Musings on a Bedroom Revamp

Plus: Want to take a thrift trip with me?

Hi all! I am so happy to be back home and back in my groove — writing, working out, cooking…. and making plans. I had an idea for doing a fun group thrift trip… someplace international. This would be a tighly curated trip where we could all dine together, shop (thrift) together, tour museums and hang out and just generally have a really great time.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, I’d love to hear from you: where would you want to go and when and for how long? We could do a four-day trip to Mexico City, or something a bit longer to Germany…. the sky is the limit. But we all have budgets and only so much time so I want to take this seriously. Tell me what you think! Quick survey here, which takes less than two minutes.

If I get enough interest, we’ll plan something! Until then, I’m focused on home.

As I gear up for book two, I’m tasked with making my place look as good as it possibly can. Part of that means renovating my bedroom.

It’s an especially big task because I just sold my bed — a 1970s burl wood Henredon I thrifted many years ago.

So now I need to find a bed which I think will sort of set the tone for the entire space, right? I’m also going to install wallpaper — a pattern with some green in it — so the bed can be a bit more minimal. What’s important to me is that it has curves and is upholstered, which feels cozy.

My problem when it comes to renovating or designing is that I like everything. So many styles and aesthetics resonate with me that it can be difficult to narrow down exactly what I’m looking for. But in this case, I’ve really tried.

The Inspiration

This bedroom, designed by Past Lives Studio, is very inspiring to me. I love the curved and upholstered headboard, the sconce on the wall in lieu of a table lamp, and the embroidered blanket. I also love the round side tables and am dying to find some that are similar (I have round side tables now, but they have no storage, and it would be amazing to have a place to stash books and hand cream).

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The Ingredients of a Great Bedroom

ceiling light // upholstered bed // clouds rug // custom pet candle (I have this with a photo of my girl Holly on it and it makes me so happy!)

Good Lighting

For overhead bedroom lighting, I prefer a flush mount (it won’t interfere with the lines in the room and it won’t smack you on the head like a pendant might). This is the specific flush mount that I purchased for my bedroom. I adore it. I love pink and it adds just the perfect amount of romance.

You also need additional light from either lamps or wall-mounted sconces. Sconces are nice, because they give you more surface area on your nightstands and they stay out of the way.

A Gorgeous (and Comfortable) Bed

This is proving the most difficult part of my decision-making process. Beds are personal. I struggle between a gorgeous, thick, upholstered bed or a folding screen used in lieu of a headboard. This upholstered bed is really nice. I also love this chenille platform bed, which is in a performance fabric (great for spills!)

I also love the look of a beautiful blanket on top and all of the blankets by Saved NY are the ultimate.

Eduoard Houbolt eye drawing // art deco hanging mirror // travertine and wood nightstand // calligraphy throw blanket

A Sexy Rug

A bedroom rug should feel plush under the feet. It’s the thing you’ll feel in the middle of the night when you walk to the restroom. The thing you’ll drag your feet across just before you collapse into bed at the end of a long day. Because of that, it gets a lot of foot traffic, so keep that in mind when selecting the best option (I’d stay away from anything too light or unresistent to stains).

Mine is a vintage rug via Revival but there are so many great options on the market these days.

Nightstands With Storage (and Character)

A nightstand should be aesthetically appealing, of course, but I am especially fond of those with purpose: hidden storage, a material on the top that won’t be covered in water rings when you put your cup down. This nightstand is great because it covers all the bases.

sculptural ceramic table lamp // botanical print folding screen // oak chest of drawers

A Full-Length Mirror

A full-length mirror is a necessity for me. Gotta have a place to document the OOTD, right? Even before social media, mirrors were important. I like having mine right outside my closet so that I can see how I look as I’m trying on clothes. If you don’t have the space for a full-length mirror, hang a mirror low enough so that you can see your full body in the reflection.

A Beautiful Dresser

I had California Closets re-do my walk-in, which was life-changing because it added so much space and storage. I have what is essentially a dresser built into the closet now but even so, an extra chest of drawers in the bedroom is always nice. I like keeping pajamas, underwear, athleisure, and socks in mine — all the stuff I most often reach for at night or early in the morning.

les femmes art // black and white full-length mirror // crackled mushroom lamp

see all of my bedroom picks here

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ODDS & ENDS

• AllModern’s Big Sale of the Year starts today and includes up to 70% off best-selling home favorites. There’s lots of good stuff to be found — including holiday decor! I’m eyeing this pre-lit artificial fir, the checkered stockings, and these green cocktail napkins. (sponsored mention)

• Did you guys know Jenni Kayne makes skincare? I did not but recently ordered this refining face mask and body wash, which are packaged really beautifully and include high-quality ingredients.

• I am still on my workout grind, and have recently been hitting the gym early (at 5:30, before I have coffee). On those days, I add a scoop of this to my water bottle. It has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, plus coenzyme Q-10, L-carnitine HCL and B vitamin complex (good for your gut and digestion).

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I’ll leave you with this…