While working on the master bedroom this weekend my thoughts repeatedly drift from what I’m working on to how the heck this project is going to come together.  I’m bad about getting ahead of myself …. but when I’m finally done, I want to have everything I need.

I’ve known for over a year now that I wanted to use black and green in the room and gray is always a given because of the beams and woodwork. The stained concrete floors are a dark chocolate brown, which I have no intention of changing. The floors were stained during the original pour and the color goes deep into the slab… so I’m stuck with brown. Not my first choice, but you work with what you’ve got. I pretty much know what I want but to actually put an inspiration board together and see it all in front of you makes it seem like it’s really going to happen. Here is what I’m working on.

Some items I’ll purchase, some we have, and some we are building ourselves. Here’s the breakdown.

1. Two Artemide Tolomeo Micro Wall Lamps. These lamps will go on either side of the bed for reading. A real investment, but totally worth it. We have the tolomeo floor lamp in the living room and it’s the most amazing lamp I’ve ever owned.

2. Original art. All the artwork in the room will be original art by many of our favorite artists and of course some by Richie. Most of them are in plain, simple black frames.  This one, for sure.

“Beefeaters” by George Hampton – 1962

3. A new king size bed. This bed is being made by Richie and his father. It is our version of the Cassina Xen bed that is now currently out of production – (note: you can click HERE to see google images of it online). We made one many years ago and it turned out beautiful! They welded the frame and cut 5 slabs including the headboard. Each piece attaches to the frame. We love the platform beds and really there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel or spend alot of money. It’s so pretty. The old one is now in the guest bedroom.

4. I really wanted a simple graphic black and white rug and there are two that I really like. One is Dwell Studio and the other is the Olin rug at Crate and Barrel. I’ll probably go with C&B and order that in the next week or so.

5. George Nelson platform bench. We already have this vintage bench in the living room but also have the bench tops that we could make legs for. Not sure which I’ll use but the look will be the same.  I imagine it at the foot of the bed for books or magazines, an extra blanket, a place to put pillows, or a seat for putting on shoes in the morning.  I think I have room for it so I’m going to try.

6. Decorative pillows featuring green, black and gray. I have several picked out. Two are appliqued and one is printed. The thing is… I refuse to pay $100-$200 per pillow so I’m making my own. The little bee pillow is so wonderful but too much $$ so I’m working on a bee stamp that I’m carving from a lino printing block.  I’ve narrowed it down to 4 bees and a dragonfly.  Which one?

7. Air Plants, or anything green. I have plants everywhere and I’ll have several in this room. I’m sure I’ll mix air plants with succulents. I love these “upside down” air plants that hang from the ceiling.  The greenery will just provide more “green” color in the room.

8.-9. As far as chairs go I will have at least one chair in the room but I’m not sure which one. We have both of these chairs. I have the original hardoy butterfly chair (actually I have 6 of them) and I have 2 of the vintage gray Eames shells… one of them is on a rocker base. So it’s between those two.

10. I love beautiful trays for flowers, perfume, stationery, jewelry, or whatever. This is a lovely white tray with my favorite kind of print (birds and leaves) in silver. I found it at Pier One.

11. The closet doors are getting a facelift with new shoji screen paper and the wood painted black. They will match the ones in the guest bedroom which turned out so nice.

The rest is whatever happens. I already have the piece of green fabric featured in the picture so I’ll use green wherever I can and lots of white pottery. The windows are still stumping me but I’ll come up with something.  The built in dresser-storage unit will all get refinished and a new laminate top applied.

and the not so good news….
I’ve been having trouble with my camera and I think I’ve messed up the focus element when I accidentally dropped it yesterday.  I’m playing around with it but I fear that a new camera may be in my future.   A purchase I didn’t plan on but simply won’t hesitate to make.    I’ll be painting closet shelves during the week (a maybe buying a camera).  Hope you have a good one.