Room of the Day: Inspiration From a Fashionable Granny
Memories of this little girl’s great-grandmother result in a beautiful bedroom that will grow up with her
Her great-grandmother was the inspiration for this little girl’s room, but the style is anything but “granny.” “My client’s grandmother was a real fashionista. She had a long career in the fashion industry in New York City,” says interior designer Lindsay MacRae. “And her daughter is the only girl — she has four brothers — so she really wanted to give her a space of her own.” In addition to remembrances of the beloved grandmother, the client wanted MacRae to incorporate some beloved family heirlooms. By freshening up the antiques and balancing them with new pieces, MacRae designed a beautiful room that will grow up with her client’s daughter.
The redesign was about combining old and new. Mirrored nightstands and polished nickel reading sconces bring in shiny new elements to balance the antiques.
“My client came across these vintage Vogue prints, and then I had them custom-colored to match the room,” MacRae says. She worked in dashes of pinks and magentas throughout the space.
The bench is one of the antiques from the client’s basement. The designer kept the original wood finish, had the seat reupholstered in teal and added custom pillows.
The bench is one of the antiques from the client’s basement. The designer kept the original wood finish, had the seat reupholstered in teal and added custom pillows.
A 100 percent wool carpet is just right for playtime. “It’s so soft, it’s really durable, and it cleans up really well,” MacRae says.
She made the most of an existing niche, turning it into a desk and display area. The shelves have LED lights installed beneath them.
She made the most of an existing niche, turning it into a desk and display area. The shelves have LED lights installed beneath them.
There is also a bulletin board for the little girl to tack up her favorite drawings and inspirations.
The desk chair is another family antique pulled from the basement and brought back to life. The designer gave it a makeover with white paint and striped fabric.
Chair fabric: Osborne & Little
The desk chair is another family antique pulled from the basement and brought back to life. The designer gave it a makeover with white paint and striped fabric.
Chair fabric: Osborne & Little
This shot gives us a closer look at the drapery fabric, which has a washed watercolor look, and the pompom trim detail along the bottom.
Originally, this antique chest was dark brown and didn’t seem like a fit for the room. But with white paint and MacRae’s clever replacement of wood panels with ruched pink-and-white fabric, it’s a wonderful match. The original hardware is now a star.
Now this lucky little girl has plenty of place to play in her very own space, which will grow up with her. At the same time, she’s surrounded by beloved family pieces and history.
More: See other rooms for children
Now this lucky little girl has plenty of place to play in her very own space, which will grow up with her. At the same time, she’s surrounded by beloved family pieces and history.
More: See other rooms for children
Bedroom at a Glance
Location: Livingston, New Jersey
Size: 250 square feet (23.2 square meters)
Designer: Lindsay MacRae
“We were going for a sweet, pretty aesthetic, but my client wanted nothing to do with the typical pink-and-purple kind of scheme often associated with little girls,” MacRae says. Once she found the watercolor-like paisley pattern for the wallpaper and drapes, the room’s style began to take shape.
The headboard originally had been her client’s, and she wanted to pass it along to her daughter. But rather than putting a full bed in the room, she wanted to save a lot of open floor space for her daughter to play. MacRae turned it into a daybed with a trundle for sleepovers. She also had it repainted and reupholstered.
The photo on the left is from Condé Nast and shows fashionable women walking down a Manhattan street in the 1950s.
Wallpaper and drapery fabric: Osborne & Little; bedding: Restoration Hardware