I'm looking at these 2 fabrics. One for a Fall/ Winter look & one for a Spring/ Summer look: W/ the linen like IKEA curtains that I have on the downstairs windows on these rods (waiting on the rings to arrive): layered w/ the matchstick blinds that are already on each window. These bedside wall lamps are on my list: I remember French Seams from Home Ec and I think that's a great idea. I'm just going to make a pattern of the head and foot boards on brown craft paper and allow extra fabric for the seams. Can't imagine that it would be so terribly hard to do. Red - I tweaked the blue walls and really like the look. I found another cast off can of blueish-greenish-grey in the basement that worked really well. Or I should say I like the look nw but will love it overall once I get the brown textiles in (to mix w/ my white and aqua) to warm up the blue walls. I'm shamelessly going after a 'me' version (not exact replica!) of this popular room:

meg711 -- you are my lucky charm. Today I was going to go to the design center to finalize yardage and, on a whim, stopped by the Calico Corners (I'd received a postcard from them saying "Big Sale"). meg711 -- they had an even better buffalo check than Kathryn Ireland's, and for a literal fraction of the cost. I'd chosen the Kathryn Ireland for two reasons: 1) I had searched and searched for a super-large scale red / cream buffalo check and hers was the only one I'd found; and 2) I wanted the colors of the buffalo check / toile to match, and seeing as those were both made by her I assumed I'd have a home run (in terms of color match)! But I was never in love with the ikat (bleeding edge) feel of the check -- that hadn't been my goal, and truthfully, I resented the cost (of the raw yardage). I was after a finished room so I acquiesced .... Anyway, to make a short story super-long (!), the price I am paying for the headboard, bedskirt and drapery panels (fabric and construction) through Calico Corners is less than what I would have paid for the Kathryn Ireland fabric alone for the bedskirt / headboard (not even including the drapery panels). You know, it would have been one thing if I'd been in love with the Kathryn Ireland ikat check or her toile, but I wasn't. Then I would have happily paid $X for using her textiles. I had a vision and they filled it well enough, so that's why I was planning on using them. Instead, I am going to be really happy about getting to spend a fraction of the cost yet still achieve my vision, and then get to do more, sooner, in my room. And I really feel I owe it to you, meg711. This post you started totally prompted me to "do it!" And if I hadn't had this "chat" with you it all wouldn't have been front and center for me. If I hadn't been in the textile frame of mind, who knows if I would've popped into Calico Corners. Really, thank you so much!

If everything else is going to be white, then the headboard will look out of place being black. Does everything have to be white? fwiw, Shabby Chic stores have many vintage pieces and they are not white. Actually, Ashwell has headed away from all furniture being white. Even the wooden beds the stores sell are a soft gray. There is a white poster bed with a distressed finished. Check out her blog (linked on the home page, far right) for more pictures. Her website does not show vintage pieces for sale, but there are some in the photos. Can you post pictures of the room and other things going in it? DD1 lives in San Francisco and has been decorating with SC furniture and bedding for five years now. She has gone from mostly white and pink to mostly soft gray with touches of color in accessories (pillows, artwork, etc) Here is a link that might be useful: Shabby Chic website

Sjharris, what a beautiful bedroom & gorgeous fabrics! Roseabbey, your bedding & bed is beautiful, too! I read where you got an iron piece but I'll share a pic of what I found (inexpensively) for my 4 poster. I never could figure out what to put up there since my side tables are so junked up! (Oh! and ignore too short bedskirt ~ looking for fabric for longer one) It's just one of those decorative things from Hobby Lobby ~ maybe $7 on sale. > Smiles:)