Minimal guidance for a new look

A few months ago, I received a text from a friend of mine who wanted a master bedroom revamp. She and her husband (and darling kids) have been living in their new home for a few years now, which is quite large. They just finished a master bathroom remodel (which I consulted on for them) and now they were looking to spruce up their master bedroom.

Their budget for the job wasn’t huge, so I offered my consulting advice (which consisted of three site visits: the initial consultation, paint color selection and the final review) and left them to procure their items and put the room together for themselves. This strategy allowed them to move at their own pace, as well as get involved in the project and save a few dollars while they were at it! My goal is to keep design and decor accessible and affordable. You don’t have to break the bank to make a fabulous space (although you can if you want). This is why I offer a range of services to fit your budget.

I love walking into someone’s home and hearing about the things that inspire them; it is a window into their minds and I love creating an image for their space in my mind as I listen to what they want their room to feel like (often, a feeling is easier to convey than a “look,” especially if you aren’t sure what look you like).

One of the first questions I ask is, “What is your inspiration? How do you want this room to feel?”

Their answer to this question brought them back to their days of vacationing in Lake Chelan. They mentioned how they love a community called The Lookout. The Lookout is comprised of mostly rental homes that families rent for a week at a time near the beautiful Lake Chelan (located in Eastern Washington). She mentioned how she loved the stillness of the homes over there, how peaceful and calm they are. They showed me photos of one of the houses they’ve stayed at, donned in cool shades of blue and white with a slightly beachy aesthetic. I asked them about things they liked and things they were opposed to and then proceeded to quickly teach them about the 5 Simple Elements of a Room. I waved my hands in the air, as I typically do (I’m Italian, I can’t help talking with my hands) and gave them some homework.

A little about the room: this is a big bedroom. It is longer than it is wide, and they have some very large pieces of furniture. They just bought a new King bed, 2 nightstands and 2 dressers. They also started off with an electric fireplace in the room (which ultimately had to go). My advice (in short): find one thing you LOVE. Once you find that thing, build the room around it. Over the course of several weeks, they hired a painter (I helped them select their color), bought some art and accessories, brought in some small furniture, a rug and curtains and viola! A new bedroom.

Their total investment was likely less than $1000 (and that includes hiring professional painters) and has been a great return on their investment. They now have a master bedroom that is calming, warm and interesting, as well as functional. Its not overdone or loud; its exactly what they wanted and are comfortable with. They are so pleased with how it turned out, and they’re also pretty impressed with how well they did on the tasks I assigned to them. See, anyone can do it with just a little help! :)

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What a difference paint makes

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Five Simple Elements to Decorating Your Home