Going no headboard.

I'm continuing the headboard-less conversation I started up in yesterday's post. In my opinion, headboards should only be used if you want your bed to be the focal point or need some visual interest within your space. This just happens to be the case in most bedrooms. Mine, not so much.

Having a wall of frames and a busy and brightly patterned duvet, I didn't want to draw any more attention to my bed then necessary. I think the end result may have been different if I could have painted the walls but, since I had to keep them white (thanks, landlord), I was forced to think of ways to add subtle forms of visual interest while keeping the room design from being overkill.  In the end, not having a headboard helped balance the dramatic features and blend the various parts of the room's design.

For those with a similar issue, here are some other images to help lead you to a solution. Please feel free to contact me with questions!

[real simple]

The brightly colored wall and layered patterns speaks for itself.

[decor8]

This room was one of my inspiration rooms. I love it to pieces.

[the love list]

The layers of pillow and color almost acts as a headboard but keeps the polka dot wall the primary focus.

[papers and packages]

Another one of my inspiration rooms. Thank you Emily Henderson for this lovely space.

[decorpad]

[tmblr]

Or you can always do the window thing (also discussed in this post).

It's a great way to accentuate structural detailing or add some height.

Exposed brick makes me smile.

I've been crushing hard on rooms with exposed brick since, well, ever. But after searching for inspirational pics during the bedroom redo extravaganza (which I'm changing up AGAIN btw), the crush grew even larger than I'd ever imagined. So much so that I think I'm going to make it a requirement the next time I'm on the apartment hunt. Along with a porch, good water pressure and a claw foot tub.

And let me just tell you, fantasizing about things that you don't have, really helps get things done and find solutions for the things you are working with. In other words, apartment redecorating project, you are put on hold again.

tick tock clock

Almost used as an accent wall to break up the white on white in this bedroom.

Natural wood side table used to balance the exposed brick on the opposite side.

decor8

This is my absolute DREAM bedroom.

The worn white paint and loads 'o pattern makes my heart go pitter patter.

flickr

Painted white in the bedroom makes it more subtle but still enough of a statement. 

Requires little artwork for depth and visual interest for the brick wall to still pop.

http://cupofte.blogspot.com/

I love how they used the exposed brick wall as a backdrop for artwork and book collection.

Creates a raw composition that makes the living room feature a bit more casual.

28.media.tumblr

Love the juxtaposition of modern bathroom accessories and fixtures with an old, chipped brick wall.

Adds depth to the space without it looking old, out of date or drab. 

pinterest

Having brick in an entryway sets a casual tone for the rest of the home.

Not too excited about the wood to tile cutoff on the floor but the brick does a nice job at keeping the eye upward.

google.ca

This kitchen makes me want to learn how to cook.

The white keeps the kitchen looking pristine and the window set in the brick helps let light in and offers great reflection.

bhg

The painted white in this kitchen capitalizes on the brick's texture but keeps the space looking fresh and clean.

Minimal accessories add a modern yet functional touch.

Las Vegas Part One: The Do's

The trip to Vegas was an absolute blast as you can tell by my lack of posts. So, to make up for it, I am doing a two-part series inspired by the Do's and Don'ts of Vegas. First up... the Do's.

1. Go big or go home. From the second I stepped off the airplane, I knew this place was going to be larger than life. From the architecture to the egos, everything had an in-your-face vibe. While you don't want your interior space to overload the senses, you do want to choose accent pieces that are large enough to be seen. Two good ways to determine what size of the accessory should be used are by measuring the 1) height of a room or 2) size of the furniture and then balancing the proportions from there. Here are some great examples to use as a reference.

 from top to bottom: decor8, House Beautiful, Material Girls

2. Take risks. Everywhere you wind up in Vegas, odds are you end up taking a risk I took risks both at the tables and with my wardrobe - the tables definitely being the losing gamble. With your interior space, try new things to help understand your personal style. A low risk change is paint color. If you've always wanted an eggplant room, try painting an accent wall with it. Worst case: you can always paint it back.

Feel like taking even more of a risk? I say, go for it however, sketch it out first to improve the odds of being successful. Here are some examples of big winners.

top to bottom: cococozy, House of Turquoise, Alkemie

3. Splurge a little. One thing I didn't know about Vegas was just how great the shopping was. From Alexander McQueen to Zac Posen, all of the key players of the fashion world had stores there. One by one, women were drawn into these stores like flies to a light. Their credit cards seemed to fly out of their bags as if the cash register were a giant magnet. This happened to two of my friends at Louis Vuitton. The justification: because they're worth it. A little rule of thumb to avoid using this justification on a daily basis is to sleep on it. If you're still thinking about that pair of shoes or those sunglasses the next day, chances are you need them. Here are some splurges I've had my eye on lately.

 top to bottom: Apartment48, Anthropologie, Jonathan Adler