Guest Post: Summer Airy Bedrooms

Hi! I’m Joanna. I write for Arcadian Lighting, a wonderful source for brilliant lighting fixtures for the interior and exterior of the home. I spend my work days searching the web for the most beautiful interior design images and ideas to share on blogs like Ranch Dressing. Today, I’m guest posting on summery bedrooms. I love the look of the rooms below for their light and airy feel. Which is your favorite?

This charming bedroom situated in a log home features a faux painted mural of birds, flowers and vines. The furnishings and textiles blend with the room for a natural look.

A minimalist bedroom takes the simple approach to living with just the basic necessities. It is a lovely example summery décor.

Feminine and romantic, this bedroom has all of the elements of a summery getaway. The distressed floors in a medium finish play nicely off of the crisp white of the rest of the room.

A rustic headboard and simple white bed linens contrast nicely. The light fixture is a gorgeous addition giving the room a shabby chic feel.

This bohemian bedroom looks comfortable and relaxed. It would be nice to wake to the sunshine streaming in the windows here.

A country cottage boasts a little sleeping corner for a daytime nap or curling up with a favorite novel.

This bedroom has a Moroccan feel with its platform day bed, wood chest and draped fabric canopy. The colors in the pillows are quite summery.

A summery cabin features dormitory style beds in iron and white linens. This space would be perfect for a children’s sleep over. The multiple light fixtures lining the ceiling provide plenty of light at night time. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these light, airy summer bedrooms? Leave us some of your thoughts below, and stop by Arcadian Lighting for a wide variety of ceiling lights, wall sconces, and a variety of lighting fixtures and tips for your home!

All Shop Photos

Come on in

NC tobacco stick stars...gotta preserve our heritage!

Great chippy ladder backs, green, black and white. 

Old, old patchwork quilts...these were made by po folks! Some are entirely flour sacks.

A view from the other end

And from the back

...and here's Cheyenne. How'd she sneak in here?

Kitchen wares

Great find...White House vinegar jugs with lables

Front corner

Vintage travel...cases, brochures, maps, souvenirs

Old bakelite body Imperial camera (top)

Shoe brush makes a nifty photo display

Back corner

Our door prize

Just for the ladies

Lots of trinket boxes

Bird Feeder?

Intended as a bird feeder, but cute in a kid's bathroom for "stuff" if you have the space.

Where did I put my keys?

Extra large key

Button cards, neat embroidered pillow and hand made dresser scarf

Everything is for sale...but the dogs! Friday 10-8, Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. The drawing for the tiered jewelry dish is at closing on Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing you!

What is an Occasional Sale?

The invitations are out and the questions are coming in..."What is an occasional sale?"  Our first occasional sale, I just called Grande Opening, so everyone was good with that. This term, occasional sale has filled my inbox with questions. Here are my answers:

It's really just what the name says. A sale that happens occasionally. I almost called it a Seasonal sale but that has it's own meaning too. I had been using both phrases interchangeably, so now that I'm all straight I will not be doing that anymore.

Occasional sales are all the rage right now, especially in the handmade and vintage world. According to Renee Christensen, the Minneapolis Thrifty Shopping Examiner, "Occasional sales are usually hosted by an antique dealer or a group of antique dealers, and are held as often as monthly to quarterly to biannually for three to five days."
The beauty of occasional sales is that dealers restock items throughout a sale and each sale brings new treasures. Dealers strive to showcase decorating with architectural pieces, vintage wares, repurposed and recycled furniture, rustic and retro furniture, cabin and cottage style accessories, household and garden wares, and textiles."


 Our sales will be quarterly this first year and last 3 days each. Items are priced to GO. If something has been in the store for months it's been marked down. Collectible items are averaged with national markets and handmade art or fine crafts are marked about 10 to 20% less than what they will be listed for online if they don't sell during the weekend.

The back corner

Here are a few teaser photos as promised. Some areas of the shop look like an explosion, but I managed to get in the very back corner and take a few pictures. This is where most of the kitchen ware, candles and pottery are. 

 More to come....

Friday's Featured Shop Items 2-18-11

It doesn't seem much like winter here in NC today. We may hit a record 76. Wooohooo! Bring it! It's been a long winter...and I'm a winter person.

It's weather like this that leaves me wondering what to wear for the day. When I head out to feed the animals at 7:00 am it's been between 20 and 30 degrees all week, but by lunchtime I'm peeling away layers and am down to shirtsleeves. No wonder people all around me are sick.

 If I were small enough, and I worked in a place where I had to dress up, I might choose something like this vintage Saks Fifth Avenue dress. It would work with it's 3/4 length sleeved jacket. It's a woven ribbon dress..well, actually I don't know exactly what it's called...but I've heard this term somewhere and it makes sense to me. Anyway, it's gorgeous and it's tiny, maybe a size 0. I don't know what that would have been back in the day; all I know is that it's not my size so I'm offering it to you. I can see it used as decoration or worn.

There were lots of nice clothes in the estate where this came from, but unfortunately they weren't stored where the little mice couldn't get to them. This dress is one of few that made it out in one piece. I thought this telegram was one of the coolest things that I found among all the papers from the same estate...it kind of tells the story of why so many nice dresses.

And what good dress doesn't need a tapestry bag to go with it...how cool is this? No, I wouldn't carry it!...but I would hang it open on a hook in our bedroom and keep my latest read in it or maybe in the guest bathroom and stuff some rolled towels in it. Yes, everything needs a purpose here.

Or how about a new spittoon. Now, I'm guessing that not many of you ladies dip snuff...and if you do, don't tell me...but this is a very elegant ladies spittoon. Yes, there is such a thing and yes, they are collectible. So if you know anyone that collects them, send them my way. If it stays here, it will become a fancy vase come spring.

I hope you enjoy this beauty of a day!

Highlights from the Junk Workshop

The junk workshop on Saturday was loads of fun! I really had no idea exactly how it would go. I've mostly taught children and teen art classes and have never actually attended any type of workshop myself that I can recall. I thought maybe I should begin like I always do with art classes...with an introduction, a demo or instructions...etc. and then let them move into the fun part.

 I did none of the above. I did get to greet everyone individually but once they were in, well, it just happened. After everyone arrived they promptly took inventory of the junk, scooped up what they wanted and went to work. I was impressed. Most everyone arrived with a vision and if they didn't come with one they had one within the first hour.

Here's a look at the afternoon....

Getting started

The first hour was really quiet. Everyone settled and concentrating...

Can you tell what this is?

Jan brought the BEST junk from her barn. I'd love to go there and   "pick". 

Notice her sweater...re-constructed and re-styled...just for fun. I would buy one of those!

Notice the cute bakelite alarm clock...another of her great junk.

Lauri making a screen frame for her earrings. I didn't get a photo of  the finished product for some reason...It turned out great. 

These girls are pro's. They could have taught the class! I loved their ideas.

I laughed when I took Krista's picture. I may have as many of her as her mom. She's been coming to  the studio since 5th grade. She's almost 17! 

Hour 2 and several completed projects later.

I wonder if Jonathan was channeling Tom Mix? ...He built an alter that he can pack up and take with him wherever he goes. I am looking forward to seeing it when he's finished! 

Aren't these great coasters? Zinc jar lids with paper inserts coated with several coats polyurethane. 

Cigar box turned jewelry box

Windchimes by our youngest participant

I'm so happy to know there is a use for all those corks I accumulate. Don't you love it?

My sister, Lori putting to good use all those windows she replaced in her old farmhouse. 

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. We will definitely have to do this again. Thank you all for coming!

Today, the studio seems a little empty. I've packed away the extra tables and all the unused junk is back in my "stash". I've completely cleaned off my worktable and put away all the tools. The only thing left is the inspiration I got from being with all of the other creative people that spent the afternoon here.

Now, I've got about 12 weeks or less to get ready for the show in May. Ready or not, here I come.