
HOW TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL BED.Especially if you have TO SHARE with an ITALIAN husband and a few animals now and again!
I was ASKED To join a group of DECORATORS to do a POST on BED MAKING!Here goes……..somehow I think MY take will be a bit different!TO see the OTHER PARTICIPANTS go to the BLOGS below……..
I recently discovered the delight of linen sheets by TRICA of ROUGH LINEN.I have NO IDEA what took ME so long but I was WAY behind the people in the KNOW!You see TRICA and her assistant were next to me at THE REMNANTS of the PAST show back in April.They had the most divine aprons on……..I bought a couple.BUT I didNOT look at the sheets……………….
It took me a week or two after the show to look up TRICA’s site on the web and realize I had seen her on another BLOG doing her YOU TUBE show HOW TO MAKE A BED Video.
. http://www.roughlinen.com/rough-linen-videos.html
I tell YOU There will be NO MORE T.J.MAXX sheets for me……..EVER!IN fact, I have tossed all our other sheets!I have purchased the WHITE and the FLAX linen.I dragged my feet about the BALLERINA PINK and lost OUT!They are SOLD OUT.

Our DOUBLE BED with a needlepoint TAPESTRY hanging above.

We sleep in a DOUBLE BED.
YEP…….that’s RIGHT.ALL 5 feet 11 inches of me and my GORGEOUS ITALIAN who has not gained one pound in the 30 years; I have been “SLEEPING” with HIM!
IT was HIS idea………which was a VERY GOOD one as our bedroom would never accommodate a KING size.
His belief 30 years ago was if we shared a small bed WE could NEVER go to sleep angry with each other!As at some point we would have to touch one another……
I recently showed a visitor to my BEDROOM which I always say to myself DONOT SHOW IT but then I get carried away and DO!Because in our MASTER BATH there is the BEST SINK EVER!A 300 year old kitchen sink from ITALY that I scored on a SUNDAY walk behind our home in TUSCANY…………I’ll save that for another DAY!

When I saw the VISITOR the following week…….she commented on MY HOME and especially THE BED.
She told me HER visit was “LIFE CHANGING!”
“Perhaps, the bed size was the secret to a long marriage.I SMILED inside and thought to myself the things that strike people…………………it was a GOOD thing I SHOWED the SLEEPING QUARTER’S.
Needless, to say she made MY DAY!

I probably make the WORST BED out there in this GROUP of BLOGGERS,but I do like ACCESSORIES.Crowns hang from iron sign holders,DOG BEDS are used in my BOYS ROOM as headboards until I can find EXACTLY what I WANT. MAYBE some of these DESIGNERS could help me?

NOT the BEST SNAP BY ME!Wanted to SHOW how you can sit up in bed with these wonderful BEDS for DOGS!Chandelier………I found in my travels for $25.00 and there are TWO of them!The Italian sconces I think I paid $20.00 for that years ago and well the antlers they came from France.My BEST accessories for the beds in OUR HOME are the animals……………..

Try and get a leg in here………………!!!

Tummy RUB required before nap time?

Contemplating the JUMP!NO, not really…………more bed time.
A BIT of a disaster with shoes, blankets and cords around but DO Note the TEA CUP PIGGY has a VELVET BED TOO!I would NEVER be able to re-create this in a PERFECT ROOM so you get the old photo with the REAL LIFE ACTION around…..shoes,blankets and cords!
Our BOXER has gone to HEAVEN now……….just about a month ago.Happy to have this photo.

I probably should NOT share this INFO but he TOO sleeps on his bed which is lifted from the cold floor by a french red quilt and a blanket to cover himself.He is THE BEST BABY I have ever cared for……….bedtime is 9:00 pm SHARP and he put’s himself to sleep and then I do not hear a PEEP out of him until I awaken and he hears me!Then WE excitedly make our NOISES and head for LA CUCINA!Time to EAT for BANKSY and Coffee time for me!


A LOVE OF MY LIFE this CAT……………THEODORABLE as my friend calls him!

A normal occurrence in this house………..usually in the BED.CAT and DOG together.
AS you can see WE are ONE BIG FURRY FAMILY!


Now back to bed making!I should send you to TRICIA’S site to see HER in ACTION!
AS I do the same technique she has shown.I gave you the link above.Take a few minutes and listen to her with her AUSTRALIAN /English accent.She is the epitome of a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.
I have purchased a clothes line to hang the gorgeous linen sheets to dry!As per TRICIA’s suggestion………and my divine neighbor had already done ,so I HAD TO FOLLOW suit!YES, that would be a big old mirror in the GARDEN hanging on the tree.

BELOW is our NEST for SLEEPING.It suits us perfectly!

TAPESTRY was found in a consignment shop!Gobelin pillow RETROCOLLECTSINTERIORS on INSTAGRAM……..a BRIT in FRANCE!Blackamoors a hand me down from my departed AUNT.Floral sofa The first thing I bought off an AD on a bulletin board in our little town in California!I had it re-covered of course!Headboard was a consignment shop find it was suppose to go to my shop!OPPS, those things use to happen with me A LOT!!!Rug found in an old COLLECTIVE STORE made out of train cars.Gorgeous FLORENTINE END TABLE found at MY shop the HEN HOUSE!Think we covered all the accoutrements!!
I did iron the top sheet but left the duvet as is after hanging to dry…….as it’s LINEN.GOOD LINEN and that is the WAY she wants to be!The wrinkles do not bother me as it’s the texture that is so soothing.I canNOT stress enough the LUXURY of LINEN sheets!!


I have to tell you I spent about two months hanging OUT in this room EXACTLY five years ago TODAY!My little TICKER went in for a LUBE and VALVE adjustment!I did not pop back as I should have………..well because of that experience I bought myself this FABULOUS MIRROR!I had looked at it for TWO YEARS!It was half OFF!It fit perfectly in the space I had; I know as I measured THREE times!!!I gifted MYSELF before and it kept me company while I recuperated.I NEVER GOT TIRED OF LOOKING AROUND is what I am trying to say……………decorate with THINGS you ADORE!

AUTUMN look below………ADD VELVET!
THEODORE THE CAT will LOVE IT!


SLEEP WELL……………..slipping into a home made bed is always heaven after a long day!I really DO LOVE MY BED and say it quite frequently to my husband!Don’t forget to HOOK UP with THE REAL DECOR GALS at the end of my post!I bet WE can LEARN a few TIPS.I was honored to be apart of this DESIGN GROUP!
MILLIE GRAZIE LADIES……….

SWEET DREAMS…………this little PIGGY didNOT GO TO MARKET!He has NO IDEA how lucky he has it!!!Let’s just say OUI OUI OUI all the way to the BED!!!!A few CHEERIOS HELPED this shot!

SWEET DREAMS!
DO GO and check the OTHER BLOGS for MORE inspiration!!!!!!!!!
Tell them the WOMAN with the PIG in HER bed sent YOU!

Keri says
Your room is lovely. It’s also one more reminder that I really do need to spring for linen sheets. They’ve been on my wish list for years.
contessa says
JUST DO IT!
WORTH EVERY DOLLAR……………TRUST ME!!
Pam@over50feeling40 says
I have so much respect for you…you are a better woman than I. We also slept in a full bed for 30 years, until two months ago, when I said I could do it no longer. I LOVE THE NEW KING bed. Now, my husband sleeps with a CPAC machine so it is a lot like sleeping with Darth Vador every night! As I age, my claustrophobia worsens and I just need space. So I really do know what it is to stick it out like you have. The best part of our new bed are the bamboo sheets I also purchased…they are amazing and I highly recommend them for comfort. I bought them at Soft Surroundings!
contessa says
LOVE SOFT SURROUNDINGS!
I just started with the DARTH VADOR MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hear YA!POOR HUSBAND…………POOR YOU!YOU two will have to close your eyes………and creep into bed without LOOKING AT US!
IT has helped my SLEEP……however I have other issues NOW!Strap marks…….sores in my nose etc!!!
Heather Lindstrom says
Oh Contessa–you are making me smile this morning!!! Your space is luxurious, opulent, animalistic (in just right ways;) and so comfy looking. Those linen sheets–swoon!! This is your treasured space–I can just feel it. I feel that way about our room too. WE opted for a queen size bed when we married but will never have a king size for the very same reasons. When we are on vacation with a king sized bed we practically get lost! LOL!
Thanks for joining our Lifestyle Linkup today lovely!
xx, Heather
contessa says
MY PLEASURE HEATHER…………..THANK you for the INVITE!!!
kim says
Contessa, Love this and your home so much. Precious pets make it even better. I am so sorry about your boxer. I had no idea. I hope you are coping. Hopefully all the other babies are helping.. I just cannot get over that piggy. He’s so adorable and I love Theodore and Winston too.. I hope we can see each other soon. Life has been so busy. I can’t believe we were both in the desert..I love La Quinta and was there many years ago. Beautiful mountains there.. You would dig the Parker too. Miss you. Take care. xoxo Kim
Sandy@You May Be Wandering says
What a beautiful home! And your furry family makes it even better!!!
contessa says
GRAZIE MILLIE SANDY!!!
virginia bassett says
Once upon a time there was a princess who was given by her fairy godmother the ability to create magnificence out of anything. Through the years her sense of the occasion increased a hundred fold. Anything the princess touched became a shimmering, glittering, sparkling one of a kind creation. The princess found the love her life. A man who kissed her toes nightly and stroked her hair every morning. She became the Contessa… benevolent, brazen and beautifully non-conforming. Like all good fairy tales the story has a happy ending. She shared her magic with the world!
Penelope Bianchi says
This is beautifully written!! And oh so very true!!
contessa says
VIRGINIA!
I just saw this today a day after you wrote it!YOU ARE A DELIGHT…………..and I THANK YOU so VERY much for your story book description of me!!!I do try to SPREAD the waves of WONDERMENT with people………..MAGIC as YOU say!Let’s be happy and HAVE FUN doing what we are doing!I ADORE TO MAKE MEMORIES…………..XO
sherry says
OMG…..The double bed…..the cute dogs…..the adorable pig. I don’t know where to start but you had me at “animals in bed”…..!
Penelope Bianchi says
Fabulous bed!!!
Nita says
Love this post! I read about those sheets on her blog, so curious… Sounds and looks like Axel:) I love the large dog bed pillow idea… Brilliant! Our guest bed has no headboard and have been looking to make it look complete, right now the headboard is a window… Thanks for approving our furniture rearrangement… It helped to say it was approved by Elizabeth xoxo
Lillian Plummer says
Just found this post and I love it. Your bedroom is fabulous, the tapestry pillow is divine. Read at the beginning of your blog that you will make December your last post?……. No no you must keep going, I absolutely insist! I love reading your posts! LuvL xxx
contessa says
NO< you did not READ THE END POST CORRECTLY!!!! I will still be here!