Room of the Day: A Tiny, Romantic Bedroom
Moody walls and vintage details set the tone
Designers love a good challenge. So when an internet contest came about to make over a room in six weeks or less, sisters and designers Katie and JoAnn Neenan of EM Interiors set out to transform one of their drab, empty guest rooms into an inspired retreat. With a budget of $1,000 and a goal to find the darkest green paint they could, they hit flea markets all over Chicago.
JoAnn scored the sconces for free off Craigslist. They add a vintage glow, but since they are so ornate, she added some modern lines to balance things out. “We really weren’t going for an antique room, just a dramatic room,” JoAnn says.
True thrifters, the designers snagged another dramatic furniture find on Craigslist for $50 — a Baker chest “with good bones and plenty of potential,” JoAnn says.
It was previously stained dark, and they sanded it down “like crazy” and painted it the same white as the room’s trim. A special Polycrylic finish gives it a lacquered look.
Chest paint: White Winged Dove, Benjamin Moore
It was previously stained dark, and they sanded it down “like crazy” and painted it the same white as the room’s trim. A special Polycrylic finish gives it a lacquered look.
Chest paint: White Winged Dove, Benjamin Moore
Brass detailing from accent trays to light switch plates elevates the decor.
Removing doors to an old closet delivered another major transformation. Here the designers wanted to create an airy dressing room-like space with a curtain instead of doors.
They found natural fabric at a local fabric warehouse to create the drapes and then hung a rod just under the crown molding they’d installed. To hide the rings, they used drapery header tape to make pleats at the top. A row of jute baskets on the top shelf keeps things neat and organized.
Drapery rod and hardware: Urbanest
They found natural fabric at a local fabric warehouse to create the drapes and then hung a rod just under the crown molding they’d installed. To hide the rings, they used drapery header tape to make pleats at the top. A row of jute baskets on the top shelf keeps things neat and organized.
Drapery rod and hardware: Urbanest
A vintage chest holds books, candles and shoes.
Painting the shelves inside the closet the same moody green kept everything cohesive.
A simple found chair and greenery provide visual elements by the window.
Choosing a rug was one of the toughest calls for the team, considering the room is about the size of an 8-by-10-foot rug itself. In the end they went with a $250 natural jute striped rug that covers the entire floor. The material and stripes make the rug durable, affordable and casual, which keeps the room from looking too ornate.
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Size: 98 square feet (9.1 square meters)
Location: Chicago
Designer: EM Interiors
After scoring vintage oil paintings of two women (the one on the left was $10 from a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore), the designers used these to drive the room’s decor. The dark moody green in the portrait set them on a search for something similar with sheen for the background. Once they found it, they slathered the walls in the deep green and then used contrasting details for the rest, from pale linens to brass accents.
Wall paint: Sable Calm, Valspar; trim paint: White Winged Dove, Benjamin Moore; bedding: HomeGoods; pillow fabric: Textile Discount Outlet