It’s very rare that I show a room I’m not quite happy with. As a matter of fact, with the exception of an occasional household-mess-post, I don’t think I have.
Over a year ago, when I decided to forgo the urge to decorate “just like so and so, etc.,” I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on my whole house.
And, here we are a year + later, and the master bedroom is still not finished…or even close. But, it’s time for you to see the changes we’ve made.
I mean, check out this before. That’s the before 8 years ago when we moved into our home. Then my boys laid some pretty bamboo flooring, and we painted. Now, before I ruffle the feathers of America…there’s nothing wrong with red and brown, absolutely nothing wrong at all. But between the very heavy furniture, the brown walls, the dark flooring…I felt like the great cloud of darkness had descended on me.
And, as you know, I really have discovered my tastes are much lighter, much more eclectic, much more airy. The damask bedding and curtains just didn’t fit into my new embraced casualness.
We’re nowhere near done, but check out some of the updates I’ve been working on…
Lighter, huh??
The two major changes are obviously paint and the bed. Notice anything? If I had my way, I’d put in for less heavy furnishings, but there’s no way my husband is going for that. And rightly so; we saved a lot of money when we were newly married to buy a bedroom suite and dining room furniture. Because we are keeping it, I still wanted to find small ways to lighten the load…of the great cloud of darkness, that is. So, we removed the canopy and dropped down the front columns on Caesar’s, I mean, er, our bed.
We also painted it Benjamin Moore’s Feather Gray. At first, I hated it. It had way more blue in it than I was expecting, but I was so tired from all of our projects that I decided to live with it a while. I’m not sold 100%, but I’m getting there.
Back on our trip to Nashville, Layla and Smashley (that was for you, Ashley 🙂 told me that I was taking those lamps home, or else.
And I L.O.V.E them. Their cool shape and shell-like finish just make me soooo happy.
And so do tulips, by the way. And watering cans. You can see that we’ve taken down the red valances, and added some pretty white sheers from the Shabby Chic collection at Target. You can really see the finish of the lamp now…aren’t they beautiful?
The linens were the first thing that changed. The bedspread and shams are, again, from Target. The PB Calligraphy sheets were a Christmas gift from my mom and dad. She also picked up the pretty french pillow for me at Steinmart…do you guys have a steinmart? Anyway, I love the texture and the color.
My favorite thing? The new block-print throw pillow from Pottery Barn. I wish SO badly there was a quilt that matched…it’s just my style. I’m still waiting to buy 3 Euro pillows and shams and a quilt to lay at the foot of the bed. Little steps.
You can also see that we covered the leather headboard insert with linen. That….was Matt’s idea. Power tools and and the idea for linen? Too much for me. Love him!
We’ll also cover the two footboard inserts with linen, too. It really breaks up all the brown, for lack of a better word.
We also added a Ballard’s Braided Jute rug…given to me by, yet again, my mom and dad for my birthday a couple of weeks ago.
I love it so much that I want one in every room of my house.
It’s so funny, when I began this (slow) transformation, I imagined a lot of silver metals in here. (These pressed sheer botanical prints were bought at Hobby Lobby and the frames at 50% off…the prints are stuck in the back with office tacks. We’re classy like that.
I had the antique gold frame, and I found when I put it in the room, I loved the contrast of the cool gray against the warm metal. Also LOVE Inspired Interiors by Suzanne Kasler.
There’s a lot left to do, and I’m still debating adding some bead board or board and batten in here. We found some beautiful bamboo blinds on clearance, so those need to be hung. I’m dreaming about adding the quilt and new euro shams….it will really unify the space and bring much more interest to our bedroom.
I’m also staring at this giant frame I painted, debating what to do with it. I’m thinking it may head to the living room, though.
While there’s plenty to finish, the bones are there now. Probably by the time I find all the bedding and accessories, I’ll decide it’s time to re-paint.
🙂
I used that same Hobby Lobby print in my bathroom reveal that I showed on Friday! Love love love that print!
http://www.samanthamuse.com/2011/bathrooms-makeover-guest-bathroom-reveal/
I love it! Very simple, and relaxing. fabulous. Where did you get that gorgeous area rug under your bed?
hey shannon, it came from Ballard’s. Braided Jute Rug 6×9.
🙂
shaunna
I don’t know how you have the time for it – seriously, girl, you are amazing! Your bedroom is looking fabulous – love the colors you’ve incorporated (and the linen on the bed – inspired!). I’m trying to decide on the color for our master bedroom (also a neglected room) but haven’t been able to decide on anything. It’s so much easier to pick paint colors for furniture!
Beautiful start to your bedroom. I love the eclectic look. Can’t really do the matchy matchy, just doesn’t feel right to me.
I am still debating on my paint color in my bedroom and bath area. I think I have a patch work of paint samples going on right now.
Gorgeous! I love the after! I think that gray paint looks fabulous in there. We have some heavy bedroom furniture as well, dark cherry color, and this weekend I heard the first hint of DH allowing me to paint it! Maybe. But maybe’s better than no way! Do you think you’ll ever paint yours?
Shaunna it is beautiful! I love that you took part of the posts off, it really does open it up. I love the color! I have been looking at that rug for a while. Can I ask how you like it? Is it soft, durable easy to clean, etc.. Thank you!
Love the rug, Michelle. It’s very durable. Now, it’s jute and braided, so it’s kinda lumpy under your feet, but not scratchy. Hope that helps!
🙂
shaunna
It does! Thank you so much!
Your bedroom is beautiful. Would love to have your furniture.
I follow your blog often and LOVE everything that you do. Where do you get your glass frames at? I have been wanting a few in my house. One of them I want in my master bedroom. I want to put old mail and love letters that me and my hubby have written to each other and hang it! I’m excited for that project!
Hey Lisa, they’re actually not glass, just open frames. That never bothers me simply because I like art to imitate canvas/natural feels. I usually get them at Hobby Lobby when they’re running 50% off. And I’ll grab ones with glass (usually smaller sizes) there too.
🙂
shaunna
I am SO with you on the color change thing! You have made a huge difference, and I love it.
I have done the same thing in our bedroom, but, like you, am not finished yet. We have lightened up the paint, traded out rich, deep colored bedding for all white (L.O.V.E.), and are decluttering to make things feel much lighter and cleaner. I love it so much, and can’t wait to finish!
christi @ writingthewaves.com
i LOVE it! But HOW did you shorten the posts on your bed? Are they designed to go either way??? I love the wall color- I have tried to find a gray with a little blue, maybe this is the color for me. My bedroom is also way too dark, would love to lighten it just like this. I have a pencil post bed, no way to shorten the posts, so I’m kinda’ stuck with it. I love the pillow and the print and the rug- oh, ok, I love it all. Hmmm, I think I’m being redundant, I’ll stop now! 🙂
Hey Sheila! We did just unscrew the posts and Matt bought a screw that would screw down into the base to attach the column toppers. Thank you for your sweet comments!
🙂
shaunna
I love the new airy feel of the make-over. It makes it seem so much more peaceful…Love it!
Great jon Shaunna! I thought you had bought a new bed. I love the look of linen and real wood. Add in a mix of painted wood and my heart goes all a flutter. It looks beautiful and relaxing!
I think your makeover looks awesome! It is light and airy. You did a great job!
What a beautiful difference. So light and airy and happy now! The bed looks great cut down too! As always, good work!
I had to laugh when you ended with the thought that by the time it’s done you’ll want to repaint! That’s so me!!!! We painted our bedroom a grey (Martha Stewart’s “gravel drive”) and I love it….we have a similar feel. Dark, heavy wood with light grey walls, white quilt hints of silver only we have some yucky old carpet 🙂 I would love to rip it up but we’re trying to sell….
Isn’t it amazing how much our tastes and eye can change over time? I really do love the paint color. It is blue, but it’s a lovely, mellow blue. The tweaks you made to the bed make all the difference.
It looks great! You have made great changes in there. Your bedding looks lovely. I totally understand wanting to get the quilt and extra pillows. I’m there too right now.
Love the thinking outside the box you did when figuring out how to compromise with Cesar’s bed! The transformation of the bedroom is amazing and I love it! Great job.
Beautiful room!! We have lived in our house for 10 YEARS and have yet to complete the masterbed room. I think that’s us moms putting ourselves on the back burner. Glad to see it’s not just me! We painted the room Sea Salt Blue, hung bamboo blinds and new drapes but we still don’t have closet doors!! It’s a sight to say the least. I can’t wait to see your Ebook, I’m know it will be an inspiration to finish things up. Keep it coming, girl. You’ve got a real talent! Mary
It’s looking way more like you! Great job! It’s so fun to decorate! I love the whole experience, don’t you? It sometimes does take time though, I think it’s more meaningful that way. We have been living in our bedroom for oh, 3 years and I just got the vision for what I wanted in the past couple of months. I really love the idea that you took the caps off…are you going to do that with the ones on the headboard too?
I love, your pillows they are just scrumptious! The blue wall paint thing, totally what happened to us. I wanted something way more gray and it turned out way icey blue. So, I have learned to live with it as you did. I haven’t had the urge to paint it, just yet. The thought is there, just not the desire to go at it yet. lol.
I just wanted to spark a thought about the whole sticking with the furniture thing because I have been there and thought of a couple of solutions if you are so inclined…
What about using your nightstands somewhere else and bringing something else in it’s place OR giving them a fresh coat of Shauanna love and making them feel more like you? OR giving your bed a treatment so it’s not so strong and leaving the night stands as is for a little richness. Another thought that just came to mind is the armoire…maybe you could panel those out in linen as well or some really you type of fabric….with batting and nailhead. Just some thoughts…
I’m all about mixing pieces up and putting them in different areas. I don’t know if that would work for you, maybe you have thought of that already…not sure. Just thought I would give you a fresh set of eyes. Sometimes I know I get tunnel vision and don’t always see the potential possibilites and I appreciate when others can say, hey, what about this?
It’s definitely a drastic differenc from before and can see pops of Shaunna beaming through! 🙂
Oh, my it’s beautiful! It just looks so calm and relaxing; I LOVE it!!!!
Jodi
I have that same bedding and love it! Did you get yours on super duper clearance like we did? $22 I think we ended up paying for the queen size. Love the wall color with your furniture and then the light and airy looking comforter. Great job!!!
Great way to lighten the space and to use what you have instead of just getting new. I have that Ballard rug in my dining room and I.LOVE.IT. It is holding up so well, I’m not sure it will ever really wear out…so they are a great investment, since they can go in any room and any decor!
I have that exact same bed, but my husband refuses to change it. It’s just so heavy and takes over the entire room. I had painted our walls a plum color (that I loved 7 years ago) before we got the bed. So now we have the same dark feeling that you were talking about. He loves the plum color and loves the bed and won’t budge a bit on the bedroom. You are sooooo lucky! I love what you’ve done with the room and the furniture. Beautiful. I’ll show this to handsome hubby and see if I can sway him with your p pics. Thanks so much for the post.
Looks pretty near finished to me and I love the color of the walls. What a transformation!
I love, love, love this room. Can you please come to my house? Thanks a bunch!
love the lamps 😉 love your room!
I LOVE this!! I would love for you to share it at my Linky Party!
*ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *
xoxokara
Thanks so much Kara!! I’ll hop over there tomorrow morning!
🙂
shaunna
Shaunna it’s lovely! It’ll be fun to see what else you do with it now that you have it all ready for those little touches you are so good at. Lisa~
Thank you, Lisa…what a sweet thing to say!! I’m even toying with the idea of painting the nightstands…maybe Matt would let me get away with that. 🙂
WOW! It’s gorgeous! I love the soft, fresh colors with the bold wood floor. And yes, the rug is fantastic! Nice job! Stopping by from Just a Girl. Also your newest follower!
Jen
Scissors & Spatulas
Thanks, Jen! It’s still a work in progress, but we’re getting there. 🙂
shaunna
The room is BEAUTIFUL! And honestly, it’s hard to tell it’s even the same bed, with the modifications you made. You’ve done a wonderful job!
New visitor this morning. I love the before & after. The changes are so nice. I love the white w/the pretty BP pillows. Would u consider taking the columns off the headboard? Loving the Ballard braided jute rug too. Pretty room. Cheers!
I have the same Feather Gray paint in my guest bedroom and I love it. It is a very restful color. It’s great in the summer with white nubby sheers blowing in the breeze and black accents really pop as well!
Shauna,
Came across these headboards in Horchow and one was in cherry and another in a light almond finish and I just thought of you. So, just thought I would share the link with you. It made me think of your headboard…
http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/templates/HP3.jhtml?itemId=cat6360731&parentId=cat000003&masterId=cat000001&cmCat=
Your room looks so much lighter. Soothing.
I switched our bed linens to linen…the real linen…it gives that soothing look and really does give a more restful sleep. I have collected linen from all over, as well as making pillowcases myself just to have linen….
Keep up the great work!
I know you’ve been busy with your new wonderful business, but I miss your home posts. I was wondering if you ever got to finish this room? Love the colors and that jute rug is fabulous! Show us more of that armoire too!
Hi there Angelina!! 🙂
Yes, we have been super busy with both business, but I promise more of my home post will be back. 🙂
Hi Angelina, we have done a couple more updates to the master bedroom since this post and I hope to post the full redo in the next week 🙂 You won’t even be able to recognize some of the pieces in the bedroom