One Room Challenge {week one}

In addition to working from home, encouraging (aka nagging) my 10th grade son to do his school work and having to cook dinner way too often, I decided to take on another project in my house! I chose my master bedroom because I’ve been spending a lot of time in there during quarantine and all it’s faults have been glaring at me. Some days it’s been my office, my gym, my home theatre and general panic room.

The One Room Challenge was ramping up for spring, so I decided to sign up. The ORC is an event held twice a year (spring and fall) where designers from around the country transform a room and share the process over the 8 weeks. There are 20 “featured designers” who take this very seriously and have sponsors, etc. but I’m just using the ORC to give me a firm deadline. I work way better under pressure (aka procrastinator).

Like with any other project, let’s start with BEFORE photos…

The first three photos are from the fall and the only “update” I have done was some new bedding. Being a designer, it brings me much anxiety to share these photos. I have this irrational thought that my followers expect my house to be picture perfect. I design beautiful rooms every day, so why do I have such a hard time doing my own house? Money is one reason as I kept telling myself to wait until I could do it “just like I wanted”, but the biggest reason - it’s really hard to make decisions for my own house. There will NEVER be enough money to do it exactly like I want, so I’m just going to make it the best it can be. I’ve set myself a budget of $5,000 and I’ll share how that number is working as the weeks go on.

I love using color and this room doesn’t reflect that at all. So, bringing in soothing color was my first priority. When my Nanny died, I knew I wanted something from her house. Looking back, I know she’s a huge reason I became an interior designer. I remember her home always beautifully decorated. She loved having the same fabric on her headboard and quilted bedspread. She loved grasscloth. And she loved art from Edna Hibel.

This Edna Hibel piece hangs right by my bed and is the inspiration for this makeover. It brings me so much joy and belonged to my Nanny. I’m thinking of replacing the mat with something lighter, but the framing will stay the same. To keep to my budget, I’m keeping the bamboo/rattan night stands, the upholstered headboard (with new fabric) and the armoire. I SOOOO wanted to get a new piece for the television, but I couldn’t justify the splurge as what I wanted was too similar to what I had and it was $1700. I’m also keeping my furniture arrangement the same, but so much is changing.

Here are my initial inspiration boards…

All the big orders have been placed. Fabric swatches are on the way. And my to do list is long. I’d love to have you follow me on this journey as I create my OWN room like no other!

Thanks for Reading!

Jennifer