Bedroom Before & After: Reinventing a Furnished Apartment

Bedroom Before...
Before...
And After, all moved in! The furniture in this condo (which has led a double life as a vacation rental here in Hawaii) is quite tasteful, if a little dull. I'm always amazed at the power of textiles to transform a room and this duvet cover really punched it up. Now it feels tropical, fearless and fun. (The "For Like Ever" poster was a gift from our friends the Taylors on our wedding day. I only recently found the right frame for it!)

Mix & Match throw pillows never hurt anyone either. I embroidered this Taj Mahal design on a ready made cushion cover from Ikea and the birds were an odd piece of textile that caught my eye at a thrift store for $1. I just sewed the sides shut and turned it into a pillow cover.

I once read that all the best hotel rooms are neutral so that the inhabitants can bring their own color and life into the space. All I really wanted to do here was add some personality and flare. Nothing like displaying your jewelery to do exactly that. Plus I find I'm much more likely to use it all if I can see it all every morning when I'm getting dressed.

The "See it All Rule" is a good one to follow when displaying shoes...

And scarves too.
It's all just so pretty- who would want to hide it away in a box?

I have more posts to come on our other living spaces that I can't wait to share with you. It feels so good to be feathering my nest again. What special objects add personality and flare to your home?