Happy Heat Wave, readers! It's a scorcher down here in Southeastern NC. If you can't keep your toes dipped in the water, then you might as well hunker down in the a.c! Propping up on the couch is about all I've been up for as I've been a little under the weather since Saturday. And, unfortunately for me, the only bed I want to crawl into isn't mine! Last week, this cozy cottage guest bedroom got a quick face lift. Creating the space's playful personality was so much fun! Friends and clients ask me about the design process quite often so I thought I'd share the steps of this project here with you.
First: The Starting Point
This sweet guest bedroom had the appearance of a mere afterthought. The homeowners admittedly hadn't paid it much attention, which isn't all together uncommon for guest bedrooms. A few of the furnishings had enough glimmer of personality to stay but the rest had to go. My clients' top priorities were replacing the headboard and bedding while adding a rug to warm up the space.
Second: The Design Scheme
Client Cozy Cottage loves mixing patterns and coastal vibes. She also gave me a clear cut budget, which truly helps an interior designer do her best work. I had been anxious to use the China Seas periwinkle wallpaper you see below and based my color palette on that. Unfortunately, once the essentials were all in place, we had no room in the budget for wallpaper. Luckily, so many excellent patterns were already mixing in the room that we didn't need wallpaper! And adding mirrors on that wall opened up the entire room better so much better than patterned wallpaper would have!
Three: The Decision
After presenting a few options to the Cozy Cottagers, they selected their preferences and we forged ahead! In the concept art below, you'll notice that a jute rug is on the floor. The Cozy Cottagers swapped it for the patterned rug in an alternative concept and I loved their decision! We both love the navy and white rug so much. It's an indoor/outdoor floor covering from Land of Nod and so soft that you'd never know it! The mother of pearl mirrors were major scores from Pier 1 and the lamps are from Wayfair.
We also discussed replacing the boob light ceiling fixture with a gorgeous chandelier. In the end, the distance between the bed and ceiling was too short to successfully hang a new chandy. But we did add the full length mirror to add depth to the far corner as well as the hamper from Furbish so that guests know where to leave towels at the end of their weekend.
I forgot to get a shot from this angle in the bedroom but the swirled planter is on the desk! It is so cute in there and houseplants keep the oxygen recirculating, which is key in a small space. We did not hang the black and white art or add the two lamps as the outlet situation was awkward. But the queen doth reign and the bamboo chair is available to catch guests' bags, purses, shoes, etc. We also had extra fabric left over from the boudoir sham so we opted out of the Jonathan Adler Capri pillow and had another small pillow made from the matching Thibaut pattern. At the last minute, I found the citron tray table. It was not part of my original plan but suited the room perfectly! We all loved the punch it packed and its scale was ideal for the slanted ceiling wall.
Four: The Final Result
Last but not least, the entire room is painted in Benjamin Moore Airway but we cut the color in half with white. The final paint color blends perfectly with the rest of the home and makes the room feel relaxing and calm among the fun patterns and pops of color.
This project was a total blast and I hope the homeowners (and their guests) enjoy it as much as I enjoyed working on it! As for the design process, I hope you found this breakdown helpful. My own personal goal is to tailor the process to my clients' needs. In some upcoming posts, you'll see where we didn't redesign a full room but zhushed up what was already there. Stay tuned! In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact me at lsuggsinteriors@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by!
