RedRum, RedRum

Does anyone get the reference to that title?

In my previous post "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day"  I showed you the beginning of the evolution of my red bedroom.  Here's a little more.

As usual, I was in Home Goods one day and I saw this armoire which was the right size and was the same color wood as my vanity desk, so I went for it.  I had been looking at all the furniture stores in my area for a white armoire, which of course they didn't have, or one that would fit my needs and that perhaps I could paint.  The ones I saw along the way were either way too big, just not the right configuration or extremely expensive.  The one from Home Goods is great.  Every now and then I look at it and think about painting it.  It goes pretty well as is.  What do you think?

Also along the way, as I was looking for a red chandelier for my bedroom ceiling (see my first post and the inspiration red room picture), I had a tough time finding anything and then one day, I came across this red acrylic chandelier.  It looks like crystal, you really can't tell that it's not crystal until you get up close and touch it.  I got a really good deal on it.  Here's my sister graciously holding it up for me to see how it looks.  I haven't had it installed yet, but it's on the list.

Picture the chandelier without the little shades and also, I was considering putting a cool white border to highlight the chandelier. I'm still working on that.  Do I center it over the bed?  or center it to the room?  I've read about different schools of thought.  What do you think?

The next thing I had to do was to figure out what decorative items to put on top of the armoire because it was just dead space.  Don't laugh, but I bought like eight or so types of vases  all at once from Home Goods, some very modern and some classic, all white.  I had to bring them all home in order to try them out on top of the armoire.  The modern pieces I got turned out to be way to tall to fit but that was fine because I really liked the ceramic ginger jars instead.  I needed something to group with them and remembered that I had bought these white vinyl croc boxes.  Here is what it looks like now:

I love the fact that the ginger jars have the trellis like pattern, in two different sizes, which will echo the Red Trellis fabric pattern I created on www.spoonflower.com and will eventually use to make curtains. The white boxes just were perfect.  I had found them at Home Goods as well and planned to use them for other things.  In fact, I keep looking to see if I can find more, but I'm having trouble finding white again.  I'll get lucky one day.  Here is the Red Trellis fabric, see how it all ties in together? 

There is one more element that echoes the trellis pattern that I would like to share in this post.  One of my former work colleagues was cleaning out his office and was going to get rid of a shadow box from pottery barn.  I didn't have anything specific in mind, but I asked if I could have it instead of it being thrown away.  The frame was brown wood and the inside was lined in beige canvas.  I took it home and after some thought, settled on a plan to recycle the shadow box into a cool wall art piece.  Because it was going on the red wall, I painted it all, what else but white.  I bought red crystal chandelier pieces from ebay and using clear Elmer's glue, I glued down the crystal pieces in a pattern.  When I hatched the idea for this project, I thought about using a very large canvas and making a large wall piece, but then I decided the shadow box was better and that I would like to paint an original artwork on a large canvas instead (see earlier post).  I absolutely love the finished project.  Here are the visuals.

I just love how this project came out!  I got to add more jewels into the decor which is always good and it looks great on the small wall between the closet and the door.  It was a really easy project to do.  The white painting took most of the time. 

Thanks for stopping by and Stay tuned for more creativity!

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

The same is true for design and decoration.  It would be great if when a design idea popped into our minds, we could snap our fingers and the object of our desire would just appear. Boy, wouldn't that be nice!  Since that doesn't exist, we have choices.  We can search high and low to find something that fits or nearly fits, we can choose something else when we can't find it or we can make it ourselves.  Sometimes, I think I have found the one but when I get it into the space, it doesn't work.  Other times luck steps in and when I'm not even looking, I happen upon the perfect thing. 

I am a visualist by nature and that is why, as you have seen from earlier posts, that when I am planning something I often map it out first or create a visual.  Case in point, the diorama I made for my new apartment. Now in the days of online shopping, one doesn't get to see or experience an object in person but rather has to extrapolate color, dimension and texture into a mental picture and then base purchasing decisions on that information. After awhile of online shopping, a person gets a sense of how the online picture will translate into real life and is better able to discern between good picks and bad picks.  I know that for me, I had to order some duds before getting used to ordering well online.  I think a big part of the motivation is to avoid the return process and costs. But I digress.

When I was searching for items for my bedroom, some I had to search high and low for and some I just found by sheer dumb luck.

When I first moved into my new bedroom, I was using a lamp that really belonged in my living room, an old cheap side table from my previous abode and whatever bedding I had even if it clashed.  That is what a person does when they first move to a new place.  It takes time to put the pieces together. 

On one of my many strolls through Home Goods, I happened upon these cool mirrored side tables.  They were the right size and height, they had a small drawer and some cabinet space, but I wasn't sure if I wanted mirrored or just white tables, etc.  UNTIL, while standing right in front of them, a family came and almost pushed me out the way to get at the tables.  Well, gut instinct took over and I knew right then and there that I could not part with them.  The decision was made. Much better already!

I then focused on bedding. I searched tons and tons of websites, stores and catalogues.  I wanted a long white full bed skirt so I bought one online.  I tried white comforters with bold designs, I tried gold quilted coverlets and hated them all.  I thought I was going to have to settle or make my own but I couldn't find fabric either.  I found this gold damask duvet and a white coverlet from Bed Bath and Beyond and it was just okay.  It was good enough for my house warming party.

The transformation is starting but I still wasn't satisfied.  I was bored one day and decided to go to Burlington Coat Factory.  They have a bedding section, who knew?  I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this comforter set.  And it was so cheap!

It looks as though I have a thing for interlocking circles.  Isn't that much better?  Btw, the headboard when installed on the wall will be higher than it is now.  Now if only I could find the right lamps and get rid of the temporary ones.  Here, I've cut out pictures from the Internet of possible lamps and pasted them on the wall above the side table.  Visuals.

Here are the ones that won!  I'm so happy with them! I got them from Lampsplus.com.

While I was blinging up the room, I added a red crystal finial from ebay.

That's it for the this post on the red bedroom evolution.  More to come.

Thanks for stopping by and Stay tuned for more creativity!