For about a year I slept on the cot that started the whole thing, while systematically nosing my way through all the crap that surrounded me, consolidating and off-loading as I went. During that year I managed to clear out a good amount of the space, including the large, metal, industrial desk that I suppose was meant to serve as my dad's "office". He was always slightly protective of it, though never once in my life did I see him use it.
The place was just starting to look more habitable when I went to a school rummage sale one fine Saturday. As a 7th grader, furniture acquisition wasn't really on my radar, but while poking around the yard I saw a full-size wooden bed for sale. That would be a major upgrade from the cot, I thought, and I had saved up a my babysitting money for a while. But unfortunately, at $100, it was out of my range.
A few minutes later the principal made an announcement over the PA that for the next ten minutes, everything was half off. I dashed over to him, "Even furniture?" He said yes, so I pulled out $50 and said "I'm buying the bed".
And that's how I acquired The Bed. Never would I have guessed that I'd be sleeping in it for most of the next 30 years.
It was a double bed, and I felt like I'd landed in the lap of luxury my first night in it. I sprawled out like a giant letter X, arms and legs splayed every which-way. Oh the space! And as it turned out, there was a dresser that had belonged to my great-great (or was it great great great?) grandma, which was a really good match to the bed, so I eventually inherited it, too.
Years went by. The bed stayed in the garage when I went off to my freshman year of college. But three years later it joined me and became our marriage bed. It moved with us everywhere we went during the next 20 years. That bed has witnessed all my dreams and most of my tears, and heard almost as many prayers as God has through the years.
Because of it's headboard and footboard, my tall Doc couldn't actually stretch out flat in it. Through the years there were a number of times that I asked him if he wanted to get a new bed, but always he declined, saying it was fine.
And it was! It was a fine bed and I have been grateful for it.
But now, I've finally figured out what style I'm drawn to, and our dear little bed really isn't it. If I were looking for furniture today, I wouldn't have ever glanced at it. Plus, it is small, not even queen size. Don't get me wrong...I love snuggling with my sweetie, but there have been times when it would have been nice to have the option of spreading out, too.
So now that we're for sure going to be staying in this house for the rest of Doc's training, and since I'd given up on someone surprising me with one of those HGTV or TLC room (or house, or yard) make-overs, we decided to celebrate not having to move anywhere with a bedroom remodel!
Ikea finally came to Utah a couple years back, and I had come to really like the style and clean lines they're known for. Doc liked it too, so we headed out to pick our new look, and with the help of Davis, my oh-so-handy, awesome lil' bro and his tools, we transformed our room.
Things I love: After 9+ years of nearly always being in some stage of packing to leave or unpacking upon return, my luggage finally has a home! Now there is room for everything that used to be displaced. Little by little I'm making our space into a place I like.
I still haven't accented the room. It's just bare bones so far because I can't decide what color to go with yet. Doc defers to me, but says "of course you have to pick blue. You ARE blue!" and he may be right. But if I do, which shade shall it be? And there are so many lovely greens, browns, oranges and reds as well! I realize it's easy enough to swap accent colors, but which to start with?
Anyway, the old furniture is now in my garage and I'm not sure what to do with it. If I had a big house with a spare guest room, I'd refinish it and put it in there. I confess to feeling some reluctance to just sell it on Craig's List, since the dresser is a family piece that allegedly came across the plains with my great great (great?) granny...who I am actually named for. It was later restored by my grandfather who was a carpenter born in 1900. The bed is really old, too. Hand-carved cherry wood and they actually do match each other quite nicely. So, much to Doc's chagrin, it's now out with all the other stuff I've been storing for my siblings the past several years, and we're enjoying the new space and clean lines of our room.
Here's the old bedroom. And no, it was NEVER, not once, EVER this clean! I took these photos thinking I'd need pictures to list the furniture for sale...and then promptly began the remodel.
There have been times when making the bed included arranging up to 14 pillows. I will never go there again!
Funny tidbit. I bought this bedding in Vermont 10 years ago. Nine months later I visited my inlaws in Utah and discovered that out of all the possible bedroom sets IN THE WORLD, they had purchased the very same one! Neither of us had mentioned our purchases to the other...it was just the one we both liked. Only they have a king-size bed, so mine won't be any use to them.
Here's the new look so far, taken from each corner of the room.
Doorway view of our new lovely, spacious, queen-size bed!
My chic new bookshelf, where I am free to have any books I like on display. Note, the paintings I did haven't yet found their real home. They're just hanging out here for a bit.
From the next corner, facing the door. In addition to my little desk and chair by the door, you can see the major addition here...
...THE WONDERFUL WARDROBE! This beauty has more than tripled the available space. I'm in love with it.
Grateful for:
1) Finally figuring out what style I'm drawn to...and discovering that Doc likes it, too!.
2) Sales on already-affordable furniture, and Davis' amazing power tools.
3) A good night's rest.
