My Recent Blogging Activities

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! I had big plans to use some of the down time to get caught up on my blogging life, and as usual, it didn't happen. I can, however, share a few recent guest posts that I've done and a partnership that I'm just getting started with. So I suppose I've been doing some blogging lately...just not on Knight Moves!

First, my bud Meg Biram asked me to contribute on her snazzily-redesigned blog MegBiram.com, and I provided an overview of the elements of a reupholstery/refinishing plan. My goal was to help anyone looking to put a professional upholstery project into the works. I tried to lay out the general map of the decisions that need to be made so you will be prepared when the upholsterer creates the order and starts asking questions. I'm planning to write a follow-up to the post that goes into more specific options for each element.

Anyhow, I gave a little peek of the new upholstered bed I had made for the guest room in our house to illustrate how a fabric with a large pattern/design repeat looks on a large piece of upholstery (plus it has contrast cording, tape, and upholstery nail details, which I also talk about in the post). The next step in this room is to get new bed linens...

Also, on Home Depot's blog, The Apron, I was asked to participate in a Christmas Style Challenge along with some other bloggers. I was given materials from HD to decorate my front door. Keep in mind that I was given them in October so I looked like a total lunatic out on my porch decorating for Christmas before Halloween! I can only imagine what my neighbors thought when they saw me out front photographing the scene. I still haven't mustered up the spirit to get everything out again!

And finally, my favorite shopping arena in Dallas, Highland Park Village, invited me to be a part of a group of style influencers and partner up with some of their stores to style a few looks. I got paired up with Robert Talbott. As the brand primarily focuses on menswear, I'd never really shopped there before, but was thrilled to find that they have amazing cashmere sweaters and perfectly tailored button-ups. Here's one of the crazy-comfy sweaters I got to wear...

I'll be posting more on Highland Park Village and Robert Talbott, so stay tuned for those goods!

Upholstered Bed Styles

Upholstered beds are everywhere and have been en vogue for a while. Although I typically grow tired of any trend that becomes ubiquitous, I still love a good upholstered bed/headboard. I prefer that beds look comfortable and cushy and a padded headboard wrapped in fabric contributes to that effect far more effectively than a hard wood or metal one. And being a person who sleeps in a bed with a soft, tufted headboard (and footboard), I can vouch for the fact that upholstered beds are more comfortable especially when you're propped up reading or watching TV.

I've been planning to get an upholstered bed made for the guest room since we moved in and it just never rose to the top of the priority list. I'm ready to finish that room up though, so it really needs to be ordered so that I can select fabric for the chair and the curtains in the room. Besides choosing fabric, I need to decide on what shape I want to use. I want something unique but also simple and timeless because it's not going to change for a long time! Here are some styles that I like:

 Channel tufted

Designed by Lynn Morgan

Nailhead border trim, Tower 20 - Bolsa Chica Bed by Tim Clarke via Dering Hall

Grid tufted, Rossmore Headboard by Empiric

Tufted with brass button detail and curved edges, Nickey Kehoe - Tufted Headboard via Dering Hall

Designed by Nickey Kehoe

Here's another tufted one with curved edges, but it has more modern lines. Plus it's from Z Gallerie and is thus a bit cheaper (considering you get a whole bed and not just the headboard).

Simple lacquered wood frame with unholstered inset cushion with cording, designed by David Kleinberg

Designed by David Kleinberg, via Architectural Digest

Moorish cut-out design accented with nailhead trim, Azure Headboard via Horchow

And finally, this one that I put together, uses a classic curved corner shape, Schumacher's Nanjing, a fun Chinoiserie print fabric, and a navy contrasting tape border.

With my budget, I'll probably go with the final option that I designed. Since I'm not the world's biggest fan of bedskirts, I'd either have an upholstered base with wood legs made or go with a ready-made (i.e. cheaper) frame from West Elm. If I use Nanjing for the headboard I'll probably upholster the wing chair with Alan Campbell's Kells II in French blue and navy (below). The curtains would be ivory bordered with the same navy tape that was used on the headboard.

Which bed/headboard from above do you like best? Are you a fan of upholstered beds/headboards?