A friend and I "opened" our own business.. We show at craft shows during the summer and collect sales tax on our sales. We applied for a sales tax number and opened an account with a wholesale supplier to purchase fabrics and threads, ect. We have to purchase $800 a year to keep our account open. We do have to purchase fabrics by the bolt, but it's about half price of retail. I can go thru 15 yards, or we'll split a bolt. We also sell FQ's at our craft booth to use up some of the extras, along with thread and notions, in addition to the items we've made for resale. One of the companies we purchase from is called Checker Distributors, (they have this osnaburg) but they only sell to businesses.You only need a sales tax number and fill out their application. You can apply for credit with them, but we didn't trust ourselves, we'd of maxed it out with the first order.... we pay with credit/debit card. The only other thing is, you have to have a minimum of $150.00 per order. Between two of us, it hasn't been a problem! LOL! We order once a month. Just an FYI... the shipping cost is the same for one bolt of fabric, or three. So, we always order three or more. Most everything else (thread, patterns, notions, books, ect) are free shipping.

Well, I was out and about today looking at various lamp and shade options, and I ended up exchanging the burlap shades for a slightly smaller version of the same. It's about an inch and a half narrower than the one I had, and also about an inch shorter. Now the shade fits within the width of the mirror. The lamps are just over 25" tall (not tiny, but not extra large either), and from what I've seen out there, if I go much taller, the shades generally are wider too, which is a visual issue. I wasn't able to find a tall narrow shade for these lamps. I definitely think they look better now with the smaller shades. If I find something better, I'm still open to changing. I tried out the Old White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on a piece of cardboard, and I think it's going to work, as it matches the mirrors very well. The great thing about chalk paint is that it can be painted over anything. It won't be any problem at all to paint over the blue within the recessed areas and details. I bought some small brushes for that purpose. abundant - So glad you like the mirrors. I really like them, and I have made up my mind that I don't want to paint them a different color, i.e. blue to match the tables, as I had really envisioned them creamy white. I want to keep them above the bedside tables because I wanted them placed behind the lamps and if placed over the dresser, they'd have a whole different look. I've thought about all the options, and the best seems to be painting in some details on the bedside tables to tie them in with the mirrors more visually. I won't have to redo them. The chalk paint will coat right over, so that's a bonus. While marble tops would probably look great too, it's an extra cost, and I could use those funds on a chair, artwork, or other pieces. I priced new rods, glass ball finials, rings, and a connector for the corner windows through Country Curtains. With the shipping, it would total around $300. Again, I could just purchase new rings, keep the rods I have, and raise the curtains higher. I don't think I can justify spending that much, as you said, on a small change. I'll see if I can remove the existing finials in the corner so I can move the curtains closer together there. I really like the idea of a light, sheer linen under the draperies. If you have any sources, please share. That might require that I change the rods to doubles at some point. I purchased some ORB Rustoleum paint today so that I can spray the lamp harps as well as the bedside table pulls. I was thinking of keeping the glass knobs though. What do you think? I was also considering purchasing similar knobs for the dresser. I will find some burlap for use behind the caged doors. I would like a bookcase someplace in the room if it fits. Right now, DH and I have all kinds of books that are presently stored in the bedside tables. The stencil idea is interesting. I can envision it in a very faint , almost translucent shade. The walls are textured, so wallpaper isn't an easy option. I'd welcome sources for console options. For the plants, are you thinking of a floor plant in a large pot by the dresser and a tabletop one by the console? I love plants. I'm just not sure what to put them in or what type to get. I'm open to the blue turndown on the duvet, although the existing fabric is very nice. I may sew some decorative pillows in the blue and place them in front of the standard shams to offset the existing cream color. Jeana - I'm so glad you've taken an interest in my project. Thanks for all of your thoughts and ideas. They have helped immensely. I really like the chair and fabric you linked to, and I could easily paint the wood trim using the Old White chalk paint. I like the print too. I'll need to do some measuring to see where the furniture could be placed. A chair would be so nice someplace in the room. valinsv - Those are the very same chalk paint colors I have. The only difference is that in the furniture pictured, they lightened the blue with some of the white. My son is pretty handy, so he may be able to make/weld me some sort of connector thing for my existing rods. I saw a new bergere chair today, and it was beautiful, not the right color though. I'll have some fun scarfing around. I enjoy the process of making choices, but not being stuck in analysis paralysis. I think I'll see if I can get a sample of the fabric for the Home Decorator chair posted by InteriorStylist. As for raising the lamps higher, I think I would run into problems finding something that is both bright enough and that has a narrow enough shade. The current lamps take 100W bulbs, which is pretty bright. I'm still open on the lamps and shades. The smaller burlap is definitely an improvement. I am so touched by all the responses on this thread, and each and every post has been helpful in considering the options. The folks here can't be beat, that's for sure. I knew I could count on you all! I'll post more pictures, if you can stand them, after I add some details to the nightstands and raise the draperies. Thanks!!!

Dee: Thanks. It's almost it. The one I am looking at is ivory/black and the one you linked is ivory/blue, though the blue looks black on my monitor. I really like that rug and was suspecting it was a Safavieh and even checked their website but could not find it there. I just had a 10% from Overstock that expired last week. Problem is the coupons sometimes are only for a few days--so hopefully with the better pics, etc. I can get some more feedback and be ready when the next coupon comes. I do wonder if I could use your coupon if you are not. Is it just a code? If you feel comfortable, you could email it to me and I could try it out without ordering it.

Cran - Like everyone else has said, linen wrinkles and there is no escaping it. But OMG linen is the most comfortable fabric to wear in heat & humidity, as you well know!!! I recently (ahem) outgrew my favorite pair of oatmeal linen shorts. (old age and body changes over which I have no control ... waaah!) They were some of my "good" shorts, but I also wore them on the golf course when the temperature was over 95°F and humidity was over 50% here in The South. I like to iron linen when it is damp, whether it has partially dried from the wash or I've used a spray mister bottle. Line/air dried linen will press up crisp; no starch, sizing, or Mary Ellen's needed. Automatic dryer dried linen is softer and not as crisp after drying or ironing. (That has been my experience.) Linen garments can have the wrinkling minimized if they are underlined with silk organza or Logantex's "Ambiance" rayon bemberg lining fabric, but few people sew or have someone make their clothing. These two fabrics "breathe" where fused interfacing, which also minimizes wrinkling, usually will not be as "breathe-able" due to interfacing usually being made from a synthetic fiber. Underlining works with dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, and not with a shirt or blouse. Probably more than you wanted to know.... LOL