Red Door Home: February 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

Master Bedroom Progress Report

Over the past several months I have been slowly making changes to the master bedroom. I thought it would be fun today to share a progress update as I have not shown any of the modifications that have been made except for the sneak peak teaser photo of the floor.

You may remember, the main reason for this redo was the “matchy matchy” furniture. We purchased it years ago as a set – bed, two dressers, bench, mirror, and side table. Since my decorating style has changed and I now prefer a collected look, I decided it was time make this room more in keeping with the rest of the house.

The first thing to go was the bench at the end of the bed. It was replaced by a Craigsllst find which looks to be French and fairly old. I loved the way the new to me bench looked when I bought it so I have left it as is. We then relocated the old bed to my son’s room and traded out bedside tables. As you can see we still do not have a bed and it will most likely be months before we do.

We switched out the shiny brass ceiling fan for a pretty chandelier, replaced the dark wood shelf above the bed with a vintage starburst mirror, and removed the large mirror over the long dresser in favor of a painting by Jennifer Lanne.

The biggest change occurred a few weeks ago when the carpeting was replaced with hardwood floors in both the bedroom and the closet. It is hard to tell from the pictures but the room looks and feels so much bigger and brighter. I may change my mind later, but at this point I do not have plans to add a rug.

Besides the furniture, we also repainted the entire space. We lightened up my favorite SW Aria Ivory paint by 50% and painted the ceiling BM White Dove. Painting made such a big difference we have also decided to repaint the bathroom as well.

Below is a reminder of where we began.

Here is what the room looks like today.

Although I still have a few things I would like to do, overall I am so pleased with the progress we have made. Thanks for following along. I will be sure to let you know when more changes are made!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Dining Room Redo – The Details

Thank you all for the nice comments about my dining room. I have to say this was the first time I have ever been apprehensive about a blog post. I truly was nervous! So many of you loved the chairs next to the buffet in their original orange velvet, I was not sure what the reaction was going to be when I revealed I had recovered them in gray. So needless to say I am thrilled so many of you left such encouraging and wonderful comments. Now on to the details!

If you have been a long time follower, you probably know this room is a collection of furnishings which has evolved over time. The buffet and six chairs (which I painted white and recovered in blue velvet for this redo) where bought from the Salvation Army. Along with a table which is now in the basement, I paid $150 for all 9 pieces. The large cabinet is an antique store find. It is made of two pieces and I was told it was taken from a local real estate office. I could not believe my luck when I found it a couple of years ago as it is the perfect fit for the wall on which it resides.

The table is made by Henredon and is a Craigslist purchase. The chairs which matched this table are now around the kitchen table. I used a vintage grainsack with blue stripes for a runner to add more texture to the room as well as lighten up the table. An ivy topiary from Lowes adds a much needed bit of green.

The mirror above the buffet is by Uttermost and the pair of alabaster lamps is an Ebay purchase. Above the duo of vintage 1950’s chairs hang a pair of paintings by Jennifer Lanne. Jennifer’s work has been featured in Country Living magazine as well as several other publications. I have several of her paintings scattered about my house, as she is a favorite local artist of mine.

While most of the items in the room are older, there are a few newer pieces as well. The rug is by Madeline Weinrib and the gray silk curtains I made from fabric purchased at Calico Corners. The clock between the windows is new but is a bargain floor model from Ethan Allen which I painted.

Finally there is the pair of now gray French chairs with the ikat pillows which I made by repurposing the old fabric on the dining room chairs. In regards to my decision to recover the chairs, in the end it just came down to the fact that the orange was just not me. It truly was a struggle to decide what to do – leave them alone or recover – but in the end I am so happy with how the room looks now so it was the right choice for me.

Thanks for following this transformation. I would like to say this room is finished but as you know I have a hard time leaving things alone. I am sure a little while from now I will be adding or replacing something. For now, however, I am just going to enjoy the room the way it is!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Brabourne Farm - the Red Door Home February Blog of the Month

Today I am happy to introduce you to Brabourne Farm – the RDH February blog of the month.

Brabourne Farm is a beautiful Australian blog which features daily collections of interesting and inspiring design, antiques, flowers, photography, gardens and much more. The list is truly endless!

By Gina Sigala - Picture via Brabourne Farm

Each day Leigh publishes carefully selected photographs on a single topic. Subjects vary greatly and range from colors to chairs to kitchens to chandeliers and everything in between.