Vintage Shabby Bedroom

I have a wonderful friend. Teri, who lives in the most charming house in Santa Barbara, California. She has a very unique and eccentric style and loves to mix old with new. Her guest room is full of gorgeous linens and amazing finds. Teri loves to travel and has been all over the United States and the world, so she's always picking up little treasures.

The bedding is a mixture of brand new, kind-a old, vintage and antique. I don't know how she does it, but she throws it all together and it works. She has several embroidered and crocheted pillowcases that she uses as shams. Then she tossed on a couple vintage needlepoint tapestry pillows. Both comforters are fairly modern. The bed skirt is a stunning piece of dripping hand crochet. I don't know what it was in its previous life, but Teri turned it into a gorgeous dust ruffle. (I wish I thought of taking a close up photograph of it!)

It's difficult to see clearly, but Teri hung an antique open-work curtain above the bed as a sort of head board. It is snow white with a sweet cherub in the center done in cut work and white embroidery. She clipped on little rings and slid it all on a curtain rod near the ceiling. This is simply enchanting!

There is an antique glass covered book shelf full of some of her favorite linens. And at the food of the bed is a beautiful vintage cardboard box topped with a tole tray and several round boxes.

There are even more linens neatly stacked in a tall glass front book case. It is so much fun to go to her house and just look at all her linens. She has TONS! The wall hanging is of hand embroidered roses, and the little dresses are hand embroidered ethnic clothing.

She uses a simple but charming chest of drawers as a dresser and topped it with vintage Southern Belle prints, vases and accessories she's picked up in her travels. Every time I visit, I find she's added something new and exciting.

I LOVE what Teri's done with her lamp shade! She's draped a couple of old doilies over the top of the lamp shade. The quality of these doilies is amazing, but they have a couple of small "issues" (small holes or flaws). Layering them over the lamp shade is a marvelous way to disguise their imperfections.

Safety Note: Make sure that there is venting at the top of the shade if you copy this idea. Use low wattage bulbs and don't leave the light when you're not in the room (and awake). Doilies usually have built in vents, but 'ya gotta make sure that safety comes first.

The nightstand is draped with a embroidered vintage runner and has a lovely display of paper dolls and lace artwork, and a rose print peeking over the top of them.

There are so many things I love about this small but roomy retreat. But my favorite is the window. Vintage, white on white embroidered curtains are hung at the window for privacy. Teri had a friend hand paint a rose covered trellis all the way around it. The yellow roses are simply Divine! And the detail in the iron work is amazing. What a wonderful way to finish off this charming room!