A Quiet Place for Me!

It's been a LOOONG time, but we have been busy with absolutely everything. Finally it's time to reveal a project I've been working on in one way or another for nine months now!

28 months ago I told my son and daughter I wanted the house to look different. It didn't matter WHAT it looked like, so long as it was different. They agreed on a vibrant Atomic Age look, with bright white and bold colors everywhere. Our house is so bright and happy now, it's amazing to see the transformation! I love it, truly I do. But... somehow I felt as if it wasn't... ME. 

One of the things I have been doing for the past few years is learning about ME. I have spent my entire lifetime being who everyone else insisted I should be to the point that I didn't even know what *I* liked! Do I like cottagecore or goblincore? Do I prefer classic clean lines or romantic ruffles? What about brown, or pink, or green? I had NO IDEA what actually appealed to ME! I started with clothing, but then decided to branch into room aesthetics.

After spending a long Minnesota winter exploring every style imaginable via Pinterest, I now know that I like lavender and grey. I like floral prints, and Art Nouveau. And I like soft fabrics, and small spaces. 

Okay, so I knew that I liked small spaces. But literally everything else was a complete shock to me!

This spring, after 13 years of sharing a room with my daughter, (11 in the living room and 2 in the master bedroom) we decided to dissolve the craftroom and separate into two bedrooms. My daughter kept the master bedroom, and I took the small room... by CHOICE! 

It has taken all spring to put this together, and to be honest it's not QUITE finished yet. The chandelier is still waiting to be hung, and the closet still needs to be finished. But for the first time in 28 years, I have my own bedroom. And for the first time EVER, everything in here represents ME and MY preferences and style.

Beginning at the doorway, I painted my walls in "Guardian Angel" which is either the purplest white, or the whitest purple. Depending on the hour it can look pink, white, purple, pale grey, or blue. I absolutely love the way it changes color throughout the day, yet always looks subtle and comforting. 

My Hygge Day Cart is parked right by the door when not rolling about the house, and I absolutely fell in love with this painting by Alphonse Mucha. It's from his series The Times of the Day, and is called Night's Rest.

Just to the right of the doorway, is my cozy little bed. It is a slim-twin, meaning it's only 30" wide. That's nine inches skinnier than a standard twin but half again as wide as a sofa, and just right for a shortie who doesn't like to feel lost at sea in an oversized bed. 

Everything is soft, the faux fur pillows double as a backrest when I'm watching birds out the window, and props for arthritis flares. The sweet little tree-branch side table is just big enough to hold a candle, a night light with a tiny pocket to hold my contacts, and Alexa. 

On the walls are a few of my favorite mementos, a pair of framed fiber-art cards from Scotland, and a full-wall mural that makes me think I've just stepped out from the libraries of Rivendell. 

Continuing to the right is my reading corner. The art nouveau planter smiles down on my comfy faux-fur chair, and the birch trees that decorate the living area for our Narnian New Years add soft ambient light for bedtime reading. 

Both the side-table and footstool are storage ottomans holding various toiletries that double (triple?) as the seating for My Itty Bitty Dressing Table which will be recreated inside my closet, and my desk... just to the right of the window. 

I chose a murphy desk because of it's tiny footprint. I wanted something big enough for journaling, planners and smaller craft projects, that wouldn't crowd the space when not in use. This is just big enough to hold all of my frequently-used crafting goodies, with room for my whistles and kalimbas on top. I can face out the window, or towards my indoor garden corner.

In the corner, my tiny indoor garden grows year-round under bright purple grow-lights that bathe the room in color until just before bedtime. And just within the closet door is My Faerie Tale Wardrobe, our crafting supplies, and space for my dressing table. 

 And in the space between my closet and bedroom door, are my bookshelves. At 15" each they don't take up much space, yet there's still enough space here for my favorite books and special treasures, with a place on top for tiny seasonal decorations.  

The dragonfly canvas is the same image you see as my blog header. I took this photo in 2012, and it's still one of my favorite photos EVER!

I have learned so much about who I am, while discovering what I like. I have learned that it's okay to be soft and quiet. I have learned new art styles and discovered tiny multifunctional pieces that can change as my needs change. 

And most importantly... I have learned that I LIKE who I am!