Hi Lindsay, I notice in the inspiration picture the accent colour is pink. Is that what makes it too "girly" for you? How about a pop of a different colour like electric blue or vibrant green or yellow? You could also pop in some artwork here and there, perhaps something with a mirrored frame to add some bling.
Good luck!

I like the bedding. More pillows with a complimentary pattern. I looks like it could use another color. I do not like the window treatments at all. I think with such a small space they should be matching and of the same height complimenting the addition of pillows. Currently, they are distracting. I would declutter the bookshelf. Maybe play with the arrangement of the room some more. Good luck!

How about a bit of yellow on your dresser or chest? I'd like to see the dresser/mirror at the foot of the bed and the bookcase on the side wall (see Houzz tutorial on how to arrange attractively.) How about new paint and a stencil on the chest? Replace your branches (except for the chandy) with a wall stencil or wallpaper of branches if you're still loving them. A few pillows and you'll be back in love with your room.

Hi Lindsay Braman. You did a really great job getting close to your inspiration picture. Very nicely done.

I agree with the others - would suggest an accent color in the room.
decoenthusiaste's yellow suggestion is good.

I also think maybe there are too many furniture pieces in the room. Perhaps take something (or 2) out & add a lovely mirror or art piece on the wall instead.

I can't tell from the pictures - is your window trim white, off-white, or closer to a light yellow?

Lyvonne
www.essentialsinside.com

I think just changing out the window treatments would make a big difference. If you didn't want to go with a brighter color, I would go with the cream color of the bed, and get matching ceiling to floor length drapes in a cream color on a darker rod for both windows. Could do either cotton or linen or to make it more luxurious silk or faux silk. I would add some lighter colored art above the table and mirror next to the bed. Some great decorative bed pillows in the gray and creams as well as a bed pillow and something like a throw or art in an accent color, for instance that great coral of your inspiration picture would add some life to the room as well. If wanted to add a chest think Decoenthusiaste's bird chest is great.

Great suggestions. I'm always torn re:pillows on the bed because I LOVE my headboard so much. If you look close you'll see there's great metal embossing at the head and foot of this vintage bed. (It's actually the same bed Sookie has in True Blood. lol!)

Should I just give up on letting the charm of the headboard shine and hit it with pillows? Or, I might be willing to put some paint on the embossed parts of the metal to highlight it...

I really DON'T like the grey/yellow combo that's so popular right now and pink is a no- actually I don't want any bright color in here- what would my other options be that would flow with a traditional older home?

Accent color and some contrasting metal finishes as you see in the inspiration photo, but for sure nice pillow shams and throw pillows. Could you spring for another bed? I think the contrast between the opulence of the fabrics and the cold hard surface of the white bed doesn't work. A simple bed frame and a headboard you make yourself in the accent color in silk might give you more of the feeling. Also, there is too much in the room. The inspiration photo is just a slice of the room, but one has the feeling that it is very simple outside the frame. You did a very good job overall.

I think what is missing is continuity and balance. Some sort of symetry on the bed wall is needed. Is that a real window behind the bed? The curtains do not complement each other and the bed color with window/baseboards are "off". I'd paint the window frame and baseboards the same color as the bed. Or, paint the window/baseboards all white and paint the bedframe silver. The off center bed is distracting. I'd remove the curtains above the bed. If you want all one color you can. Or...as suggested add a slight touch of yellow. Even if just a bolster pillow for the bed. A few tweaks and you'll have a great room!

Other options would be to keep it kind of monochromatic with the gray and white/cream you have in the bed frame - you could add more white and even paint some of your gray wood pieces white if you wanted as well as add accents in patterns of gray and white. Another option would be to introduce silver as a metal - candlesticks, vases, other decorative decor - could even bring in interesting silver gray textures for the pillows and other interesting textures and fabrics.

When choosing a family of color you need to be mindful of the "base". With your gray it appears you have a red base gray, a green base gray and a yellow base gray in your taupe bed linens. Now, this could be the case of a computer monitor gone wild, or it could possibly be your not understanding the basics of color. What may seem "off" to you is the mixed message in your grays. This can be rectified but first you must understand some of the inherent problems.

Interesting point Karen. How do you know what grays will work together if using more than one gray - how would you choose different grays and then work with them?

It's important to understand the underlying base. Once you have established that, then you can move within that community so easily. So, if there is a gray you have which you wish to keep, let us know what that is. With your help we can establish the underlying base. I say this because monitors can be so deceptive. Even so, it was easy for me to discern that you are using several families of gray.

I agree that the bookshelf needs to be decluttered. Just tuck away the blue ribbon and straighten the books. Then remove the basket and twirlies on top and display a collection of contemporary and traditional white vases and/or pots. The room needs some tailored items. The bed spread and window treatment are very gathered and poofy so you need to rid of clutter and twirly twisty accessories. Follow the lead of the inspiration room. Roll back the poofy bedspread to show crisp, tailored white sheets. Finally, you need a touch of bling- love the chandelier, but a substantial lucite bedside lamp with clean lines would look great.
Good luck.

Maybe use some roman shades.