Val, I thought you'd like that bedroom. This friend is very talented in doing childrens room. She has a son too. Actually everything I've seen that she's done is magnificent. She really should blog, but she's quite busy redoing an old home they just purchased. Now let me tell you first, that I'm pretty much the last person that would normally tell you to do this as I happen to be a wood lover. Love the grain, the varying wood tones and just hate the thought of painting good wood. Deep breath. When looking at the furniture you have for your daughter I would think very hard about painting this before buying something else to paint. The chest of drawers would be so darling painted aqua with glass knobs and pulls to replace the current hardware. All you'd have to do was sand it or use a liquid sander to dull the finish, prime and paint. The bed could be painted the same way maybe using glass door knobs as finials on the bed posts. You can find them online if you search discount glass doorknobs for a very reasonable price. The desk would be harder to give the look you are going for since it's a bit MCM in styling so I'd replace that, but maybe look for a pretty dressing table like the one my friend used that could serve as a desk with the mirror down and later as a dressing table. And again, the bookcase you have now, more likely a combination of cabinet quality oak plywood and solid oak, with a little added crown molding along with a decorative base would look great painted too. Annaglypta wallpaper for the back of the shelves would add a cute touch too. Talk to hubby, tell him a wood grain nut that was given the salutation of "ack don't paint that!" by friends who know her well, thinks it's not a bad thing to paint these items. If you were going to keep them for use elsewhere in your home it would be a different story, but since you'll be selling them anyway to someone else that might paint them, why go to the trouble of buying something old from someone else just to paint it and then have to turn around and hopefully make what you spent on the old stuff in selling your stuff. I hope that made sense. I should be in bed.

marti8 and sheetalN, we do love waking up in there. I need a 9x12 rug to ground the space, but it's so much more serene with the lighter color and softer headboard. Makes such a difference! Before the room was a bit too masculine for me. BlackChamois, here's the link for the tutorial. As far as tutorials go, it was just ok. She left out the hardest part which was getting the fabric around the curves. We figured it out eventually, but it took some tries to get the fabric straight so it wouldn't bunch. nosoccermom, the paint color is BM Nimbus. I think it's either at 75% or 80% -- i'll have to check the can. I love the color - it's a true gray with no undertones. I've repainted both of my bathrooms with it. Here it is at 100% in my daughter's bathroom (sorry for the big pic): Here is a link that might be useful: Tutorial

Kimberly & Oneplustwo, I'd say that the wall color leans slightly to the blue side when you put bolder colors w/ it like the red, white & blue color scheme going on now. When the rm. was empty & it was just the white shades, white trim, cream area rug & some white furniture it seemed more sophisticated & leaned less toward blue more towards gray. This rm. was our MBR originally & after the reno was done (as far as it's gotten) & painted, I nearly moved back into the rm. I'd just go in there by myself & sit & be quiet. The color is an old Lowes color that I think is by the Valspar manufacturer. It's called Silverware. They still have it in their computer & in the old fandeck that they have behind the counter. A close BM color is Blue Lace. Teacats, I found some wonderful posters that I have my eye on! Thank you! Les, Love the idea of maps on the ceiling. In fact I have quite a few framed antique & reproduction maps including a huge wall sized one dug out of an old one rm. schoolhouse that my FIL was working on. I've been looking for a hanging place for them & I think that after your suggestion I've found the spot in the upstairs hallway. The old soft colors will really tie the upstairs rms. together. DH stopped at the shop & made the slats for the beds yesterday on his way home (that was the fastest he ever get furniture fixed for me!) & here are the headboards. Now I just have to get a mattress set this wk. & get the beds put together: I love those beds so much that I asked DH to work w/ my dad between workshops to make a king sized version for me in black. It was midnight when I asked so I'll see if he even remembers. You can hardly see it in any of the pics but there is also an old horse drawn wagon seat bench that DH re-finished that is the perfect size for little kids to sit on. Somebody didn't want it anymore & just dropped it off at the shop. My kids love it! Now that my camera battery is recharged I will have to take a pic of that & the toy bench that my dad made once DS2 gets up. DS1 who normally talks me ever-lovin' ears off was speechless when he saw it! He said that he loved it & I got a big bear hug & lots of "I love you's'. He even played w/ his little brother fight free for a few hours in it before we had to leave for a car club banquet.

I think the addition of the stripe might not be approved by DS. I think it might take it that one step beyond looking pulled together and looking "decorated". But I will let him choose when he returns next week. He hasn't seen the room finished. Even though he chose the individual elements and has seen the room painted, he hasn't seen everything in the room. I offered photos but he wants to be surprised. That's why I haven't ironed the duvet yet, just in case he hates it in person. I went to the fabric store today to pick up some options. I found a gray linen that is very close to the background color of the drapes and would work the best if I added stripes. I also picked up a heavy matelasse type of fabric per a couple suggestions above. This one is the wall color and has a little circle theme. Yeah I know....i'm supposed to be moving away from that but I think it could be a contender as it's rather subtle. I picked up one other that I'm not sure how to explain but I don't really like. I also purchased a 1/2 yard of charcoal silk to use to make cording for the pillows and decided to see how that would work so I'm attaching photos for your thoughts. charcoal silk...I like the contrast with everything else and since I am using it to edge the throw pillows made out of the circle fabric, it would tie in. Unfortunately, they are rather stingy with their samples and have a minimum 1/2 yard purchase requirement... I couldn't find anything heavy except the circle fabric. The linen is rather "stiff" though and would hold a box pleat really well.