Long Distance Decorating: Creating a Functional Apt. Bedroom

So my neighbors' daughter is moving to DC for her first job/apartment

after graduating this spring.

Her mom asked if I might be interested in helping to set up her apartment.

But of course!

She already had a queen mattress/boxsprings, 

but needed a bed frame.

She had a couple of existing pieces,

but nothing that "went together."

The mission: 

Build a bedroom that looks cohesive and is functional

on a limited budget.

Take a look:

 Here's "my palette:" 

Her empty bedroom……..

(That's her cute mom in the corner.)

 Reverse angle.

It's not a really large room, 

but certainly big enough for a queen and some storage pieces.

The first piece I found was this awesome queen sleigh bed

in excellent condition.

It even had all the slats, 

just missing four bolts.

Cost?

Freebie in the alley!

I toyed with painting this,

but the wood was in such great condition I elected to just

rub it down with Howard's Restor-a-finish.

It's beautiful.

Next, 

this pleather storage bench was a toss-away.

This will be great for added storage.

 I upholstered it in this neutral ticking fabric.

 I rebuilt the top with plywood, foam and batting

so you could also sit on it.

At the foot of the bed, 

this will be the perfect place to sit and put on your shoes.

 Lift the top up for lots of storage.

 These were two pieces she already had.

 I used scrap lumber from my garage...

 Distress painted each slat in different colors...

 Sawed and nailed them to the sides and top.

Then stained to age.

 Perfect nightstands. 

Or they can be stacked and used as a tower storage unit.

 Another piece to use as storage:

This lateral filing cabinet with deep drawers.

A craigslist find.

 I painted the piece, hardware and all,

in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

 Be gone, shiny veneer!

 Even though the surfaces were flat,

I created lots of dimension by using three different paint colors.

 Here's the other existing piece they already owned...

 An antique chest of drawers with lots of wear and tear.

 I did a similar treatment as the file cabinet...

 They wanted to preserve the antique hardware.

Here it is all finished.

Then I went in search of bedding that would work with

the pieces I had created.

I took a sample of the ticking with me…

and found this quilt set...

 …and these drapes.

 She's all moved in!!!!

Looks pretty great.

I suggested that she stack the two nightstands and

make a storage tower on the other side of the room,

then move the chest over a bit to use as a nightstand.

The storage ottoman 

at the foot of the bed works perfectly.

All she needs is some art,

and she will have the perfect room!

Welcome home, Kathryn!

Suzanne's Settee

 My client, Suzanne, recently asked me to redo this settee.

The fabric is drab...

 We weren't too happy with the paint treatment…….

 Sort of "forced" looking in the distressing….

The seat and back were very "lumpy" and uncomfortable..

 

See how the back sticks out?

Not the best upholstery job I've seen.

Step One is Deconstruction.

Now I know what was sticking out of the back..

Looks like someone nailed in pieces of panelling….

hmmm…very interesting….

I removed the wood, and then found springs, batting and foam.

 I stripped everything from the back so I can rebuild it.

The bottom is in pretty good shape.

(This process can be really tedious as you have to remove 

all the staples and tacks that are everywhere.)

I moved it outside, and began painting the frame 

with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen.

 Over that, I dry brushed Country Grey...

 And over that, Old White.

Then I distress sanded and applied dark and clear waxes.

 The frame is done.

 Now the upholstery begins.

I added two layers of batting to the seat

and trimmed/stapled along the edges.

 Now, time to rebuild the front/back.  

I started by adding a strip of webbing.

 Two horizontal strips, and then six verticals strips 

were stapled to the frame after

weaving them in and out…...

 After that, I added the existing foam, 

and two layers of batting…stapling all the edges.

And did the same for the back.

Now time for its new clothes!

Suzanne had chosen this delicious turquoise and lime

ikat fabric from Ufab.

I upholstered the seat, back and front,

making sure the pattern was centered, and pulling taut.

 I stapled along all the edges, 

and then I trimmed the excess.

 Now it's all done except for the trimming!

I cut lengths of cardboard strips...

Then covered them in the fabric...

 And glued them to all the edges of the fabric

to hide the staples.

For reinforcement, I added large pewter

nail heads to the ends.

For the back, I used gimp.

I finished off the corners with the nail heads, too.

 And it is finished!!!!!!

Come and get it, Suzanne!!!!

Need upholstery work?

Send me a photo!

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370