Nice, Neat, and New to Me!

Sometimes I just get sick of stuff.
For example, I've been tired of my bed linen for . . . about a year now. I did spend much of 2009 in that bed, waiting out Evie's delivery, so I had plenty of time to see it and be tired of it.
Here's the before shot:

I got the throw pillows and throw (on the chest at the foot of the bed) over four years ago, hoping that the ever-so-small hint of mint/teal green in the chair's stripe would be more noticeable.  I also made the bed skirt with the same intent--small red stripes on the big green would highlight the green.  Now that I look at it in a photo, I can see how it never did do what I had intended.

I also have this cheap streak that runs through me, and I was hesitant to replace something that was still fully functional and not damaged in any way.  And I knew how much it could cost to replace all that bed linen, pillows, accessories, etc.

I cleaned out my bathroom linen cupboard last week, and I happened upon a white matelasse bed skirt that I'd bought eons ago.  So, on Saturday morning, I decided to dismantle the bed to change out the bed skirt.  I hate that job.  While I was at it, I vacuumed the baseboard and frame, removed the box springs and vacuumed the carpet under the bed. Then, I replaced the bed skirt.

Dangerous territory.  Now I wanted to redo the whole she-bang.

So I headed to Target "just to see."  More dangerous territory.

But I was so happy with what I found!  Here's a few shots of "after":

 Less than $80.  My Christmas money from my father-in-law well spent.  Here's a breakdown of the change:

Three new throw pillows for the bed:  each less than $20.

"Bedspread" at the foot of the bed:  This was my best idea.  We stayed in a hotel in Chicago last summer that used one width of fabric across the foot of the bed to imitate a folded-down bedspread.  I found the 95" drapery panel on clearance for $18.14, and it works perfectly.  This is AZ.  How often did I really use that big duvet?  Maybe three weeks a year.

Everything else I mined from the rest of the house.  I removed the faded tulips from the tops of the bookshelves.  I rearranged the pictures on top of my dresser.  The pillows that are now on the chairs and window seat were formerly part of a huge pile in the basement, only being used for pillow fights.  So much better upstairs, don't you think?  That patterned vase between the chairs is one of my favorites, and it was hiding in the "official tchotchke closet," waiting for an opportunity such as this.  The best thing about this vase?  It's metal, so Evie and Hyrum can't break it.

I'm so happy.  It makes the crazy-striped chairs look purposeful. Plus, I eliminated an entire row of throw pillows from the bed.  And I love the textures of these new ones.

Sigh.  Yet another reason why I love Target.

Linking up to the letter N at Alphabe-Thursday with Jenny Matlock.