Dear arapaho, Thank you so much for your tip. I just received my shades from the FenchelShades site. I needed 3 shades that measured 6' at the top, 16' at the bottom and 11' tall for some table lamps in my living room. I couldn't find this size of shade anywhere! I ordered them custom made from Fenchel for just $26.59 each, in a chocolate brown color, exactly what I was looking for. I was kind of nervous to order the shades without seeing them first, but I got exactly what I was hoping for. The shades arrived in a week after I ordered them. I am so thrilled. Thanks, thanks, thanks! Here is a link that might be useful: FenchelShades.com

When I had the master suite created in my DH's home up north, it was crowded for bedside tables too. So I got two wooden tall plant stands, with 12x12" tops. They fit perfectly fine. Then swing arm wall mounted lamps for each side of the bed. Enough room for a book on the shelf below and a glass of water or whatever. I never just use an end table when there is an option to have a small chest beside the table. That works even in a small room with limited storage space. Every item has to WORK to make the cut when space is scarce. And, in the bedroom in Alabama, I am going to be sorry to leave it for the BACK bedroom, which will become an ensuite master, because it is beginning to look SO comfortable. It is a west-facing bedroom, on the street. It has two PAIRS of windows, and the closet and entry to the bedroom are on a third wall. That leaves one wall which has no windows and no doors or other obstructions. However, I did not want the bed to be sideways in front of the entry door, so had to put the bed first diagonally in the corner between the two pairs of windows. This worked fine for a while, with the wicker chests I use for bedside tables centered between the windows. However, it was hard to make up the bed. So I decided to center the bed in front of the windows on the street wall. I closed the blinds to block the high heat coming through those windows anyway. And then I found some floor/ceiling grommet drapes at Tuesday Mornings! That is when I got DH to install crown molding wide enough to mount the double drapery rods, and I started planning 3 layers of curtains...grommet drapes wall to wall on both window walls, sheers on the second drapery rod, and finally the top-down roman shades using 90% shade cloth and Thermasuede fabric as a liner. I am almost done with the curtain project, but even with the shade cloth pinned in place on the west wall, the difference in heat gain is significant. This room is 12 x 12 give or take an inch. We changed out sliding closet doors for 2 pair of Jeldwen bifold shutter doors which I painted to match the crown molding and base boards and other wood work. The wicker chests are on either side of a full sized bed, with lots of breathing room. There is a rocking chair near the closet. There is a third chest between the closet and the door to the hall, and a wall mount TV is above the chest. So now I've ordered the Hudson queen size storage bed from Room and Board in cherry. It should arrive this month. I can hardly wait. It is a platform bed with no footboard, and no box springs, and it measures 60 x 80. A full bed is 54 x 75, so only a few significant inches of comfort which I look forward to having. But when the contractor finally comes, and bumps out the master bath for a tub and a long walk in closet, we'll be moving this new jewel to the back bedroom. This current bedroom will convert to a nice study/guest room. Only we seldom have over night guests, and may just put desks and bookcases in there until we move the contents of the up-north house. It seems to me that we have plenty of space in the 12 x 12 bedroom. Since we've repainted and made the room so peaceful, I will now take a horizontal break to meditate or read or chat on the phone. It looks good in natural or ambient light all times of day since northern exposures give true light, and the shade cloth gives a sense of separation from the street. Keeping active pursuits out of the bedroom is conducive to rest and separation from the cares of life.

I'm back from the shade store and yes, friends, I've gone completely overboard!! I have yet another shade to consider. This time I brought home several shades to find the right color. Now, I think I have the right color, but the shape is new, believe it or not!! It's a little difficult to describe. Basically it's a rectangle with a bell shape. The shorter sides flare out in a soft curve. I have 4 pics to share, in order to hopefully show the true shape of the shade. Picture #1 Picture #2 (from the side to show the outward curve on the short side) Picture #3 (a complete side view) Picture #4 I think I like how the rectangle shape of the shade works with the rectangle of the piano. So, if anyone is still interested in this saga, which now has really turned into a saga, what do you think of the latest choice? Thanks to all who have responded. I really do appreciate your input.

Sorry ADDY, I forgot to answer your question about the rug. We bought it last year at an unusual 'shop' near the Illinois/Wisconsin border. A friend referred me to this woman who lives on her family farm and travels the world part of the year, shopping for items to sell out of her barn, part of the house and a few other smaller buildings on the property. I was looking for an 8X10 and this rug since it's hand-knotted is more like 8X9, but it works for us. And as long as you mentioned the sewing machine, I have to tell you it belonged to my mom and I learned to sew on it. My dad brought it home to my mom one day shortly after they were married (more than 50 years ago) from the Sears store he was working at. Someone had traded it in for a new sewing machine. Lucky us, huh?