stephf-- while I appreciate your suggestion, I really don't want to paint the antique chest of drawers. I purchased my nightstands from Ethan Allen several months ago in order to tie in with the chest, so I don't want to paint them either. I am just going to work around them. I have purchased some accessories and two pictures for over the nightstands and am having a wreath made for over the bed. I have found an oval cotton braided rug to go at the foot of my bed and plan to put rugs on either side of the bed. I have found that a couple of antique doilies soften the nightstands. It is a work in process, and I am appreciative of all of the suggestions made.

> brass, mauve, wall to wall carpeting, verticle blinds,wall paper border, fake paneling, mirrored closet doors, linoleum kitchen flooring, imitation wood kitchen cabinets, the list goes on but you get the idea. Why am I telling you all this? Just wondering if anyone else is brave enough to admit to some of these dated decorating disasters. Why bother? The flavor-of-the-year stuff those decorating/real estate shows are urging you to replace these with will be considered "dated decorating disasters" by 2019. And that '80s stuff will become hip and retro by then. Wall-to-wall carpeting is plush and pleasant, a good sound absorber, feels good under your bare feet or stockings, and cushions falls and helps prevent them in the first place. Linoleum is practical, durable, and the best examples are elegant. I'm already burned out on the pewter/brushed nickel fixtures. Don't let cheap veneer wall paneling let you forget how stunning real hardwood paneling can look. It warms up a room much more than wood floors IMO, and is wonderfully low-maintenance. Mirrored closet doors make sense - don't you always want to check your look after you get dressed? Good design is timeless. Avoid fads and trendiness trying to pass for elegant and "up to date", and you'll be up to date indefinitely.

paint chips--I hadn't thought of putting fabric or paper out at the edge of the mirrored part above the bed. I was going to put it right on the mirrors. But, like you say, there are lights there. It would look cool to make a framed fabric or paper panel for that area, and mount it out near the front! It would look sort of like a shoji screen. Hmmmm... I'm really liking that idea! I usually just put candles there, but I have a problem with the cat getting up there during the night and rubbing on things or knocking them off. allison--Those paper lights are cool! They remind me of the glass star candleholders my neighbor gave me, similar to these, but on a post. Maybe I'll see how they look on top of the headboard. madeyna--I'm seriously thinking of staining or painting the furniture, maybe a mahogany color. Is that what you mean by "darker on the bed"? Or did you mean dark bedding? You're right about finding the right art--it's an ongoing problem I have. There's a lot of art that others love, but I don't. I have unusual taste. Botanicals would probably work the best, maybe ferns (or pinecones?). I'll have to do some searching. As far as painting the furniture, that will be quite a project. There's not only the huge bed, which is several pieces, with wires coming out in six places; there's also a large armoire, a seven-drawer low dresser, and a five-drawer high dresser. And the drawers don't come out all the way (another reason why I hate the furniture). Thanks again everybody for your input!

JDS, Thanks for your comment above. What was the purpose of lighting over the bed with those low voltage 3" recessed lights? Was it for ambient lighting (e.g. indirect wall washers) or task lighting (reading)? Did you use two over bedrooms that would have Queen/King bed's in them, and one for single beds? As per bathroom mirrors, we were planning on having two line voltage sconces on either side of the mirror and two medium beam low voltage lights set over the mirror (to cross light) . I believe with the four light sources crossing I have read that shadows would be minimal. Perhaps a frosted bulb in the recessed lights would also help. Virgil, Thanks for your advice too. We won't forget the dimmers, and will aim to light with pairs of recessed lights. Thanks for the pointers on positioning of recessed lights too. It seems, that there is no one set spot to position recessed lights -- too many variables. OP: What I would not want is the direct light from a recessed down light shinning over anywhere that someone would sit or lie down. I have read that being under a recessed light can age a person. What you want from recessed lights is indirect lighing such as wall washers, or in some cases task lighting (say over a desk) but not a light over your head. For task lighting near the bed, we are going to use narrow beam, flexible reading lights (hardwired) on each side of the bed. LED reading light would be the best as it is cool to the touch, We will aim for a narrow beam light that can be controlled on each side of the bed. It think having some can lights in the perimeter of your room, together with a centre light would be ideal. In addition, I would plan for task reading light near the bed. Finally, you might consider recessing LED floor washers into the walls leading to the MBath (or in the Mbath) to serve as a soft night light. Be sure to position these floor washers carefully, so you will not look directly into them while lying down. Carol