We’re at the halfway point, friends and shockingly enough, I’m feeling rather organized in terms of the to-dos that are left for completing everything.
Dare I say we may actually get this whole baby done on time?!?
This week’s update is all about the rustic farmhouse guest bedroom decor staples – bed, bedding, rug and nightstands – and how things don’t always work out as planned.
If you remember back in week one, I talked about making over two step ladders into functional night stands for either side of the bed. I even found two at an antique yard sale that were pretty similar in size and look. It was as if the Gods were intervening and as determined as I was to have this work out.
And then the first roadblock came appeared. I put the ladders on either side of the bed and it was clear they weren’t going to work – they were way too small and seemed to dwarf even more so in comparison to the bed.
Hello, plan B. I quickly began researching nightstands, trying to find something within our budget. I also hit up the usual thrift stores and antique shops but came up empty handed.
About a week later, I had an epiphany and remembered we had two small tables (from previous DIY’s I kept ‘just in case’) that might work – a farmhouse style side table was in our entryway and this nightstand was hanging out in the other guest bedroom, collecting dust.
What do you know, they’re perfect. And free!
Next up was the bed frame and bedding.
The bed was purchased wayyyyyy back in the spring as one of those, “We have some extra money and we’re going to need this eventually, so let’s get it now,” purchases. Birch Lane listed the bed as a ‘dark bronze’ but the pictures looked black so I decided to give it a shot.
I definitely should not have been surprised when I put it together and realized the bed was indeed a dark brown. Apparently too much time surpassed and I ended up going back to the records and combing through all the product information with a fine tooth comb to see if I needed to write a strongly-worded letter to the company.
Spoiler alert: I purchased the one titled ‘dark bronze’ and if you zoom into the picture, you can tell that it has a hint of brown.
I’m debating whether or not to spray paint the entire thing black so it matches the other hardware in the room, but my motivation to do that was thrown out with the bed packaging and I haven’t been able to bring myself to strip off the bedding, maneuver off the matress and box spring and haul the bed downstairs to spray paint. I’m exhausted just typing all that out 😉
For the bedding, I had the sheets on hand that I knew I wanted to use; we got them as a wedding shower present back in June and they’ve been waiting to see the light of day since then.
The comforter was another story. I went back and forth about purchasing a new one or reusing something we already had on hand. While on vacation this past weekend, I even put a duvet in the shopping cart, ready to purchase after I showed it to Brett when I got home.
And then I went back through our linen closet one last time on Sunday evening to see if I was missing anything. Imagine my surprise when I saw this striped duvet cover I had purchased several months ago off Amazon, still in it’s beautiful package, untouched. Apparently I was totally on my A-game last spring and no, I do not have a hoarding problem. It’s called being well prepared.
The last adventure in decorating for this week’s reveal was the area rug. Finding an area rug that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg…and another leg…is quite the challenge.
My first tip, which seems rather obvious and silly to type out, is to MEASURE. Yes, I know you’re saying something along the lines of, ‘duh,’ but hear me out. I thought we needed a 9×12 rug because I wanted enough of the rug showing on either side of the bed. So I spent the first three nights searching for that size, becoming more and more frustrated at the lack of options and the increasing price tag.
On day three I became so mad that I got off my ass and measured the room to see if that really was the right size and what do you know? If we had purchased a 9×12, our entire room would’ve been covered and all that work we did on the beautiful plywood floor would have been covered.
You might think you know what size you’re going for and perhaps may be too stubborn to want to check but I urge you, just get out the damn tape measure 🙂 You might even save yourself a few hundred bucks in the process, since that seems to be the price difference between an 8×10 and a 9×12.
If you need to catch up…
Catch up with all the other participants by clicking here!
Next week we’ll be sharing how we install the bedside lighting, the plant shelf and (hopefully) finishing up on the painting so we can hang the curtains.
All our best,
P.S. This is what happens when I try to take pictures of the bedroom without putting up the baby gate. They’re such great helpers 🙂
PP.S. I created the most GENIUS way to hide the internet router from guests – cut out the book pages and wrap the cover around the router. Awesome, right?!
I’m in awe of all the great things you have just lying around your house, I need to start buying things and stashing them for later, lol! It’s like a gold mine! I like the bed, doesn’t really show any brown in photos, and thing it looks great with the rug! Bravo on making it half way through!
Hahah oh I am totally saving this and quoting it to Brett any time he tells me I have a hoarding problem! 😀 Thank you so much, Cristy for the words of encouragement!!
Best,
Kelly
Oh Em Gee Kelly! The rug story is so, so true! Measure twice and buy once. LOL. Love the night stands, too. Your progress is amazing and inspiring. Already looking forward to next week. 🙂 Susie from The Chelsea Project
Oh, thank you, Susie!
It is coming together beautifully! I love the book disguise for hiding the router I am currently scanning the room for things I can hide using this trick!
Thanks, Jillian! And I hope you find something good to hide 😉
I think that the bed looks great! I’ve gotten ORB or antique bronze that is black and some that is so brown – it really varies by brand!
That’s so strange that there’s such a variety in the color! Glad to hear I’m not completely crazy for thinking it would be black 😉
The rug is gorgeous and how awesome that you had the perfect bedding already!
Thank you, Mary! The rug was definitely a great find from Amazon 🙂
This room is really coming together nicely. How lucky that you were able to find tables to use and I love that duvet cover!
Thank you, Jeanie!
That book cover for your router idea is genius! Looks like this room is coming together very nicely. Absolutely love that rug and you’re right…measuring things is so important. We can’t just eyeball the space and assume. I’ve learned to measure everything now :).
Oh thank you, Tee! The router cover is so easy and simple – and now I have to think about all the “ugly” things I can cover up 😉
I think the bed looks great the color it is. I’m exhausted just thinking about you taking it all apart just to spray paint. Love the linens, it must be nice to be so well prepared and already have everything you need!
Hahhaha, thank you, Jessica! I am glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s exhausted thinking about spray painting it 😉
Wow coming along well! You seem so organised! 🙂
Thank you, Jane! We’re trying to be a little more well-prepared compared to last year 🙂
The router is sooo smart. And I’m loving the rug. I can’t believe how organized and a head of the game you are!
Thanks, Jennifer! The rug was such a great find on Amazon.
Your room is coming along together very nicely! I really love your bed!! Can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the coming weeks!!
Thanks, Jen! The bed is definitely growing on me 🙂
wow you’re really on top of it!!! Look at you go! Love the rug!
Thanks, Colette! I’m definitely trying to stay on top of things this time around 🙂
Looking good, Kelly! Like others have mentioned, I think the bed looks great as is, but I know how it goes when you have your heart set on something being just so…
I don’t usually go for such neutral colors in my own place, but the layered neutrals in here just look drop dead dreamy. What a peaceful place to fall asleep!
Thank you so much, Kat; you’re too kind!
I love how your room is coming together!!! The bed looks great and the rug is awesome! I need all those extra goodies laying around my house. I can’t wait to see next week!!
Thank you, Susanne! It’s definitely nice to have some things already on hand 🙂
wow, it’s already looking amazing and you still have weeks to go! amazing job!
It looks awesome! I love how your space is coming together 🙂
I’m digging metal-framed beds like yours – so pretty!
The tables looks great! The ladder idea was pretty cool though! Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday!