Romantic Pink Bedroom Makeover

My friend and client, Daisey, and I are kindred spirits.

We share the same birth sign, Cancer.

We both share a background in advertising production; I was in broadcast, and Daisey, print.

We both enjoy red wine....(and we have, on numerous occasions!)

And we're both very domestic and love our homes.  

It's important for us to have our little sanctuary, our safe place, to retreat to.

So when Daisey asked for my help with her master bedroom, I beamed.

She didn't want an extensive rehaul, just some sprucing up.

I wanted to make this room a special haven, all sweet and comfy for her!!!!

Take a look at where it all began:

As you walk into the bedroom, you see the side of the bed.

Across from the bed, is a double door frame into Daisey's large dressing area.

She has open bookcases and clutter that is destroying her tranquility!!!

 To the right of the doorframe, she has a dresser and a vanity. 

 Because of the dark furniture, 

it feels like all the weight is over on this side of the room.

And here again, is the bed, photo taken from the double doorway.

At the foot of the bed is a cedar chest. 

The only window in the room is dressed with a chintz swag.

 My first recommendation was a headboard, and a rearrangement of furniture.

Since space is at a minimum in this room, I suggested a headboard, and no footboard. 

 In a previous blog, I showed you the headboard I revamped, from this...

To this....I painted the bed in Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint, 

and then upholstered the bed in a pink and white pinstripe. 

I found new bedding...

..and new light ruffled curtains that replaced the dated window treatment. 

I positioned the bed on the other side of the room, at an angle,

so that it is now the focal point as you enter.

It opens up the room dramatically. 

To the right of the bed, I put the vanity.

I found this little victorian parlor chair...

And reupholstered it in the same pinstripe, 

and added trim.

The tri-mirrors on the vanity, and the open chair back

 keep the space from feeling too heavy.

Across the room, where the bed was originally, I placed the tall

chest of drawers, 

and to the right of that, against the wall, I placed the cedar chest.

 Pillows atop, and it becomes a mock window seat.

I hung this original art found in another room above the chest.

It's nice to have a little pop of yellow.

 Back to the bed...I first tried hanging sheers behind the bed, but it wasn't

providing the privacy Daisey wanted. Also, a lot of light

comes in from the back dressing room/porch.

 So I came up with this idea: I hung a duvet cover from a rod

above the doorway. No sewing required!

 I simply hung it from clips, so it's easy to open when Daisey wants the walkway clear...

 And easy to close when she wants complete privacy.

 I love the new quilt and shams with Daisey's existing ruffled pink sheets.

This is the sweetest little bedroom.

Sweet dreams, Daisey!

Rock-a-bye, Baby: Rehabbed Rocking Chairs

Christa and Matt are expecting their first baby soon!

And what's the number one requirement?

A great rocking chair!!!!!!!!

 

Actually, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, they're getting two!

They're not so great looking just yet. But they will be!

First I glued all the loose joints.

 Next, I got out the sander - much needed!

After priming they look like this.

 ...and after a coat of semigloss white.

 And here's the chair after I upholstered the seat and back in this great

green and ivory graphic fabric.

 I added chunky pewter nailheads to secure the backs.

 Who needs new when you can have rehabbed?

These are quality pieces that will last forever!

Delivered to the front porch of Christa and Matt's new home.

Soon, it will be Rock-a-bye, baby time!!!

Good luck, you two!!

Updating a Slipper Chair

So remember Nancy's sweet little slipper chair?

Right out of the 50's with this shiny quilted fabric!

Here's what it looked like in it's old home.

 

And this is the new home where it's going to be living........

I picked up the chair late last week and decided to tackle it over the weekend.

First I ripped off that little ruffle along the bottom edge.  

We'll make it much more contemporary by showing the legs.

Next I added a layer of new foam 

around the chair top to hide the lines of the existing upholstery.

I just wrapped around the top and stapled along the back edge.

(Yes that's CARDBOARD!!! 

Hey, I don't make 'em, I just redo them...)

 

Here's the new fabric going on......purchased from UFab.

And here is the final product.

 Detail of the onion fringe along the bottom edge.

 Piping along the back piece.

So improved!

Another part of Nancy's new home transformation completed.

Stay tuned for more! Plenty to come!

A Reversible Headboard!

I've been working on a bedroom makeover for my client, Daisey, 

and have been looking for a new headboard. 

(I don't want to give the entire makeover away since it's not finished yet, 

but here is her current bed in it's repositioned place in the room.  

Note the head of the bed is at a double doorway into her dressing area, 

so I need something with some height, that can work from both sides 

since you'll be able to see it coming and going.....)

And thanks to my friend, Jeannie, who's liquidating her antique shop,  

I scored this great mahogany headboard. 

Here's what it looked like yesterday:

Yes, the wood is in fine shape as is.  

I just don't like it....

So here goes.......

I painted it in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White,

 then distressed and waxed.

This is the new bedding I picked up today.

But here's the fun part:  

On the back side of the headboard, I stapled foam in the insert, 

and then upholstered with this pink pinstripe fabric 

that I cut from a pair of drapes.  

Gimp edging came from Hobby Lobby.

(The headboard is just propped here with the bedding.........

It's actually still sitting in the middle of my living room.  

I hope to deliver it tomorrow.)  

The question is...

Which is the front, and which is the back?  

Decisions, decisions.  

I say, what could be better than a reversible headboard!!!

Stay tuned for the full makeover!

Planning a client's move to a smaller home

I have been working with a client and friend, Nancy, 

who is planning a big change in her life!

She is moving from a large home out in the boonies -Studley, VA, 

to be exact- to a condo in the fan of Richmond.

So exciting!!!!

Nancy is a smart cookie...VERY organized....

She knows when she needs help, 

and she's very methodical about the process.

So she brought me in WAY BEFORE the move 

to help her determine what pieces she wants to keep, 

what she needs to purchase, what can be rehabbed, etc.

First, I go with Nancy to the new condo.

Here's Nancy in her new pad.

(These furnishings belong to the previous owner.)

Nancy and I went room by room, discussing layout, function,etc.

For instance, this home has no formal dining room, 

just a small dining area as part of the living room.

So it was important to find something that would make sense

in her new space.  

And we did - I found an awesome

dropleaf gate leg table on craigslist (similar to this one) that will work perfectly.

It can act as a console table when not being used for dining...

and when she has dinner guests, it can be opened up for adequate seating.

Next, let's move down to the bedrooms.

Here's the master bedroom.  

We discuss furniture, window treatments, pillows, etc. 

After seeing the wall color and space,

 it will be so much easier for me to do a fabric/furniture search.

Here's the bath. Peekaboo! 

I always take lots of photos for reference later.

Definitely need some storage.

Check out the spiral staircase to the bottom floor!

Downstairs is a whole 'nother world!

Office/den space, full bath and private bedroom.

Amazing!

Okay, so next up, we go to Nancy's existing home, 

and go room by room to see what we can use,

what we would rather see replaced, etc.

Here's the sofa......I would REALLY love to find something lighter in style and color 

and less masculine and bulky...I'll keep an eye out..

Media cabinet. Ugly but functional and I can definitely

make this look better! Keep.

Cute little storage cabinet. Keep. I'll paint.

Nancy wants to possibly use this cedar chest as a bench in her

billiard room....or maybe we can use in the guest bedroom 

as a mock "window seat" with cushion. Keep.

Not liking the look of these, but they are quite comfy.

As my friend Patty Anne can attest to. And they swivel.

Keep. I'll reupholster.

This sweet little chair was Nancy's grandmother's, so she

definitely wants to redo this for her bedroom. Keep.

This sweatshirt....definitely NOT going....chuckle..

So, let's get started on some transformations!!!!! Remember this?

I painted it in a combo of Annie Sloan Chalk Paints in Old White for the outside...

And versailles on the inside.

I found these chunky porcelain/brass handles at Hobby Lobby.

This is going to the left of the fireplace in the new living room 

to hold all the AV equipment...

 

I diligently checked craigslist daily for a sofa replacement, and look what I found!!

 

This amazing Restoration Hardware sofa in belgian linen.

Oh my god, this is going to look SO great in Nancy's new living room!!!

You'll have to stay tuned for the final makeover....