Wednesday, April 7, 2010

my {extreme} master bedroom makeover

So, the problem with posting about my master bedroom makeover is that I have to post "before" photos for you to truly appreciate the transformation. Darn those Before photos! This is the part where I wish the client had been someone besides...well, myself. Cause who wants to own up to having a bedroom that looked like this (below)?

Or this? Yes, those are flannel sheets covered with snowmen. What of it?

Before. I think someone broke in and beat my room with an ugly stick while I was sleeping.
After. Ahhh...Let's all breathe a sigh of relief, shall we?


This was the other end of the room, before. (do I have to say before? you know that, right?)
And now...do you hear the angels singing? I sure do!

This room went from being the embarrassment...the bane of my existence...the dirty little secret that none of my guests ever got to see (even my good friends!) to now...my FAVORITE room of the house! I keep inventing reasons to head up to my room, just to look around and soak it all in. It is truly a retreat for me now.



my former artwork now looks especially chic over my newly transformed bed. Yep, it's the same bed! But it's had a makeover of its own. I'll talk about that more in a later post.



This is the same orangey dresser as in the before pics! Also had a little makeover. In fact, anything that wasn't nailed down either got sold or had a makeover. (My husband had better watch out - he could be next.) ;-)



I guess this dresser is the same as before. Okay, ONE piece of furniture did not get a makeover. That's it.

Ikea chandelier. Ikea wardrobe. How could one store with such a little name, make such a big difference?


This whole makeover was really kind of an accident! I had planned to re-paint the walls, that's it. After SEVEN paint samples I finally came to the realization that the room was evil and could turn any color into pink. My girlfriend Christa was my painting partner, and we had almost finished painting the room a light grey, but it didn't look right either. Partly as a joke I said, "Maybe I should just paint it all white." See, I've always been drawn to white interiors in magazines and blogs, but just haven't been brave enough to try it myself. So back to Home Depot we went - they knew us well by then - and bought a gallon of white paint. My first time ever, people. And from there...well, I could write a book about the things we learned painting this room. But that is a story for another post, another time.



Next thing you know, I'm cutting, sanding, painting, and distressing my bed all up. Next was my husband's dresser. Over the following week, we bought a new mattress (that's when the angels really started singing!), assembled a new wardrobe (I owe you bigtime, Christa!), bought and installed a chandelier. Oh, and entertained our families on Easter Sunday and baked and consumed the best coconut cake ever. (But that is, again, another post for another day!)

SO I really should have entitled this post "The Accidental Makeover on a Budget". Because I just thought I was going to re-paint a few walls. I didn't realize my life would feel transformed, because now I have a beautiful space to call my own. Happy sighs.

*Edited to add: this is post 1 of 2. Read Part 2 here!

33 comments:

  1. Truly transformed. It looks wonderful.

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  2. ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!! I'm almost inspired to tackle my new bedroom... almost! :)

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  3. wow absolutely fabulous!!! especially as it was an accident

    you should send them to Young House Love for one of their makeover slots

    lovley...

    Sarah

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  4. very beautiful! i am not sure that i would ever attempt white because it has to be perfect to work, and you did amazing. of course the white on my walls is a blah dirty lived in white (i am currently renting), but still. it really is stunning!

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  5. It is so pretty in white and I think the painting of the flower itself pops now where as before I didn't really notice it. It is an even lovlier room now.

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  6. I just love your bedroom, so beautiful! I am also starting a bedroom makeover , possibly white walls, and was wondering the name of your white paint color? I am new to your blog and now follow!

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  7. This is what i have been planning on doing to my bedroom - all white. I dreamt about it one morning. It's currently purple - and I loved it when I painted it purple back in 2000 up until the past year. Suddenly - purple was TOO much. Did you have trouble finding an all white comforter? I've been keeping my eyes open for one but haven't found any locally. Guess online is next!

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  8. Also wanted to mention that your painting really does stand out now. Good move!

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  9. Wanna come do my office now? WONDERFUL makeover, Courtney! So fresh and happy! I love your embarrassment at showing your beforesies. That is how I felt, too. "Will people still read the blog if they see the state of my office?" :) I love how you refreshed your existing pieces.

    Last September I repainted our kitchen, living room, and dining room all white and haven't regretted it one bit.

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  10. The intruder with the ugly stick left your house and hit my bedroom next. I understand having a room that you can't stand. Sadly, my bedroom WAS white like this, but I thought the problem was that I needed color. So I painted it--and it has a vaulted ceiling that was a huge pain--but now I like it even less. (I haven't told my husband this yet. Shhh.)

    I wish I had thought to just make everything else in the room white to go with it. Would've saved me a lot of time and aggravation. I just love the look of yours! So fresh and bright.

    Great job!!

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  11. Hi, Courtney, so great to see you posting again. What a great makeover in your bedroom!! Truly, it is beautiful. I'm probably not ever going to do all white, but I love looking at it in other's homes. Looks so soothing.

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  12. girl this is the best looking room for such a small space painting everything white really makes the room open up congrats to you..i'm your newest follower..suzanne

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  13. absolutely stunning!

    thank you for sharing,
    Alesha

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  14. I love that you took if from a color to white walls. I'm so into white on white right now!

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  15. Your room looks so fresh and lovely and the best part...your snuggly flannel snowmen should still fit right in...!

    : )

    Julie M.

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  16. So light, bright and yet peaceful. Love it.

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  17. That is a great transformation! Thanks for the inspiration--I'm finally going to tackle my room next week and I was dreading it, but now I feel ready to jump in! I found your blog thru Julia at Hooked on Houses and I'm so glad! Have a great weekend.

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  18. It's beautiful! I'm in the middle of a white transformation, too - love the difference!

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  19. Incredibly stunning! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  20. I loove this. This is so much better than the original (no offense, lol). I love how clean and beachy it is.

    it totally is a retreat- awesome job m'lady!

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  21. It looks absolutely wonderful! I'm (hopefully) going to be completing my bedroom project this weekend, wish me luck! Why are we always our own worst clients??? :)

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  22. I can't remember how I found your blog but I'm so glad I did. I've been loving it. And I'm in love your bedroom transformation. I've given you the sunshine award. Please come over and check it out.

    http://ohmyheckthisissocute.blogspot.com/2010/04/wahoo-award-for-me.html

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  23. it's perfection. the gorgeous white makes it look romantic, airy, peaceful, and classic.

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  24. Love your new bedroom! That painting above the bed is the best. Great job!
    -FringeGirl

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  25. Great job! I love the white!!! I am amazed!!! I really like your work! I can't wait to read your other posts. I am your newest follower.
    Bonnie

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  26. Wow, it looks remarkably bigger!!! Gorgeous work!

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  27. one word...WOW! love white myself!

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  28. WOW! I love the transformation! The white makes the room look so elegant! I love the chandelier!

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  29. Wow it looks amazing! Fresh out of a swedish magazine! The white really makes the room. All the white....I am a huge lover of all things white & used a lot of it in our bedroom makeover as well.

    Great job!

    xo,
    Shellagh

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  30. Simply stunning. That is all there is to it. :)

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  31. You really can't go wrong with white. It is such a refreshing color and it complements well with any color in the house. The transformation of your bedroom is truly a breath of fresh air. I have been renovating my son's room for 2 weeks now. Thankfully, I am seeing the fruits of our labor. The new (Lakeland) flooring is flawless. The 3 dressers, which are all painted white, are nicely lined up at the far end side of the room. I am so proud of our renovation progress.

    Well, thank you for posting the incredible transformation of your room. Keep it up!

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thank you for commenting, dahling! I can't wait to hear what you have to say. :-)