Our master bedroom is posing major design challenges for me.  I know exactly what drapes, rug, and bed linens I would like to have, but in the absence of substantial funds to finance these items I have had to make do with what I currently have (or can afford). 

The overall room scheme is currently this: the palest of blue walls, pale blue-green ceiling, blue ikat pattern drapes, blue plaid silk bed skirt, and white coverlet.  It is a little boring, but I was attempting to keep the room soothing and restful.  Given that it is Winter and we don’t turn the heat above 62 degrees, I needed an extra down comforter on the bed; the perfect excuse to add a little bit more color into the room via a duvet cover.  I used some awesome raw silk-like fabric, a white queen sized flat sheet, and mis-matched buttons I already had and, wah-lah!, a duvet cover in 40 minutes.  It doesn’t add any new pop of color into the room since it is blue as well, but it does break up all the pale tones and white.  If you want step-by-step directions, click on the How-to tab.  Here are some photos of the new duvet on the bed:

I love the festiveness of garland.  I feel a bit cheesy admitting that fact, but it just seems to add so much charm, not to mention their versatility; you can hang them anywhere and on anything!  I decided to make a garland using nature’s products (i.e., free stuff), particularly pine cones and magnolia seed pods.  So on my lunch break yesterday I took a walk with a grocery bag collecting these items, receiving numerous confused glances from passing motorists the whole time.  Luckily I don’t embarrass easily and I have no shame. 

I had some silver metallic spray paint on hand and purchased some gold glitter spray to use to glamorize my finds.  I sprayed the magnolia pods silver and added a light glitter coating to the pine cones.  Unfortunately, the glitter does not convey well with my little camera. 

 I am impressed with how well the pods took the metallic spray; it made them look pretty fancy (Brandi, if your reading, I meant that in the way you think I meant it).  After everything dried, I used twine to tie everything together and make my garland. I still think it looks a little plain, so I will have to add something in the gaps.  Perhaps berries?  I am accepting suggestions!

My parents are coming to visit us this weekend (yay!) and when we have guests, I get utlra-motivated to get my house in order.  That means the regular cleaning regimen, but also making sure that the guest bedroom is in order.  I already put up some quick wall art to remedy the sparse, institutional feel, but I still felt like the bed needed to feel more welcoming.  The remedy?  Pillows!  I had some 20″ x 20″ down filled inserts lying around so all I needed to do was look for some fabric.  Then I remembered a bed skirt I had made a while back.  It is a great linen fabric with a simple, rustic yet graphic design: perfect!  I had already finished the edges earlier so I really only had to cut the fabric to size and sew it up.  I wanted to do the simplest cover possible so installing a zipper was out of the question.  I simple sewed a pocket and left an extra flap of material.  I sewed a button onto the pocket, cut a slit in the flap for the button, and wah-lah, finished pillow cover.  I made two since I had enough material, although one is probably enough for the bed.  It took me all of thirty minutes to do both.  If I may say so, the bed does look more inviting.

Up-Close of the "Flap"