ONE ROOM CHALLENGE – WEEK 8| IT’S TIME FOR THE BIG REVEAL!
We made it to the finish line friends – week 8 of the One Room Challenge! I’m so excited to share the finished spaces for this Fall’s One Room Challenge! As you know, I was selected to be a Featured Designer in the One Room Challenge. I took 3 bedrooms in my home and completely transformed them in 8 weeks! To be asked to participate as a featured designer this fall was a huge honor. Yes, there were certainly days I questioned the sanity in accepting the challenge, however I have to say that I am beyond thrilled with the results of this labor intense undertaking.
One Room Challenge: The Recap
Created by Linda Weinstein, the One Room Challenge (ORC) is one of the most highly anticipated interior design events. This event challenges designers to completely transform a room of their choice from start to finish in 8 weeks. Each week leading up to the big reveal, designers document their progress online and share a behind the scenes look at the design process from inspiration and furniture and paint selection to installing and styling the space. While it was my first time participating, it likely won’t be my last. Special thanks to Linda Weinstein and the gracious media sponsor Better Homes and Garden Magazine. I’d also like to thank the amazing official sponsors who partnered with me on this project. Alora Lighting, Blueprint Lighting, Calico Corners, Kelly Moore Paint, Novo Building Products, Twenty & Oak, Minted, Loloi, Saatva, Tempaper, and Wovenbyrd. Without their generous assistance the transformation of these spaces would not have been possible.
My job as an interior designer is to recognize the unseen potential in a space. It was fun to be able to do that for my family and create spaces they love and can grow it. As you can imagine, with 3 bedrooms being transformed simultaneously during a pandemic, there’s been a ton of moving parts, delivery delays and design pivots with this project.
I hope you’ve enjoyed following along this process with me. If this is your first time here, see below for a quick week by week recap and to get all caught up on the previous weeks before we jump into the BIG REVEAL
WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7
Ok, now let’s take a look at the newly transformed spaces!
TEEN BOY’S ROOM
To fully appreciate just how far this space has come, here’s a look back at the room at the onset of the project. Yikes! Lackluster would be an understatement. It was rough around the edges but there was also definitely some potential there.
Without further ado, here is what the same room looks like today!
Sophisticated Touches
Design choices like the faux leather executive office chair from Wovenbyrd and Mirror Chrome Drapery Hardware from Calico Corners add a sophisticated elegance. The desk chair features a cool faux wood finish on the back with premium tufting in the front and is super comfy, combining both form and function. The drapery rod set in the mirror chrome finish really give the room an upscale look. Thankfully, the hardware is part of Calico Corner’s Quick-Ship program so they are delivered fast and come in a range of finishes.
It’s Lit!
I’m so thankful to have partnered with Blueprint Lighting on the completely customized lighting for Saleh’s room. Blueprint Lighting allows you to customize everything from the lighting fixture’s color and metal finish to the fixture’s dimensions and design. We loved the midcentury modern feel of the statement-making Counterbalance chandelier . After pouring over the wide array of absolutely gorgeous enamel and metallic finish samples, we decided on getting the ceiling fixture in the white enamel finish with a cool polished chrome detail. We chose black on black finish for the Pop sconces that will serve as wall mounted reading lamps.
If These Walls Could Talk
We are in love with the moody vibe the Tempaper black grasscloth covered walls provides in the room. How stunning is this wallpaper? Subtle yet sublime. With hints of metallic detail and texture too, its a win in my book. The wallpaper adds so much dimension and visual interest in the space. Temporary wall paper is a great way to easily add color and pattern to your space. The bonus is that it comes down easily when you’re ready to remove it. Since Saleh will be heading off to college next fall, this choice of wall covering was the perfect design solution in his space.
Art is Where it’s At
One of my favorite ways to personalize a space is through adding add. This framed canvas piece by DAAS was actually the first element purchased for the space. The bold colors seem to jump right off the wall and we love it. When decorating spaces for kids I like to use art that is reflective of who they are and encourages them to explore, dream, create and discover.
I am also excited about the gallery wall I created using an oversized mirror flanked with floating acrylic shelves for sneakers and framed patent art highlighting his interests in basketball, swimming and video games. This room truly reflects Saleh’s personality. Saleh is also a competitive swimmer. Did you notice the pair of fins hanging above Saleh’s bed? It’s those special thoughtful touches I enjoyed including that help tell his story.
What do you think?? Did we accomplish the goal of creating a sophisticated “grown up” cool with a mix of sophistication and street style?
SHARED KIDS ROOM
As I’ve shared in previous posts, Zaria and Samori are the best of friends and insisted on sharing a room when we first moved into the house a little under 2 years ago. Here’s the mood board I created to help visual the design for the kids’ room.
The Importance of Art
I am a huge believer in the importance of incorporating art in your home. Messages of affirmation/ motivation along with positive images and reflections of oneself are so important in the development of our precious little ones. It instills a key sense of awareness and self-confidence. The We Will Prevail print by artist Michelle Robinson was a huge inspiration in the design direction of the space. This piece reminds me so much of our past as well as the future and sends an inspiring message that collective strength can lead to transformation. As you’ll see, each room I’ve designed features a range of art that further personalizes the space.
Adding drama with paint
The bold hue of Brazen Orange paint choice by Kelly Moore Paint was inspired by the art selection in the room. I enjoy using more non-traditional colors in children’s spaces to add a touch of unexpected sophistication. The rich warm color is versatile, gender-neutral, and adds a bit of drama in the other wise calming space.
Anchoring the room with an area rug
I don’t think we could have found a more perfect rug for the space! The Terracotta Sky rug by Loloi provides a foundation for the room design and looks like it was literally created for this space. The pattern is timeless and the colors are just amazing. I love the vintage look and sense of sophistication that the rug brings to the space. It’s an instant classic!
Get Cozy!
The pair of classic barrel swivel chairs from Wovenbyrd introduce a playful, cozy element to the space with their faux shearling soft exterior and swivel feature. It’s the perfect spot for our little readers to curl up with a good book. The neutral color palette makes this accent chair easy to incorporate into any space really, ensuring its longevity as the kids grow older in the space.
Get Creative: Custom Look for Less
It goes without saying that working in the home furnishings industry during a pandemic has been quite the challenge for not only my clients but also for myself. Lead times for pieces that pre-pandemic were acquirable in a matter of a few weeks time are now a few months. Long lead times is the new norm, forcing designing to get creative with customizing furniture for clients. The kids are avid readers and desperately needed storage for their books and toys. Although I wanted to order a custom bookcase, with pandemic lead times being as crazy as they are, I dug into my designer tool bag and employed some ingenuity to accomplish a custom look one budget and within the 8 week time frame. To achieve a custom look, I painted an existing bookcase the same color as the walls and added crown molding from Novo Building Products to give the piece a more elegant and intentional look.
Now on to the primary bedroom.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
And now, the part of the One Room Challenge I am most proud of – the transformation of the primary bedroom.
As a refresher, here’s were we started with the primary bedroom. This photo was taken once the old carpet was removed and before the new flooring was installed. Pretty sad huh?
From the floors to the walls and lighting (I hate ceiling fans!), everything was builder grade blah. I made sure that there are no traces of builder grade selections items left in the space.
Creating this space was truly a labor of love. There’s so much to talk about here! My goal was to create a sanctuary space to relax in after the long busy days I have. As a working mom of 5, a retreat at home is much needed. I wanted the space to feel like a mix of Parisian apartment meets Harlem Renaissance meets Brooklyn browstone.
I started with laying a new foundation for the design. The new floors provided by Palmetto Flooring via Twenty & Oak are absolutely amazing. I added the herringbone pattern leading up to the fireplace for the extra wow factor. The herringbone pattern flooring was traditionally used in Parisian apartments and I wanted to emulate that look here. The Palmetto Road Monet floors in the Strasbourg finish are truly the showstopper in the room.
Next, we installed chair rail and picture frame trim molding from Novo Building Products to evoke a sense of luxury and elegance. The walls, including the molding is painted in a lovely warm white that envelopes you as soon as you walk in.
Before, the closet doors were builder grade boring. However, we gave them a beautiful new upgrade by adding fluted trim to the closet door fronts, tying in nicely with the new fireplace surround.
Here’s what the closet doors like before. Yes, that’s those are the same doors! It’s truly amazing how transformative molding can be.
The Bed
The bed is the Marbella in graphite velvet from Saatva with their lineal adjustable base and their Latex Hybrid Mattress. Let me tell you.. This bed…IS AMAZING!!!!! Not only does the lineal adjustable base allow you to sit up, put your feet up, or both (via the zero gravity feature) it also has a built-in massage feature that is absolutely divine. Part of creating luxury is creating space that one can comfortably unwind and be pampered in style. This mattress set and headboard check all the boxes for just that. I have never experienced anything like this.
The Pièce de résistance – The Fireplace
I decided to further elevate the design with the addition of a Simplifire electric fire place insert from Heat & Glo. This simple design decision is what sets this bedroom apart from any other bedroom I’ve designed. How many bedrooms boast a fireplace? I wanted to take the design to the next level and the inclusion of the fireplace was just the design element needed to do so.
Adding a fireplace really speaks to the age of the house (our home is 100 years old) but the updated surround (using fluted door casing) is what gives the fireplace design and updated look. It’s the perfect blend of old and new. You wouldn’t believe how simple it actually is to add an electric fireplace to an existing space. See my post here for how we achieved this look. Read here for more info on the wide array of electric fireplaces available.
As we head into the cooler months, what better time than now to add warmth and luxury by installing an electric fireplace insert in your own home? I promise you won’t regret it. And now you can use my special code (SALEEMINTERIORS10) now through 12/31/2021, to receive 10% off any SimpliFire fireplace on ElectricFireplacesDirect.com. Click here to use the discount code.
Divinely Lit
I am beyond thrilled with the Alora lighting I chose for the bedroom. Positioned directly in the center of the room above the fireplace, the chandelier is a stunning statement maker in the newly transformed space. It’s the first thing you see when you open the bedroom door and is absolutely breathtaking! I used the Revolve chandelier in the urban bronze finish and love how when combined with the glass tubes, the bronze finish creates such an elegant antique feel. The uniquely shaped set of Parducci wall sconces flanking the bed are also from Alora lighting. The sculptural shape of the fixtures is a work of art on its own. They were truly the perfect choice for creating this luxury boutique hotel feel.
Art Gallery Wall
My carefully curated gallery wall features art framed in a mix of brass, mahogany wood and black wood frames. The art from Minted and Society 6 I love the understate elegance the gallery wall creates.
From the lacquered vintage Ming chairs I had reupholstered in stain resistant fabric and the luxe West Elm velvet bedding to the oh so soft faux cow hide rug and burlwood pedestal, the space is filled with touches of luxury and feels collected over time rather than created in just 8 weeks.
The livable luxe transformation here is one of most dramatic projects I have completed. And I thrilled to have had the opportunity to create this space in my own home.
Special thank you to all my ORC sponsors, without whom these room transformations would never have been realized! Below are direct links to all items gifted/ and or featured in the spaces.
ROOM SOURCES
KIDS ROOM
Paint: Brazen Orange from Kelly Moore Paints
Are Arug: Terracotta/Sky rug from Loloi Loren Collection
Dresser: Gemma Campaign Dresser from Pottery Barn Kids
Trim on Bookcase: Crown Molding (1712) by Novo Building Products
Lamp: Table Lamp from ED Ellen Degeneres
Reading Chair: Classic Barrel Swivel Chair by Wovenbyrd
Art: We Will Prevail by Michelle Robinson
Custom Art: Young Queen and King Art by Kayla Chew Enterprises
TEENAGE BOY’S ROOM
Art: Basquiat Art by DAAS
Desk Chair: Executive Office Chair by Wovenbyrd
Bedding: TENCEL Lyocell Comforter & Sham by West Elm
Drapery Hardware: Mirrored Chrome Drapery Rods by Calico Corners
Wallpaper: Black Grasscloth by Tempaper
Custom Patent Wall Art: Framed Patent Prints by PatentPrint
Wood Stool: Floating Disk Side Table by West Elm
Area Rug: Legacy Rug by Rugs.com
Custom Lighting: Counterbalance Chandelier/ Pop Sconces by Blueprint Lighting
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Gallery Wall Art: Strong Woman Print by Minted; Stay Connected I Framed Print by Minted ; Stay Connected II Framed Print by Minted ; Feathered Necklace by Global Attic
Dresser: Merriton Dresser by Anthropologie
Floors: Palmetto Flooring via Twenty & Oak
Hide Rug: Gray Ivory Hide Rug by Loloi
Dresser Rug: Avant Garde Rug by Surya
Seat Cushion Fabric for Vintage Ming Style Chairs: Darwin Chenille Upholstery Fabric by Revolution Fabrics
Bed: Marbella Bed in Velvet Graphite, Linear Adjustable Mattress Base, Latex Hybrid Mattress by Saatva
Bed Linen: Pearl Gray Velvet Duvet & Shams by West Elm
Chandelier: Revolve Chandelier by Alora Lighting
Wall Sconces: Parducci Sconce by Alora Lighting
Fireplace: Fireplace Insert by SimpliFire electric fireplaces by Heat & Glo
Paint: Angel’s Feather by Kelly Moore Paint
Decorative Molding: Picture Frame Molding by Novo Building Products
Fireplace Surround: Fluted Trim Molding by Novo Building Products
Drapery Hardware: Acrylic Drapery Hardware Set by Calico Corners
Thank you again for stopping by and for your support on this exciting project! Want to see what my fellow Featured Designers are up planning for their spaces? Check out the links below!
Albie Knows| At Home with Savvy | Beth Diana Smith | Eclectic Twist| Erika Ward Interiors
From House to Home| G. Lebron Interiors | Goldalamode | Home Made by Carmona| Impeccable Nest
Jeweled Interiors| Joyful Designs Studio| Joy Street Design | Our Fifth House| Peony & Honey
Pinch Plate Party | Rebecca Propes | Reem’s Design | Saudah Saleem Interiors | Whitney J Decor
