Posts Tagged ‘Bedroom design’

Miss Muffet would be jealous of this fabulous chair!

I have had this great little bistro style chair hanging in my shed since last fall.  I should say my husband’s shed.  I get the house and he gets the shed.  He doesn’t touch my “stuff” and I don’t mess with anything in his 4500 square foot garage.  It’s the perfect trade off!  I do all the interior design at inside and he does all the outside work!   I do, however, store a few items in there once in a while.

A cut little bistro style chair in it's original yellow paint and vinyl seat

This chair for instance.  It was a great find for $9.99 at Goodwill.  I wanted to do something very girly in hot pink, so my 7 year old niece Kayla became the inspiration and recipient.  I knew it would be perfect for a child’s bedroom.

The glitter really sold me on this tulle!

I was very excited when I found this glittered fuchsia tulle and a floral fabric and embroidered trim to go with it.

Green paint really updates the look of the chair

A little sand paper to rough up the finish and a can of neon green spray paint updated the chair from the 1970’s.

The old seat batting was in good shape.

The black and white vinyl seat was stapled on and easy to remove.  Then I cut a piece of the fabric 2” wider than the seat and attached it with a staple gun.

A staple gun is the handiest tool when covering chair seats

I gathered a double layer of tulle by hand and stapled it to the seat making the gathers even all the way around.

Never cut off the excess fabric until you are satisfied with the fullness.

Instead of cutting off the excess netting, I folded it up for extra fullness and sewed it in place.  You could glue the trim to the fabric, but hand stitching is neater (no mess) and you have greater control.

The floral trim is the finishing touch

Miss Muffet would have loved this chair

I happened to find the lime green pom-poms in my stash that were a perfect match.  It turned out so cute and just right for a girly little seven year old.

A chair fit for a little princess (or even a Queen)

Adding  style and design to any room can be as simple as a trip to a resale shop and fabric store.  Go ahead, brighten your home with color!

New Year’s Design Resolutions

I never make traditional New Year’s Resolutions.  I know myself well enough to know that the beginning of the January isn’t sufficient motivation to make me follow through.  So I make lists of things I truly want to accomplish and will enjoy doing.  Some are personal, some business related and others pertain to design and my home.

Personally, I will continue with my French lessons, but make a point of spending more time practicing.

For Business I plan to blog more regularly.

Design Resolutions:

I changed the floor in my guest bath in December, so now I want to make a few more changes.  The black and white tiles have inspired me to create une salle de bain à la française.

My home office is located on the landing space on the second floor.  It originally was a bedroom before additions were made; now you need to walk through to get to the bedrooms.  I have a window with a backyard view,  book shelves and a large desk. But I’m considering creating a real office space in an unused bedroom.   A room that will inspire creativity and where I can get organized.  I envision a space that will become my own personal design laboratory.  In a family of men, I can carve out a truly feminine room!

I would love to hear your design resolutions.  Let me know!

Patrick’s bedroom was finished just in time for his party.  (We were hanging his posters as guests were arriving!  Who doesn’t work best under pressure?)

Pat's new bedroom has more color and personality.

My husband wasn’t sure about the gold paint on the walls, but will admit it was a good choice.  The color is in the bedskirt fabric and makes the red chair and navy bedspread really pop.  Everything doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy.  Get a little daring when picking paint.

The red chair, a quilted throw and another movie poster make this corner very cozy.

But the walls needed something more than posters, so horizontal stripes turned out to be the perfect solution.  I taped off random widths and bought small paint samples in navy, red and green (also found in the fabric).  Painting stripes is a putzy job, but the results are worth it.

Horizontal stripes add dimension and color to the room.

It took me a while to come up with an idea for the valances.  I ordered cellular shades for the windows, so privacy and sunlight weren’t a concern.  They needed to be masculine and simple.  I used the red quilted fabric and added a strip of the paisley at the top.

Masculine window treatments were in order.

Instead of the usual drapery hardware, I went to a big box hardware store and bought two 40” lengths of galvanized pipe.  Instead of the usual drapery rings or a shirred header, I went with grommets for something different.  I poked around the electrical section of the store until I found some fittings that worked as finials.  Pat has a unique drapery treatment and that cost only a few dollars.

Grommets and galvanized pipes are inexpensive and manly!

Who says drapery and hardware has to be the usual poles and balls? The hardware store has all kinds of fun things you can use.

His bed and desk/TV swapped places in the room.  We had to buy a new desk since the old one sort of fell apart as we moved it.  We chose a desk instead of a TV stand because a desk is taller.

We originaly had the TV on the right side of the desk, but Pat preferred it this way (less glare).

A few coordinating throw pillows, his movie posters and closet door handles and the room is complete.

I found rugged industrial handles for the closet doors.

These Indiana Jones posters and the red chair started the whole redecorating project.

Pat bought this poster during a trip to San Francisco with the band.

Pat's Grandma made him this quilt several years ago and it's very special to him.

The quilt was made by his Grandma a few years ago.  The colors are perfect for the new room.

I wouldn’t have put his two DVD shelves next to each other, but it’s Pat’s room and that’s where he wanted them.

Pat wanted both DVD stands next to each other. I would have put one behind the chair, but it's his room...

I think I will  look for a floor lamp and give it to him for Christmas.  Also a bulletin board for his calendars and notes.  A room is never really done, it’s a work in progress and that’s OK.  Rooms should evolve and change as people and seasons do.  But it will be sometime before we make any changes (quite sometime!).

The room turned out just as we wanted and Pat is very happy.

Patrick is really comfortable in his new room.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is buying furniture that’s too big for the space.  Perhaps you forgot to measure the room or the door way or the space between the windows, etc.  I’ve also heard this one, “it didn’t look that big in the store”!  Furniture stores should have a disclaimer posted at the front door “objects in this store are much larger than they appear”!

The safest way to ensure you are purchasing the right size is to do a floor/furniture plan before you proceed.  That’s what professional interior designers do, come up with as many arrangements as possible for a room.  You will know the exact size of each piece that will fit in the space.  It’s an investment that will save you dollars.

The floor plan

Patrick’s bedroom is roughly 13’ 7” x 12’ 8”.  We added this bedroom when we remodeled and added square footage to our house.  The closet is wood instead of drywall to mimic the closet in our master bedroom.  Our house was built in the late 1890s, but the closet would have been added some years later.

We chose wood instead of drywall for this closet to resemble another one that could be 80 years old.

The new red chair was the only big item we planned to buy.  The bed and desk have been in the same spot for a long time.  We placed the new chair next to the bed.  It’s a bit awkward since it’s a recliner and cannot be too close to the wall.

This is how the furniture was placed when we started the project

Since all the furniture in the room is heavy, it’s easier to rearrange on paper than actually moving everything around.

Option 3

Pat has his TV on the desk and likes to sit on his bed facing the TV so this option won’t work.

Option 4

This arrangement has the bed facing the TV, but doesn’t allow much room to get into the closet.  Patrick has the biggest closet in the house and he can walk right in.

Option 5

He would probably be OK with this option.    I just don’t like a TV in front of a window even if it’s on the second floor.

This option is almost a mirror image of the orginal and should be perfect for Pat.

Although this arrangement isn’t much different from the original, it is really the best plan.  I moved the dresser next to the empty spot near the door.  The chair will fit nicely in the vacated corner and have access to the view outside.  The bed and desk have simply swapped places.  The bed is no longer next to the window and if he ever decides to sit at his desk, he has another view of the back yard.

You will save a lot of frustration and back aches by planning before moving furniture.

Our next step in redecorating Patrick’s room is to look for bedding and fabric.  He is a typical guy who really doesn’t like to shop, but it’s his room, so I insisted he choose the chair and bedspread.  I know I won’t have time to make a bedspread, but I can manage valances for the window and a bedskirt.

We headed for the bedding section at the local department store.  Red is just not a hot color now, so our choices were limited.  I pulled out 5 bedspreads that would go with his chair:  denim, a black/red bold stripe, a navy matelasse, a grey/red hip and trendy print and black graphic print.  He chose (drum roll, please…) the navy matelasse!  A matelasse is two pieces of fabric that have been quilted together by hand or machine with matching thread.  It’s beautiful coverlet, but it doesn’t offer any other colors to use in the room.

Pat chose a navy matelasse for his bedspread

Next, I went to area fabric stores to look for a coordinating fabrics for the drapery and bedskirt.  That was a challenge too since we didn’t want a patriotic red, white and blue room.  I also didn’t want to show him too many choices.   Like most clients, too many options are simply overwhelming.  A good designer knows her client and can narrow down the choices before making a presentation.

This stripe fabric would have been perfect had it not been sold out!

Pat liked the navy, green, red and beige stripe, but it was already sold out by the time I returned.  He also liked a solid red quilted fabric and I talked him into a dark, navy, red, green paisley.

I think we will use this for window valances

This paisley fabric is very grown-up and a little sophisticated!

• The bedspread was regularly priced at $150.00, but on sale and with a coupon, I got it for half price!
  
• The red quilted fabric was also on sale, marked down from $14.00 a yard to $11.19.  Unfortunately, the store had less than 2 1/2 yards.   There won’t be enough for the bedskirt, but I can make a simple drapery valance out of the piece.
• I also had a 50% off coupon for the paisley fabric (see a trend here?).  I paid $12.50 a yard instead of $25.00.  I bought the end of the bolt so I’m hoping 5 yards of fabric will be sufficient.

At least we have some colors to choose from when we pick paint.  Fortunately, I have lots of paint chips at my office and we can pick one out before we head out the store again.

Patrick’s Room–Before

Welcome to Re-Decorating™!  Our first project is my son Patrick’s bedroom.  He moved into this room after his older brother, Tyler graduated from college and before we had a chance to make any changes and update the finishes!  Pat told me this summer he wanted a red chair like the one Doc Brown had in Back to the Future.   If we are purchasing a new chair it’s time to re-decorate the entire room.

Patrick needs a grown-up room!

As with all my design clients, I assess which furniture pieces  we will keep and what needs to be replaced.  Same with accessories and artwork.  With teenagers and young adults, personality and interests play a big part in designing bedrooms.

Patrick's bedroom "before"

We built the wood closet to look like an original closet in the master bedroom circa 1890's.

Patrick is a big movie fan.  He collects DVDs and posters.   He has an antique wood shelf that is perfect for movies (it’s already full) and a narrow, tall shelf (half full).  He has several movie posters and just purchased three Indiana Jones posters this month.  The new ones are very large, so we will have to determine if there will be wall space to hang everything.

This antique wood shelf folds flat. It's the perfect size for DVDs!

The tall DVD shelf is new (and almost full) and the bedside table is part of an old bachelor's dresser.

The vintage iron bed frame belonged to my Grandparents, so that will stay.  I remember sleeping on it when I was a kid.  It brings back great memories of times spent on the farm with my sister and cousins.  It will need to be painted.

The old iron bed isn't fancy, but has tremendous sentimental value!

...but it does need new paint.

The purple bedspread is only a couple of years old, but may not “go” with the red chair.  Same with the bedskirt.

I made this bedskirt several years ago. It's still in great shape and has red in it. Maybe it will still work?

The little bedside table is from an old bachelor’s dresser.  Someone took it apart years ago and sold the pieces separately.  It’s a bit low, but it works for Patrick.  He likes having the drawer and storage.

The bird's eye maple dresser is a lovely antique.

His dresser is an antique and in very nice condition.  The desk is nothing special, but serves its purpose so it will stay until we find something better.  As with everyone who owns electronics, cord control is an issue.  We will have to tackle that problem.

The desk is noting special, but has room for electronics and remotes!

Do cords multiply when we aren't looking? This will be the biggest challenge on this project.

One of the things I do as a designer is ask my clients how they use the space.  Pat is almost 21, so spends time on his computer and watching TV or movies.  He sits on the bed with his laptop facing the desk/TV.  He has a desk chair, but never sits on it, so it’s hidden away in his closet for now.  I know we can rearrange the furniture to make better use of the space.  If he decides he has no need for the chair, it will go.

Desk chair is practically brand new,

The window valances and painted borders are left over from Tyler’s teenage years.  They are history along with the blue mini blinds.

I painted the border to match the stripes on the fabric. It still looks good, but the room needs a fresh approach.

Old mini blinds have got to go!

The ceiling fan is too big for the room, but we will keep it for now.  Pat can probably use a lamp on the desk or dresser.  I will figure out lighting needs after the room is rearranged.

The grey carpeting is in good condition, just needs to be cleaned.

So we have our work cut out for us.  Since he is set on getting a red chair that will be our inspiration and the first thing we buy.  This will be a do-it-ourselves project.  I need to set a date for completion to stay on track.  I will plan on Halloween, but be happy if we are finished by Thanksgiving!  We definitely have to be done before his birthday on December 3.  One thing experience has taught me, everything takes longer than you planned!

If you’re sending your teenager off to college this fall, I don’t have to talk to you about expenses.  Everything about higher education is costly, but furnishing a dorm room doesn’t need to break the bank.  You know how I love to “re-purpose” an item (find a new use for something).  You also know I’m a flea market and antique junkie and Goodwill is one of my favorite places to shop.

Rearrange the furniture to create floor space. By lofting the beds, we had room to add a couple of chairs and area rugs. Throw a couple of pillows on the floor and you have seating for several friends.

I have been working with Goodwill SEW along with Marquette and Carroll Universities creating dorm showrooms entirely furnished with items purchased at Goodwill stores.   The average cost has been around $200 for two students living in the space!  It takes a little time to shop, but the savings are amazing.  Why spend a bundle of money now when you know your student will want something different next year?

It's amazing how much money you can save with smart shopping. We did an the whole room for under $200! Have a game plan and color scheme in mind when shopping.

Most dorm room furniture can be moved around and beds can be lofted for more floor space.

Lofted or bunk beds free up the floor. Talk to your room mate about color choices and who will bring the important stuff like the TV, refrigerator and chairs!

I found a green folding chair and a second one I covered with a blanket.  You might find a love seat size sofa or a comfy arm chair to fit your space.

Posters add personality to your dorm room without breaking the bank. Be sure to find out what you can use to hang pictures from the housing staff!

Once you choose a color scheme, shopping is easier and faster when you concentrate on your particular colors and you will be amazed at how many accessories you will find.

Each student gets a desk and shelving at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Plenty of room to organize books, toiletries and personal items.

Personalize your space with photos and items that are important to you.

Arrange your furniture to get the most floor space. Separating your desks will give each of you a little privacy.

Use colorful baskets and containers to hold your toiletries and towels.

The hunt is half the fun!

Many, many thanks to the people who helped Susan and me with our Artist Studio at the Milwaukee Breast Cancer Showhouse this year.  It was a great success!

Neu’s Hardware Gallery — glass drawer pulls as drapery hardware

Glass drawer pulls as drapery hardware!

Duralee Fabrics — beautiful fabrics
New Threads — fabulous draperies

Jane from New Threads

Janet from New Threads

Carrie Storm's art

Carrie Storm — art

Sue Ellinger and Jean Hass– wonderful sewing skills

World Market, Southridge — accessories and furniture

World Market Southridge

Sara Pudlosky and Dave — extra hands to help move in
Zach Cvetan and Brandon Hessil — for providing muscle power to help us move out

Zach and Brandon helped haul the heavy stuff

The Milwaukee Breast Cancer Showhouse has 30 distinct spaces that area designers pour their hearts and souls into to raise money for breast cancer research.  It takes months of planning, building, painting, hauling furniture and accessories and hanging yards and yards of drapery treatments to create beautiful rooms.

Abigail Klode of Abigail Klode Interiors designed a beautiful and peaceful Master Sitting Room.  She layered multiple shades of grey and combined contemporary and traditional furniture.  The trend toward replacing the coffee table with an upholstered ottoman couldn’t get any classier than this custom leather piece with nailheads.

Master Sitting Room -- Serene and Peaceful

The Phillip Jefferies grass cloth on the walls sets off the turquoise triptych by artist Jason Rohlfs.  His artwork is currently on exhibit at Tory Folliard Gallery.  The color and movement in his work adds just the right touch of whimsy to the calm setting.

I love how Abigail complements the sleek sofa with her great-grandfather’s desk chair.  He started Klode Furniture years ago.  She thought it would give the room good juju!

Who couldn’t imagine spending time reading or lounging in this space?  Great juju!

http://www.abigailklode.com

The Breast Cancer Showhouse opened to the public this weekend.  Although the weather was more fall-like than early summer (after all this is Wisconsin) crowds of supporters flocked to the house to support cancer research and get loads of design ideas.

Many of the rooms in the house are traditional featuring warm, creamy colors with bold splashes of black.  Each designer puts his or her personal stamp in their space.

Royal Doulton Toby Mugs

The kitchen displays a fabulous collection of Toby mugs from Jim Jung’s (Boston Store) personal collection.

The laundry room was devoted to the home owner’s dog Zoë.  Tom Hoffman (Tom Hofffman Designs) and Mary Shaufelberger (Steinkellner Decorating Studio) had pet portraits painted for the walls.  Patty Virnig’s (Ivy Interiors) third floor bath is glamorous and feminine in bold, graphic black and white. Makes you wish you were going to a ball!

Susan found this vintage vanity with the mirrored top in her Mother's attic.

Our room is the last stop on the home tour.  You walk into a blast of color.  Carrie Storm of  C.S. Storm Art brought in a collection of her latest paintings.   We particular love the bra, panties and camisole still life.

We just love Carrie Storm's lingerie painting.

Whoever said shag rugs are passé hasn’t been carpet shopping lately?  Anything retro is hot.  That includes accessories and colors from the 60’s.  (Did I mention psychedelic?)  A purple shag rug added the right amount of splash to the floor and grounded the entire room.

Love the purple shag rug.

The vintage daybed with loads of colorful pillows is so inviting.  A daybed is the perfect solution for a room that needs a mattress for sleeping and sofa for lounging and not enough room for both.

Day beds are perfect for sleeping, lounging, dreaming!

A comfy bed needs lots of pillows.

Pillows in a variety of shapes and sizes make the bed more interesting.

We chose furniture with medium to dark stains to contrast with the vanilla walls and bright fabrics.  It’s important to remember that all woods in room do not have to match. The maple flooring looks great with the darker woods.

Big splash of color in the corner!

We stayed with dark wood for the furniture. It's a nice contrast to the vanilla walls and bright fabrics. Remember, all wood tones do not have to match!

The bold, graphic purple flower fabric was our inspiration.  We used it on the bedspread and used it again on a pillow, and the ottoman and vanity stool.  You can use almost anything for inspiration a fabric, a beautiful rug, a painting or even a favorite accessory.  Find the one thing that you love or gets your creative juices flowing!  You have to start the design process somewhere!

Jean Haas upholstered the vanity stool to match the bedding.

The next time your community hosts a designer showhouse for charity, be sure to visit.  Gather your friends for an afternoon of design.  Not only will you support a good cause, but you will go home with more ideas for updating your home than you will have time to do.