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Cowgirls and Lace July 2010 
Greetings!

Summer is a great time to help your favorite college student plan and decorate their dorm room.   Your college freshman should be receiving their dorm assignment any day now and the fun will begin!  

Here's to letting your student's inner decorator shine!
Reba signature
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Dorm Design on Mom & Dad's Dime

Decorating for a dorm is as individual as your student, their style and your budget!  Often planning doesn't take place until dorm assignments are made and your student has a chance to talk with their new roommate.

UT mini-refrigerator
UT mini-fridge
Start by setting a budget.  In addition to bedding, you'll need towels, lamps, storage containers, wall decor, comfy seating, window treatment, fridge, microwave, or microfridge.  (Some older dorms have limits on electrical appliances, so check to be sure.)

Identify a few colors and styles your student can live with such as bright colors, black and white, soft pastels, shabby chic, modern and streamlined.  Then you can "generally match" but do not need to have the exact same bedding as each other.

Explore everything from bed-in-a-bag to semi-custom or custom to get the look you want.  You might find a ready-made comforter, but then pair it with an extra-long dust ruffle to hide all the storage under the bed. Also, take extra care with the window treatment. A black-out lining is very appreciated on mornings they can sleep in!
Bright, colorful dorm bedding 
Colorful dorm bedding
Extra-long custom dust ruffle
Extra-long custom dust ruffle
"Generally matching" fabrics
Dorm coordinating fabrics
Fabric is a great way to add temporary color to a plain dorm room. Cover bulletin boards, make a wall hanging with some great fabric and a curtain rod (it could also work as a headboard), tie it together with the bedding, some throw pillows and window treatments. Oversized Euro pillows on a bed can substitute for a headboard, too.

Euro pillows can be used as a headboard
European pillows
Pillows can easily add temporary color
Colorful pillows
Don't forget the guys. They may not know that they want a "decorated" room, but they are aware of the love and care you surround them with when they have a great-looking "home away from home".  Both guys and gals enjoy comfort, and it pays to put some extra thought into where they will be studying, whether it is on a bed or at a desk. Do they need several good pillows on the bed for support? Or would they prefer a comfy chair?  And maybe they want to surround themselves with school spirit accessories.  (As you can see, we're a little partial to UT!)
Framed Texas flag and UT book
UT book and Texas flag
Longhorn velour throw
UT velour throw
Longhorn "Jock-in-the-Box"
Longhorn Jock-in-the-Box
Decorating is important:  it makes your student feel connected to home by surrounding them with their creature comforts.  But keep it in perspective - they hopefully will be in the library studying most of the time!
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August Newsletter:  Custom Design Projects & Meet Our Designers
 
We love working with you to make your house look beautiful!  Our August newsletter features an interview with owner Reba Byrd about how we help customers with their design projects.  You'll also meet our designers in both Dripping Springs and San Antonio and see a few examples of some recent projects.  We hope you'll stay tuned!
 
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About Us
 
The Dorm Design article is by Teresa Broks and Reba Byrd.  Teresa is one of the Design Consultants at Cowgirls and Lace and Le Ragge Rugs.  Reba Byrd is the owner of Cowgirls and Lace and Le Ragge Ruggs with locations in Dripping Springs and San Antonio.  Cowgirls and Lace specializes in custom window treatments and bedding as well as complete lines of furniture and accessories.
In This Issue
View Photos
Facebook - Tell us what's on your mind!
Poll - Do you share your student's taste in decorating?

Click here to view photos
See photos of colorful bedding, Longhorn accessories, and fabrics that work great in dorm bedding, wall accessories, pillows and curtains.

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Join us on facebook link
We've accessorized our Facebook page.  Please join the conversation and tell us what's on your mind!
 
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Parents and students may share the same home, but they don't always share the same decorating taste!
Take our poll -
see what others say, too


Poll - do you share your student's taste?
 
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Contact Us
 
View our website 
 
We'd love to hear from you!
Email us or contact us at:
 
Cowgirls and Lace
1111 West Highway 290
Dripping Springs, TX  78620
Tel: (512) 894-0350
Tel: (800) 982-7424
Fax: (512) 858-1682
 
Cowgirls and Lace
Castle Creek Village
6401 Blanco Road
San Antonio, TX  78216
Tel: (210) 525-9840
Tel: (800) 937-2194
  
Store Hours
Monday - Saturday 10 - 6 p.m.
Sunday 1 - 6 p.m. (Dripping Springs location only)