I’m a relative newcomer to Radio 4, and one of the programmes I wish I had discovered years ago is Desert Island Discs. It’s a veritable institution that has been running since 1941. The premise of the show is that the Castaway chooses eight tracks that they simply couldn’t be without, weaving stories of their life as they go. In addition they are allowed to choose one book, to go with The Bible and The Full Works of William Shakespeare, to keep them occupied on their Desert Island. Finally, they are allowed to take one ‘Luxury Item’.
It’s the luxury item that has had me thinking for weeks. What would I take as a luxury, assuming as I must that ‘My Family‘ doesn’t count? I have heard some Castaways take laptop and internet, paper and pen, lifetime supply of face cream, ball. All of these make sense. You need to keep your mind active when separated from the life that you are used to (OK, the face cream doesn’t fit that bill, but everyone needs good skin care). That’s part of the reasons that books are a necessity. I really enjoy reading. I used to do it a lot more than I do at the moment. My favourite time of day is my last 15 minutes: the house is peaceful, I have kissed my Girls, turned off the lights and am curled up in bed next to my beloved reading side-by-side in companionable silence.
My bed, in it's rightful place. The curtains were made by my Mother-In-Law when we first moved in together. The brown velvet chairs were bought in TK Maxx when we were getting the room redecorated. The dresser was bought from an 'antique' shop because it reminds me of one my Nan had when I was growing up. And the Laura Ashley wallpaper was a joint choice: I love the way it shines when it catches the sunlight that streams through the window most afternoons. It is incredible light and airy when the curtains are opened all the way.
Thinking about that is when I realised what my luxury item should be: my bed. The king-sized bed that DH and I bought when we first moved in together. It has an Orthopedic mattress which I got at a huge discount when Allders were closing down. It has a luxury mattress protector. It has a feather duvet and pillows that are swaddled in the crisp cotton bedlinen that I bought in a White Company sale and which always feel cool when you get into bed. It has a quilted throw which tones with the wallpaper, cushions that are in the teal accent colour and an electric blanket for when the nights are cold (along with brushed cotton bedding.)
The pictures on the wall to the side of the bed are of The Girls, of course. One of each of them taken at the same age and wearing the same outfit. On the bedside table is my favourite photograph of my husband, taken on a holiday in Vietnam. Along with all the usual stuff.
It is the place I retreat to when I have a bad headache, when I am ill, when I need to catch up on sleep after a disturbed night. Slipping under the covers after a holiday confirms that I am home: I never sleep as well when we are away. It is the place I feel most calm, most at peace. Conveniently enough, At Peace is the theme for this week’s Gallery.
This is the view from the pillows: a gorgeous painting by Laura Mars, a wedding present from good friends, and the inspiration for the colour scheme. The dresser has a runner on top that I made to sit on our dining room table in our old house. And lots of photographs. Every day I wake up surrounded by my family, just as I should be.
Your bedroom looks amazing! I thought you had taken a photo of a posh hotel room at first. Definitely peaceful and luxurious.
That’s a really lovely thing to say Kirsty- it’s exactly the look that we wanted so I’m delighted to learn we nailed it!
Very lovely and calm, and I totally agree with the cotton bedding. My bedding is all 100% 600 count Egyptian cotton and is absolutely devine. I particularly love to climb into bed on a saturday night because saturday is my bedding day, and it is always really clean and fresh on saturday nights!
Fabulous take on the theme 🙂
Love the idea of photos in a bedroom. I only have a couple but need more wall space to add more. Lovely dreamy post 🙂
“Every day I wake up surrounded by my family, just as I should be” Le sigh x
Doesn’t my life sound fab Tara? It’s not remotely like that really. Must have been a good day when I wrote the post D
Fivegoblogging- I think it’s because we lived overseas and moved a lot. I grew up surrounded by photographs. I actually *need* them now!!
oh, what a wonderful sanctuary!
no wonder you feel at peace there…
this is the bedroom i crave…
I thank you all for your comments and am off to polish my Awesome-Interior-Designer-Halo!
This looks so calm and peaceful. I would love a bedroom like this.
Beautiful and I love the captions explaining the photos…
It’s a great room. Nice peaceful colours….
Your bedroom looks so calm – wonderful! I want to get into your bed!x