Bedroom Reveal!

This weekend we finally finished the bedroom renovation!!

We started this project last year, but with the holidays and the extra plaster work that was required, it all took a bit longer to complete.  The first post was here This is a long post, so please indulge me!

So let’s revisit:  the brief was to create a bedroom that was beautiful but at the same time plain and simple.  No frills, no vintage frippery, no bold patterns, no bright colours.  Muted and considered was key to a happy client and keeping costs within budget was crucial.

The first thing I did was reconfigure the layout of the room to create more space by doing a quick sketch by hand.

 My idea was to create a colour palette that echoed the colours of the seaside but wasn't in any way nautical in look, with the Duck Egg blue paint colour as a starting point.

My final moodboard that was presented to client was this:

Let's remember what the room looked like:

So you'll remember that I said the first thing to go was  the navy carpet.  Underneath it revealed the most beautiful wooden floors, which immediately give character to any room.  They were given a light sanding and a couple of layers of wax to seal them.  The wax allows the natural grain of the wood to show through without any yellowing.

As client has an aversion to anything second hand, we decided to upcycle the existing pieces of furniture rather than buy new ones.  All the disparate pieces of wooden furniture were made cohesive by painting them all in the same paint colour.   The only piece of furniture which didn't get a makeover was my client’s late grandmother’s dressing table and chair.  We left this as is, at the request of the client.

Custom blinds above the bed and large window allow for additional privacy and this creates a really casual feel which is what I was hoping to achieve.

Working within the small budget was crucial, so instead of having a new headboard made up, we decided to make a cover in a canvas cream fabric which just slipped over the existing headboard very much like a tea cosy. 

I knew I couldn't bring in any large florals or bright colours, so I went with subtle stripes, a check and a subtle floral on cushion covers to add texture and interest which complemented the restful feel to the bedroom and with the addition of a striped throw at the bottom of the bed, really upped the cosiness factor.   

A new pendant light was chosen for its beautiful  shape and its texture and the pretty shadows it casts when lit at night and we went for plain white pleated bedside table lamps.   You can see the chest of drawers isn't correctly positioned in the middle of the alcove - a small area on the chimney breast had damp issues which has just been painted, so once this is dry the chest will be moved over a bit and the mirror can be hung, so for the moment it's just propped up!

There is always a risk of overdoing a design, everything looking a bit too contrived but this room is bright and airy and the colour has really lifted the room out of the mundane and now feels cosy and calm but cheerful at the same time.  The walls are a bit bare at the moment, client has a few framed family photos to hang up but I think it's got a great feel as it is and doesn't need too many pieces on the walls.

I wanted to add in a pop of colour but instead of going with a traditional blue rug which would make the room look more formal, I added a yellow rug from Ikea, which brings a fun element into the room and draws the eye down to the beautiful waxed floor boards.  We continued with the yellow by adding a cushion on the chair. 

The look is restrained yet inviting, elegant but still informal.  No stuffiness or over accessorising.  I think we met client’s brief of beautiful but plain and simple….what do you think?

(all photos are copyright SharonJaneInteriors - please do not use without permission)

Take care and have a great week!
Sharon
xxx