The Ritz-Farrellton

Welcome to my swanky new pad. After 32 years of marriage--during which we have shared our bedroom with cribs, ironing boards, sewing machines, projects, storage boxes, and all the extra paraphernalia of a complicated and busy household--Dan and I finally have our very own bedroom furniture. Not the unmatched hand-me-downs of our kids' bedrooms, mind you, but an actual matched set. We have had so much fun shopping at IKEA, Linens 'N Things, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Sears Hardware. Dan and I want to thank Joey and Steven for all their help with painting walls and assembling furniture. It has been fun to watch the evolution.




It only took me three separate purchases to come up with the right bedspread and pillows! (I had to return the first two because when I got them home I decided they looked like somebody else's bed, and not mine. But when I matched this modern blue with the antique patterned pillows, I knew I had found home!) In a bold decorating stroke, we bought a red-stained trunk for the foot of the bed. It looks awesome, and holds extra blankets, etc. I call it an "accent piece" because it sounds so professional to say that. The windows have cordless accordion shades, and little white valances. They look so crisp and clean, and the view is beautiful! Also, that's a real plant which I will earnestly try to keep alive.

Below are the two dressers: Mine has an oval mirror and two adorable little drawers on top for jewelry. Really, these are the world's cutest little drawers. Dad's dresser is very massive and manly with lots of nice drawer space. We have four new brushed nickel lamps (silvery color) with nicely shaped lampshades.



Below are the pictures we will hang on the walls (just haven't gotten to it, yet). The blue one you'll recognize as one Riley got us as a wedding present. It has been all over the house in different places during the last 32 years. The red one is a beautiful water color by Grandma Elaine. (You may see it again on your Christmas cards this year!) One will probably go over the bed, and one over Dan's dresser. We also have (not shown) a framed full length mirror to put on the blank wall on the right of the door when you come in.


Today the bedroom, tomorrow THE BATHROOM! Dan and I are trying to solve the national financial crisis by single-handedly raising the consumer spending index. I alternate between feeling guilty and grateful. Then I saw this statement on the front of the IKEA catalog and decided it was OK to have a nice room. It said, "Home is the most important place in the world." So I decided to just be happy.