Change out the knobs on the dresser to something metal/modern, and paint all the furniture espresso. My bedroom is painted RH Silver Sage, with a very similar colored solid comforter and everyone tells me it's pretty contemporary.

I agree with Daisyadair - new knob to dress up the dresser and a dark brown espresso color.

Another idea - have you looked at apartmenttherapy.com? A fun trend right now is to paint this kind of furniture a pale blue, apple green or lavendar - then set it off with crisp modern bedlinens. Check out their website for ideas.

Sky

I actually prefer to lacquer the furniture in a very glossy white.

In my humble opinion, dark blue walls, dark brown carpet, AND dark brown furniture will be too heavy for a girl's bedroom.

She's 16 - I would try something modern but more glamorous. RH style is a bit old & traditional for a 16yo (in my opinion)

would she like something like this?

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

What about a solid color metalasse bedspread and pillow shams, fold the blue comforter at the foot of the bed for chilly evenings or just for show and tell, keep the bed white, repaint the chest and add some pretty drawer pulls to the chest, maybe crystal. You could even paint the furniture a gray color, giving it that Scandanavian look that is so chic right now. Paint the walls a fresh new color and the room will grow up. Add a wonderful, sophisticated frameless mirror over the chest.

Or just paint the furniture a very pale sage green and use white bedspread, linen color dust ruffle and shirr on the rod drapes with fresh floral green throw pillows on the bed or some beautiful lampas fabric in a soft green, or better yet one of Ikat fabrics with the watery colors for throw pillows.

To me, contemporary for a 16yo would be dark brown, glossy furniture, sleek brushed chrome metallics and a white shag throw rug. And a capiz shell chandy.

I thought lacquer too, but it's very hard to DIY and get right. So I think the idea of color on the furniture is a good one...and perhaps go with more than one color so they're not matchy-matchy. Maybe paint the bed a soft white and the dresser turquoise, with a bedspread with turquoise accents.

You can also do the walls something neutral (I'd stick with something light, though)and add removable vinyl stickers she can change up over time...check out etsy.com & search for "wall graphics."

Thanks everyone for your feedback. My DD and I checked out apartmenttherapy.com, what a fun website. We're both not sure what color we want to paint the furniture until the walls have been painted.

Patricia43: I like your idea. I have a white matalasse quilt on my bed. I could throw it on her bed and see if she likes the look.

DD is leaning towards high gloss white for the bed. There's a great nightstand from Urban Oufitters that's mirrored and maybe we can get a contemporary kind of retro feel.

Great ideas from everyone. Gotta love this forum!!!

mldao: I faux lacquered my furniture using high gloss spray can before. It's not difficult to use but test trial first. good luck and show us the result.

Best thing to do for high gloss is to find a piece of furniture with absolutely no scratches and sand very, very good, take it to a body shop and they can do it to perfection.

A body shop? As in automobile...body shop? Boy, the things you learn on this forum!!!!

bellaflora: What brand spray paint did you use? Do you have any pics of your faux lacquered furniture? I promise to post when it's complete.

patricia43: Do you know how much a body shop would charge? I would have never thought body shop. Very creative.