We're mad for plaid

In December, Blue Cardinal got to create a shop for a day filled with vintage and antique items for sale in the bedroom of a local historic estate. The event benefited a private local girls' school, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart located here in Lake Forest.

Inspired by the plaid skirts the girls wear each day at Woodlands, Jenn came up with the idea to use an old holiday theme with a clever twist .... "Plaid Tidings to You".

We mixed and matched many colors and textures of tartans, and decorated the bedroom space with a preppy, sporty look for the holidays.



Above the bed we hung plaid shaded pendant lamps and vintage London destination bus blinds. The bed was covered with white matelasse' and then layered with great old blankets and throws. Some of the pillows were covered with recycled vintage plaid taken from wool robes, skirts, and on a few -- old wool and felt letters were applied.



We filled a charming old metal pedal car with wrapped packages, a tartan lunch box, suitcase, and thermos canister. The two Victorian chairs shown were recovered with wool tartan blankets.


The opposite side of the room had a large bulletin board permanently attached to the wall, so we covered it with vintage European maps and framed travel artwork. Below it we set up a desk area complete with books, vintage accessories, and a chalkboard painted globe covered with a fun holiday message for shoppers.

Sterling silver plays so nicely against the rich tones of the plaids so we filled the room with silver objects. We found lamps, urns, trays and platters, trophys, ice buckets, julep cups, jewelry boxes, and many other wonderful silver-plated vintage treasures.

Jenn took small colorful vintage books and stacked them with pages open to create a Christmas tree shape. Old suitcases were layered to create a side table, and we scattered plaid "W" letters around the room in honor of the Woodlands group that was shopping with us that day.

With a much-anticipated royal wedding just around the corner, we thought it would be timely to add lots of British collectibles in the room. We had framed authentic travel posters, books, post cards, royal crested items, and several ceramic souvenirs from London.

Fresh pine boughs and a tree were covered with lights and vintage ornaments. We mixed in plaid ball ornaments and electric plaid candle lights on the window sills, keeping the "plaid-itude" of the space sassy and festive!

Do you decorate with plaids too? Tell us how you use tartans in your home!

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