A dark and dreary office space is re-purposed into a nautical master bedroom! Photo: BJTO Designs
Who? Beth Odence, Principal Designer of BJTO Design
Where? Boston, MA
How? Beth was faced with a difficult task for this Marion Harbor home. Despite its coastal view and oversized windows, the home felt dark and dreary due to heavy maple woodwork, cherry furniture and dark brown tiling. Beth's vision for the space? To create a light, bright and airy master suite with a subtle nautical theme. Because the above room had the best view of the harbor, Beth re-purposed a previous office space into a bedroom with a view -- a top selling point for potential buyers. Mission accomplished! The home sold in sixty days flat.
Do It Yourself: Think of your home in terms of designated space, not specific rooms. You may find that the living room works better as a dining nook, or an office could make a fantastic fourth bedroom. Get creative with your decorating and fall in love with your home all over again!
Oversized furniture weighed this master bedroom down in the worst of ways. Photo: An Organized Nest
Who? Noelle Micek, Owner of An Organized Nest, Inc.
Where? San Francisco, CA
How? Because the San Francisco homeowners consisted of a family of four (with two young boys!), it was essential to make the living space functional while still aesthetically pleasing. In the master bedroom, there were great elements of sophistication, but it lacked cohesiveness. Noelle relocated the full-length mirror, which was cutting off valuable floor space. The previous wall art didn't match the overall tone or theme of the room, so it was replaced with a mirror that was more to scale and reflected the gorgeous natural light in the space. Noelle also raised the profile of the lamps, which were being dwarfed by the sleigh bed.
Do It Yourself: De-cluttering is key when decorating your bedroom. Move non-essentials into storage, and if you don't use them in six months, it's time to bid farewell to them forever!
Give your bedroom a streamlined look with a touch of personality! Photo: Jill Vegas
Who? Jill Vegas, Author, Speed Decorating and Home Staging Expert
Where? Manhattan, NY
How? By peeling away the layers of clutter and bringing in fresh new linens and accessories, a sharp and simple aesthetic became the point. "It took some fierce editing!" says Jill.
Do It Yourself: Keep your bedroom color palette simple, but add in a few bold accessories. In this case, the stacked trunks at the foot of the bed make the room look inviting and chic.
Let a beautiful sleigh bed stand out! Photo: A Darling Room
Who? Cecilia Staniec, Owner, A Darling Room
Where? Wexford, PA
How? This homeowner and her husband had just purchased all new bedroom furniture from a high end retailer, but once they got the furniture in the room, they realized that the rest of the decor just didn't work. "Common problem!" Cecilia notes. She removed everything else surrounding the furniture and started over. The queen sized bed looked huge with the dark red linens, so they lightened things up with a silk duvet cover and allowed pillows and a coverlet to add pops of color -- all under a budget of $2,000.
Do It Yourself: Come up with a budget and stick to it. Cecilia was able to maintain a low cost by choosing pieces that weren't overly trendy and wouldn't need replaced often. Proof that amazing design doesn't need to cost a fortune.
Go global for cheap with faux furnishings. Photo: Interiors by Randi
Who? Randi Skiffington, Head Designer/Owner, Interiors by Randi
Where? Moultonboro, NH
How? This guest room serves as the homeowner's guest room, so Randi wanted to make it as comfortable and luxurious as possible. In order to incorporate the apple green furniture that the homeowner already purchased, Randi kept everything else very neutral: bedding, paint, carpets, tiles etc.
Do It Yourself: Go faux! Randi utilized a faux silk in this room, which added elegance without the huge price tag of real silk. Whether you love the look of leather, silk or suede, you will be able to find a "faux" that gives you that luxurious look and feel without breaking the bank!
Inspired yet? Wherever you are, I'd imagine your home could use a bit of freshening up this January. Hop to it!
For more makeover projects, read on:
-3 Days, $1500, One Dramatic Makeover
-A Master Bath Miracle Makeover
