Create the Classic Cottage-Style Bedroom

Red, white and blue patchwork quilts are the inspiration for creating an Americana, cottage-style theme in a mismatched golden-hued guest bedroom. Designer Wendy Gallagher begins to create a cohesive look by first painting the walls a soft, denim-blue color. One wall is accented with a reverse-stencil technique using Con-Tact paper star cutouts and a layer of paint. The two twin beds are repositioned against the stenciled wall and unified with matching beadboard headboards. The windows are softened with white linen panels trimmed in matching red, white and blue patterned fabrics. The honey- colored armoire and textured dresser are both transformed with white paint and wallpaper panels attached with decoupage glue.

An old headboard is repurposed into a photo display and salvage-store spindles are combined for a casual quilt rack. The two beds are dressed with fleece-backed chenille coverlets and monogrammed pillows. The inner parts of a tossed-out lamp, a wire floral form and a terra-cotta saucer come together for a unique lamp. The finishing touches include artwork made from calendar pages and a garage-sale mirror framed to match the star-cutout headboards.

How-to: Decoupaged Furniture

1. Paint and distress furniture, as desired.
2. Cut wallpaper to fit panels and adhere with decoupage glue.

Tip: If working with furniture that has a textured finish, cut plywood to fit the panels and then decoupage. Attach the plywood inserts to the drawer fronts with small nails.

How-to: Permanent Photo Display

1. Cut the legs off of a headboard (thin molding and a plywood back can be used to create the same effect). Paint white.
2. Place color photo copies in each frame and adhere with spray adhesive.
3. Have individual panes of glass cut to fit each frame; secure the glass to the copy with industrial-strength glue.
4. Add a wooden ornament above the display for interest.

How-to: Star-Stenciled Wall

Steps:

1. Cut star shapes out of Con-Tact paper and place on the wall. Burnish the edges to prevent the paint from bleeding underneath.
2. Paint over the shapes. Use a craft knife to lift up and remove the paper before the paint dries.

How-to: Beadboard Headboard

1. Cut plywood and beadboard to size; glue the beadboard sheet to the plywood.
2. Use a jigsaw to cut a star shape out of the top of the headboard.
3. Trim edges with 1x2 molding. Paint white and lightly distress with sandpaper.

Itemized Design Elements

$19 - paint (The Home Depot: Glidden, Enchantment 30BB 47/161
$62.84 - headboards
$139.94 - window panels (Hancock Fabrics: star fabric for trim)
$40 - paint and wallpaper for armoire (Wal-Mart: decoupage glue, Mod Podge)
$12 - plywood for drawer faces on textured dresser
$5 - night stand
$8.50 - chair cushion
$35.34 - photo display
$10 - quilt rack
$68.95 - chenille throws (Kmart: blue fleece throw - Martha Stewart)
$17.28 - monogrammed pillows
$15 - lamp
$35.67 - artwork  (Bed, Bath and Beyond: pages taken from a 2002 calendar)
$29 -  mirror

$497.52 - Total Cost