The Teen Bohemian Bedroom Makeover...

  

My daughter adores the Bohemian-Shabby-Chic-Gypsy look.

 The thing about this particular look is that the devil is in the detail. This style thrives on overkill and one can simply not execute it well, without going totally OTT (over the top). Restraint is not one of the elements of the Boho style.

In an effort to recreate French inspired lace drops, I searched everywhere for pretty lace panels to hand simply over the windows. I looked at many options for achieving this effect, and finally stumbled upon some lace table runners at the discount store for just $2.50 each, that I fashioned into faux blinds, by seaming them at one end, and attaching them to the window frame with that stretch curtain wire. This gives a very pretty window treatment for very little outlay.

A favourite collectable teddy and antique French boudoir doll, watch over our girl when she sleeps, and they're seated on a vintage vinyl pouffe.

Her bedside tables reflect the French inspired theme, with curved top, legs and crackled finish. Favourite trinkets are displayed here...a shabby chic clock, a dancing bride and groom in a music box cloche, and a vintage brush and mirror set.

Here's our lovely $12 vintage mirror, to which we applied a cute little bluebird decal...

...her vintage Carlotta Edwards print, circa 1963, of Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn in Pas de Deux, prettily reflected...

....and more birds...

...a silver one swinging from her drawer, vintage tray with pretty kitten in background...this one she says reminds her of the Mockingjay in her current favourite book, The Hunger Games...

...a pretty pastel blue tin one perches merrily on the window treatment...

...and some little wrens framed by lacy leaves and gilded, wink at her cheekily from the side of her desk...

Then there's the bed...

The bedding is a source of great pleasure to her. Unable to decide upon a single theme, we went for a bit of everything, simply endeavouring to tie the colours together. So with a happy Spring palette of blue, apricot, pink, green, red and white, we've managed to achieve a strangely harmonious display, which she simply adores. And it's totally in keeping with that 'OTT' idea that this style seems to demand.

 The coloured patchwork quilt is a 'topper' sourced on eBay for just $15, and stitched to a pretty blue floral printed sheet to use as a light summer cover. The pink and white patchwork is another eBay find, labelled as a 'cutter' for even less. It's a little frayed around the edges and has some worn patches, but it's incredibly soft and just the thing to snuggle around slender shoulders in the wee hours when the temperature drops. And those Mexican ladies...aren't they the best? I remember having a cushion with just this kind of print on it when I was very young. My daughter saw this fabric when I bought it for another project, and just had to have it. So there it is, as a bed scarf, with those glamorous ladies grinning up at us every time we enter the room!

Here's a vintage 50's quilted satin bedjacket, an item long shunned by the modern girl, as unnecessary, but charming as a piece of art,  hanging from her wall chandelier...

....a 'B' for Ballet, or Bohemian or Beautiful...whatever you like, embroidered in silk ribbon, a thrift shop find for just $15...

...and that gorgeous Shabby Chic Pas de Deux, faded and lovely, with her very own pointe shoes hanging prettily from one corner... her absolute favourite, hung since this shot was taken.

So, now we're done.

I guess it's on to other areas of the house...perhaps that Snuggery for lil' ol' me.

What's on your Tray of Bliss today?

American Beauty....

On my Tray of Bliss today is my thrifty bedroom makeover.

It all started when I bought this Memory Quilt on eBay over a year ago. It's sort of a folk art/shabby chic style piece and it's utterly beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. It's kind of worn in spots, but that's part of it's overall charm.

It was actually purchased for The Diva, but was so enormous when received, that I honestly didn't know what I was going to do with it.

Finally, in my frustration at not being able to find a suitable bedcover for my giant King Sized bed, I decided to see if this one would suit. Well, hallelujah...it's absolutely perfect!

It's meant rejigging the colour scheme of my bedroom a little as previously we were all neutrals with a touch of burgundy. But as you can see, we've simply upped the Burgundy and added some blue and we're looking good.

The addition of a couple of new pillowcases, and a cushion gave a bit of extra oomph. This cushion is actually a great secret way of storing Winter blankets and linen. This one is simply a quilt, folded into a suitable rectangular shape, encased in a remnant purchased for $1.80 because the colours complimented my quilt and wrapped 'gift' style, securing with safety pins. A complimenting grosgrain ribbon completes the picture. I store all of my bulky blankets and quilts this way. Larger ones are rolled into a cylinder, secured with rubber bands or kitchen string and wrapped in my Winter flannelette sheets. Again a toning ribbon is a nice touch.

It's a great way to get some free cushions and some blanket storage at the same time!

Just remember where you've hidden them when the cooler weather rolls around. I remember cursing vehemently when I couldn't find all of my Winter blankies...until The Musician reminded me that they were adorning our bed as decorator items!

This American Memory quilt was really a bit of a find.

I scored it for just $24, and when I received it, was amazed at the work that had gone into it. It's squares of denim or chambray with pieces of other remnants stitched into creative shapes on each square. I imagine these are scraps of clothing put to further use. There are gingham hearts, floral bikini shapes, random geometric shapes with musical notes on them, vintage ric-rac braid, ribbon, guipure lace, georgette hat and dress shapes, little scotty dogs in velvet and so on. It's the most beautiful, rustic thing ever. I imagine someone labouring over this for literally years, and shudder to imagine what turn of events forced the sale or abandonment of such a lovingly prepared item.

Total bedroom makeover? Well $24 for the quilt, $6 for the pillowcases, $1.80 for the remnant to wrap around my 'cushion', and $1.60 for the grosgrain ribbon. All up...$33.40 for a complete bedroom makeover.

Just goes to show, you don't need to spend a lot for a new look!

More detail from the quilt....I'm fascinated with the history of it...

Wedding dress or debutante gown perhaps?

This piece in cotton...could it have been a special childhood or Sunday Best outfit? Or perhaps a Valentines Day memento?

I had a dress trimmed in just this sort of Ric Rac when I was a child :)

These two cute figures were perhaps from a much loved apron or popover, donned by Nan to bake each day...

....and who was the musician or music lover in the family?

And finally,  a special piece...hand embroidered Satin Stitch forming a sweet little vine.

What's on your Tray of Bliss today?