More Dream Bedroom Elements ~ Carpet and Weathered Bench

Today I found another image of my dream room with a closer look at two if its elements...a weathered bench at the foot of the bed and a better look at the carpet. Much to my surprise, what I originally thought was solid cream colored carpeting actually has a dainty terracotta diamond pattern.

So armed with this new bit of knowledge it was back to the old internet in search of more area carpet options.

If you remember, the pattern of the valance (and possibly bed skirt if I can find matching fabric I can afford), looks like this...

The bench is something I think I can make from an old coffee table which is currently living down in the basement. I just need Mr. Rosemary Lane's strong arms and finely honed skills with regard to power tools, to make the table a bit more sturdy. Currently there is a cedar chest at the foot of our bed, but I think a bench with a cushion or two would be a lovely change to the space.

So in theory things seem to be coming together for the bedroom makeover. I have to say that I am really excited about making such big changes in our bedroom. This week I want to pick up my new wall color and then I need to clean...I mean really CLEAN out the entire bedroom...junk under the bed and all!!!!

My work is definitely cut out for me. 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and wishing you a wonderful start to the new week!

XO 

Recreating a Dream Bedroom Room from "House Beautiful"

Mr. Rosemary Lane always says..."If you want to make God laugh...make a plan!" As you know I have this beautiful green and white bedding my heart has been aching to put into the bedroom for the past year, so I've been on the hunt for some spectacular inspiration for my master bedroom makeover. 

Well I have looked and looked and looked and there is not another room out there on the internet, or in my many decorating magazines, that I fell harder for than this gorgeous bedroom from House Beautiful! 

I can't seem to get the image out of my mind, or off the computer screen for that matter. I know there is no green and white bedding in this room design which means the game plan will undoubtedly need to be changed. But I simply adore the room's warm green color paired with cozy creams and pops of orange. So needless to say I have been on a cyber hunt for items to match some of the elements in this beautiful room.

Our bedroom furniture is old enough to have a family of her own...wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? It is a Rice bed with a bureau and chest of draws in a classic cherry finish that I bought way back in the 80's, my very first grown up purchase! The furniture could use some new drawer pulls to give it a fresh look.

I think the cherry wood will look wonderful against the gorgeous green paint color of the inspiration room. The paint is by a company called C2 Paint and the color is New Leaf. And there is a C2 Paint store withing 30 minutes of my house...how lucky can a girl get? 

Upon closer look I realized that the Jacobean pattern on the headboard and dust ruffle is extremely close to Country Curtains' Jacobean floral in rose. (If you remember I have Jacobean floral in blue in the dining room and I am still in love with both the print and linen fabric)

I like the idea of using just the valance over a sheer...I already have sheers so I am halfway there. 

And isn't that orange accent carpet on the floor simply eye catching?

I came across this carpet on-line over at Home Depot. It measures 5 feet 3 inches in diameter. The cost is $95 plus tax, something to keep in mind if I do end up going in this direction.

I like this next area carpet too...it is an 8 X 10 for roughly $230. Since we have all hardwood in our bedroom something like this could be a possibility for an overall floor coverage in lieu of using the round orange carpet. 

Possibly pairing it with something like this valance. (However I do prefer the brighter background of the Jacobean valance.)

And don't you just adore this lamp?

I do too but if I walk into the house with one more lamp I think Mr. Rosemary Lane will take it and clock me over the head with the dang thing. I suppose I am going to have to make due with something I already own for this makeover!

Also it would be great if I could find a dust ruffle like the one in the picture to match the Jacobean valance. I thought about possibly purchasing fabric and having one made, but at over $30 a yard for fabric that option is pretty unrealistic! So I would need to figure out something else in an effort to duplicate some of the details in House Beautiful's stunning space.

When I look at this bedroom I see it as a place I could spend hours doing more than just sleeping. To be honest our master bedroom is so bad that I actually close my eyes whenever I walk by the opened door to the room. (So for now I am keeping it closed to spare myself the agony!) I am really thinking hard about making this dream space a reality in my home...I just have to get creative with the budget. Ideally I'd like to pull this room together for somewhere around $400 with my two major expenses being the area carpet and two valances. 

Ah...give me the weekend to really mull it over...but I do love this room!!!

XO

Guest Post ~ 9 Ways to Achieve a Chic Bedroom with Cushions

Good morning all!! I hope you are ready to great another one of God's glorious days with a smile on your face and a cup of Joe in your hands! As you already know I am planning to redecorate our master bedroom, and of course it will include new bedding, throws and definitely some new pillows for the bed itself. Well today I have something extra special to share with you. It is a guest post from Kathy Joe of Yorkshire Linens with tips on how to chic up your bedroom using pillows and cushions. So without further ado...here is Kathy Joe!!!

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Hi, I am Kathy Joe. I am a décor fanatic who is obsessed with all beautiful and crafty things in this world. God has blessed me with a crafty soul and I love to explore endless possibilities. You can get more of me here.

9 Ways to Achieve a Chic Bedroom with Cushions

Cushions are a decorator’s friend, especially when you are trying to finish a bedroom on a strict budget. Cushions are freely available, relatively cheap and easy to make, meaning that you can readily find or source the perfect cushion for your bedroom, no matter the décor theme or colour scheme that you are following.

1.  Giant Floor Cushions

Perfect for children, teenagers and young adults alike giant floor cushions are an inviting and comfortable place to relax and play games or read. They add an air of youth and fun to any bedroom, especially if they are brightly coloured or an unusual shape.

2.  Loads of Lovely Lace

Lace is absolutely beautiful and there are few feminine bedrooms that do not benefit from the odd touch of lave here and there. Investing in some lace cushion covers is a sure-fire way to add some old-school glamour to even the most modern bedroom!

3.  Cool Satin Softness

While genuine silk feels fantastic against the skin it can be very pricey. If you cannot afford real silk cushions, why not invest in some satiny alternatives that look and feel nearly as good as the real thing although at a fraction of the price? You will be able to afford several different colours and styles that will allow you to mix up your bedroom décor without needing to spend the entire budget.

4.  Giant Huggable Cushions!
Sometimes bigger is better and if you sleep alone, bereft of partner or pets a giant cushion can give you something to cuddle up to in the middle of the night. During the day your outsize cushion can work well to give your bed a new shape, especially if you like to sprawl on your bed reading, browsing the internet or working with a lovely cup of tea or coffee neatly to hand. 

5.  Add a Splash of Colour

One of the best uses for cushions in bedroom décor is to add a splash of colour to what would otherwise be a dull and bland colour scheme. Choose cushions covers in colours that complement and offset your main bedroom colours and see how they bring the room to life. For bright and breezy cushion covers my personal favorite is Yorkshire Linen Co.

6.  Touch of Metallic 

If you want to add some elegance and luxury to your bedroom, you can do no better than to invest in some gorgeous metallic fabric cushions. Not only are these still soft and comfortable but they add a real air of gracious living to any room. Choose between gold or silver depending on the rest of your décor.

7.  Whimsical Cushions

To brighten up your bedroom and add some light-hearted fun, invest in some whimsical shaped cushions. You can choose from animal shapes, lips, flowers or hearts – or even make your own truly unique bedroom cushions, personalised to your taste and liking. For taking professional help with whimsical décor I always recommend Tolgar Interior Designers.

8.  Big Pile

Create an immense heap of cushions at the head of your bed to make the room seem even more inviting. I do not know why, but it is a fact that the more cushions and pillows that you have arranged on your bed, the more attractive and comfortable the bed appears!


9.  Enhance Your Colour Scheme

Use your cushions to pick up and continue themes suggested by other colours in your colour scheme, emphasising any shades that might be swallowed up or overshadowed by others. Use the cushions’ colours to even out the balance of colour in your room and see how the whole room is immediately pulled together and polished as a result!

Use as many of these tips as you feel will work in your room – the only rule is that you must be completely happy with the end result, once you are done!

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Thank you so much Kathy for such awesome ideas!! Hopefully you have picked up an idea or two from Kathy as to new ways of using fabulous cushions to accent a bedroom.

Well for me it is off to another busy weekend of basketball with the kiddies and in between games I plan to start making some headway with my own bedroom project.

Wishing you all a wonderful and restful weekend.
Tootles for now!!!
XO

New England Style Clam Chowder

This recipe was adapted from Cooks Illustrated Cookbook with only minor changes made to the original recipe.

In these colder than cold Arctic days we've been having as of late, the only thing that really warms me up is a hearty bowl of hot soup! Today I decided to make Mr. Rosemary Lane's absolute favorite potage, New England clam chowder!

This chowder is made with freshly steamed Middle Neck clams, celery, onion, fresh thyme and a smokey bacon, so the base is really packed with flavor! The Yukon Gold potatoes have a moderate level of starch which is released into the mixture during the cooking time. This helps to nicely thicken the chowder. Oh and make sure you pick up a bag or box of oyster crackers to toss in with your piping hot chowda!!!

Ingredients:

3 cups of water

Approximate 3 1/3 lbs Middle Neck or Cherry Stone clams, scrubbed (about 35 clams)

5 pieces of bacon chopped fine

2 medium onions chopped

2 stalks of celery chopped

1 tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp of dried

3 T. butter

3 T flour

3 8 oz. bottles of clam juice (choose one lowest in sodium)

1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and diced

1 bay leaf

2 packets of Goya Sazon without Annatto (found near other Goya products in your local supermarket.) 

1 cup heavy cream

3 T minced parsley

fresh cracked peper

pinch of salt if needed

To start heat 3 cups of water in a large pot or Dutch oven, then in a metal basket or strainer steam the scrubbed clams until they are all opened up. Discard any unopened clams, keep the reserved juices and set it aside.

Next, in the same pot, heat bacon for about 6 minutes. Then add celery and onions and let them cook until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add a little of the reserved juice from the clams if needed, then add 3 tablespoons of butter and let it melt. Add 3 tablespoons of flour and make a roux. Slowly add the reserved clam juice along with the bottle juice and one bay leaf. Let the mixture thicken and then add 1 lb of Yukon Gold potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 20-25 minutes.

Once clams are cooled remove them from their shells with a sharp knife and mince. 

At the end of the 20-25 minute cooking time the potatoes should be soft but still have their shape. (The beauty of Yukon Gold potatoes.) Let the mixture cool somewhat and remove the bay leaf. In a blender add the mixture in small batches and blend till smooth. I like my chowder to have some chunkiness so I don't blend all of the mixture. Return the soup back to the pot and heat through. Turn off the heat and pour in 1 cup of heavy cream, or you can cut the cream with a 1/2 cup of milk or Half-n-Half. Then add the parsley and the clams. Let the mixture warm the clams through for a couple minutes and then serve.

Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

XO

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