Master Bedroom: Before & Plans

As much as I’ve enjoyed working on a few big things in secret in the past (the kitchen makeover and my suspenseful DIY flooring reveal spring to mind), I also love walking you guys through a project step by step and sharing the choices and projects that go into creating a gathered room.

Well, our master bedroom is next on my hit list, and that’s how I’ve decided to play this one – befores, betweens, in-process and all.

And I’ll be transparent with you guys: this “before” isn’t really a “before” at all… It’s an “after the three loads of laundry on the floor were put away and the bed was made for the first time in a long time” kind of shot.

But for posterity’s sake, I tidied up a little before snapping these pictures that show the very-blank-slate state of our master bedroom.

In case you couldn’t quite make it out because of the bright light pouring in, yes, that is in fact foam core board taped together and shoved into the arch of the window so we can sleep in past 6 am.

As you can see, the room is a little oddly shaped, with that bump-out window seat area to the left of the bed, and the angled wall with the double doors leading to the bathroom (bathroom not pictured for your own ocular well-being). It is beige from ceiling to floor, and while the lighting in this room can be absolutely beautiful, it can also be a HUGE pain when all you ask of the universe is grabbing a few extra weekend z’s.

So here’s what I’m dreaming for this space – some of these plans are already in motion, some may change depending on finds/budget…

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Wall color – A warm khaki. I haven’t nailed this down yet, because finding the perfect not-too-green, not too brown shade is proving kind of difficult. I really need to go get some sample pots and try them out in the space. But if you guys have any colors to suggest, I’m all ears!

DIY laminate floors – That’s right! This room is also getting some gorgeous walnut laminate flooring, like the main living areas of our home. When I was chatting with Select Surfaces about partnering on DIY laminate floors, I mentioned the upcoming bedroom project, and they agreed to provide the flooring for this room too!

Ceiling fan – I’ve been drooling over the MinkaAire Light Wave ceiling fan for over a year and would love to switch out the fan in our bedroom for this gorgeous design. Ceiling fans are basically non-negotiable in Texas, and I love that this fan proves they don’t need to be a necessary evil – they can be a beautiful sculptural addition!

Brass bed – I found my bed frame on Craigslist years ago, and I just might be buried with it. I get asked all the time where it’s from and where to find others like it, and I finally have an answer – this bed on Overstock is incredibly similar! In fact, I kind of love the tufted headboard so much I might try building one of my own to add to our bed.

On the bed – I’m still planning to use the leopard pillows I made with leftover fabric from our dining chairs. (You can find similar pillows here, or buy Braemore Jamil fabric here.) I would also love to add a textural faux fur throw.

Art – Minted has been kind enough to partner with me on a few pieces for the bedroom! I have some gorgeous burl frames I found at a thrift store and I’m so excited to fill them with these prints – top to bottom: Me, In Stitches | Slopes | Passage

Lamps – I spotted these mid-century inspired lamps at Target and I would love to add them to our night stands. In the “before” pictures, you can see the white-lacquer night stands I found at The Salvation Army. I really love them – I think they’ll add just the right amount of mod to the room, once the other pieces fall into place!

Rug – I am also thrilled to be working with Unique Rug Store on this room makeover! I chose this incredible vintage floral kilim and I’m so excited to work on this space so I can finally see it unrolled in all its glory. I had already dreamed up the khaki walls at this point, but the rug colors inspired me to bring in some pink and coral with the art.

Other plans, not pictured, include:

• A floor to ceiling curtain solution between the window seat nook and the rest of the bedroom, so we can enjoy a pitch black room at night, but pull the curtains open for brilliant light during the day.
• Figuring out how best to utilize the window seat nook – Pillows? Books? Plants? A petite pair of chairs?
• Possibly some kind of bold patterned wall treatment in the alcove where the dresser sits.
• Hanging a mirror over the vanity (I’m thinking round, like this one from Ikea in white) and creating a nicely-functioning little makeup station.

Projected Timeline:

Since we’re currently camping out in the guest room, and the contents of our bedroom are sprinkled throughout the house, I want this project to move as quickly as possible!

I’d really love to have the main elements of this space done by April. I work best with deadlines, even self-imposed ones – so that’s what I’m shooting for.

I pulled up the carpet and tack strips yesterday, and I need to do a little work on the concrete subfloor before I can proceed with the flooring. And I still need to choose a paint color ASAP!

Stay tuned for updates!

Update 1: “Green Tea” Walls – view the post here:

Update 2: DIY Laminate Flooring – view the post here: