Embellishing the front of a pillow can totally change the appearance of a pillow.
Heirloom Style Pillow Front
Debbie Colgrove, Licensed to About.com
An appliqué or embroidery in the center of the pillow front accompanied or framed by pin tucks gives this pillow heirloom charm. Experiment with your own ideas after you've mastered the basics and the possibilities become endless.