Room of the Day: Vibrant Style in a Teen Artist’s Bedroom
A designer and a 14-year-old girl work together to create a creative space where the teenager can make her art
Brenna Malmberg
November 2, 2016
A teen artist in Charlotte, North Carolina, got her birthday wish granted: a redesigned bedroom. The 14-year-old girl had seen interior designer Cheryl Luckett’s work transform the family’s guest room and begged for a new room of her own. Her persistence payed off. This spring Luckett returned to the home and worked with the teen to make her ideas a reality.
Photos by Cam Richards Photography
Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A 14-year-old girl with a passion for art and fashion illustration
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 169 square feet (15.7 square meters)
Designer: Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors
While only 14, the client had a clear vision of what she wanted, Luckett says. “At the consultation, I knew I was in trouble when she mentioned Rose Quartz and Serenity,” she says. “I’m thinking, ‘OK, this girl knows what the Colors of the Year are.’” The girl had clearly defined wants, but Luckett worked with both her and her mother to find compromises that made everyone happy.
The daughter requested white walls, and Luckett honored that request with Alabaster paint from Sherwin-Williams. Then the designer thought, “This is a young, vibrant, kind-of-creative girl. I’m going to do pops of color.” The teen quickly let Luckett know that she didn’t like hot pink and instead wanted soft colors. On her search for pastel elements, Luckett learned that items in those colors are hard to find in the teen interior design realm. She ended up using a mix of custom pieces and creative finds to fill the bedroom.
The black-and-white rug on top of the carpet serves as the first layer of the room, helping ground the space and adding visual impact.
Wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; curtains: custom made with fabric from Ballard Designs
Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A 14-year-old girl with a passion for art and fashion illustration
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 169 square feet (15.7 square meters)
Designer: Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors
While only 14, the client had a clear vision of what she wanted, Luckett says. “At the consultation, I knew I was in trouble when she mentioned Rose Quartz and Serenity,” she says. “I’m thinking, ‘OK, this girl knows what the Colors of the Year are.’” The girl had clearly defined wants, but Luckett worked with both her and her mother to find compromises that made everyone happy.
The daughter requested white walls, and Luckett honored that request with Alabaster paint from Sherwin-Williams. Then the designer thought, “This is a young, vibrant, kind-of-creative girl. I’m going to do pops of color.” The teen quickly let Luckett know that she didn’t like hot pink and instead wanted soft colors. On her search for pastel elements, Luckett learned that items in those colors are hard to find in the teen interior design realm. She ended up using a mix of custom pieces and creative finds to fill the bedroom.
The black-and-white rug on top of the carpet serves as the first layer of the room, helping ground the space and adding visual impact.
Wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; curtains: custom made with fabric from Ballard Designs
Of course the artist needed a drawing space, and it sits directly across from the bed. At first, Luckett leaned toward a vintage desk with rich tones, and the mom agreed. But the daughter objected, because she needed a crisp white background for pictures she would take for her social media posts.
“This was our first conflict,” Luckett says. “I have a tendency to really like vintage. That’s a bit of a signature for me.” But the girl’s explanation made sense, so Luckett found a white desk.
“This was our first conflict,” Luckett says. “I have a tendency to really like vintage. That’s a bit of a signature for me.” But the girl’s explanation made sense, so Luckett found a white desk.
The teen needed storage for her art supplies, which shelves above the desk supply. Luckett incorporated gold elements on the desk and shelves, such as in the lamp and the letter “T,” and then styled them.
She also used animals throughout the space, because they are prevalent in vintage decor and add a touch of whimsy.
Chair: PBteen
She also used animals throughout the space, because they are prevalent in vintage decor and add a touch of whimsy.
Chair: PBteen
Glass containers display the teen’s art supplies while also keeping them organized. “These shelves really were to corral her art supplies,” Luckett says. While they don’t hold everything, they keep favorite items close at hand.
Elephant bookends prop up colorful books, add a touch of gold and nod to the family’s African heritage, Luckett says.
Bookends: local antiques mall
Bookends: local antiques mall
For the bed, Luckett designed a headboard to showcase the teen’s style. “She’s a girly girl, but kind of a sophisticated 14-year-old,” Luckett says. With that as inspiration, she drew up the headboard and then had it made and upholstered in light blue velvet.
A large yellow juju hat hangs above the bed. “Those are very, very popular right now,” Lucket says.
This headdress, from a tribe in Cameroon, Africa, serves two purposes: The family is originally from Africa, so it nods to their heritage; it’s also an on-trend design element.
Luckett purchased the hat from a New York vendor. She knew he had a variety of colors, because she had already purchased one for herself. She chose the most muted color that would work in the space.
This headdress, from a tribe in Cameroon, Africa, serves two purposes: The family is originally from Africa, so it nods to their heritage; it’s also an on-trend design element.
Luckett purchased the hat from a New York vendor. She knew he had a variety of colors, because she had already purchased one for herself. She chose the most muted color that would work in the space.
The daughter wanted white bedding, and the fluffy duvet gives the bed a lush feel. As a personal touch, Luckett added a pillow with the girl’s initials.
Duvet: Crane & Canopy; sheets: Pottery Barn
Duvet: Crane & Canopy; sheets: Pottery Barn
Luckett works to create accessible and approachable interior designs by mixing high- and low-priced options — the nightstands from Walmart here are examples of the low. She replaced the knobs with gold ones to tie the nightstands in with the rest of the room.
The gold and mirror finish continue from the nightstand to the bedside lamp, wall mirror and trinkets.
Nightstands: Walmart
The gold and mirror finish continue from the nightstand to the bedside lamp, wall mirror and trinkets.
Nightstands: Walmart
Luckett believes every bedroom should have seating, and here it also gave her a chance to bring in her vintage element. The settee, upholstered in a rose quartz velvet, was found on Craigslist. Luckett likes to give every client the most quality she can for the money, and while upholstery isn’t cheap, it gives her the ability to customize a piece of furniture and stay within a budget, Luckett says. Above the settee, a vintage gold light illuminates a piece of the girl’s artwork.
After finishing the project, Luckett received a text from the mom saying how much the daughter loved her room — and that she also loved it. Now, every day when the mom comes home from work, she comes into the bedroom, sits down on the settee and talks to her daughter about her day.
“That what we do this for,” Luckett says. “Pretty is great, but we are strengthening a mother-daughter relationship.”
Furniture upholstery: Baity’s Custom Upholstery
See more Rooms of the Day
After finishing the project, Luckett received a text from the mom saying how much the daughter loved her room — and that she also loved it. Now, every day when the mom comes home from work, she comes into the bedroom, sits down on the settee and talks to her daughter about her day.
“That what we do this for,” Luckett says. “Pretty is great, but we are strengthening a mother-daughter relationship.”
Furniture upholstery: Baity’s Custom Upholstery
See more Rooms of the Day
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Now that the room is done, I think this young lady needs a LOT more art supplies! Seriously. She clearly has some smarts and talent going on.
She talked her parents into financing this remodel. A grand task in and of itself.
If she designed and created that headboard herself, she's got some serious vision.
She has a good eye for design, avoiding the pitfalls of too matchy matchy, too trendy, too much like everyone else. She's created a room that she can grow into and own as her very own style. She's used color quite nicely!
Here's hoping she continues on at a college level ultimately has an entire ROOM devoted to her art!
Great job and I agree with the points above. I am working with a young woman now who's favorite color is blue and must be the color that her mother least likes. I am trying to come up with something that they both feel good about. It is a challenge but one that I will overcome because you're right that's what we do. That is what is most satisfying in this job. Good job I would love to know where that popped floral fabric came from. I love that bolster pillow. I too am looking for a fabric that blends with her artwork Carpeting and headboard period without becoming overwhelming.