We’re firm believers that a little paint can go a long way towards transforming a room, and this redesign is complete proof of that. In fact, the woman behind this before and after has authored two books on the subject and is also behind this afternoon’s giveaway (stay tuned to learn how you can achieve a similar presto-change-o in your casa). Here’s what Sunny had to say:
I’m so excited to share this room makeover! I was asked to transform this bedroom for a 13-year-old girl named Lily.
The goal was to take it from a little girl’s room to something for a teenager that would work through high school and beyond. She was away at camp when the makeover was completed- and will be coming home next week to be surprised by her “new” room:
I painted the wall and ceiling both Benjamin Moore’s Morning Glory (the wall is 1/2 formula and the ceiling is 1/4 formula) and made a stencil in three different sizes to create a subtle “wallpaper” look on the walls. The pattern was inspired by the blue Serena & Lily bedding that we found on sale online!
We chose light blue walls since they are soothing and we wanted this to be a calm place for Lily. The white stencil is not overpowering but lends interest to the walls so they’re not too plain. I did the larger stencil upside down and the smaller one in between right side up to add some variety and dimension as well.
We went with two beds in the room since Lily has lots of sleepovers. Those are Pottery Barn headboards that come with a white slipcover (which we had affordably monogrammed at Atlantic Embroidery, since they could make them really big for a cheerful and fun look that’s not too formal or serious). We also mounted the roman shades at ceiling height to make the windows seem larger and the whole room feels more lofty and airy as a result.
The whole project was pretty simple but we love it and can’t wait for Lily to see it for herself! – Sunny
We love it too Sunny, and we’re sure Lily will be thrilled when she feasts her eyes on her chic new “big girl” room. And of course we’re excited to share more of Sunny’s paint inspiration for this week’s giveaway later today (hint: you can get a sneak peek at her many talents right here in her photo gallery). We do love us a good paint makeover.
It is so wonderful to see a post on stencils!! Too many times this great tool is overlooked. There are still so many wonderful designs out there. I use them in so many of my projects!
I would love to know where the roman shades are from. What a great room!
Hey Jennifer,
Here’s hoping Sunny will drop in with that info. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Love this look, and plan to do something like this in a bathroom I’m currently remodeling. It’s very contemporary, white on white on white, and I plan on doing the paint in a subtle tone-on-tone soft gray with large stencils just a shade darker, so it’s very subtle. I’ll probably do the background and the stenciled part in different finishes, too — just to enhance the look even further. Perhaps I’ll use this company’s stencils. I really like them.
I love stencils. They intimidate me big time though. I always want to get a professional to do them!
Great job with the stencils! I love the fresh new look given to the room.
On an unrelated note, are you youngsters still posting the custom mood boards developed for your readers? Maybe it’s my own oversight, but it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen a design dilemma posted. I enjoy the look of a room pulled together (and have purchased furniture as a result of seeing your handiwork). Thanks!
Hey Emily,
If you check out our Design Advice tab under the header, we’re actually on a maternity leave of sorts! We wish there were more hours in the day, but for now we have to be sure to spend enough moments together as a family with our sweet new addition! We hope to get back to mood board makin’ soon though. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Wow!! i never knew stencils could look so refreshing!
I love the stencils. Thinking about doing a tone on tone stencil in our guest bathroom for a wallpaper effect (without the stripping that will no doubt come 10 years from now!).
This is too cute….
ahh, I just want to stencil everything.
Though, that might be a bit much. ; )
Beautiful!
I rarely post comments on Reader ReDesigns, but this is stunning. Great colors and patterns! Very inspirational! Great job Sunny!
I have been thinking about stencils for our bedroom makeover… and now I want to do this even more!
I think my favorite part of the whole room, though, is the Roman shade. The white is so bright and calming against the patterned wall, and the green is a lovely accent. Love them, and would love to know where she got them!
What does it mean when she says she did 1/2 & 1/4 formula of the paint color?
Hey Mary,
They “cut” the formula of the paint with extra white paint for a softer and more subtle result. Just ask the paint pros at the desk to explain more or do it for you!
xo,
s
Gorgeous! I’m 33, and I would love a bedroom that looked like that :)
I second the request for more info on the roman shades! They are to die for!! Are they made with blackout fabric? Thanks!
What a nice surprise to come home too!!! What a lucky girl! I love that blue. Very serene! Her use of stencils in a more modern way is very inspiring.
Gorgeous! I love the roman shades. I did a similar effect in my daughter’s nursery but used a projector and drew the design on the wall then filled it in with semi-gloss paint. Matched it to the bedding, as well.
See it here:
http://gallery.projectnursery.com/projects/120-Let-Personality-Shine
Lily is going to be one happy girl when she gets home from camp!
Love it! The colors are so fun without being overpowering.
(Also wanted to mention a small typo: Pottery Barn is mispelled in one of the last paragraphs.)
Thanks Bethie- all fixed!
xo,
s
I thought it looked great before and great after.
I just hope that Lily is the sort of kid who easily rolls with unexpected changes.
I know for a fact that if I’d ever pulled a surprise change of room like this, my kids would have been terribly upset. They just would never have been happy to have their home base changed so radically without their input.
Where did she get those great shades??
Hey Cavan, Amanda, and Wendy,
Here’s hoping Sunny drops in with that info soon. Stay tuned!
xo,
s
Where did those gorgeous shades come from!?!?!? That room looks amazing…love having two beds in there for sleep overs, what a great idea!
also inquiring about the shades! Were they homemade?
The room is lovely, but it looks like a guest room rather than a 13 year old’s space.
I share Diane’s concerns. The write up makes this sound like the ideas were Sunny’s and it’s a total surprise for Lily. I wonder if Lily gave input on colors or helped pick out the linens.
My parents had a totally different philosophy. Our rooms were our space to decorate as we desired. The summer I was 13 my parents gave me a small budget and free reign to redecorate my room. My best friend and I painted the walls a gorgeous pumpkin orange. I got to pick out a bookcase and fun accessories (like a bean bag chair and a red desk lamp). That orange room was a a fun, safe way I expressed myself. It was my sanctuary until college, and I still crave a room with that glow.
Hi!
I have a question off the subject…
I love how you guys painted clara’s nursery ceiling(and your bedroom ceiling as well) I would love that in my room however the ceilings are stomped…think round spongy star shapes. Do you think it would look OK painted a color even though it’s textured?
Thanks so much!!
Hey Laura,
Good question! Of course it’s all about personal preference, but we think painting textured ceilings a shade or two lighter than the wall color might even help them feel more seamless than they did when they were white so we say go for it!
xo,
s
Love the look of this room! It would be so fun to see Lily’s reaction.
I actually like the “before” room better than the “after”. don’t hate me!
The new look is wonderful! Great stencil!!! It looks similar to the one I did on my dresser; http://rhonda-theresnoplacelikehome.blogspot.com/2010/06/whered-tuesday-go.html
This posting is so on time. I was browsing the net last night looking for stencils! Just bought our first home and looking for a budget, yet classy option for my guest room. Beautiful job! Indeed, paint does go a long way.
Interesting comments about whether or not to re-decorate a teen’s room without their input. I helped with a re-do of my 16 year old niece’s room while she was out of town, but the general theme had already been chosen by her…her mother just hadn’t had time to bring it all together.
But I can see the point about doing it completely as a surprise…you have to know the kid and then you’ll probably know how they will react.
Which brings me to my question for the youngsters…what do you guys plan to do when it comes to a teen-age Clara? I saw somewhere in the archives around here a photo of the teen-age Sherry and her cloud painted closet doors (we won’t mention the jeans again)…will Clara be allowed free reign?
Hey Elizabeth,
Good question! We definitely believe that we’ll know Clara well enough to spring some fun decorating-related surprises on her over the years (although we agree that every kid is different so it makes sense to figure out if they’ll like the surprise before going for it). We also want to allow Clara to be creative on her own accord, and make her spaces feel like they’re hers with personalized touches, color schemes, etc. We’ll definitely encourage her to put her own stamp on things! Just as we’re sure Lily will when she returns home to her big surprise!
xo,
s
This room is super cute, but for a 13 year old and to last through their teenage years? Really?
It has been a really long time since i’ve been a teenager but this soooo would not be a room I would have liked. If i’m being honest it looks more like a room for twin 8-9 year olds.
What a great mom – imagine how excited her daughter will be to come home to such a beautiful, sophisticated room!
Nice room…I haven’t stenciled in a while, but that looks really pretty. I even stenciled in the bathroom of a rented apartment once because the white walls were driving me crazy and I was willing to sacrifice my deposit! It was an old 1940s apartment building in L.A. and the bathroom tile was pink and grey. So I painted the walls a light grey and then painted varying widths of silver stripes on the walls and interspersed every now and then a varying style stenciled starbust. I loved that bathroom…felt very glamorous!
What a beautiful space! I love the Serena & Lily-Like shape, it’s a nice way to reference the beautiful bedding! Also, I too couldn’t help but notice the roman shades… the shape of the valance is so sweet!
Perhaps the headboards should’ve been embroidered with “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob”. ;-)
Haha, that would have been awesome. I’m 28 and that would work for me!
xo,
s
p.s. Any guesses as to which team I’m on?
The green on the shades and headboards seems random to me, just an odd shade to go with the bedding, but otherwise it’s very nice. I like how subtle the stencils are.
I must confess to a lack of intimate knowledge of the inner working of Twilight…but I’m thinking that Sherry would be on Team Edward? (fingers crossed)
wow, great makeover!! I love that shade of blue with all of the white. Love the stencils, too.
The blue really lightened up the room.
I have to agree with those who had concerns about surprise room makeovers. My mom and aunt repainted/redecorated my bedroom as a surprise once and I HATED what they picked–but even at age ten I didn’t want to hurt their feelings so I lived with a horrible Barbie pink room until we moved and didn’t say anything until many years later. I hope Lily is happier with her surprise than I was.
John and Sherry,
This comment is actually re: the giveaway post, but I didn’t think you’d notice my question. I’ve been looking for a paint colour and am drawn to the colours in your living room and den..and I really like the wall colour in the first picture with the stenciled floor. Would you say that this is a similar colour to ones found in your home?
Thanks so much,
Jessica
Hey Jessica,
Absolutely! It’s extremely similar to our home’s color palette (so of course we LOVE that room). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I think the before was perfect, it was warm and cozy. What’s “teenage” about the blue? I find it cold rather than calm. Hope she lives in a climate where you want “cool” most of the year.
I also agree with the commenters who expressed concern about springing such a radical change on a 13-yr old. Her parents are putting an awful pressure on Lily. What if she doesn’t like it? It probably was expensive and not something you want to do over in case she is not as “thrilled” as her parents obviously expect.
I like what Sally’s parents did: give her a “small budget and free reign” to redecorate her room.
I think this bedroom would work for a young lady through her teen years. It would have at least worked for me. Heck, I’d steal her roman shades to this very day. So, I look forward to hearing more about them as I see many have requested information.
I’m 30 and I love this room! Beautiful! I too love the shades.
Honestly, I liked it so much better before. I’m not a fan of the blue or the print on the roman blinds…too princessy. I agree with the person who said it looks like a room for twin 8 yr old girls. We don’t know Lily’s personality though so maybe she will love it.
Any word on where those blinds are from? I love them!
add me to the list of those obsessing over the shades… :)
Perhaps Lily can add some more green touches to the room to go with the headboard monogram and the window shades.
Yes, details on those shades. I love them!
HI! The shades are made of white pique, and the green is fabric cut in the shape and sewed on- actually they are two separate pieces, the valance and the shade.
The were custom made , the windows are two different sizes. They were made here in Richmond.
I did consult with Lily before she went to camp. She chose the bedding and ordered it, then we met and I drew a stencil design and we looked at paint colors. SO, she knows her room will be done, but did not see the blinds, carpet, or monogram on the headboards.
I also painted her nursery. Then when she turned five, her family moved and I was called to paint her new room in her new home. SO she is very comfortable with me and my ideas, which helps. I am not sure I would just go out and decorate a surprise room for just anyone!
Lily is a very, very, amazingly sweet empathetic person, so this room reflects that. She likes calm and simple, so I created a room that would be a get away haven for her. It might look younger to some, but she is not in any hurry to grow up, which is refreshing in today’s world, to me.
I am happy to answer any questions!, and I am glad you all liked the post! AND I cannot wait to see who wins the give-away!
Thanks for stopping in with all of that info, Sunny! And I’m sure it’s reassuring to everyone that Lily’s not going to be blindsighted by her new room and that she actually was part of the process (we love that bedding she picked out!).
-John
Paint can make such a difference. The blue looks good.. since it’s so hot here in Phoenix, it looks very cool. Cool and crips looks really good when it’s 115 outside.
Sunny – I know you said the shades were custom done in Richmond, where were they done? Williams & Sherrill? I really like them!!!
I was just considering stenciling some fabric curtains that I already own. I really like her stencils. I’m a new ‘friend’ on google. Great timing!