A Shabby Chic Bed

I love white duvet covers.  Have had them for years.  Once I got a cotton one for a dollar at a garage sale and used it for years.  I have tried other colours and I always go back to white. 

I used to have this bed:

A beautiful white sleigh bed (I was experimenting with beige and it didn't last a month)

Then I seperated and I decided I would take the bed with me.  It's queen size my room is not.  The day I discovered that it wouldn't fit was move in day.  It sort of all hit me on that day and I got the blues.  I couldn't see myself without my beautiful queen sleigh bed to crawl into. 

As I went to bed (in a blow up mattress) with the bed in pieces all around me I was searching for blogs and ran into http://www.myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com./  I had seen it a few months ago but not followed up on it.  I read the whole blog and it inspired me and changed my thinking.  Sandy had created a beautiful bedspace in the loft that was no more than a beautiful duvet and a blowup bed.  It made me realize I could create a beautiful space for myself that would fit the dimensions of the room.  I felt so liberated I carried the bed to the garage and put it on Kijiji. As well I wrote Sandy to thank her and she was kind enough to write back!!

I looked all over for a double bed ( Double gave me more room), for weeks and then I settled for a basic flat bed at Ikea.  I was shopping and discovered I could get a prettier bed for a better price and it was the Leirvik.  Ornate and painted cream - aaahhhh!! 

Here it is in progress

and here it is now

I adore it, I adore my Rachel Ashwell Duvet that I coveted for years (and have to spend 45 minutes ironing).  It's mine, it's peaceful, it's calming it's everything I wanted and on move in day thought I would never create.  I had no idea Ikea would make me so happy. 
I have a small room, I look out the window onto other condo's and I love it.  What do you think of the picture above the bed, remove it or keep it?
Quick story, in 2006 my family and I went to California.  I agreed to everything (even space mountain) and asked for only one thing, to go to Shabby Chic.  All I wanted.  Could have added on PomPom and Bountiful, but for me Shabby Chic was mecca.  One day we rented a car and drooovvvveee and finally found it.  I walked in and it was amazing, white settee in the window and a white bed in the other.  The bed had the same cover on it I now have.  It was stunning.  The place was so calming, the couches were so comfy and the fabric was amazing.... but the prices were high, I was mindful of the budget and purchased nothing.  I could kick myself now but it was a different mindset for me then.  But..... I should have at least purchased the gorgeous matches!!
Anyway, now I have a beautiful bedroom.  I adore it.  It's coming together and beginning to work for me.  The paint is soft muslin (Behr) in CIL voc free high gloss paint.
Until Next Time, Patricia - Part 2 of my Shabby Chic Bed Story can be found at:
http://whitecottagechic.blogspot.ca/2011/03/shabby-chic-bed-part-2.html