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BOUDOIRE FAIRE

May 25, 2009

Does your bedroom still look like it did in college? I don’t mean the piles of dirty clothes. How does it look when it’s picture perfect? Don’t like that picture? Well, neither will she. Time to suck it up and commit a few bucks to making your bedroom look more inviting.

First, the bed itself. Choose a piece of furniture that is solid and won’t creak when used properly. Sleigh beds are a good choice – all curves, no sharp angles…like her.

Soften it up with lots of pillows. Pillows just make a bedroom look fuller, richer, cozier, softer…better. You need big ones in the back row and little ones in front. The big ones are called shams and the smaller ones are standard. Since you’re spending at least a third of your life in bed, invest in a padded mattress cover – it’s guaranteed to get an “mmmmmmmm…ahhhhhhhh” every time you hit the sack.

For sheets, you can’t go wrong with white cotton, and remember that the higher the thread count – like 300-400 – the softer and higher quality the material. And remember, the more you wash them, the softer they get!

Comforters are next. Down-filled duvets are warmer in winter but not too warm to use in summer when you remove your top sheet. Make sure it’s quilted (i.e. sewn into small square sections to keep the down evenly distributed). The duvet cover is your first foray into the world of color and patterns and “artistic choices”. Look at magazines for what suits your style and talk to someone you trust about what looks good…embossed stripes are a pretty safe bet.

Now, toss those piles of clothes in a hamper and you’re ready to entertain.

Filed under: "Crib Notes" — Jake Nesbitt @ 2:25 pm

The Walls Have Y-ears

May 6, 2009

Look around at those sad, bare walls of yours. That’s not you. Think you don’t know jack about decor?  Well, you have a history. You have family. You have good taste. You have something to say. So, let’s get some of your rich, untapped resources up there!

What looks good? Well, here’s the big secret: the photo/relic is important to you – the FRAME is important to the “look” of the room.

First, decide what you want to use to represent you: pix of loved ones, friends at the barbeque, good times around the keg, your best golf scorecard, travel -  artsy shots you’ve taken with your 10 mega-pixel camera that are just wasting away; even nice magazine covers will work.

Take stock of your photo library. Maybe you have iPhoto or something similar. Create an album called “Frame-ables” and start dragging your faves in one-by-one. Use a scanner to grab photos, etc. buried in your sock drawer all these years. Soon, you’ll have a nice collection from which to choose.

Next, start printing. Use off-the-shelf, high-quality photo paper. It costs a bit more than regular paper, but it will make your photos pop, and hold their color over time. Print in sizes that will fit in standard frames: 3×5, 4×6, 8×10.

Now, shop for some classy-looking frames in colors that work for the photos and complement your best furniture - not your soon-to-be junk. You will have to suck it up and commit to spending a little money on frames but they’re as much about you as your clothes. Always use a matte around the photo (cream, white or gray)…it’s an extra step, but really makes your material look better than it really is.

Cluster the frames in high-traffic places that need the most help. Lay them out on the floor to get an idea of how to hang them. Use tiny nails - real picture hooks for the heavy ones.

Bottom line: spend time on selecting the right photos; spend money on the frames/matting.

Filed under: "Crib Notes" — Tags: , , , , — Jake Nesbitt @ 6:00 am