Spring has sprung! It’s time to put away the flannel sheets and bring out the soft washed linen! Join me for a spring bedroom refresh inspired by botanical print bedding!
Spring Has Sprung
Sorry I missed you all last week!
I wanted to soak up every moment with my precious little Poppy. And of course I was busy supporting the new parents too. They are doing an amazing job!
Additionally, it is always a treat to spend time with my own “baby girl” — now a mom herself! We were even able to sneak out one day together for a pedicure. That was a real luxury!
This is such a beautiful time of year to visit D.C.. The cherry blossoms have come and gone, but the crabapple trees were in full bloom. And everything was so green! We had a couple cool days, but we also had a few in the seventies and even eighties! It sure felt good!
It really got me in the mood for spring!
My first day back here in Maine felt like spring too.
Spring for Maine, that is — sunny and mid-50’s!
Before I left on my trip, I freshened things up in the primary bedroom, with spring bedding and some decor changes.
It doesn’t take much to make the bedroom feel like spring!
It All Starts With the Bedding
Seashells and flowers
Since the bed is the focal point of the room, swapping out the bedding is the easiest way to really change the feel of this space each season!
With the calendar change to April, it was finally time to put away the flannel sheets.
In their place — soft washed linen from Garnet Hill!
I have partnered with Garnet Hill twice previously — last fall and for the holidays. You can read about how much I love their bedding in my blog post Cozy Cottage Mix and Match Bedding.
This time I fell head over heals in love with their Botanical Garden print. With its detailed line drawings of ferns, mushrooms, wildflowers (including my beloved lupines), birds, coral, and shells, it seems like it was custom made for our coastal Maine cottage! It feels fresh, but not overly sweet. Coastal, but not cliched.
The washed linen fabric has enough weight to drape beautifully. And I know it will only get softer with every wash. Linen fabric is breathable and naturally temperature-regulating — perfect for the fluctuating temperatures of spring here in Maine.
To complete the look, I added contrasting throw pillows from Target, and a plaid blanket from my fall Garnet Hill bed.
I have provided links to shop all my bedding at the bottom of this post!
Pro tip
When going with a patterned bedding set, mix in solid pieces to break up and highlight the pattern. Ideally, you should not have two of the patterned pieces next to one another. Here I went with the duvet cover, fitted sheet, and pillow shams in the Botanical Garden print. The flat sheet and pillow cases are a simple solid white. The ruffled trim is a nice added detail!
A lightweight duvet and the burrito method
Two last things…
I am not usually a duvet gal. I find them hot, and changing the cover can feel like a full-workout.
This time, though, I got the Casaluna lightweight down comforter from Target (recommended by Wirecutter). It is just the right amount of cozy without being stifling. The lightweight comforter is currently out of stock in the queen size, but I bet it is something they will be restocking.
I also finally took the time to really learn the “burrito method” for changing a duvet cover. It actually works! This is the how-to video I watched. Let me know if you try it!
Okay, onward now!
Inspired by the bedding, I made a few changes to the rest of the room!
Faux Fireplace
The mantel of the faux fireplace in the bedroom sitting area also got a spring refresh!
I was feeling a little nostalgic, missing the beautiful D.C. cherry blossoms, so I stuck a few faux stems in the Gonder pottery vases I always display on the mantel. It is the best I can do here in Maine!
Pulling on the book theme from the fireplace insert, I also added a few vintage books in pastel shades.
Pro tip
Vintage books are great decor pieces to create vertical interest. Or use a stack as a pedestal to add height to an arrangement. They also add color, texture, and often pattern. I always keep my eye out for interesting books at antiques malls and thrift stores!
Wicker Furniture
The antique wicker furniture in the bedroom is the same, but with the other spring touches, it feels fresh and new.
I love wicker year round, but it really says spring and summer to me!
Pro tip
Wicker furniture is not just for the porch! It adds texture and a relaxed cottage vibe to indoor spaces too.
White wicker is classic, but when you paint it a deep color, it packs more of a punch and fits better into year round decor. I painted the wicker settee at the foot of the bed and the desk the same dark blue green as the fireplace mantel. The table and wicker chairs still wear their original paint color. I particularly love the chippy wear on these pieces!
Antique wicker can usually be found for very reasonable prices at antiques stores and shows.
Cottage Furniture
I still owe you a post on antique painted cottage furniture!
In the meantime, though, you can read about the cottage furniture in our primary bedroom in my post Cozy Cottage Mix and Match Bedding. I bought the set for a song at a local antiques store and then had a local woodworker update two of the pieces. I also took the painted mirror from the original dresser and combined it with a natural wood antique dresser.
As with the wicker, these pieces are wonderful all year, but they seem most in their element in the spring and summer. I absolutely love how the flowers and shells in the new bedding tie in with the painted floral designs on the furniture and the shell finials on the bed!
Design is in the details!
Pro tip
This highly decorative furniture can be a lot in a room. Breaking up the set and altering some of the pieces keeps it all from being too “matchy-matchy” and also makes it feel more current.
One thing, though, please don’t strip the one-of-a-kind hand-painted finish! Or if you do, don’t tell me about it. I once had someone send me a photo of how they had refinished a cottage piece. I almost cried!
She Sells Sea Shells
Or maybe more accurately “she collects sea shells”….
I know many people pull out their shell or coastal decor only in the summer.
Not me! I decorate with shells year round!
There are bowls of them scattered around the house. Boxes covered in them. And of course my display of sailors valentines hanging above the bed.
There is also a collection of vintage bathing beauties lounging on shells on the dresser.
Instead of a vase with flowers on the bedside table, I topped a vintage bottle with a red sea fan. My version of a “sea bouquet”.
When I saw the shells and coral in the pattern of the bedding, I knew it was for me!
The Coming Week
Maddie is happy that my travels are done!
Since the new year, I have traveled twice to D.C. and once to both Minnesota and Florida. That is a lot for this homebody!
My focus now is on getting the house and gardens ready for summer — and all the family and friends who come to stay!
Time also to focus on my blog and all of you!
Tell me, what would you like to read about here?! Drop me a line below with your suggestions!
I am all ears… or um, eyes!
Be well, friends!
See you next week!
Shop My Bedding!
Here are the links to shop my Garnet Hill Bedding and Target throw pillows:
Botanical Garden Relaxed-Linen Bedding
Good morning Molly love this bedding and glad to see you back in Maine too. Looking forward to getting together soon✨
Thanks, Ann! It really is the perfect bedding for our home! I look forward to seeing you back in Maine too!
The bedding is lovely. I have never changed out my bedspread seasonally. I usually just fold it at the bottom of the bed. But you’ve inspired me to do better. We have such a long season of hot weather here in Florida that bedspreads are just for looks anyway. Even with air conditioning, we don’t use much.
Hi Nancy! A very light quilt would be work well for you in Florida! I know Garnet Hill has some voile quilts that are lovely and light-weight! Or at least get some fun sheets to change things up! Thanks for reading my post!
Hi Molly love the new sheets and duvet cover so springish they wouldn’t fly here as my husband prefers crisp and hard sheets lol. However, I could do the duvet cover to spruce things up. I’ve started to do some spring cleaning and changing things up since the weather has started to change and I look forward to getting it all done before I head to the lake in a few weeks if only to get the house ready for the season. Glad you had your time with your new grand babies and bet you can’t wait to see them again soon. Happy spring!
Hi Joyce! I obviously fell in love with this bedding as soon as I saw the seashells and lupine! It is truly lovely. I love soft cozy sheets –flannel and linen! It always feels so good to freshen things up for spring and look towards summer! And yes, I had a such a wonderful time with my new grandbabies! They will be visiting here next! Can’t wait!
Thanks for the tip for a cotton voile quilt. I’m another Florida gal and the hubby only wants a lightweight cotton quilt for sleeping. 😊 Nancy’s right, we just fold back our bedspreads at night. I’m really into green these days and the green block print is really nice. I’m also a long time lover of botanical prints and your lampshade is gorgeous with the lovely spring bedding. We use our seashells year round here too. I look forward to your posts and am glad I found your blog.
Hi Pamela! Thanks so much for reading my blog and taking the time to reach out! I only like a light cover in the summer too, even though it doesn’t get hot here in Maine. We don’t have air conditioning, though, so the inside temps might be about the same as you! I always think it is funny when people only use shells in the summer — they exist year round in nature! I also have some “blanket covers” from Schweitzer Linen that are very lightweight!
I just love all the beautiful color in your home! I have recently added some new velvet pillow covers on my living room couches. I liked them so much I ended up with 6 different colors on each couch and I am just loving it. Now to get the rest of the room infused with much more color. My couches are almost white but more of a cream and some of my cabinets and tables are dark, one nude and then an armoire just sitting in one corner but I’m not sure I’m leaving that in the room yet. I love dark, almost black wood which I have several pieces of throughout my main rooms. I do have many other woods however that work very well with the dark. I just don’t have the right decor in there yet. I had, like many others, fell in love with that farmhouse look and was going crazy buying things. After a while, I realized it really wasn’t me. I’m right at the point now of packing up all of the decor and starting over..lol. My go to design to begin with was Hollywood glam meets old west and it’s what I still want. So I’ve been finding vintage pieces that I love and working towards my goal. I’ll get there at some point!!
I absolutely love that bed and the fireplace. Surprisingly, I don’t like the blue/tourquoise color and never have but for some reason I love yours. Maybe that it’s just infused with color rather than bland and boring like so many others. Or maybe it’s the detail in your pieces that I just love but no matter, they are lovely!
Hi Shirley! Thank you! I never went down the farmhouse path, but when I started here on IG, it was all the rage. I felt like the odd one out, haha! I say stay true to yourself and decorate with what you love! It sounds like you are on the right path now! And yes to all the color and natural woods! Enjoy the decorating process!
Beautiful Molly! I LOVE the Casaluna brand from Target. I have 2 of their oversized Euro shams on my bed in a soft oatmeal color that I mixed and matched with other white ruffled french linens along with a Casaluna heavy cotton blanket that looks hand knitted in the same oatmeal color. I actually purchased a few of these blankets because they are so well made and are perfect throws for the back of a sofa or chair. I’m also a big fan of Garnet Hill as well! I was curious if you have ever heard of an artist named Mary Maguire? I own several pieces of her art work and think it would look fabulous in your home. Go check out her website…I know you will LOVE LOVE LOVE it, especially the ship paintings and her New England sleigh ride prints of a man riding a whale. Love your posts…they make my day. Happy Spring from the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
Hi Tracey! Yes, I noticed some very nice Casaluna products when I was getting my comforter at Target! And yes, I am very familiar with Mary Maguire! In fact, I have a painting of hers and also a print! Her work is so charming! Where are you on the western shore? We used to do a great bicycle ride out there and then go to Skippy’s in Deale for lunch!
OMG that’s where we live…in Deale! Small world huh? Our son worked at Skippers when he was in college. We have been here 14 years now after moving from northern Virginia (Herndon). My husband and I went antiquing last weekend in western Loudoun County and up through the Frederick area of Maryland. We drove down Rt 7 and through the Tysons Corner area on the way home and the construction, traffic, and changes that have been made were astonishing. We don’t miss any of that…hahaha…its very peaceful and calming here on the water and we wouldn’t change this lifestyle for anything.
It is a small world indeed! That is a lovely area! It was always so fun to sit out on the dock at Skippy’s after a great bicycle ride! I was just back in Bethesda, where we used to live, and feel the same way. There has been so much construction. I miss some of the conveniences, but I don’t miss the traffic and crowds!
Absolutely gorgeous, my friend. Your bedroom is so warm and welcoming.
Thank you, Renae! It is definitely a bright and happy space!
Welcome home, and congratulations on the new grandbaby! I love your spring updates-it makes me want to do some changing up around here. The linen bedding is just beautiful. I’d love to have some but I must not launder linen correctly. Or our extremely hard water really is harsh on fabrics. Linen for us just gets hard and ‘crunchy’ the more I wash it. I can’t tell you how many pieces of linen I’ve let go of because of this. I can’t use fabric softeners due to allergies. I’ve tried vinegar as a softener but that didn’t work. How do others find it gets softer when for us it always gets hard and crunchy?
Looking forward to posts from your garden. Do you have problems in your area with ticks outside?
Hi Janet! I have never had that problem with linen! We have hard water here too. Garnet Hill describes this linen as “relaxed” and it really does feel broken in. We do have a terrible tick problem here. Last year I finally started getting the property treated. It is a natrual treatment. I don’t know how effective it is, but I don’t want to use harsh chemicals. Last year I was treated for Lyme disease. Thankfully I never had any symptoms beyond the big round bullseye around a bite. I am looking forward to things growing here too!
Another pretty bedding change up for spring. I so look forward to your blog on Saturdays. I get to visit Maine and the loveliest cottage on the water without leaving home which is so much fun. I’m looking forward to seeing your limelights come alive and all the lupine spring up in the field.
Hi Julie! And I always look forward to hearing from you! The limelights won’t come for a while, but the lupine are really growing. There are more and more each year!
The new bedding is just perfect for that room! You have such a gift for mixing things together!
Hi Jane! Thanks so much! I love mixing and matching!
Love the bedding, Molly. And it appears Maddie does too! So glad you were able to spend time with Poppy and her parents, I’m sure they were sad to see you go. But, welcome home … isn’t coming home the best. Nice to hear that spring has arrive in Maine … it has here in California too. Fun post! xo
I am in love with the bedding too, Juliet! So perfect for our home here on the coast! We had a few “springish” days (that means into the 50’s/near 60), but it is chilly and damp again now. I have spring in my heart!
The bedroom looks terrific for spring and summer. Love those new linens! They are perfect for the gardener and ocean in me. And I love the tips for the bedroom refresh! All that beautiful wicker and all those delicious colors! The pastels added to the faux fireplace really brightens it up and I love the new styling of the mantel. All in all perfection and creativity all in one place as usual.
Thanks, Amy! Couldn’t believe the sheets have both lupine and shells on them! Perfect!
Thanks for sharing your home and ideas, always fun and inspiring
Hope you find my earlier email and respond!
Hi Virginia — Thank you! Sorry, I did not see your email.
Welcome home Molly. So glad that you were able to spend time with your new grandchild. As always your home is lovely. Here is a fun question for you. If you were offered the opportunity to select whatever you wanted from a vintage home, what would you select? Suppose the owners needed to empty the house of all it’s possessions and wanted the items to go to someone who would appreciate them. The house is full of Depression glass ( all colors), ironstone, dough bowls, vintage light fixtures, antique oak furniture, brass, Ball mason jars, oil lamps, vintage books, Hummels, art glass, vintage trunks, enamelware, glass bottles, insulators, farm items,
vintage wicker couch, and doll carriage, pottery, crocks, etc. What would you select on this magical shopping adventure? No limit on what or how much you could select. The owners just want the items to go to a good home.
Hi Suzie! So many treasures! I have a special thing for dough bowls and vintage books, so that is what I would probably go for!
Visits to grandchildren and their parents who live out of the area is our top priority too. I love how you mix and match bedding! Your home is so inviting.
Hi Linda! Thank you! It is hard to be far away from kids and now grandchildren, but it makes us appreciate the time together even more!
Your spring bedding is so beautiful, Molly. And I always love seeing your wicker furniture and mantel. You have the prettiest bedroom. It’s just full of charm. I’m so happy that you could spend time with your precious Poppy and her parents. You are so blessed.
Hi Kim! Thank you! It took a while for the bedroom to find its groove, but I think we are finally getting there! And yes, this year has been full of blessings!
Hi Molly,
I love your style year-round through all of the seasons. Your collection of items always draws me in. I love seeing the little details and things you find.
Happy Spring and I’ll look forward to seeing what you’re doing around the house and in Maine in general.
Karen B.
Hi Karen! Thank you! I love to decorate the home through the seasons. Each has its own special thing to offer! Thank you so much for reading my blog and taking the time to reach out!
Molly, You have been busy, but so exciting about the new grandbaby! I love your home and I like to see how you mix your bedding,. Great tips for the decor too. You have a one of a kind style and it’s fun to see how you do it! Enjoy spring. I am looking forward to getting things in shape here too. Happy weekend!
Thanks, Kim! My two grandbabies are together this weekend, and the pictures are priceless! I decorate with what I love and have fun with it. I was at HomeGoods today and I thought of your tips. So I asked myself “Would I find this in a high end boutique?” I came home with two linen pillows and a blue and white striped throw, which passed the test!