the bedroom post

For me, every room make-over begins with a spark of inspiration, usually from a magazine. During the entire decorating process I almost need to look at an ultimate inspiration photo daily over breakfast. I feel like a toddler who wants their favorite board book read to them over and over.



Page 36 of Cottage Style (Country Collectibles #56) became that daily picture for me. The "a bit of british" section written by Christina Strutt features photos from her latest book, At Home with Country. I even splurged on purchasing a pillow case and laundry bag from Christina's shop, Cabbages & Roses. {Thank you to my online customers for making that possible with your purchases!}



Here is how my bedroom looked before. I knew I wanted to brighten the space and paint the unfinished armoire.



And something had to be done about the clunky upstairs computer area.



In an earlier bedroom post I mentioned my original plan of using Benjamin Moore's Navajo White but a Home Depot ad about paint and primer in one intrigued me so I went with their close-match of Artist Canvas by Behr.

Tinkered Tip: I found Behr Premium Plus Ultra (paint+primer) to be easy enough to use. However, it goes on very thin. I used nearly 3 gallons to complete the room and that surprised me because I generally have a very light hand when applying paint.

Boy, was this ever an awkward room to paint. Grooves, low walls, slopes, and I had the big idea to fit-in painting the armoire while the room was tarped.



I gave the armoire a sloppy coat of Cherries Jubilee by Glidden. Looked a bit scary but I trusted my plan.

MEANWHILE . . .



Days before I had GASPED over a pretty valance at the home of Whimsy by Victoria featured at Restyled Home. I went bonkers over the fabric and asked my amazingly talented friend Shellie if she could please sew a valance for me. I then contacted Victoria who sweetly and quickly provided me with info about the fabric, which I ordered from Quilt Home. So while I was painting, my Shellie was sewing. Excellent customer service from Quilt Home, by the way.



In between coats of interior paint, I was outside at the picnic table spray-painting hardware. This was a very Decorating Cents type of low-budget makeover: the best kind!


Two days later the room was painted and dry, Shellie had delivered my valance, even my order from Cabbages & Roses had arrived. Time to rethink the furniture arrangement, which included moving the big desk to the dumpster (!), moving the bed across the room, and bringing the Girlie Office desk upstairs.



My new bedroom!
The boys think it feels like they're at a hotel. (Me, too!)



I rubbed the corners of the armoire with a candle while it was red, then painted over it using the Artist Canvas of the walls, sanding here and there for a distressed look. The wax kept the new coat from totally adhering, making it easy to sand away and reveal the red underneath.



I spray-painted the pulls white but then decided the piece needed a pop of red. My bistro chair from Target's garden section.



White spray paint has almost magical powers.



We moved the armoire and painted the back of it to serve as a short wall, which now creates a little nook for the desk.



I still haven't found just the right quilt so I reversed the one already on the bed to it's white backing.



Thank you for hanging on through this long post.




As you can see I still haven't finished painting the door. Just one more coat to go. And yep, there's the boys' room, which I plan to post about next.

Happy weekend!

xo
elyse