My Dream Bed

This past week has been a week of celebrations.  My baby Bella turned five and we celebrated everyday with a cupcake.  I mean I personally think we should celebrate everyday with a cupcake but that's just me.  We celebrated the beginning of our gardening season.  We weeded and planned out our new gardens.  For two weeks now I have been working on my new bed.  I have been dreaming of a fancy French bed for years but could never afford one.  About a month ago, I bought this bed from a flea market for $50.  Score!

She has the perfect shape and even painted beautifully...but it just wasn't me.  I knew she could be so much more.  I think by now you all know I love fancy things.  Life should be celebrated everyday and I try to make our home feels like it.  I used to think that I have to have a lot of money to have certain type of furniture but now I realized I can still create the type of home I want and still be in my small budget.  I just have to get creative!  I am sorry for the crazy amount of pictures I am going to show you.  I am just so excited!  Here she is now.

This bed wouldn't be what she is without appliques.  Ladies, I know I am late in the game but appliques are the game changers in this DIY world...especially for a Francophile like me.  The possibilities are endless.  A week after I bought my bed, Amy from Maison Decor asked if I could think of any projects that might need appliques.  She just started carrying Efex appliques at her amazing store.  I knew right away that my bed would be the perfect project for it.  Amy was kind enough to send me some appliques to try out.  I have used other kind of appliques in the past but most of them are not bendable.   Efex appliques are almost like rubber so I can bend it and cut it anyway I want.

 

 I painted them first with a coat of Chalk Paint® in Paris Grey and cut them into individual pieces.

I also painted the bed with a mix of Chalk Paint® in Paris Grey and Old White.  I taped the appliques to the bed to give me an idea of what I wanted.

This is the important part.  You have to use Cement Contact to adhere appliques to the bed.  Regular glue or liquid nails will not work.  I brushed the Cement Contact on both appliques and the bed and waited 20 minutes then pressed them together.

Sorry for this awful picture.  It was taken at one in the morning. The cement left some yellow residue but I just painted over it. I gilded the appliques then waxed the whole bed.  I used dark wax to bring out all the details.

A bed like this is all about the details.  By cutting the appliques into individual pieces, I was able to achieve the look I wanted.  It was like doing puzzle pieces.

My bedroom is almost done.  I really have no rules when it comes to decorating.  I just surround myself with things I love.

Abundant of flowers.

Books to inspire me.

A little romance.

my French chairs.  Both of these girls are getting reupholster but in the mean time, I keep them close by.

I think all this room really needs now is a vintage chandelier to bring a bit of magic.  I am still deciding between plank wall or panels.  I feel like I should wake up every morning with a crown and a glass of champagne, no?  Or would that just make me a delusional alcoholic?  I finally feel like I am home.  A home should be reflection of who you are and how you live your life.  Who am I is someone who loves life and feels so grateful to wake up every day.  And what better way to wake up and celebrate life than in this amazing bed?

I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!  

Love,
Victoria


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