Dreaming of Beautiful Beds

A few months ago I went through a stack of old magazines I’ve been saving, some for several years.  I tore out the pages I really loved and recycled the rest.  This evening I was looking through them and noticed many were of beautiful beds.

More fuel for my blue and white addiction.  This is truly a timeless look that will never go out of style.

from publication: Beautiful Bedrooms, 2001

I love the soft muted colors of this room along with the bedtime message above. There is something so crisp and fresh about a white matelasse coverlet or spread.  Do you like a bed skirt puddled on the floor?

Country Living 

This bed was just so clever.  It has the look of a canopy bed, even though it’s not.  The article shared that the bedposts are made from gauze draperies hung from large cup hooks that are attached to the ceiling.  I love the vintage fashion photos on the wall and the chandelier hung nice and low over the bed where you can really see and appreciate it.

Country Victorian, Winter 2008

This would be an adorable room for children or visiting grandchildren.  The beds are painted with a floral design that coordinates with the fabrics/upholstery in the room!  Next time you see those old beat up four poster beds in a thrift store, think paint!

Bedroom and Bath, Summer 2001

This pic is a bit grainy since I had to enlarge it a lot for this post.  But I just loved it and had to share it in this post of beautiful beds.  I’m not sure if you can still find them, but once upon a time, you could buy these hand-tied canopies for sale in the resource pages/ads in the very back of magazines.  I remember Colonial Homes, which became Classic Homes, used to have ads for these in the very back.  I bet they are still available online, too. Come to think of it, I believe I’ve seen these for sale at Country Curtains, online.  The linens on the bed are from Venice, Italy.

Decorating Summer 1997

Stately and beautiful!  I really miss Southern Accents magazine.

Southern Accents

Love the subtle pattern of the wallpaper in this room.  The dark wood of the four-poster bed is so beautiful contrasting against it.  It creates its own silhouette, like the silhouette pictures above the bed.

Unknown

This bed was in the master bedroom of the Southern Idea home in Senoia, Georgia, last year.  Remember when we took that tour HERE, HERE and HERE, HERE and HERE.

Southern Living Idea House, Senoia, GA

Another beautiful canopy bed…can you tell I have a thing for canopy beds?  Most of the pics I save featured this style bed.

Southern Accents, January-February 2004

When we’re talking fantasy beds, I had to include this one from Posh Tots online.  I think it’s pretty much a guarantee a little girl would awake feeling like a princess in this bed.

Posh Tots

Christmas is just a few weeks away.  I may steal this idea for my guest room bed.

Country Living

I could stare at this picture all day long…soooo pretty.  This could be a little pricey to do with real greenery and then there’s the sap factor. lol  But if you can find the pine garland on sale…it would be oh, so tempting.  Just imagine drifting off to sleep looking up at beautifully draped pine boughs.  The scent would be wonderful.

Country Living, December 2004

 

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Comments

  1. Pat@Back Porch Musings says

    Beautiful inspiration, Susan.

    Several years ago we stayed at The White Gull Inn, in Door County Wisconsin. The room was blue and white, with a poster bed wearing a crocheted canopy. Absolutely beautiful room. One of the prettiest rooms we've stayed in, during our road trips.

  2. ♥ Sonny ♥ says

    oh my – what beautiful bedrooms they all are.. I loved looking at them.
    as for puddling bedskirts- not so much.. puddling always looks like a girl wearing her taller sisters prom dress to me lol.. just right at the very edge of the floor is more my style.

    thanks for all the great inspiration.

  3. CountryBelle says

    Love these bedrooms… but that one with the woman's portrait above would be kind of unnerving to wake up to 😉

  4. The Quintessential Magpie says

    Susan, I recognize some of those rooms! I love the four poster dark wood bed with the portrait and mirror over it. That was one of my favorites, too. And I love the bench in front of the first bed. Is there anything better than a beautiful bed?

    XO,

    Sheila

  5. Gorgeous inspiration photos. I love dreaming of new bedroom spaces. Even though I love my bedroom, it's still fun to look at inspirational photos.

  6. Divine Theatre says

    I love canopy beds! I am also enamoured of bed crowns. Something about them seems a little magical, I think.
    I truly love the look of puddled bedskirts but the reality is that they only look good when the bed is made. Since my husband works nights, that rarely happens here! LOL!
    I have been thinking about what to do with all my old magazines, hundreds of them…I still can't get rid of them yet!

    xoxo
    Andie

  7. FLOWERSHOPGURL says

    Hi Susan, I'll pick door number 2, lol, I mean I will take bed number 2. Love the look and it would fit right in at my cottage. Thank you for sharing!
    Hugz,
    Kim

  8. I'm redoing two guest rooms and our master and it is sooo hard to find bedding that is beautiful but not too pricy! Beautiful inspiration Susan, thanks for sharing! 🙂

  9. Oh, yes, I love beautiful beds, too.♥

    My husband draped our bed and bedroom in fresh greens our first Christmas together. And, he placed a Christmas tree in front of our bedroom window. I worked late, and found it when I got home that night. It is now a sweet memory we share.

  10. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Beverly, what a wonderful husband you have! He is definitely a keeper!

  11. Hi Susan…Was glad to see someone else stashes magazines. I love to go through them, clip, and then past things I love into different journals—-self-discovery, fashion, interior decorating, someday file, etc. Fun fun fun Don't have much time for doing all of the above but try to squeeze in little moments of time. Susan

  12. Inspiring for sure. One day I will get around to my room but not until we finish the ensuite bathroom off. Too much of a mess to deal with.

  13. I can't even choose a favorite, they are all so incredibly lovely – and just my style!!!

  14. Forever Christmas 1904 says

    Love those four posters! I had always wanted one and one day, I saw one at a garage sale-solid wood, mahogany, rice carved on the posts, and CALIFORNIA KING SIZE! All for $600! I told my friend about it and she told me that we HAVE to go back and get it! I didn't have the money at the time, so she lent it to me! After 20 years, I still have that bed and would love to do a canopy above it. I also love sheer curtains pooling on the floor…
    Thanks for doing all the legwork you do for us to share this eye candy you treat us to! It really makes my day!

  15. Susan, I have a four poster bed and i have soft side drapes but no canopy. Blue and white/cream are the colors I prefer for my master bedroom, I have always had a blue master bedroom and I can not see me ever changing it. I too, Miss Southern Accents magazine, it was one of my all time favs. So many beautiful traditional spaces to view, Have a great rest of the week, Kathysue

  16. Susan,

    Thanks for sharing! They are all beautiful. You are right about the crochet canopies – haven't seen them in a while.

    Just bought my daughter the Darcy canopy bed from PB kids. I think you would love it. I still need to get the drapes. It is kind of vintage looking and I am trying to create a French look with lots of her ballet paraphenilia (sp).

    Betsy

  17. i really enjoyed looking at all those beautiful beds. i think my favorite would have to be the blue and white..it is just lovely. i enjoy your blog so much and i look forward to seeing your table settings.i am going to have to add you to my blog list so i can keep up. as far as puddled bedskirts. i love them but with 5 cats it just would not work at my house.

  18. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Forever Christmas…glad you got your bed…that was a great price!

  19. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Thanks so much, Grace! I know what you mean about the kitties. 🙂

  20. I love all your "dream beds". I finally got a 4 poster at age 52. I finally feel like I have a "big girl" bed because I have to hop up a bit to get into it. I love it! Do you have any bedroom changes in the works?

    Robin
    Robin Flies South

  21. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Robin, I love the high beds…good for you that you got your "Princess and the Pea" bed. Do you remember that fairy tale? 🙂 I've been hoping for years to find a comforter set with a winter look…something along the lines of a Ralph Lauren-ish look. I'm envisioning lots of wonderful plaid…maybe some wool or flannel. Something really cozy. I think I'll know it when I see it. Would love to have a "winter" look for my bedroom during these cold winter months…then swap out to the current look each summer. I also need to paint my tray ceiling. Not looking forward to that. Thanks for the question! I'll keep ya posted if I find that bedding.

  22. I remember some of these, too. I have never thrown away some of my favorite magazines, and now that they are no longer published, I am glad I didn't. They are taking over in my garage, and I am going to have to do something soon, or they will have me on Hoarders next thing you know. I think pretty and elegant and classic really never goes out of style, unlike the "flavor of the day" decorating we see too much of now.

    .

  23. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Ellen…well said!

  24. Heaven's Walk says

    Oh my gosh…I'm in love with that crochet canopy bed, Susan! Wow. I would spend all day there and not emerge from the linens! Thanks for sharing such beautiful photos and letting us dream along with you. 🙂

    xoxo laurie

  25. Michele/Ohio says

    LOVE those pics- esp love the canopies, too.

    When I was little my best friend had a canopoy and I just loved spending the night there – always wanted one.

    I would do it now but I have a sloping master ceiling and I don't believe it would look right…and considered it in a guest room but those rooms aren't large – so I think I will just have to settle for when we have the pleasure of visiting old wonderful charming Bed and Breakfast places – I always ask if they have canopies!

    Beautiful post, Susan, thank you.

  26. Sue (Someone's Mom) says

    Well that was fun! My favorite is the second one. I like the colors and while it is beautiful, it isn't as "frilly" as some of the others.

  27. ❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁ says

    I remember as a little girl wishing to have a canopy bed. It never happened and I've outgrown that I think. My favorite one is the from Country Victorian. I love the bedskirt lying in puddles around the bed and it just looks so warm and comfy. I agree about the chandelier 🙂

    Now the Posh Tots bed is another story. It's actually a "you've got to be kidding!!" kinda bed 😉

  28. martinealison says

    Tout pour faire de beaux rêves…
    gros bisous

  29. Susan, This was such a fun post…i really liked it.
    Seeing the bedrooms was a treat.
    Have a very Happy Turkey Day.
    d

  30. Love 'em all. I have a powder slate blue and white bedroom and love it. Also love the puddling bedskirt. I see that some don't. Oh well can't please everyone. Nothing like a gorgeous room to dream by. I also keep tons of decorating magaziness. They are all in neat holders on bookshelves. I'm slowly going through them like you are Susan and pulling out the ones I love the most. But it takes time.

  31. Does this mean we are about to be treated to a southern style how to on bed treatments? Hint, hint :)? Always wanted to learn how all those sheets and coverlets are done. I always want to get in one of these beds and never get out! Thanks Susan
    Lisa

  32. Mom in High Heels says

    All the beds are beautiful. We had a canopy bed, but got rid of it because you wouldn't believe the dust!

  33. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    Loved seeing all of these beautiful beds. I'm like you. I let my favorite magazines accumulate until I must do something, then I look at them one more time and tear out the pages I really love.

  34. I miss Southern Accents magazine too! I was so bummed when they folded! I think puddled bedskirts are so pretty! I love all your pictures of the bedrooms. I agree the blue and white is timeless!

  35. Mom/Carolyn says

    Susan, I am so glad that you love blue and white, too!
    It seems that green has been predominately featured by many decorators for a long time. While green is a lovely color, I find blue to be relaxing and refreshing. Thanks for sharing these beautiful bedroom ideas!

  36. I liked on FB!

  37. I signed up for their newsletter!

  38. And number 4, love the blog!

  39. http://findingsecrettreasures.blogspot.com says

    Beautiful bedrooms, would create some beautiful dreams I'm sure

  40. Thirty-something years ago I purchased one of those fishnet canopies from the back of Colonial Homes magazine. They are not crocheted but made by tying hundreds of tiny knots. My canopy was handmade by a lady in North Carolina who made them at home and sold them through a co-op. of sorts. Recently, I ran across a website that still sells them: http://www.heirloomcanopies.com I know nothing about the reliability of this site since I've never ordered from them but the canopies look beautiful. I have used my canopy continuously for over 30 years, removing it to wash separately on delicate cycle in the washer. I dry it in the dryer on low. You would not believe the dust it collects… my only complaint, but I can overlook that!

  41. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Peg, thanks for sharing that. They are beautiful!

  42. pam ~ crumpety cottage says

    I had to come look at that blue and white bedroom again. *sigh* They are all so lovely, and each evoke a different feeling or mood in me, but that blue and white one just makes me feel happy. 😀 Doesn’t it affect you that way too? Some colors and designs might evoke peace and tranquility or romance or broodiness. But that bedroom just makes me smile. 😀 Oh, I love it! I wonder if I could pull of something like it in my bedroom. Not sure .. not sure. Hmm. Sometimes I think I’d like to send a photo of this or that and ask you and the porch nappers to chime in with suggestions. But oh, that could be dangerous! Lol. I guess I’ll just have to bide my time and keep thinking …

  43. bobbi duncan says

    Be still my heart…I love blue and white and am just now planning it for a bedroom… such calming colors. I, too, so miss the traditional rooms that Colonial Homes and Southern Accents were known for …thank goodness I still have many of their pictures . Would love it if more traditional styles were incorporated in the magazines today because not everyone is a fan of only contemporary. I mention this to all the sales associates at any furniture store we visit, and even they agree that they miss more diversity and are plugging that fact at their sales meetings. Keep your fingers crossed all you traditionalists out there. Luckily, we have a tremendous fabric district in nearby Philadelphia that have to carry fabrics that cater to all the many folks in this area owning antiques, so I am still able to find a wide variety of fabrics for our humble home. Thank you, Susan, for all the inspiration,

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