{bedroom inspiration + musings}

i created a few mood boards of rooms that contain certain elements i'd like to include in our new bedroom... or at the very least a general 'feel' of what i am going for. don't pay attention to the colors as much as the feeling you get from each of these spaces. let me make it easier and i'll just specify what i like below each image. fresh flowers (a must), large euro-sized pillows (i have them on my current bed, cannot live without), i like the height of the lamp near the bed. love the art arrangement on the wall, though i think it would keep me awake at night as it's a bit stimulating so i may just go with an arrangement like this behind my bed where i cannot see it or in the living room or hallway. love a corner chair with a cushion. prefer a white blanket with a folded patterned blanket at the end of the bed. love the painted side table, relaxed bohemian vibes here, the use of furniture that you may find at a second hand store only rehab it (saves so much money) with new paint, knobs, and paper the drawers inside. on my current desk i have wrapping paper under glass on top of a west elm lacquered desk. i change the paper each month. it fits the top of the table perfectly so it almost looks like it's part of the desk vs. just wrapping paper beneath glass. I want to do the same thing in my new bedroom, only paper under glass on my dresser somewhat like the desk shown above. Or even fabric, I don't care. I'd like to do a collage on paper and cut to size as well, my own art beneath glass. how pretty. again, love the tall retro lamp. i really like the blanket above with the flowers on it. i'd love to take a white blanket and make my own flowers out of fabric and sew them on in random places. i also want a big white wooden wardrobe as our closet. a triple door would be ideal if i can find one, but i'll take a double door if it allows for more wall space for a dresser or writing table or a simple lounge chair. i also love the job robshaw handpainted cushion along the back of this daybed (the owl is resting on it). i saw one like it at auto. in new york and have been in love ever since. the persian pink and yellow rug is to die for. i'd love one like it in our bedroom. there is a persian rug dealer in hannover that i must go visit when i arrive in 4 weeks. i sometimes wonder if this is even possible for me, to pull a house together in a short period of time without it looking all trading spaces? i am usually so against this -- i believe in collecting over time. this alone is light years out of my comfort zone. it's why traditional interior design never suited me, i cannot stand the thought of pulling together rooms as part of a 'single' design job. clients want it and i never give it to them. i teach them how to get the fundamentals in place and how to build and grow from there. i'm like a personal trainer when it comes to design. i show them the basics, how to get their home organized, in shape, what they need to do, and i work with them for a certain period as they start to see progress and feel confident enough to continue the program on their own. that's the design philosophy i teach. i like the idea of taking months, years, to develop a space. my way of somehow making all of this work for me in germany without going against my grain is that i'm bringing along some prints and art i've collected over the past few years and i'll also try to pack a few things that i've had with me for a very long time so that there is some feeling of nostalgia and purpose here. i am also finding things to buy that i've long wanted, like the dna pendant that i purchased today, i've wanted it since they first released it in 2006 but had no place to put it here in america. i want to shop second hand shops as much as possible, i loathe the thought of buying everything brand new out of a catalog. of course i need a brand new bed, mattress, pendant lighting, and other things but i am quite excited about hitting vintage shops and antiques stores and flea markets so that i can build a sense of time here. i don't want it to read like a 'pop up apartment' or some space designed in a day on a television show. ick. ah the joys of starting from scratch. my only hope is that i can get the basics and place and not feel rushed to 'finish' this space too quickly because i have so many products in germany to select from that aren't in america, it's fun but also a selection i'm not that familiar with. i want to make the best decisions. this is a great process of learning and growth for me that i think i can use in other parts of my professional career. i can finally experience what i do for my own clients, i can experience the feelings that they have when i tell them that i cannot create a room in a week for them. develop my patience. i can experience the frustration of living around boxes and rolls of wallpaper and glue placed everywhere. i haven't lived like this for many years. in my twenties i renovated tons of apartments from the ground up for myself, friends, and family. i also renovated and designed a day spa along with a hair salon in Boston. it's been awhile since i myself have installed wallpaper without hiring help. this is one of those projects that i actually crave, i need to do it for myself, must do in order to stay grounded and to continue to grow and love my profession. recently i've felt very out of touch with diy and home renovation because interior designers and decorators mostly fall into the category of project manager more than anything else. in the beginning you may do some of the work yourself, but once you have established yourself you aren't interested in painting and wallpapering for your clients. plus you simply do not have the time (i don't). okay enough chattering. off to see a movie and grab a bite with my hunky husband. ah he's so cute... our 7th year anniversary is in 9 days. :)