One Room Challenge – Week 2
It’s week 2 already for the One Room Challenge. If you missed week 1, you can catch up here. The One Room Challenge was created by the blogger behind Calling It Home, and how it works is all participants have six weeks to totally transform a room from start to finish. I’m kind of freaking out because I haven’t even been back to my room yet, but I do have a plan! As a reminder this is the room I chose.
It’s the living room in my daughters off campus college house that she shares with three other girls. It’s so dark I can’t stand it, I’ve been dying to make this room over since I first saw it. Clearly, the first thing that needs to be done is lighten up that dark wood with paint. I have permission from the owner of the house to do this.
Next on my list is to transform the fireplace. The girls do not use it, and have no intentions using it. It’s filthy & needs to be cleaned out. Also, one of the girls in the house adopted a kitten-much to my daughters delight. My daughter is studying to be a veterinarian and is a HUGE animal lover. The problem is that this little kitty gets into everything and the girls mentioned they needed a way to block the fireplace to keep him out of it. I plan to fill the entire fireplace with books, like the photos shown below, which will keep the kitty out and look incredibly cool at the same time. I have a very large antique store just down the street from my house that happens to sell books for about $1 or less each, I’ve made three trips there already to stock up.
Photos Via: DecorPad/ShadeofABeechTree/StyleOfDesign
I would love for my end result to look like the first photo above, but I’m working with brown rugs and black sofas, so all-white isn’t an option. Another item I’m working with is this painting by one of the girls.
I love the pinks & blues, so I’m using that in my color palate for the room. The blue & pink pillows on my design board are from H & M. I have tons of throw pillow around my home so I ordered just the pillow covers and will use my existing pillow inserts.
Above the fireplace is an existing gold framed mirror, so I plan to also add some gold accents in my design plan. I love the gold dot pillow shown on my design board which is from Society 6, if you are looking for some unique throw pillows, check that site out.
The room has existing curtains, which I don’t have a photo of (picking a room outside of my own house does make this more challenging) which are a dark green. While I do like the green, they just add to the darkness of this space so I’m switching them out with the lighter/more colorful curtains shown on my board. The pink and blue tie in with the pillows and art. I also plan to add the statement rug shown to really wake this space up!
Once the shelves surrounding the fireplace are lightened up, I will style them with new accessories. Some new, some DIY and some existing pieces from around my house.
Lastly, I will arrange the existing furniture to create a better floor plan. This dark room has such great bones, I hope my plans live up to the ones I’ve been dreaming up since first seeing it!
One Room Challenge:
How lucky are those young ladies that you are going to give this room a makeover!? I LOVE the books in the fireplace and can’t wait to see the final reveal!
Love the plans! I think the light and airy feel with pops of color will turn out beautiful!
Hi Roxanne, I’m loving the design plans. Lightening up that dark room would be a huge change. Can’t wait to see more!
You’re mod board is fantastic! Love what you have going on!
How fun to be making over a room for your daughter and her friend! I helped my daughter decorate and “cozy-up” her dorm room this year, and it was so fun! I love the fireplace idea! And the color scheme is gorgeous. I especially love the elephant painting. What a great way to give the room a personal feel. Wishing you lots of luck {and time} for your ORC! Can’t wait to see the final resutls!
LOVE your inspiration!
Your mood board looks great! I have the same problem, I want to make light bright rooms, but I’m usually working with dark furniture. Excited to see the transformation!
Lucky girls! BTW, nothing says “college roomies” better than two small televisions in the same small room! Made me laugh when I saw them – brought back memories of my daughter’s boyfriend’s college apartment! Looking forward to the reveal!
Ha that looks very similar to the living room I had in college. Where were you when it needed a makeover…your daughter and roomies are probably so excited and super lucky to have you redo this.
Roxanne, I love your inspiration board! It is seriously so perfect. You are going to rock this space, cannot wait to see how it all turns out! Thanks for sharing this at Brag worthy Thursday! Hope you will join us again this week!
-Shonee
http://www.hawthorneandmain.com
What a great idea to do books in the fireplace! I’ve seen it filled with wood, but never books. I cannot wait to see this room brightened up a bit. Looks like you have some great plans and ideas!