I recently completed a concept for a transitional and neutral master bedroom and bathroom refresh. My clients wanted to replace their hand-me-down furniture and update the look to their current taste but were torn between investing in this home or starting from scratch with a new-build.
When we met, they were already fairly settled on a paint scheme of warm grays and had selected a new carpet for the majority of their spaces including their master bedroom. They originally called me to give a second opinion on the paint selection and provide advice on what they should update if they were going to sell. Luckily for them, their kitchen cabinets were in fairly good shape with a neutral backsplash and dark granite countertops. I advised them to upgrade their basic builder grade lighting and some of their window treatments.
Then we moved into the master bedroom, and I immediately saw that it had real potential, which wasn’t readily apparent given their current decor.
A couple shots of the room before…
You can see the scale of the nightstands and table lamps is too diminutive for the size of the room.
The window treatments aren’t properly designed for the space and don’t take advantage of the 9′ ceilings. The TV feels awkward shoved into the corner and is a little low. It isn’t obvious from this perspective, but the dresser on the right is also too small for the space. The size of the furniture made sense in their last home but not in this room.
I asked them if they would consider updating their furniture, which they could always bring with them if they moved, and purchasing new window treatments. I could see that the room, which was generously sized, and very bright would be a huge asset if it were decorated properly. Happily, they agreed with me and also decided to paint out all of their maple trim to white.
I created a space plan that incorporated a king size bed instead of their current queen and oversized nightstands that could double as small dressers. The larger scale of these pieces works well with the size of the room and actually makes it feel more spacious.
Across from the bed, I placed a larger dresser to ground their flat screen television and an armchair next to it, which softens the corner and provides a convenient spot for tossing clothing at night or putting on shoes and socks.
The wall color – Sherwin Williams False Creek Greige – is a deeper warm gray. I kept the upholstery and drapery lighter to provide contrast, while the nightstands and dresser are darker in tone to keep the room from feeling too feminine. The white, urn-style lamps are quite tall at 36.5″ and balance the wide nightstands and tall headboard.
Woven wood Roman shades layered with linen drapery panels, which will be hung on simple wrought iron rods, add depth and texture to the windows.
My clients also wanted to improve the aesthetics of their master bathroom without undergoing a full remodel. We had to work with the existing maple cabinetry and warm beige tile and still make the space feel cohesive with the master bedroom.
The current cabinetry…
And the tile…
I recommended switching out their cultured marble countertops to quartz with under-mount sinks and replacing their builder grade faucets. I also suggested trading the large wall-mounted mirror for two individual framed mirrors and centering the light fixtures on each sink.
They selected the craftsman inspired vanity lights from a number of options I provided, and I decided to play off the lines of the lights by selecting fixtures and accessories that were square rather than curvy. I recommended a warmer white, marble inspired quartz to coordinate with the existing tile. New, polished nickel bathroom accessories and hardware also help dress up the basic tile and cabinets.
I really enjoy quick projects like this, especially when the clients are open to my suggestions and interested in making changes. I know they’ve already demoed their bathroom counters and mirror, so they are well on their way to an updated space.
If you need help pulling together a room in your home, I’d love to help. It doesn’t matter where you live…I can work with you no matter your location. You can contact me via the website or email me at jillian@www.jillianlare.com.
