Believe it or not, decent looking ceiling fans exist. On every design show I've ever seen they're the first things to be thrown out, but I have them in every bedroom. Mmm slight draft at night without the sound of floor fan... I pspent no fewer than 18 weeks looking (off and on) for a "pretty" one to go in my master. I have lived with a 4 poster bed. My experience - unless you have really high ceilings, and I'm talking like 10 ft, and a sizeable room, it will turn your space into... tiny. Once upon a time in a previous life I thought I had a big bedroom until I put a poster bed in there. I like your computer nook. I always wanted a space like that, which I could separate from the rest of the room with some romantic drapery tied back. I might force that idea on my formal dining room. :) beds/headboards coverin ga window do bother me. I don't like anything to cover a window (couch, table, or otherwise) -- but that's just me. And if it came down to a queen bed, or covering that window, sure - the window would get covered! We have single panels on our two bedroom windows, mostly because they're skinny and it looked silly to me to have two panels. If you need to cover the window, something that seems to help (at least when I've seen it done) is to pull the bed away from the wall a foot or so. Then you can go with two panels, and it looks kind of intentional instead of "didn't have space." Something else to keep in mind with blocking windows -- does the sun come directly in such that it would fade your bedding over time?

Olychick, I totally agree with you about variation and depth. That's what I was going for, even though I know I haven't achieved it yet. I love texture in decorating. I bet softening even just a few of the edges more will go a long way towards what you're saying. This is definitely a work in progress. I really wish the lighting was better. I will dig out my real camera and try to get some better shots. Thanks, rafor. I also agree with you about the sharp edge of the top of the white panel. DH suggested dental moulding, but I don't like that idea. I'm more inclined to put up a thin, one- or two-inch shelf with shells and stuff up there as I describe in my OP to funk up the top of it...haha...love that!

Love the cane! Our MBR headboard is cane, you just need a lot of pillows to sit up and read, it's really no problem. As long as the cane is in good shape, I would clean it up and use that. As for color, I would pick all the other elements of the room first-- fabric, linens, wall color, even accessories--- and then choose the color of the headboards. It might be fun to paint them a coordinating color, but I wouldn't do it if it makes the headboards too much of a design statement in the room. Jmo, but I think the shape and the caning are a lot of feature for a headboard without throwing in a bright color. Perhaps painting them white and using a color for the trim detail ( where they've now got gold) would be a good way to use color on those headboards.

actolan you can still use your duvet. Look for pillow shams that incorporate a bit of gray with the blues or purple that you like. If you look at duvet covers, they often have matching shams which you can buy separately. I don't like to use shams on my sleeping pillows (it's a pain to take them off every night) but will use them with cheap filler pillows propped in front of my sleeping pillows. Like this, but only use the shams and your gray duvet will be keep it calm. Or if that is too much you can put a long lumbar pillow in front of your sleeping pillows, like this. Personally I don't like a bunch of decorative pillows on my bed - too fussy a look and too much work taking them off and setting them up. But one large lumbar or 2 shams I can deal with. So that adds a little hit of color. If you want more, look for a light weight blanket or quilt to keep folded at the foot of the bed - it doesn't have to be the same size as your bed or something that you use at night - just a hit of color. I recently found Kantha quilt throws at Tuesday Morning, tons of colors and patterns. Here's an example. You can keep something like that folded at the foot of the bed or casually tossed over the corner. If you sew at all, you could use one to make a large lumbar pillow, too. I happen to like those imperfect handmade type things but you might want something more modern - just look around and see what speaks to you. Hard to do with a baby, I know but a good stroller will be your best friend for a while! Then pick one of your quilt/pillow colors to use for night stand decor items. You could do solid curtains in one of the colors as well, or for a more subtle look match your curtains as closely as you can to the wall color and let the hits of color all center around the bed. If you get some art over the bed, colorful pillow and throw and something on the night stands, I don't think you need to change your headboard. Go for the easier fixes first.