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Room of the Week: A Small Bedroom is Transformed on a Tiny Budget
Moody walls and vintage details set the tone in this small but luxurious boudoir
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 £800 and a goal to find the darkest green paint they could, they hit flea markets all over their city.
JoAnn scored the sconces for free off Craigslist. They add a vintage glow, but since they’re 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 £40. “It’s 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 white. A polycrylic finish gives it a lacquered look.
Chest painted in White Winged Dove, Benjamin Moore.
It was previously stained dark, and they sanded it down “like crazy” and painted it white. A polycrylic finish gives it a lacquered look.
Chest painted in White Winged Dove, Benjamin Moore.
Brass detailing, from the accent trays to light switch plates, elevates the décor.
See 9 more times dark green has transformed a room
See 9 more times dark green has transformed a room
Removing doors to an old wardrobe 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 curtains and then hung a rod just under the coving 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 shelf keeps things neat and organised.
Drapery rod and hardware, Urbanest.
They found natural fabric at a local fabric warehouse to create the curtains and then hung a rod just under the coving 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 shelf keeps things neat and organised.
Drapery rod and hardware, Urbanest.
A vintage chest holds books, candles and shoes.
Discover how to maximise every inch of storage space with a walk-in wardrobe
Discover how to maximise every inch of storage space with a walk-in wardrobe
Painting the shelves inside the wardrobe 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 x 10ft rug itself. In the end, they went with a £200 natural jute 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.
Do you have any tips for transforming a room on a budget? Please share your ideas in the Comments below.
Do you have any tips for transforming a room on a budget? Please share your ideas in the Comments below.
Size 98 sq ft (9.1 sq m)
Location Chicago, USA
Designer EM Interiors
After scoring vintage oil paintings of two women (the one on the left was £8 from a local charity shop), the designers used these to drive the room’s décor. 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.
Walls painted in Sable Calm, Valspar. Bedding, HomeGoods. Cushion fabric, Textile Discount Outlet.