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Home Decorating

I'll Paint a Mental Picture; Can You Paint One for Me?

12 years ago

Whenever cold weather is upon us, I get the "decorating blues." I want so badly to create a new look for our master bedroom, and I don't know where to begin. I need inspiration, but I don't have pictures to post. However, I'm sure I can paint a mental picture of the room so that you'll know what I have to work with. It is a small room, but large enough for a king-size bed on the right wall as you enter the room, and a creamy white triple dresser (which I painted) on the left side of the room. The dresser is actually an old one from the 80s in a style called The New French style. It is not Provincial, but much clunkier and it looks like a credenza. It has a vertical mirror in the center which almost touches the ceiling and there is an inverted-shell motif at the top. On either side of the dresser, are two tall narrow windows. The walls are off-white and the floors are oak parquet. I have a ladies Victorian parlor chair in the corner beside the dresser. It is in a cream finish and is upholstered in raspberry pink upholstery BUT it doesn't have to stay. Just the bed and the dresser are the only things I must keep in the room. Since the headboard of the bed is metal, there will be no problem in matching finishes. It just has a simple swirly design and is curved at the top, and lower on the sides. There is a beautiful chandelier in this room and it looks Old World I want to start with a clean slate, and need help with bedding, lamps, accessories, pictures, etc. I love French Country/Shabby Chic, Romantic, and prefer bedding that isn't busy. I love matelasse, especially white or ivory. I'm not sure what to put above the bed. Right now, I have 3 botanical prints, the center one being higher than the other two. They have the colors of pink and blue and have light turquoise paisley mats, and I'm using a light turquoise coverlet. I just want to re-create the room, and I'm looking to you guys for inspiration. Can you paint me a mental picture of your ideas? Thanks a bunch!

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Comments (4)

yayagal
12 years ago
I can see it but I think you need to let us know colors that you like and flooring you have. French country usually has some print in it. I'm attaching a picture. The print could be in a comforter at the end of a matelesse bed instead of the walls like this one.

Here is a link that might be useful:
yayagal
12 years ago
Here's a site that can get you started.

Here is a link that might be useful: French country sources
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stargirl
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you for the wonderful sites, yayagal. I love white matelasse (and ivory) but I'm not fond of busy bedding. However, right now I have 3 botanical prints above the bed, the center one being higher than the rest. They have pink roses and the mats are a light turquoise paisley print. In fact, the pink of the roses is the same color as the Victorian ladies chair. I love prints in a room, but I think I'd prefer these to be in pictures, or in a coverlet folded at the foot of the bed. I might add that I have some "stash" already...two tall creamy ivory lamps with colums and cherubs sitting at the base, a pair of gilded French Country lamps, one of a French girl in period dress, and the other of a boy. I have antique plates with roses on them, the same as the botanical prints. I also have a silver tray with crystal perfume bottles. I probably have the things I need already to create the room I want...but I don't know how to put it together. A friend suggested that I paint the walls, but I sorta like the look of neutral and white. And besides, as you enter the bedroom via French doors, the room you're leaving (the kitchen/dining area) has red walls. I know it would be a jolt to the eyes to leave a red room, and enter a room which has a clashing color. Also I think one of the reasons I want to change the room is because a friend said that I needed to have a more sophisticated room, that it looked too feminine and girly. Guess I was going for a sophisticated French Country/Romantic look and just don't know how.
stargirl
Original Author
12 years ago
I forgot to answer your question concerning the flooring I have. It is oak parquet. I hate carpeting. I noticed in the second site you showed me, it listed oak parquet as being a preferable flooring for a French Country room.

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