Sunday 5 May 2013

Decorating Bedrooms.....

 
When I was a little girl I was afraid of the dark. Each night I would creep into my Mum and Dads bed and sleep between them, where it felt safe. I can now appreciate how frustrating this must of been for them!
 
Obviously as I got older I could no longer squeeze between them, so the bedroom landing had to be left on....bet that was annoying too!I shared a bedroom with my sister, but that didn't help!
 
When I was 10 years old, my Mum, in her wisdom, declared this really must stop. She told me I could have the small bedroom all to myself. I could choose my decoration...but the landing light had to go off! Now this was very tempting....get away from my sister.....space of my own....the deal was done!
 
The room was tiny, I could squeeze a single bed and chest of drawers in and that was all, but it would be MY ROOM!
 
I chose this paper.....
 
 
Dark brown with flowers on....luckily Mum put some spare on this little plastic container! (so THAT'S where I get my put-wallpaper-on-everything from!!!) Well you can imagine how cosy it was. I can remember Mum asking me if I thought it would be too dark, no it will be just as I wanted it to be. So despite her reservations, she wallpapered and painted my room. It was all ready for me when I returned home from my holiday with Aunty Jen (Butlins at Filey, fab holiday!).
 

 
This was my dressing table, it's lived with me ever since, now though it sits in the living room, keeping all Mr Beas gadgets safe....I don't ever look in there!
 
You know something, I've never been frightened of the dark since!
 
When I was 16 years old I had to give up my bedroom, my Grandma Ada Bea came to live with us. She loved that little bedroom too, she told me I had the 'eye', she had the 'eye' too. She loved her home, and she loved to make it look good.
 
And I've been hooked ever since. I love design, I love colours, I love my surroundings to reflect me.
 
 
And this is the latest 'reflection' of me....
 
 
It's colourful but calm....
 
 
A bit of vintage thrown in....
 
 
Nothing quite matches....(we've had the filling cabinet bedside tables for at least 15 years now, not ever so pretty but you can't half cram a lot of socks in them!)
 
 
It reflects me, as I am now, homespun, bit quirky....and you know something......
 
 
The best bit is yet to come....I've this chair to paint and reupholster, a lampshade to finish, vintage wallpaper to hang, lamps to find, and this lovely, albeit naughty dressing table to finish (more on that soon!). And of course, I will need to scour the charity shops in search of little bits of treasure...yep, this really is only the beginning.....
 
 
Thank you all so much for your painting advice, I ended up putting some acrylic undercoat on, then painting, boy has it been a job! More photos to follow, once the knobs are on!!!
 
Bye for now!
 
Ada Bea....who loves her bedroom! :) xxx
 
 
 

55 comments:

  1. Hi There,Beautiful!!!!I really love your bed!!!Your grandma was right,you certainly have the eye!!! Have a wonderful happy week!!!
    Love
    AMarie

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  2. I think you're super-talented in the home-making department! Everything looks so homely, and that mint colour on your wardrobe is absolutely gorgeous - goes perfectly with the curtains! x

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  3. Looking tip of the top x Jane

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  4. Lovely fresh and airy bedroom. I love the colour of the cupboard. I too have a sample of my childhood wallpaper -covering my Home Economics book! I'm just about to write a post so I'll photograph it and pop it on.

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    1. We all decorated our books with bits of wallpaper didn't we! :) x

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  5. Absolutely beautiful. Pretty but with a twist. And soooo tidy....

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    1. It's only tidy because there's not much in there yet!!! :) x

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  6. Ah - it's perfect! What a cheery yet restful place to lay your weary head!
    x

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  7. Oh Ada, your room looks stunning and truly reflects your love and clever eye for colour. Its too beautiful, I adore the colour of your wardrobe, the pink quilt, the cushions, chair, dressing table....oh simply everything. Well done with all your hard work and perseverance, soooo worth it. Enjoy your new space, I know I would find it hard to leave xxx Penny
    ps. thanks for sharing your childhood story too x

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  8. SO pretty, Ada! You really do have the 'eye'! I love the way you have decorated our bedroom, so fresh and cheerful without being overly bright.

    I am currently painting my dining room chairs and a few wooden bits and bobs - as you know from my blog - and also that i am NOT a great preparer! I am too eager to get going ....then I run out of steam especially with chair rungs. So I am going slowly... very slowly! Looking forward to more of your pics.

    Yes, I was afeard of the dark as a child, not not the extent of needing a light on, an over-active imagination, I think.

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    1. I'm the same hate the prep, then always looking to cut corners!!! :) x

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  9. Ada the end result is amazing!! I love the colour of the wardrobe and absolutely love what you have done to the suitcases. The curtains are so gorgeous, it all looks just AMAZING!!! Well done you xoxo

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  10. That looks lovely, knew you would get there before me. Just faffing my boxes inside and I'm done. What next? You do another room and I'll make a pin cushion...1 2 3... go ! EE xx

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    1. Ha! Ha! Think I'm done with he paintbrushes for a while anyway! :) x

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  11. Ooh I love having a project on the go Ada, and the bedroom already looks absolutely splendid! Can't wait to see what else youdo with it ...

    Loved this post as I too had the smallest bedroom, with only a bed and chest of drawers (David Cassidy covered every inch of wall space though, not vintage wallpaper) and I holidayed at Butlin's Filey! Those were the days lovely lady, weren't they?

    I really love the wardrobe ... Yes, we can safely say you definitely have 'the eye'!

    Enjoy your Bank Holiday

    Love Claire xxx

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  12. Aaa ha you use Miss Dior so do I ...its my smell LOL!

    Lovely lovely room and I do LOVE the colour of the wardrobe Ada and everything everything goes so well together. I'd like to go to sleep with those colours around me.
    I'll agree with everyone else here ....you have most definitely have the "eye" :-)

    Many thanks for your comments on my latest post and Alicante isn't so far away .... it makes a great breakaway!


    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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    1. Alicante looks fab, wish I could but no pennies for the fights I'm afraid! :) x

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  13. Beautiful bedroom, so fresh and bright... so tidy :) It's so good to have that space that belongs to you for you to relax in, love it :) xx

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  14. Looks beautiful Ada... fresh, restful, colourful and well lovely... now rest up and enjoy it! Hugs Cx

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  15. Ada, I love it. It's so YOU. You do have the "eye". That garland looks great strung above the bed and the colours and patterns work so well.

    I've just given Bella a little white filing cabinet as a bedside table...she had so much fun labeling the drawers and putting all her stuff in it. xx

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    1. Eldest Bea has one too, with all her school stuff in, she thinks it great! :) x

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  16. The bedroom looks beautiful Ada! Lovely colours and I like the suitcase on top of the wardrobe. Lots of nice things to look at. Thanks for sharing your makeover :) Wendy

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  17. Ada your bedroom is gorgeous - I adore the colour you've painted the wardrobe - and of course all those lovely vintage sheets and wallpaper covered suitcases! Enjoy the rest :)

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  18. So lovely Ada ... the wardrobe is beautiful and I love you curtains ... it is all perfect ... Bee xx

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  19. Just Blimming gorgeous!

    I love the colour of the wardrobe and the curtains they are definately my favourites.

    Well done you have a lovely room to relax in.


    P x

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  20. It looks so fresh and tranquil. A very soothing and yet uplifting room.Lovely. :)

    I was also very scared of the dark and also had to have a light on, or sometimes I crawled into my little sis's bed and bribed her to let me stay by telling her made up stories until we fell asleep. Aah memories - you've brought those all back. :)

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  21. oh I could so curl up in there....its lovely....perfect colours. my wallpaper as a kidlet was brown with flowers....ah memories x

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  22. Oh wow! You do have an 'eye' for this. I absolutely love what you have done. That wardrobe colour is to die for! Can't wait to see more. And it's so nice that you still have some of your childhood furniture in your home. Mel x

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    1. Yes I think so too, I can't imagine my home without those little drawers! :) x

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  23. so relaxing..!!!!!!! xxxxxx Ale

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  24. your bedroom has such a come in and relax look, I love the colour of the wardrobes would love that colour in my kitchen for accessories etc. Can not wait to see it all finished with all your personal touches I know it will be wonderful with your creative mind.

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  25. Those colours against the white backdrop look perfect xo

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  26. Of course you love it, it's fabulous! I agree with your grandmother, you definitely have that 'eye'.

    Have fun with all the details. I am desperately trying to finish my studio this week, but no doubt something else will come along to derail me, it has every time so far!

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  27. Your new bedroom looks absolutely gorgeous Ada Bea. It is definitely colourful but calm. There's nothing like the feeling of a freshly decorated room, a bit of furniture shuffling, a few coats of paint and it's like you've got a whole new space. Do you walk in there just to look at how pretty it looks? :) Jo x

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  28. I would love it too! It is a great bedroom. Very peaceful! That aqua cabinet is lovely....it would be perfect for folded fabric....hee hee!

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  29. ~ I could write the biggest chattiest comment here , dear, Ada.....Because I know just how you felt...I never had a bed room to my self, but shared with big sister (and the bed too) but I always feared the dark! ~ I had to go to bed first and would wait and wait till she joined me to tell me stories...Perhaps that is why we are still close now...I keep my landing light on all night for my children....Or maybe for me! hehe...LOVE the cool simplicity of this room, that you have created....and the fact that it was all created from you and not in the least shop bought!
    Enjoy your little haven of piece, my friend! You have me thinking of my past wall papers from them days.....I remember I had John Travalta and Snoopy posters every where....Happy Days!~ with kind thoughts....Maria x

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  30. Your bedroom is beautiful. I love everything in it especially the wardrobe and the pretty eiderdown. xx

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  31. What a lovely post. I think your bedroom looks so beautiful, yes you definately have an 'eye, for what looks fantastic I'd say...
    M x

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  32. It looks great! It's going to be so much fun adding treasures. I like your perfum collection and that your grandma said you have the 'eye' and that she did too! Heather x

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  33. Lovely bedroom! I love your bed. Not my kind of style, but in here it is just the right one;) Can't wait to see moore...

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  34. Love the colours you have used,you truely do have the eye for design x

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  35. Wow Ada......your bedroom is lovely. Love the blue wardrobe & your bedstead! Makes me want to redecorate straight away.....will show your post to hubby to prompt him Ha!
    Have a good week
    Natalie
    x

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  36. You've done a brilliant job. I love EVERY LITTLE THING (sorry, I appear to be shouting!). Mismatched is good in my opinion. xx

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  37. Beautiful, i love the colour of your wardrobe! Very cheery.

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  38. That wardrobe is THE most beautiful colour! The room looks stunning xx

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  39. Your bedroom looks fab and I love the colour of the wardrobe.
    Sarah x

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  40. Lovely color on the big closet. <3
    Nice bedroom.

    Hugs from Lite hi

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  41. I love your tale of getting your own bedroom its much the same as mine!
    I was afraid of the dark for years and also shared a room, for years i had the light on all night! We progressed to the hall light then we moved and I got my own room too! Mine was pink flowers and my own bedside lamp, and i was fine. Now I moan if I get the slightest shard of light in our bedroom!

    Love the wardrobe too, beautiful colour x

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  42. Oh the colour in this room is lovely, you are doing brilliantly. I love that you have saved a piece of your childhood wallpaper too. My mum brought over some of my childhood stories from grade two and they were covered in vintage wallpaper- now I know where the love came from. mel x

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  43. i am totally in love with your room x

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  44. love the story of ur first decorating job....and it was sweet of u to give it up for ur grandma!ur new bedroom looks great xx

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  45. I love how you have decorated your bedroom! I'm not sure if you have mentioned it previously, but please could you tell me what paint you used for your wardrobe? I think it is beautiful and would be the perfect colour to paint a wooden chair that I recently bought.

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  46. Gorgeous colours in your room and so calming!

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