Master Bedroom Vignette

We were still in that pre-kid phase of our marriage when we had finally saved up enough money to buy ourselves a real-deal “bedroom set”.  We moved our hand-me-down pieced together bedroom furniture into our guest room to make way for a solid mahogany set: four-poster king size bed, a gentleman’s dresser (that’s what the salesman called it) with matching mirror, two nightstands and an armoir.  It felt like we had officially achieved the American dream.  😉  We had a new all-matching bedroom set.  And we could not have been more proud of ourselves or that furniture.

It’s amazing how fast the last 14 years since we bought this furniture has passed.  While my style has changed a bit over the years and I’m no longer a fan of having every piece in a bedroom “match”.  I’ll never let this bed or dresser go.  These are pieces I’ll treasure for years.  Not just because they’re classic and well-made.  But because of the sweet memories they hold of two young people just starting to build a life together.

A Look Back

My personal decor style was much more traditional in my younger years.  While my husband’s style leaned, and still does, towards a more modern look.   But I clearly, and very fondly, remember the older male sales person telling my husband, ” A wife should always get her way in the bedroom.”  It’s a line I’ve used a lot over the years…..and have even pushed to change the word “bedroom” to “house”.  😉  It was because of this kind man working on commission that we ended up with a very traditional looking bedroom set.

Here’s an old photo of this bedroom set from about 7 years ago when we had just moved into our Kentucky house.  I told you I used to be an uber-traditionalist.

Now see how different this same room looked with new paint, a hardware change and some different accessories.  It looks like a completely different space right?  It’s amazing what a few simple changes can do for a room.

While the hardware on the dresser was changed from it’s original formal, shiny brass to these more casual-looking wrought iron pulls (sourced from Lowe’s), I still believe the classic simplicity of this traditional style and color of wood merges nicely with many different decor styles.

Current Decorating View

Here she is now in our Charleston home against grey walls (Sherwin Williams Amazing Grey).

Against this color with the current decor the dresser has kind of a modern, coastal vibe.  It really is crazy how powerful accessories can be in design.  But let’s face it, the hardware change on this dresser is the real MVP in this decorating game.

(art by Melvin G., hook rack from Celadon, lamps from Target, shades from Walmart)

(bust is an old Joss & Main find)

I’ve never been one to get overly attached to things.  They are, after all, just things.  However some things are a little more.  They hold memories and provide simple reminders of our past.  As I’ve been slowly working on finishing up some of the details in our master bedroom, I couldn’t help but ache for those in Texas that have had to evacuate their homes.

We faced evacuation here in Charleston last year during Hurricane Matthew, but thankfully with a very different outcome.  I can’t even begin to imagine the bittersweet pain that comes from escaping with your life but losing all your belongings.  Baby clothes and wedding albums and your great grandmother’s dining room table…….and even worse the loss of loved ones and furry family members…….the devastation is just awful.  And I grieve with all those who have suffered through this storm.  You’re in my continued prayers.