styling the girl’s vintage bedroom

by | May 4, 2016 | All Things Home, Decorating, Room Makeovers | 32 comments

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When I was a little kid, my favorite toy was my dollhouse.  I enjoyed living out the imaginary lives of the little people who resided there, but my favorite part was arranging and rearranging the furniture.  Even building “additions” with metal lebkuchen tins to make room for more furniture.

I carried that into my teen years when I rearranged and restyled my room regularly.  You know.  Just for fun.  Like most typical teenagers.

My furniture-scooting habits haven’t waned and have been well documented here on this blog.

Now that I have a studio space, it’s like one big, open, life-sized dollhouse.  I can create vignettes, scenes, and even entire rooms (which I hope to do a lot more!)

For the first time ever, we have a fully outfitted bed in the studio and I just couldn’t resist building an entire room around it.

Here is a video showing how I brought the room together…

That’s my mom at the end of the video.  I said “now I just need a little girl” and she enthusiastically agreed.  (I have two boys.)

So, let’s take a little tour of the room.  Obviously, I imagine this being a room for a little girl, but it could easily be a guest room with the removal of a few of the toys and such.

The color palette came together naturally, as I placed things in the room.  I love the strong blue, pale aqua, a hint of green, and a pop of a happy yellow ended up working together.

The bed is definitely the star.  It’s an antique iron bed painted in MMS Milk Paint Farmhouse White and sealed with Tough Coat.  The bed was already painted, I think in a semigloss latex paint, so I opted to not use the Bonding Agent and the paint adhered just fine.

I hung an antique print over the bed.  It’s a little faded, but I thought the colors and composition were so beautiful.

The bed is dressed in white sheets.  The top sheet has a beautiful eyelet edge that looks so pretty folded over.  The cream crochet coverlet ads some light warmth and gorgeous texture.

The bedskirt is actually just fabric pinned into place, but I ordered a similar fabric (tablecloths, actually) and will be sewing one to sell with the bed.

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I folded an antique blue and cream quilt at the end to add a pop of color and another texture.  I love how the eyelet lace plays against the nubby crochet and the puckering of the quilt.  Textile heaven.

Antique cream pillowcases dress feather pillows and European shams are behind to give something soft to lean against.  A yellow bolster adds a hint of happiness against the cool blue and green tones.

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The trunk at the end of the bed is painted in a mix of Eulalie’s Sky, Grain Sack and Layla’s Mint.  We think it’s a WW2 army footlocker.  It has “made in Belgium” hand painted on the inside.  We put it up on casters to make it look a little more like a proper piece of furniture and less like a wooden box.

The end of the bed is styled with a primitive antique wooden house painted in Farmhouse White and a little blue & white dress.

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The antique chalkboard/easel was just too sweet to pass up!  I love the green of the frame and I don’t mind the missing paper.  

The painting is by Katie Grimm, who works part-time for me.  (I think the painting is the one thing in the room that’s not for sale.)

I found this Christening gown in my latest antique haul for Lucketts and it is one of the most beautifully detailed ones I’ve ever seen.

The pin-tucking is just amazing.  I look at that work and think, “Oh, the patience!”

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I know most bikes wouldn’t be parked in a bedroom, but how could I resist putting the vintage Schwinn in there?

I added a little basket I found on eBay and filled it with old Nancy Drew books.  When I dropped them in there, I actually called my mom and Kriste over to look at it up close. It looks like some little bookworm just rode home from the library, ready to flop on the bed and dive into the first chapter.

I shared about the night stand in previous post.  It’s styled with an alabaster lamp, a stack of books, a baby tears plant and a little antique duck toy.

And I added a little stool for stepping on to get in the bed or to use as a small table for carpet picnics.

Almost everything used in this room will be for sale at the Lucketts Spring Market, May 20-22, 2016.  (Friday is a VIP day you need to have a pre-bought ticket for entry.)

I will be selling the bed frame with the new Leesa mattress, foundation, sheets, and custom-made bedskirt.  The crochet coverlet, quilt, pillows, pillow cases, etc. will all be for sale, too.

And I just might need a nap at Lucketts, so that’s really my real motivation for having a fully-dressed bed with a comfy mattress in the booth…

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    32 Comments

    1. Diedre

      Marian-

      The dress is gorgeous…..really special.
      Would you consider selling it to a “distant shopper?”

    2. JoanMarie

      Oh My! LOVE the new setting in your studio and the colors are so soothing and stunning all at the same time. The textures in the linens are a perfect mix! Beautifully done!

    3. Becky

      It’s a lovely room, Marian. I’m getting ready to makeover my daughters bedroom now that she is out on her own. I think I have every single thing to duplicate your room with the exception of the bike and the chalkboard so I may just be using you as my inspiration. The christening dress is beautiful and I love that you used the little bike as a prop and since I work in an elementary school library I agree that the basket of books makes the bike. Have a great time at Lucketts.

    4. Nancy W.

      Hi Marian..I am sorry to bother you again but I do have 2 more questions about the bed foundation you purchased if you would be so kind. Is it made of metal or wood and does it have a cover? I have not seen any anywhere that looks like it could be put together in just 15 minutes so I must be missing something. Thank You.

    5. Krista

      Great job! The room looks fabulous, and it’s not just for little girls. I’d take it any time! I think I’d just add a bouquet of fresh flowers, then bring in a cup of tea and read Nancy Drew all afternoon. Sounds like a good time to me.

    6. Peg

      Gorgeous!

    7. Linda

      I love this whole thing and want it for my guest room.

    8. Donna

      Oh I love everything. The christening dress, if still there, might be coming home with me. This could have been my room 50 years ago…yes I used to shop for Nancy Drew books at yard sales, then you could buy them for a nickel. Got my ticket for Friday in the mail, I am soooo ready, can’t wait!

    9. Alison G

      When do you get sleep? I don’t know how you manage to blog everyday and do everything that you do, with a family to boot. I need some of your energy. I wish I could come to the market. Your backdrops will steal the show.

    10. Naomi S.

      A sweet and not too “kid-like” room for a girl about—mmm, I’d say twelve years old, maybe a bit younger. With the paintings you chose, it has a “grown-up” element to it, which most girls that age are wanting very much to be. The colors are beautiful together–blues and greens–my favorite palette.

      The christening dress is really a work of art, too. Probably all sewn by hand with enormous patience to do all those little tucks. You can just imagine the love that went into it, too, for a new little baby in the family.

      I am having some anguish over you selling that little bike. We just pulled my oldest daughter’s tricycle out and are refurbishing it a bit for one of the grandsons. We purchased it for her second Christmas, I think and now she is forty! But, I guess I do have an over-developed sentimental side, maybe boardering on a hoarder tendency!

      Reading about how you loved playing with your doll-house as a child, I remembered how much I did, too. I had a story book with a story about a doll-house family that came alive that I loved, too. And I have, since a very young age been trying to get my parents to re-do this and build on that, put this piece of furniture here and buy something new for this other space! Sometimes they did take my suggestions, but I must have driven them crazy with all of my decorating ideas!

      I am hoping that the Lucketts Market will be wildly successful! You’ve certainly put enough work–and heart and soul–into the prep. Wish I could be there!

    11. Melissa Leach

      When I grow up I want to play with a grown up doll house like yours! Everything looks perfect!

    12. Gabrielle

      Absoluely lovely Marion!

    13. B Folk

      Everything you did in this room is wonderful. The old chalkboard caught my eye immediately (as a former teacher, I love old school-room pieces).
      So glad that you get to use your exceptional artistic vision, talents, and hard work everyday and be successful doing it. Do you ever think that, perhaps, you are dreaming that you get to do this for a job?

    14. AnneHH

      Hi Marian,
      Love your blog, read it faithfully but rarely comment. Had to say that my mom gave me a beautiful antique christening gown when the oldest of my three kids was born. All three of them were baptized/christened in that gown and it was just such a special tradition that her purchase started. I can imagine another family doing the same with that beautiful gown that you found.
      Good luck at Luckett’s!!

    15. Marlene Stephenson

      It is a really cute room for a little girl.

    16. Sam

      Love this room. Would you share the fabric you chose for the new bedskirt and what length you are using? This one drapes nicely.

    17. Sindy Anderson

      you’re killin me~ I LOVE that bedroom suite~ Thankfully I’m to far away from Lucketts~

    18. Meg bush

      This is just like Anne of green gables!! So sweet. Glad you are having so much fun. Because we are as well:)

    19. Natalie in Ohio

      Oh Marian ~ I am so in-love with this beautiful, sweet “girls” room! The bed and bedding is spectacular!

      I’d move in if I could, and I’m a 51 year-old “girl!” 🙂

    20. Debbie rejmer

      Did the bed fit a regular full mattress and box springs or do you have a “trick” to make it work?

    21. Debbie V.

      I love everything but am dying to know more about the fabric used for the bed skirt!

    22. Cheryl

      So wonderful!! You are a styling genius!! I have a question. I have a box similar to yours that had a gas can or something with gas in it. Is there a way to get rid of the smell?? And I’m excited to say that we have someone close here that sells your paint and I received your gray stool cover the other day and need to paint the stool so I can show it off. Love it!! Thank you.

    23. Fiona, Lilyfield Life

      Amazing Marian – i totally love everything. well done
      Fiona xx

    24. Ronnie Gunn Tucker

      Precious and you’re having way too much fun! Now you have me motivated to look for a bigger building for our shop!

    25. threestones

      Slowly but surely, the new branding is showing up! I noticed right away. Clean + current!
      Nice, very nice.

      Love the little video of how you go about set up.

    26. liz

      I want to stay in this room!!! I love it. Also, is Katie Grimm selling any of her paintings or prints of her paintings? Encourage her to!

      • joanna n.

        i wondered that as well! i’d love to check out her website/etsy shop if she has one!

    27. Vale T

      The room is adorable!

      And, I NEED that chalkboard!! We homeschool, and I have been looking for a chalkboard that will permanently reside in our living room. I haven’t found anything that will suit, and was beginning think I would have to make my own. This one is perfect! Will you ship it to NM?? I will gladly pay for your time and the shipping cost.

      Thank you!

    28. Sue Pagels

      I would SOOO buy that washstand if I was at Luckett’s…..killing me here in NW IN!!!

    29. Karen

      Everything is just lovely!

    30. Cindy

      It reminds me of being in an old country house when i was little. The whole setting evokes a feeling of clean white sheets and open bedroom windows… nice memories

      Cindy

    31. Lisa Hardley

      When you are giving your room a vintage room, don’t forget to add different sized candles to your room. Adding chandeliers will also give your room a vintage look.

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