from the view of the neighbors. Re paths: Make sure you leave good access to the utility boxes. Make sure you can get a lawnmower and wheelbarrow everywhere they'll need to go. You won't want low branching trees too near paths, either. If you don't have a pleasant view out the windows, one small patch of bright color will draw your eye away from the eyesore. Try a few pots of color, just set out on the ground, and see how they draw your attention. You do want to 'hide' the foundation of the house with taller, more solid shrubs. This will help transition the house into the lot, and help it look 'planted' rather than just 'plopped' onto the lot. Place lower plants further away from the house, along the path and sidewalk. You don't have to have ANY lawn in the front, but you don't have to take it all out at once, either. Have fun! Daphne in Tacoma

Ok, let's look at your lovely inspiration pix. If you like the pale blue drapes, try to find some similarly sleek panels. Blue is tranquil, looks great year round, and picks up the lake tones. While I like blue, I prefer a warmer tone in my master so I've gone in another direction, but you need to feel good in your room. In the inspiration pix, they seem to have echoed the blue with a slightly greyer tone on two regular pillows and two shams. A muted toile adds more interest on the duvet. Two cream pillow cases add pop. A taupey matelasse picks up the carpet color and carries it to the bed. Easy enough to duplicate without a package! I do like the first blue and chocolate package as well as most of the packages though I'm no as fond on the green/cream/chocolate or the last similar blue package. I'd just add a bit of punch with a fun pillow or two if you go the package route. Your current satin and all but one of the pictures you posted have a more tailored feeling than the inspiration photo. The textures stop them from feeling formal, but they are far more structured, so think about which look feels right to you and go for it. Can't see if you have matching lamps and don't know if you really love the scrollwork. If not, maybe pick up lamps with a simpler line and large drum or rectangular shades if that appeals to you. If you want to keep your lamp(s), try a larger shade for more oomph.

Schoolhouse, yes, that is one of the types I'm considering. And Ballard's has something similar for a very reasonable price. And I was thinking the creamy white color as to me it would look sort of aged, and then I've got two different colors of wood pieces in the room already and I figured the off-white wouldn't clash with those. kswl, thanks for your review of the Ballard's bed. Wow, eleven years and going strong is great! Hopmom, I'll go check out Bassett's sleigh beds. I've been considering one from Ethan Allen's Maison line as I have a lot of pieces from their former Country French line. Here are my top contenders, along with the Ethan Allen bed of which I wasn't able to copy and paste a pic, but I provided a link. I've been planning on getting an EA Maison bed for a while since all my other pieces are EA Country French, but I like all these other beds now too! I really like the ornate Rococo one, but I'm almost afraid it might overpower an average-size bedroom. Thanks for everyone's input. Now I just need to decide which one I want to get. Here is a link that might be useful: Ethan Allen Maison Sleigh Bed

Hi, @bluemarble thanks for your comments :) Photo #1: I like looking at the happy pics on each side of the door, and the books on the bookshelf. Photo#2: I decided against the headboard cushions because I am getting an adjustable bed frame. Here are the lamps installed. I really like their practicality, and I am pleased with their look too :0: Now I am going to work on the exterior too if you want to have a look here ;)