Miki’s Design Dilemma
Miki’s bedroom is bursting with posh potential. Here’s her letter:
Hey Youngsters! My husband and I need some serious help with our master bedroom. We fell into the “everything matches” routine to the point where the entire room is the exact same color! What were we thinking?! So we desperately need your help to transform our room. Our style is classic modern (not so trendy that five years from now we’d cringe). We live in the mountains and my husband loves deep tones (forest green, burgundy, navy blue) while I’m from the beach and love fresh cool tones with a splash of bright color. We are UVA alumni and are open to any color scheme that doesn’t hint at “Carolina Blue.” Crate and Barrel probably represents our taste best. Everything can go except the wardrobe, the dog (our homage to Burger), and the print which we both really like. We plan to upgrade to a king size bed as part of the re-design. There is a wall opposite our bed (not shown in the pictures) four feet from our footboard that is 6 feet long and blank (then there’s a door to our bathroom near the one pictured window) and we would love to put something on the wall. Thanks so much! -Miki
This space is primed for a major makeover. Here’s the plan:
And now for the mood board breakdown.
1. Our color palette will be full of serene and smoky slate blue and navy tones (since Miki’s hubby likes those hues) along with lots of crisp and breezy white (to cut the deeper colors and keep things feeling airy). Then we’ll bring in pops of fresh green plucked from the art (since Miki mentioned she loves splashes of color). Green actually looks lovely with slate and navy- it’s so fresh and inviting, and it’s a combo you don’t often see which makes it trendless and classic. Gotta love that.
As for the existing armoire that will stay in the room, it’s always extremely difficult to match that tone of wood, so we’d actually recommend painting it creamy white to immediately make it feel lighter and work it in with the newer pieces we’ve dug up (check out our friend Katie’s painted armoire for inspiration, and our furniture painting tutorial for tips). And as for the wall color, this room will look COMPLETELY different with a cooler, softer, lighter tone that’s more to Miki and her hubby’s liking, so we’d suggest a soft state-gray-blue tone (Benjamin Moore’s Alaskan Husky) to instantly make the room feel a lot more serene and restful (which will also bring out the blues in the art). Oh and if Miki’s feeling playful she can also paint the wall behind the bed a slightly darker slate-blue tone (Benjamin Moore’s Sleigh Bells) for some subtle interest and emphasis.
2. Here’s the soft upholstered king-sized bed (in a cool slate blue) that we dug up for the space. It’ll look light and welcoming (even though it’s a large piece) thanks to some fluffy white bedding (available everywhere at every price point so Miki can take her pick).
3. We instantly fell for this punchy green chair because we knew it would look so fresh and crisp paired with the slate and the navy tones that we’d be bringing in. The legs don’t match anything else that we have going on in the space though, so giving them a quick coat of white paint will make this chair even more perfect for the space. As for where it’ll go, we’d actually like to see it to the left of a leaning floor mirror that will go on the wall to the left of the bed (in the place of the large dresser).
4. Here’s that leaning mirror we just mentioned which we’d love to see propped against the wall to the left of the bed so it can be used when getting ready (and can reflect all the lovely light that comes in from the giant picture window on the opposite side of the room). Finding a light colored leaning floor mirror was a bit of a challenge (and this one’s a bit pricey due to the fact that it’s a rare find)- but Miki can also always snatch up the cheapest floor mirror we’ve ever found which also happens to come in white- albeit with less of the lovely detailing.
5. Nothing looks better above a king sized bed with a large upholstered headboard than a luxe curvy mirror, and this antique white oval one (on sale!) will be gorgeous hanging centered above the bed to bounce around even more light. But don’t worry about where her lovely art print will go, we’d actually love to see that hung above the green chair next to leaning floor mirror for a balanced effect (a creamy white frame would also integrate it further, but many times a wood frame can live in a room without that tone just fine so it’s not a requirement, just extra credit if Miki feels like it).
6. Here are the cool and breezy curtain panels (in feather gray) that will look lovely hung high and wide on either side of that large window on the right wall (we’d love to see them hung so wide there’s no room for art on either side so there’s maximum light and that wall feels like it’s all window). We also love how the color will tie into everything from the upholstery on the bed to the blue-gray wall colors and even the mountain and sky tones in the painting that were de-emphasized with such a warm-toned wall.
7. Miki said that she had a wide span of wall about 5 feet from the foot of the bed and wanted to add some interest to the blank space. We’d love to see three of these budget-friendly floating shelves hung there (tip: metal anchors make them easy to hang even if you can’t find a stud) with frames, candle holders, potted plants, vases and other white, blue and green accents placed along each shelf (we did something similar in our dining room that may help Miki picture what her empty wall could become).
8. This adorable little navy and white dog bed (just $29) is too cute not to share. And it’ll fit in perfectly with the color scheme and even add a pop of pattern too.
9. This silvery-gray-blue gourd lamp will add ambiance and balance when one of them is placed on each of the matching dressers that we’ll bring in as bedside tables. One of our favorite bedroom decorating tips is to snag two matching statement lamps and place them on either side of the bed for instant balance and height that feels soooo hotel chic.
10. Here are those aforementioned dressers-turned-bedside-tables that many designers are now using to add maximum storage space to a room instead of bringing in a hulking double dresser. We love the creamy white finish and the fact that two of them will add up to exactly the same amount of storage space that Miki had with her big dresser, but instead they’ll add balance to the focal wall where the bed is while freeing up space for a floor mirror and an armchair where her old dresser once lived.
11. We always like to add rugs in the bedroom (even when there’s wall to wall carpeting) just to bring color, texture, and interest to the center of the room around the bed, which will instantly feel more grounded and welcoming. Two of these super affordable runners are about a thousand dollars cheaper than a huge 9 x 12 area rug would be, and they’ll achieve the same effect when placed on either side of the bed for a splash of fresh green underfoot.
12. And here we have even more seating and function that we’ll bring into the room for a space that feels airier and lighter (even though it’ll have a bigger bed and more concealed storage). One of these lovely upholstered benches (or even two, if they fit) placed centered under the large picture window to the right of the bed will instantly create a window-seat effect and allow for tons of room to store out of season clothing or even blankets and other bedroom essentials out of sight for a clean and polished look (and they’re on sale- gotta love that detailed budget-friendly button tufting!).
So there you have it. A bedroom full of serene and inviting style. We can’t wait to see what you guys think!
Update: We sadly can no longer find the time to take on client commissioned mood boards (we now whip up general inspiration boards instead) but if we ever reinstate them we’ll make a big announcement!
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I love how you incorporated colors that match both of their personalities!
I think with a little bit of white paint, the dresser (minus the mirror) and the armoir could still stay in the room though. What do you think?
Just wanted to say, “go hoos”!
Love this room!!! I love the crisp white bedding paired with blue and green! yummy!
ok, disregard my question. =P i just re-read what your suggestion for the armoir and dress was…
WOW, what a change this will be! From extremely intense to extremely serene!! One question,tho. I love the dressers but will they too high for the bed? Both are 36″ tall.
Hey Martha,
Good question! We actually loved that the dressers were the same height as the bed so the wall will truly become a focal point with a strong horizontal line that’s carried throughout each of the three pieces (which always makes a space seem more cohesive and expansive since everything lines up). Although they won’t read as true bedside tables (like shorter accent tables might) the entire wall will feel balanced and look deliberate, and the mirror above the bed and the two matching lamps will add to the effect for a bit more height and drama. I know it sounds a little “different” than the average solution but it’ll really work well and create a totally custom look (with eons of function). We can’t wait for the after pics so we can see it all come together… and of course share ‘em with you!
xo,
Sherry
Yet again, loving your room switcheroos! It’s going to be such a relaxing retreat for them – orange you glad you could help out?! (har har, so corny I know) Cannot wait to see the after shots!
Wow those before pictures were bright! The mood board looks fabulous! Can’t wait to see the result.
Wow! What a change! That room is going to look soo relaxing with those new colors. I think the paint alone will make a huge difference! I can’t wait to see the “after” on this one!
Wondering if they couldn’t have kept the bed, dresser (less the mirror) and armoire in their current state? The pieces have a good transition feel. Changing all of the elements around them would have drastically changed the look of this room and saved $$$.
Hey Karen,
There are certainly more than one ways to skin a cat- er, redo this bedroom! And the reason we dug up replacements for the bed and the dresser were because Miki requested that we do that for her (she wants to upgrade to a larger bed and her old dresser just isn’t cutting it for her anymore). We also liked the idea of moving the clothing storage that she previously had in the dresser over to the focal wall (with the bed on it) which freed up the entire wall that used to house the dresser for a floor length mirror and a chair (without sacrificing an ounce of storage thanks to the two bedside dressers we found). Hope that helps!
xo,
Sherry
Love the blue and green combo, it’s one of my faves! i’m jealous of the white floor mirror, i’d totally snag the ikea one for my bedroom if we had the space..
Love this board!! The West Elm mirror is fabulous and I also love the cheap IKEA version too (have it myself). Can’t wait to see after photos of this one (hint, hint Miki)!!
My first reaction was to audibly gasp then say, “I love it!” Oh my goodness! I love blues and greens and this is THE BEST!!!!!! Way to go!
I love this color combo, specifically the green.
Boy Youngsters……….nothing stumps you. Awesome mood board. Again, will be hard to be patient to see the transformation.
You Youngsters Rock! I love how our Mood board meshes both of our very different style tastes! We’ve already purchased several of the items and can’t wait to post “after” pictures. I’ve hit a road block with the hubby on painting the wardrobe…but I’m working on him! I think once he sees the way everything starts coming together I’ll be able to win him over.
Hey Miki,
So glad to hear that everything’s coming together! We definitely believe in one-day-at-a-time design so I would encourage you to put everything together without touching the armoire and it might just fit in as is (or as you said, you’ll win over the hubs with the fabulous transformation thus far, giving him the confidence to see the whole plan out). Hope it helps! Happy decorating…
xoxo,
Sherry
Gorgeous. I have this (and many previous transformations) bookmarked for my own house ideas. Thanks for all your crisp, clean, fresh decor – it is always a treat to read your blog! Keep it up! :)
And by the way, I think the dressers you chose for the sides of the bed are awesome. Instead of nightstands we have medium size bookshelves by each side of our bed and we love it! They are about a foot higher than the bed but I think that it looks great, and it provides a lot of storage for us.
Youngsters – I really enjoy your site and all the hard work you put into it – thank you !. I’ve never commented before, but had to say ‘eek’ when I read the suggestion to paint their furniture white. From the photo, the wood looks good colour/quality, that I think will look even better once they paint the walls a cooler colour.
I love the look of wood furniture painted white…but it is very much a current trend that I believe will pass leaving people with furniture they will be desperately trying to restore to its natural state. Fine to paint pieces that can’t be rescued any other way, but I’d say leave classic pieces as they are – besides not potentially ruining good furniture, an eclectic mix of natual and painted wood is often far more visually appealing than all ‘matchy matchy paint it all white’.
Hey Sarah,
We definitely agree that the armoire might fit into the room as-is, which we actually mentioned in our comment right below this one. We encouraged Miki to put her room together and see how it looks before picking up a paint brush at all! Hope it helps.
xo,
Sherry
Wow, I love this one. So timeless and classic, just like they requested. It will be fresh and serene, without too much of a beachy feel. I’m loving the oval mirror, maybe I’ll use that in our dining room!
:-)
Love this – it’s clean and classy – can’t wait for the after pics!
I love the color palette! I do have one question though…I’ve been looking at some of ikea’s upholstered pieces for awhile and was wondering if they are sturdy? I’ve only seen their shelving systems and that kind of thing in person. The price is very good, but I have wanted to know how comfy and sturdy they are!
Hey Bethany,
We actually have an Ikea chair (the white slipcovered one in our den) and we love their comfort and durability. You definitely don’t get the detailing that you get for $1000+ pieces, but they have amazing quality for the price and our chair is super comfy (and we’ve had it for the last three years without any durability issues). We also know many readers who swear by Ikea’s Ektorp chairs and sofas so that also bodes well. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Great choices! Room will look great. How do we get to see the after pictures with everything in the room.
Hey Hannah,
When people are finished with their room makeovers they send us pictures and we post them for all to see, so stay tuned! We also have a round-up of after pictures in our Portfolio tab under the header. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love this one! i actually just painted my living room (well my parents living room as im home for the summer from college) a similar green as the paint on your moodboard… benjamin moores sweet vibrations. but i like yours better! What is yours called? i might try repainting with that one…
Hey Jamie,
The paint color we suggested for the room is actually a soft slate blue-gray tone (BM’s Alaskan Husky) so only the accessories are that vibrant green tone. For a similar green to the punchy accessories in this mood board, try Benjamin Moore’s Land Of Liberty- but it’s a pretty deep tone so be warned (it would look amazing on a metal stool or a bookcase, though!).
xo,
s
Love this mood board! I’ve got the blue and green in my bedroom now. . . can’t wait to add the slate! I also love that you’ve suggested runners instead of a large area rug. Could you explain exactly where they would go? (Like how close to the sides/end of the bed?) Thanks!
Hey Rebecca,
Runners next to the bed look best when there’s a few inches (maybe 3 or so) of carpet or wood between the runner and the bed. The just center them along the side of the bed (not too close to the head or the foot of it) and you’ll be in business! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi YoungHouseLove! I was wondering – do you know of any more affordable options for the dresser-turned-end table idea? I so want to do this (so I’d need two for either side of the bed) and I love the white Pottery Barn ones but they are out of my price range! Thanks!
Hey Lisa,
I would definitely try Target, Overstock and JC Penney (even Walmart!) for something similar- all of their furnishing options are very reasonably priced. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi Youngsters~
Quick question…Do you think this white bedside dresser look would work with a bed that wasn’t upholstered? Think your bed with white dressers on side..what do you think that would look like? Thanks
Hey Sara,
Good question! We’re all about breaking out of the matchy-matchy mold so we’d absolutely suggest pairing white end tables with a wood bed. Just be sure to bring in enough white in other places so it doesn’t seem out of place (white bedding, white lamp shades, etc) as well as other wood-toned objects and furnishings (a dresser, chocolate upholstered pillows, etc) to maintain a nice balance between both colors so they come together seamlessly. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love this mood board! It is something I would have never thought of, but I love the slate blues and fresh greens together and I love love all the crisp white…fantastic. Great job as always, you guys are so talented!
Hey youngsters! I know this was posted a while ago, but if you still check old comments, I had a question about this mood board.
Our livingroom has a huge picture window like this room (108″ across!) and I really am in love with those curtains…but do you think it would be a bit *too* much gray, being that those curtains are gray and our walls are gray? Or do you think it would just add texture if I did them floor to ceiling the whole was across the wall?
Thanks!
It would probably look soft and lovely! We actually like the look of curtains that are similar identical to the wall color- it’s a nice layered and textured look!
xo
s
Thanks!