Saturday, March 31, 2012

A Surprise Bedroom Makeover

I wanted to surprise my seventeen year old daughter recently by completing a major bedroom makeover during her absence on a mission trip with her dad and brothers. My seven year old shares the same room, but after receiving her blessing on a very elegant, un-seven-year-old style (She's around grown ups so much, I knew she'd thoroughly approve the look.) we proceeded at fast-forward speed.

We had redone the bathroom a couple of years ago and wanted to match the look:











Here are a few of my inspiration pictures:


Heidi Claire

I was sort of going after a more sophisticated, less white, shabby chic look, but I have a room full of French Provencal furniture I had to work with and wanted to try the Annie Sloan chalk paint. Here's a dresser similar to mine done in Annie Sloan French Linen, which I used on the floor.








I love the tones in this room and the finish on the door.

Segreto Finishes


I wanted a little glitz on some of the furniture--not a plain whitish distressed look.

Segreto Finishes

If I could have stripped down to the bare pine paneling and whitewashed, I would have, but I only had six days!

The Enchanted Home


Like I said, I was going after an upscale version of the shabby chic look--painted furniture,etc.--but not so white--more European. Dreamy bed linens were a must!


These are my ideal:

Arte Pura

Beige and gray-great together!
My French Country Home

More linens


Layla Grayce


Since any one of the above linen sets would put me back by at least $1000-2000, I had to find a low-end substitute. I thought this Urban Outfitters' offering fit the bill.








Before I show you the results, here are some before pictures and work in progress reports.







Sorry for the dark photo, but wanted to show you the straight-on view when entering the room.

Also sorry for the sorry condition of this closet!




The work begins! Six days to complete transformation! Before he left on the mission trip with my daughter, my husband had cut out of plywood the headboard design. Here we have reattached my craft paper pattern in order to mark the button holes which he also drilled before leaving--all at the clandestine location of my mom and dad's house next door, so that my daughter never suspected a thing!!




My mom is a wonderful seamstress and agreed to make pillow shams, bed skirt and silk balloon shades --what a woman!! Thanks mom!! All the fabric came from Richtex (so lucky I live near this wonderful fabric store, but anyone can order online). And a special honorable mention goes to my dad who fed me the entire week! Thanks to him, my kitchen sink was only full of paintbrushes--not dishes!!









Tons of paint and varnish on this chair meant tons of WORK! But it was worth it for the cost of the chair--$70!

Also work: Lots of painting. Trim is always fun. Notice the floor, already painted in the Annie Sloan paint (French Linen)and protected with two coats of Annie Sloan lacquer--highly recommend!I got mine at Cottage Attitudes.



Plain bi-fold closet doors replaced with soon-to-be-mirrored french doors and a smart interior filled with storage possibilities!


The family room became the painting room with rain the first few work days hampering outside work.



Working on the headboard.




Last day. Curtains up!



The chandelier is a huge improvement over the ceiling fan/fixture! Doesn't the Urban Outfitters' duvet look chic?  Next up, monogrammed pillows--With only one letter difference in the two sisters' initials, I think one for each girl would be nice. What should I do with the blank wall to the side of the bed? Gallery picture/photo arrangements are so hard for me! I like everything I see, yet nothing looks right when I put it together!!



More nail heads arriving from Van Dykes will complete the headboard. The lamps are from Hobby Lobby--great price with an online coupon! Wish you could see the gilded detail on the bedside table in greater detail. Alas, amateur photography!




Here's a detailed look at the nail heads from Van Dykes--fit the "old gold" look of the chandelier perfectly!


Wish my lighting was better so you could see how awesome the dresser looks in Behr's Pewter Mug, with accents in Ralph Lauren's Sisel, overlaid with Valspars' Brilliant Metallics in Sea Shimmer--whew!

Below, new closet doors with mirrored fronts and lots more shelves, hooks and hanging rods inside!




Didn't the chair turn out great!




Here's a closeup of the floor.


Here's a shot looking out into the hallway. You can see what a difference the painted floor made. The orange-y  glow of the polyurethaned oak would have clashed with the soft colors.



Jewelry organization in progress! More hooks to come!