The pretext for this post is Ann Kroeker's Make-Do Monday Linky party, in which I submit the bedside carafe…but it doesn't end there, because if I'm going to go up to my room to take pictures of water, I'm going to show you the whole room.
So really, it's a tour of my (and the Chief's) bedroom. Do you mind?
I'm a little surprised by this room, because it turned out in a way that I would never have chosen from scratch.
But I really enjoy it every time I go in, which, as you may guess, is often — at least once a day 🙂
And I thought that maybe my experience could help you see that by putting your pretty things around (as opposed to “decorating”), and by being patient, you can solve some problems and not spend much money.
Let's talk about the carafe first, shall we? You know, or at least you ought to know, that the Chief is notoriously, mind-numbingly, despairingly hard to buy gifts for.
I joke that if he hadn't married me he'd be a hermit in a cave with possibly one fork and a plate.
That his mother gave him.
He really just doesn't like stuff, other than his books, and those he likes to choose for himself for the most part.
He's a stinker, all right.
So a while ago I noticed that he was keeping a plain old plastic water bottle on his bedside table. That is very anti-aesthetic, don't you think? While Christmas shopping at TJ Maxx (of course) I came across this bedside carafe for about $4 (sh…don't tell him!), and thought — aha!
On Christmas morning he delightedly exclaimed, “Something useful I didn't even know I needed!”
Exactly. Score one for Santa, baby!
Would you like to know why there is a gigantic flashlight on that table? Read about how the Chief fell down the entire length of our stairs (18 steps!) the morning of the ice storm/power failure and lived to tell about it.
Then I got to thinking…you know, I would sort of like a carafe for my side of the bed! But naturally my favorite store had only that one…I've been looking…and then I thought —
I have the wherewithal to make a bedside carafe! I do!
How about this milk bottle I literally found in the wall behind the tub in our apartment in Washington D. C., about 25 years ago? (Of course it has gone through the dishwasher many a time since then, don't worry.)
I could fill that with water and put this glass I literally picked up on the side of the road (with some other assorted glassware put out by a householder) on top! Voila! A perfectly free bedside carafe!
(Note that I also have a flashlight on my table.)
I would never have thought of this whole thing before this year, because of the whole little-kids-running-around-creating-chaos-with-nothing-at-all-so-why-provide-them-with-dumb-stuff-like-glass-water-carafes thing that you develop over the years of raising seven children.
But you know what? My youngest is twelve. And the worst that can happen is that during a black-out the water will spill and the glass will break (the milk bottle probably won't, though!). I can do this now! I've earned it!
So now that we are here, would you like to hear about all my bedroom finds? First, the bed. My neighbor (the same one who was throwing away the washboard) was throwing away this bed.
It was that dreary brown wood that you see — not very attractive, I admit. I asked him if he was sure he wanted to throw it away — why didn't he just paint it? “No, I don't want it.” “Can I take it?” “Sure, go ahead.”
When we moved here I found some leftover white paint in the garage and slapped it on. If I sanded or primed, I don't remember that. Almost ten years later it is a little chipped, but I don't care! I really love this bed.
The flannel sheets are deep-markdown from Target. I scored two sets, so for the first time ever I can just make the bed after I strip it, rather than waiting for the wash to go through.
The duvet cover was on sale at LL Bean a decade ago, very cheap. The down pillows are from TJ Maxx, $13 each — can't beat that!
The Chief and I have always slept in a full-sized bed, and I suppose I'd like a queen if I could find one this pretty for free.
But the problem with a larger bed would be that this room (like most of my rooms, as I told you the other day) has four big windows, three doors, and a marble fireplace.
Which sounds lovely until you try to put some furniture in there…
Next. The chair. Given to me by a friend. Nice shape, ugly upholstery. I'd love to get it slip-covered in some crisp white cotton duck, or linen maybe….right.
So another friend, a wonderful generous elderly lady, gave me the curtains and matching bedspread, thinking I'd be able to use the fabric for quilting. It's…an unusual print, to say the least. At first I really didn't' like it, and couldn't think of how to use so much… unusual fabric.
But then I realized that there were four sets of panels — and where, oh where, was I ever going to find that particular number of panels (usually if you are lucky you find 3 sets) or even that much material? Maybe I should hang them and just see how it looks…
And the bedspread went right over the chair… and you know what, I love it! The blue and the light brown is very warm, cottage-y, and inviting; and the truth is that this room is difficult, cold-looking, and imposing.
Even the fact that the curtains are not full length (and are a little shabby and the worse for wear) is okay by me, because it adds to the cottage feel. The brown enlivens the yellow of the walls (which was there when we moved in, and which is not getting changed any time soon).
The bureau is one we bought from Ikea for Rosie's room when we moved here. I wouldn't buy something like that again, but at the time it seemed like the right thing to do. Now that she's gone, I use it here for extra storage, and it does fit in well with my found basket and dried hydrangeas.
You remember the mirror I painted black last fall. (You can read about the lamp by the chair in that post too.)
These dressers my mother (as you might have guessed by now, an inveterate furniture collector — also a great thrifter) gave me long ago. Actually, mine has been mine since I was a girl, and she gave me the other one when I got married. They are a tad small (hence the usefulness of the blue dresser) and need to be painted or redone, but who has time!
And this chair my mother also gave me, in the same warm brown, and it sits next to a yard-sale hooked rug ($3!).
With the curtains everything got pulled together and suddenly there was a style to this room, however humble, that I really love. It makes me happy and it makes the Chief happy (insofar as he cares, which is not that far).
And it was pretty cheap, you have to admit! (If there's anything else you want to know about, I'm happy to answer questions. I just need to stop this post now 🙂
Songbirdtiff says
Love the bed. It's gorgeous! There is no way that James and I could share a full size bed. Well, to be fair, it's James and I, two dogs, and however many cats decide to show up. There is no chair in my room. :)I got my coffee table much the same way you got your bed. A neighbor put it on the side of the road (then it sat out in the rain over night). I stopped and asked if I could have it and she looked at me like was crazy before saying yes. I LOVE it. Crazy lady.
Andrea says
I loved this post.I totally suck at decorating anything, but there you go, creating a style out of almost nothing. Way to go!I warn you: I'll steal the carafe ideas. Every night I take a glass of water to my bedside table, and it never even occured to me that I could do it, you know… nicer…
Aleta says
Thanks Leila! now I can use some of the milk bottles we inherited from Johns family's farm. And they have been sitting empty because..? Because I have no imagination. Hmmm use them…who would have thought?I finally retired my bed which I loved & was beautiful, like yours but had to buy a new bed and was seduced into a queen size. The old one now sits in my attic awaiting a resurrection someday..Anyone know how to stretch one?
Mrs. Reverend Doctor says
I don't know if you know this or not but your bed is called a "Pineapple bed" and is probably and even painted it probably wort a nice sum.
Sara says
Another great post. My wise, artistic mother said that if you fill your home with things that you love, it will be beautiful. And I think it will match in a not-too-matchy-matchy way.I read about the Chief falling down the stairs that night! Now I know that the 2 of you go together. My, the blogosphere is small!
Catherine says
I had a bed that was a similar style to yours when I was little. I called it the "pineapple bed" because that's what I thought the mini-poster-tops looked like. One of them was loose, too, so I would take it off and pretend it was a microphone when no one was looking. Oh, and it was my great-grandfather's originally. My parents nabbed it when they were getting rid of it and re-stained it. Memories! Thanks for this lovely picture-filled post. 🙂
Leila says
Songbirdtiff — yes indeedy. We didn't ever have animals in the bed, but plenty of kids to make it seem mighty small at times. However, almost 30 years later… it seems bigger now :)Andrea — go for it! That glass of water gets dusy, huh?Aleta — yes, clever me. Note that I bought one before I came up with this idea. Sigh.Thanks Mrs. R D and Catherine — I call it a pineapple bed too, and I am very grateful that I found it! My old one wasn't as much my style as this one, although it was a nice hand-me-down from the Chief's grandma. Habou uses it now…
Leila says
And Sara — 🙂
Sharinskishe says
I love your room! Your carafe is a beautiful touch, both useful and decorative. Now if I only had some old milk bottles….. I think old bottles are so delicious.Thanks for your post.Sharinskishe
Decadent Housewife says
A delightful tour of a too-oft neglected place. Have you thought about sewing a length of solid fabric to the bottom of the drapes bringing them to the floor – if it bothers you where they are right now? Maybe a soft blue? I love them and how you used the bedspread.
Ann Kroeker says
Oh! (Imagine that said softly, my mouth in a perfect circle, eyes wide with admiration.)That's exactly the kind of feel I want for my entire house.It's beautiful.But. You know what? I HAVE A CARAFE! I do, down in the basement. You will not believe it. Every night I ask the kind and servant-hearted Belgian Wonder to bring me a glass of water when he comes up after taking some medicine. And he does, night after night, without complaint.Won't I be all amazing with my carafe & glass? Life is about to change for the Kroekers. Tonight. It can change that fast when you're willing to make-do.Thanks for the inspiration and the marvelous photo-tour!
Debra says
Did you paint your floor? I love all the finds, I too am a collector of things. I love the way you put it all together too.
Leila says
Sharinskishe — thanks! I have at least one more, so maybe some other rooms could get a carafe too…Ann — Thanks! I'm glad I jogged your memory! Tell your husband he can wire me the fee ;)DH: I have thought of that! I'm trying to be patient. It will take at least 4 yards of fabric to make the curtains longer. I'm truly okay with it this way — the windows are so big and the ceilings are so high I think it works — but some day, SOME DAY…I'll stumble on something that will work… of course, by then, the curtains will have crumbled away :)Debra — I didn't paint it — it was that way when we moved in. Sigh. I'd love to refinish the floor. It's beautiful yellow pine under there (we did one small room that desperately needed it to be liveable). But honey, talk about your money pits 🙂
kristine says
such a nice home =)
Jenny says
I've been wanting a bedside carafe forever. Now I'm looking around with new eyes. I'm sure I have something that can make do.Thanks! 8)
Michelle says
I really like your room…it is so warm and cozy and inviting. And isn't that always the way it goes for our master bedrooms? The least of things…the hand me downs…the extras. But in your case…it turned out very sweet. I've given up on having a Pottery Barn home…it's never gonna happen. So now I'm just determined to make it as beautiful as *I* can with what I've got…which isn't MUCH…but it's enough. Thanks for sharing…I really enjoy your blog!
Shangrila says
I love your picture-filled posts! What a beautiful room! Very magazine-y, amazed at the thriftiness!
debbie bailey says
I love your bedroom, and that marble fireplace is wonderful! We still have a full bed too. Ugh! I can't talk husband into getting a queen. Oh well, I guess he just wants to be close. Worked okay when we were young and thinner!
G.L.H. says
Leila,I was snooping around your bloggy and noticed that one of your sons graduated from ND. My oldest daughter is the rector of one of the women's dorms there.(Breen-Phillips). As always, it's a pleasant way to spend an hour (or a 1/2, or even a few minutes!)–Barbara
G.L.H. says
Oops, me again. Reading over my comment, I see the grammar is horrendous. It's pleasant spending time perusing your blog, not necessarily women's dorms…
Pippajo says
How do I love that bed? Let me count the ways…but not out loud. Truly, I love the entire room, and I must say it reminds me of the feel of our own bedroom. And I found myself nodding along so many times–we've put most of our house together with things we've found at curbsides, at yard sales, on clearance racks, etc. I find I like the challenge and get a great sense of accomplishment when it's done, in addition to being frugal.Another great post, I salute you.
Susie Q says
>>I joke that if he hadn't married me he'd be a hermit in a cave with possibly one fork and a plate.That his mother gave him.>>We married twin sons of different mothers…I swear we did. Would Chief insist on his music along with his books? Cabinet man would!
Katy says
I love your blog! It’s like talking to my mom:-) warm and homey and filled with useful advice. I hope my bedroom can one day be as lovely as yours.