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gwendolynne_gw

Please help choose new bedding

17 years ago

Following a bit of an accident between our black-trimmed bedding and a bottle of bleach, I am looking for new bedding for our master bedroom. We had bought the very contemporary black and white hotel-style set before we inherited a gorgeous cream-painted, french-style dresser and they look kind of out of sync together too.

I'd like to get something a little softer and more romantic, but am generally not a fan of prints, although I do love toile. I think we probably also need to keep it fairly light (cream?) because the walls are quite dark and dramatic and it would be too much if the (king-sized) bed were a big dark blob too.

I've been looking at the Bella Notte line - I'm smitten with the idea of linen bedding and I'd really prefer buying something locally made or European - Bella Notte's linen is produced in France or Belgium, sewn in California and purchased at a small, local, independant bedding shop. I'm willing to splurge, but it has to be on something we're going to be happy with for a long time.

I've looking at the following fabrics (all in Champagne):

Plain linen:

Embroidered linen:

Silk blend - this stuff is gorgeous in person, sooooo soft:

But I've also totally fallen for this linen toile:

Considering an accent pillow in this lace:

This is the room - walls are eggplant (Behr deep aubergine), bed is a shiny nickel, dresser is painted cream with a brownish glaze. Chair is inherited, but the gray upholstery works for now. Windows have beige blinds, am willing to consider curtains or something to layer over them, but not replacing them at this point. Planning to replace the builder carpet with walnut flooring within the next year or two:

Here's my inspiration:

Thoughts? Would the toile be too much on the whole bed? Should I use it at all (accent? bedskirt? chair? windows?) or no?

Many thanks in advance :)

Comments (7)

  • 17 years ago

    Your inspiration photo is beautiful! That room is all about texture.

    I do notice similarities in your bedding and the bedding in your inpiration photo. The only pattern in your inspiration photo is on the pillow. Your current bed is similar, a basically solid comforter with pattern on the accent pillow.

    Follow the lead of your inspiration and current bedroom. Use the toile as accent for pillows and maybe a toile quilt tossed at the foot of the bed. Then, pay close attention to your inspiration photo and add texture, texture, texture. I'm not looking at the photo right now, but I remember seeing chunky cable knit and fur. Make it a bed that you want to touch.

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks heylady, you are confirming what I had been thinking up until I found the toile fabric - all off-whites, but in different textures. I actually have a furry pillow that I was planning on using and I think I will get one of the lace ones as well. Come to think of it, I have two cream matelassé euro shams as well, so the floral and texture are both there, but I think I agree with the idea of getting a throw in the toile. Hmm...I think this is coming together....

  • 17 years ago

    I love that inspiration picture which I also used to create my creamy bedroom. My black-out blinds came out darker than I wanted and I still have to put curtains over them since I wish I bought the white instead. Your black-out blinds go perfect with your wall color and look great. I think creamy bedding in different textures would look wonderful.

  • 17 years ago

    I love your dramatic eggplant walls. Your inspiration bed is really a mix of creams and off white with texture. I don't really see toile anywhere in that mix. Your current bed linens don't remind me of your inspiration for two reasons:1) they are all one color of white instead of layering of different off whites and cream and 2) there is only one texture. BTW if you want to use some of your current bedding, I think it would work if you add some other elements in creams and texture. For example, maybe toss a lovely knitted cream throw (like the inspiration) and replace the pillows with a couple of different cream and oyster textured silk and linen pillows with the same duvet.

    BTW, I've looked at linen sheets and duvet covers and nixed the idea because I'm too lazy to iron and don't care for the look of rumpled linen. Even when you iron it, after you sleep in the bed, it will tend to look rumpled. Have you thought about the care and the look of linen? Do my Sky test for fabric - hold the sheets in one hand and crumple them up in your hand and hold them for a minute or two - you want the heat of your hand to influence the fabric. Release your grip - if it has a lot of creases and wrinkles, avoid that fabric because it will look messy on the bed. If there are just a few soft wrinkles, then it will look great in real use. While linen sheets can be a little rough at first, they will soften with washing and last longer than cotton and they have a wonderful sheen and texture that is hard to duplicate with cotton. Maybe when I win the multimillion dollar lottery and can afford someone to wash and iron my bedlinens daily, I'll switch to linen. LOL Not going to happen in my lifetime.

    Sky

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks all! Skypathway, I know the linen won't look perfect, but that's okay with me. I wear a ton of linen in the summer and I don't mind the slightly rumpled look. I've been told that it loses it's need for ironing as it ages too. There is a bed in the store with a linen duvet cover that has never been ironed - it's not crisp, but it really doesn't look bad at all. It's definitely a look that I'm okay with.

    Little update: I just got back from the store and ordered the bedding - the duvet cover in the plain champagne linen and one decorative pillow - in none of the fabrics I showed above :). It's a silvery gray jacquard with gold - ties together the grays and golds that are already in the room really well and looks gorgeous with the cream. I will post a pic when it comes in, the one online just doesn't do it justice. We decided to nix the toile and the lace pillow, there wasn't the right place for it, although I may consider sheers or a second layer (there's a name for this, don't remember what it is) on the bedskirt in the lace in the future.

    Now I just have to wait 10 weeks until it gets here - I'll post pics when it does!

  • 17 years ago

    I guess you haven't gotten yet? I purchased two linen pillows and have been selecting bedding from there. Ended up picking out coverlet and Euros by SDH "Gobi Boutis" in Nutmeg and Bella Notte Linen bedskirt, standard shams and twin duvel to put at end of bed. I found much better prices online than the local store and will order later today.

    I would love to see your bedding when it arrives. DD1 has a lace bedskirt, similar to the last one you posted (I think) but I don't know what company it is. She lives in San Francisco and purchased it at Shabby Chic. I was considering her sending me one, but I think I've changed my mind.

  • 17 years ago

    Pretty, pretty fabrics! My vote would be to use the black on white toile for a bedskirt and maybe European sham covers and tone of the cream white fabrics there for a comforter cover. Something that would feel great to lie down on.

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