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A Fast Bedroom Makeover

Well, it’s late on Sunday night as I sit down to write this post. We just got back from a whirlwind weekend in Northern Virginia, where we did everything from helping John’s sister with a bedroom update to buying some stuff for the nursery. So today we’ll be chronicling ten things that we helped Carrie shop for, hang, and install into her bedroom for a nice little “adult upgrade.” And here’s Carrie now…

Carrie Picture Of Carrie

She recently asked us to help her to create a “grown up bedroom” after saving up some cash over the last few years since our painting sesh in her apartment back in 2011 (remember that?). She told us that she was ready to spring for a few nicer items – like an upholstered headboard, more substantial side tables, two table lamps, new art or a mirror for over the bed, and some updated bedding. So we got to work hunting down some options for her to choose from, while working with some of the things that she already had (like her Ikea curtains from 2008, the paint color we rolled on a few years back, and the green and tan area rug that she’s had for a while).

The vibe that she wanted was “that-soothing-mostly-white-hotel-room-meets-Olivia-Pope’s-bedroom vibe” (that’s literally how she described her dream bedroom to us). So we just got together and watched a bunch of Scandal on the DVR with big ol’ glasses of red wine in our hands and willed the room to redo itself. Just kidding, we shopped, assembled, and finished her room in about 24 hours this weekend (after ordering a number of things beforehand). So here’s how it looked when we got there on Saturday morning (don’t mind the missing bed skirt that usually hides the stuff under the bed):

Carrie Before

And here’s a moodboard that we made for the room, just because it’s fun to see how moodboard items can “translate” to real life (and we have some real-life after photos right within this post – so there’s about to be some instant gratification!). Oh but it probably helps to mention that this board didn’t get tossed together all at once – it was more of a slow-build over a few weeks’ time (we showed Carrie a ton of options in a bunch of price ranges for many of these objects so that she could make the call and choose what she truly liked best – especially since it was her moolah and her room).

Seven Things Mood Board

  1. We thought two of these Pier 1 pillows (on clearance for $14.98) would look nice in front of the white shams on her bed.
  2. This geometric brass-framed mirror for over the bed gives off that hotel-chic vibe (and it’s just $39.99 from Target).
  3. We thought this on-clearance soft seersucker king-sized bedding would add some nice texture (we always love a king-sized duvet/quilt/coverlet for a queen-sized bed, just because it provides extra drapey-ness)
  4. This $29 beaded metallic pillow is a fun complement to the green pillows, while tying into some other brass-toned choices in the moodboard.
  5. A set of two of these shapely chic lamps were $149 from Joss & Main (Carrie loved the posh brass bases and finials).
  6. This curvy queen-sized upholstered headboard was another Joss & Main find for $269 (the brass nail-head details sealed the deal).
  7. Carrie actually found these dapper little castered brass side tables from Ballard Designs herself (at 15% off) – and we all loved how they tied in with other items we’d been eying for her.

Those last three items were obviously more in the “splurge” category – but it was fun to mix in clearanced pillows and some discounted bedding along with a nice upscale-looking-but-affordable mirror. So here’s her room now, after adding those seven things (well, ten since there were two green pillows, two lamps, and two side tables).

Carrie After

It’s amazing how much the room has changed. The big curvy headboard and brass-framed mirror instantly added a ton of polish, and for some reason even the ceilings feel higher.

Carrie Straight On

And things like those charming white ceramic lamps on the brass side tables…

Carrie Nailhead Detail

…along with the textured new bedding and pillows, have added even more of that upscale, soothing-as-heck vibe.

Carrie Pillow Detail

It was really nice to work with some of the things she’s had for a nice long time, like those six year old curtain sheers and the existing rug. We also brought over two of these faux topiaries that we’ve had forever as a little room-warming gift for her windowsills.

Carrie Olive Plant In Window

As for Carrie’s reaction to the room, it was pretty awesome (come to think of it, I wish we had gotten it on film). She said she loved it about a million times, and even texted us later to say “I don’t think I said thank you enough. I’m in love with the bedroom. It looks better than I ever thought it could. Thank you! Thank you!” Is she sweet or what?

We also grabbed these detail shots for you, just to show that when you’re going for the white-on-white-with-with-small-pops-of-other-colors thing (like green and gold), you don’t want everything to be the same texture, because that can end up looking kind of flat. So instead, if you’re going with a somewhat monochromatic pattern, it’s fun to layer in some different materials, sheens, textures, and subtle patterns.

Carrie Grid Of Textures

For example, in one pretty small space you can find all of these things in the mix:

  • hard metallic nail-heads against the plush upholstered headboard
  • shiny white ceramic lamps with gleaming gold bases
  • breezy white curtains with some subtle pattern
  • a nice reflective mirror to bounce around more light
  • texture-rich seersucker bedding
  • a metallic beaded accent pillow

Oh and one simple organizing detail that we loved about Carrie’s apartment was this hook rail that she had hung for her chunky necklaces a while back. It’s such an easy and functional way to see all of her statement necklaces, and she says she wears them a lot more (and it helps to keep them from getting tangled up in a drawer). So I couldn’t resist sharing a shot of that:

Carrie Jewelry Hook Rail

So a big thanks goes out to Carrie for the fun challenge and for letting us share her bedroom with the internetz. We’ll be back with some more DIY stuff for you this week (and an awesome thrift store find for our own house!) since this was pretty much just hunting/hanging/installing stuff. We’re just so glad that that Carrie’s sweetly smitten with her “new” bedroom, and that we could see a mood board come to life and share it with you guys! What did you do this weekend? Was anyone else at Ikea on Sunday night? It was a madhouse. But sort of a fun madhouse…

Comments

  1. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    We were supposed to go hiking in the Quinault Rain Forest, but were hit with a massive storm that knocked out power.

    So we hunkered down, nursed the hub’s face wound (from a limb falling when he carefully sawed it during a calm moment), enjoyed our freshly painted bedroom (Behr’s Classic Silver which looks amazing with our wood trim), and reminisced about how a mom’s intuition is (often) best…

    For the weekend before last I told my hub, “Let’s go hiking this weekend! Something doesn’t feel right about next weekend. You never know with weather here.”

    Oh, the beauty of that magical place… http://www.newmomstalk.com/2014/01/13/hiking-lake-quinault-rainforest/

    PS Those trails are completely kid-ish friendly… though I wouldn’t recommend it in the weather we had this weekend!

    Reply

  2. Katy C says

    Loving the Brass details. I recently hacked some rast dressers into nightstands and found some hammered brass knobs at Hobby Lobby (on clearance for $1.37 each!) and have since been obsessed with brass. Loving this room – so fresh, clean and sophisticated! (Any idea where the necklace tree is from?)

    Reply

  4. susan says

    Nice. I like how you worked around the paint color. Everyone doesn’t always want to repaint every time they redo a room, since it can be such a huge job.

    Reply

  5. LMN says

    My favorite thing about this room is that it looks awesome (!!!) but is so clean and simple. My dream bedroom also has white bedding, but my sweet furbabies (black cat and boston terrier) make me think that it will remain a dream. Does your sister happen to have animals? Is the white bedding and pet hair ever an issue? Our pets rule so I’m thinking that kicking them out of the bed is unlikely. ;-)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      She has a cat, but he isn’t allowed in her bedroom (every other room is fair game though). We have a pooch who sleeps with us along with white bedding though, and he’s pretty dang easy – we just wash the sheets and duvet regularly. He’s little and has short hair though.

      xo,
      s

  6. Elle says

    Hi Guys! We’re planning a similar shopping trip in the other direction from DC to Richmond to check out some of the stores you’ve mentioned. We have UFab and the lighting outlet you’ve (I can’t remember the name) on our list. Is there anywhere else you’d recommend we check out? Especially somewhere for the budget minded. Thanks!

    Reply

  7. Mallory says

    I LOVE this makeover! My dream bedroom is also a mostly-white hotel room – only with accents of cool/Tiffany blue and deep red. I was wondering, do you use some kind of software to create your mood boards, or do you just use photoshop?

    Reply

  8. Kimberly Ann says

    I am FOREVER amazed and thrilled to read your blog. What you can do simply surprises me and makes me happy. It also makes me wonder why I don’t have the talent or skill to see what my 2 year old builder beige two storey can actually look like. I can’t see the trees for the forest.

    Ugh, I wish I could figure out what to do with the house we built but can’t stand the boring beige, plain wood, boring palatte! And you seem to be able to do it with not a gazillion bucks! You are definitely an inspiration to many!

    Thank you!
    Kimberly

    Reply

  9. Tracey Bradshaw says

    I love it – the bedside tables are stunning and it all just works together so beautifully. I love symmetry in a room – I find it very calming (OCD?) and have always had matching bedside tables and lamps.
    We are buying a new home later this year and I am so excited about redecorating and creating new rooms with our existing things, mixed up with some new furniture and decor items.

    Reply

  10. HeidiG. says

    Would you happen to know where Carrie get her jewlery holders (the tree and the egg crate looking thing)? I love them and have been looking for cool/interesting jewelry storage pieces.

    Reply

  13. Brooke says

    The transformation looks great. What a difference! The only thing I’m not a huge fan of is the mirror/headboard combination. I like both items but for me I’m not a fan of them together. There’s something strange about the shapes working together or maybe it’s because the mirror’s scale is off compared tot he headboard. Maybe it needs more than one mirror to balance the feel. That’s just me though, I tend to be symmetrical and balanced! Over all the space looks great :)

    Reply

    • Kelsey says

      Yeah, I keep trying to put my finger on what it is about the headboard/mirror combo that doesn’t quite work for me. I love both pieces separately! I think maybe if the headboard was a bit lower and the mirror a bit bigger they would feel more in scale? Oh well, I’m glad that Carrie likes it and I think the whole room turned out great!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Carrie can actually raise or lower the headboard (it’s set in a way that can be altered on the bed frame) so of course after we took all the pics I thought “let’s give it a little breathing room” – definitely could just be the closeness in these pics!

      xo
      s

  14. Lisa OK says

    Looks great! How did you hang the mirror? I ordered one from Joss&Main about a year ago with the intent of hanging it over my bed. However, it’s been sitting in the corner of my bedroom this whole time because I’m afraid it will fall on my head in the middle of the night. Anyone else have these nightmares?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just use screws into anchors or studs (they sell anchors them based on weight, so just grab ones from home Depot or Lowe’s with the right limit for the item you’re hanging and it should be pretty straightforward). Also going into a stud with one of them is extra smart if possible – we were lucky to hit one in Carrie’s room, so that’s even more sturdy.

      xo
      s

  16. Chelsea says

    Do you have any favorite solution for hiding alarm clocks? My husband and I both use ours, but they’re not so pretty. I noticed Carrie’s disappeared in the after photos.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We use our cell phones as alarms (they are just set to ring and you can even snooze them, etc) so maybe that helps? Otherwise perhaps tucking them onto the side table that’s furthest from the door (the right one in Carrie’s case) would hide them a little?

      xo
      s

  17. Heidi says

    My dream bed is to have an upholstered headboard like that, but my husband was a realist and quickly pointed out that with two Boston Terriers that wasn’t wise for us. But a girl can dream!

    And, I love that jewelry display. I’m currently hanging chunky necklaces on hangers so I definitely need to get some type of organization system together.

    Reply

  19. Lydia K says

    I love that comment about Olivia Pope’s bedroom – ever since I started watching that show I want to LIVE in her life (well, mostly…) Damn, the apartment is gorgeous, her clothes are fabulous, and I am already wearing long sparkly necklaces now. I love how you brought that home to Carrie on a small scale. Very well done!! <3 Lyd

    Reply

  22. Rachel Laree says

    It looks good, although I think a cream comforter would bring out the gold beading and other gold finishes a little more. Very soothing!

    Reply

  25. Lauren L says

    I absolutely adore the jewelry organization. In fact, I was scouring the internet for ideas on how to organize my own jewelry this weekend! The room makeover just didn’t work for me. I feel like the lamps and side tables (which I also love) are trying to do something different from the rug and the curtains. And the mirror placement doesn’t make sense to me. Looks like it’s too high to actually be functional and a little too small for the wall space. Maybe it just can’t compete with the headboard. Perhaps my taste is a little different from her as well :)

    Reply

  29. Sheri says

    That looks great! I’ve actually been eyeing that same mirror for a little while now. BTW,my house needs some serious help. Next time you’re in NoVA, could you swing by and tell me what to do with my mess? :P j/k Love your blog! :)

    Reply

  30. Carrie Petersik says

    Hi there! The container I use to organize my earrings (the egg crate) is from Anthropologie. The tree necklace stand is from Urban Outfitters. I purchased both back in 2011. I know Anthropologie still sells a similar egg crate dish, but I’m not sure about Urban Outfitters. Sounds like World Market has some great options. Hope that helps!

    Thank you again John and Sherry!!

    Reply

  31. Brittany says

    I love the white tree necklace holder, any idea where she got it? My statement necklace obsession has definitely overgrown my jewelry box.

    Reply

  32. Lee Ann says

    Beautiful! Adore the headboard! It’s amazing what just a few well-planned accessories will do. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  35. Brooke says

    The room turned out so nicely. I especially enjoyed the reference to Olivia Pope, I heart that show and style.
    I’ve always wanted to order items from Joss & Main but I’m hesitant to do so because of the no return policy. We’re you pleased by the headboard quality and installation?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ve ordered a few big things from them over the last few years and have generally been really happy with them with one bad egg, haha! We got our white tufted ottoman in our living room from them as well as our big morroccan green rug (used to be in our living room, now it’s in our bedroom) and love both of them. Then we got a pink wool rug from them and it was super sheddy and frustrating over time (we no longer even use it because it was putting off bigger and bigger hairballs as the months went on). But otherwise we’ve been really happy, and the lamps and headboard were great. Not a scratch on them, and the quality felt nice and solid.

      xo
      s

    • Alyssa says

      Sorry, I’m totes creeping on comments… But I hope you aren’t talking about the super cute polka dot rug from Clara’s playroom?! I was wondering what happened to it. Bummer, I seriously loved that rug!

  36. Steph says

    This is such a great post guys! I love when you show a one room update. As much as I love the total house crashing, the one room gives novice decorators like myself ;) a great handle on remaking a room. I love the ‘use what you got philosophy’. It’s nice to know you don’t always have to ‘start from scrach.’ I also love all the gorgeous details. It just goes to show what a handful of switches can do for a space.

    Reply

  37. Foo says

    We actually were at an IKEA yesterday afternoon. It was my husband’s 40th birthday and who doesn’t want to spend their special day shopping for office furniture? Ha-ha! He got some great stuff and spent the remainder of his birthday building furniture and shuffling the 25 plus cardboard boxes all through the house. I must clarify, there was also cake. :)

    Reply

  38. Kim says

    Totally worth the wait this morning :) I saw the before pic and thought “eh…” then I saw the moodboard and thought “eh…” and then I saw the after and COULD NOT STOP STARING! Seriously beautiful. I wish I had “vision” like you guys but I can never seem to understand a design concept until I see the after. You guys are amazeballs.

    Reply

  39. Carmil says

    Love the room!
    Do you have any suggestions for a creating the same–longer, drapey look for a king sized bed? When I was single with a queen bed I always had a king sized duvet cover. Post marriage, with a king bed– I don’t have the same length. A New Years resolution is to tackle “things” in our bedroom, and new linens will be included. I don’t want to join 2 Twins, with a seam down the middle. A comforter does not have to fit inside. I guess I could use a Queen and split a double–depending on the pattern. Ideas???

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, would california kind bedding work to get more length? Or could you add fabric to widen/lengthen something, or make the duvet yourself so it can be any size you’d like? Does anyone else have ideas for Carmil?

      xo
      s

    • jen says

      we have this problem because we have a California King Bed, and thats the biggest, but the issue with using CA king bedding on a King bed is that yes it is longer, but a CA king is 6 inches LESS in width then a King, so it will look funny on the sides.

    • Jenn says

      We have a California King bed with an “oversized” down comforter and white duvet cover – I think it’s something like 100″ x 110″ which is maybe 10 or so inches wider and longer than standard king stuff. I got it on amazon years ago, but I am sure you can still find something like it.

  41. Paige @ Little Nostalgia says

    So sophisticated! It’s funny when you suddenly wake up and realize your bedroom is kind of young looking. It happened to us about a year after we got married, and I was like, “I hate everything we picked.” Thankfully we didn’t get anything major (mainly just new bedding) but it was like somebody flipped a switch in my brain.

    Reply

  42. jane says

    this is off topic, but i just wanted to let readers know that Michelle Edwards from Sweet Something Deisgn blog died on Friday Morning. i think i found her blog a long time ago from YHL. She has 2 boys (one only 7) She died of cancer. :( Please keep her family in your thoughts.

    Reply

  44. Katy says

    Love what you did with Carrie’s room!

    I feel like we have heard a lot about John’s family but I don’t know much about Sherry’s. Does she have siblings? Maybe I have missed those posts.

    Katie Bower once did a post where she introduced us to all her siblings and their kids.

    Would you guys ever do something like that on Young House Life? It would be great to see all your family!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That would be fun! I have one younger brother and one half brother and two cousins who I grew up with in the same house (so they’re like brothers to me since we all lived together). I’ve chatted about them all occasionally – although my brother, Almost Doctor Dan, makes the most appearances on the blog (he’s in our archives a lot – and is now an actual doctor, haha!). All of my family is up in NY so I don’t see them as much as John’s family (they’re mostly in VA) so they tend to come up more!

      xo
      s

    • Paula says

      What is Dr. Dan up to these days? I ask because I finished my PhD in chemistry in 2010, so not that different than him – and while I thought it was kind of creepy to ask (even though I’ve been curious) since you brought him up… =)

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Let’s see, he’s just saving the world. Haha! He is married and living in NJ and works in a lab researching and creating formulas to cure diseases (he was working on cures for alzheimers disease and now he is working on cancer). He loves his job, his wife Ali, and has a dog named Sasha. We need to figure out a way to get him back on the blog for a “where are they now” thing. Haha!

      xo
      s

  47. Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says

    That was a really nice transition from young to not-so-young of a bedroom. I really think that in a bedroom same as with a human body and the saying of “The clothes make the man/woman.” that “The bed covering makes the bedroom.” We, like you guys, are at the not settling just because we can phase in life. We have been on the hunt for the perfect bedding set for about a year now. I thought we almost found it at Kohl’s once but it was a handshake leading to a “PSYYYCH!!!!” moment sadly. lol. Anyway. Beautiful choices and great execution y’all!

    My best, Lynn

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Lynn! And boo to that psyyych moment. I totally know what you mean. You’re walking towards something and you see hearts and hear angels singing and then you get close and it’s either sold out, the wrong size, broken, or just not what you thought it was. Better luck next time!

      xo
      s

  48. Michelle | Birds of Berwick says

    I love her choice of lamps and working with those incredible curtains and rug these room is definitely grown up now and has a great feel to it! Nice job!

    We’re working on a master bedroom redo as well – I’ll have to take some inspiration from this!

    Reply

  50. JennyBinDC says

    Looks awesome! Can you ask her where she got the egg crate looking jewelry dish? I’d love to score something like that! Thanks!!

    Reply

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