Room Refresh: From Girl Room to Guest Room
Our home is 22 years old and we’ve lived in it for 13 of those years, so the original spaces, and even those we’ve painted, etc. have started feeling pretty tired.
We’ve called in the big guns for some major stuff, like the kitchen remodel and new patio, but every now and then – when time and budgets allow – we have our handyman Dave come and do what we’ve started calling a room refresh on the other rooms.
A room refresh consists of scraping the popcorn ceiling, painting the walls & woodwork and changing out the switchplates & hardware. When he’s done it feels like a completely new room.
The most recent room to get one of Dave’s refreshes was Lindsey’s old room turned guestroom.
Here’s what it looked like before: white little girl furniture with bright (!) pre-teen walls. We sold the furniture on Craigslist and moved furniture from my parents’ house into this room, as they were moving to Florida full-time.
For a long time – almost a year really – the room was in this English country meets Nickelodeon state. Then Dave came and worked his refresh magic.
I went with a paint color that I’ve used and loved in other rooms, Stone Hearth by Benjamin Moore. It’s a warm gray or a cool taupe, depending on how you look at it, and it just works for me.
I pulled some things from other rooms in the house, all estate sale finds, like these prints.
And this oil painting.
And this lamp.
I’m slowly stocking the bookcase with books I think someone might want to pick up if they’re having a bit of insomnia: mysteries, classics, short volumes, and coffee table books.
My favorite part of the room is something I didn’t take a pic of: the inside of the closet. It’s freshly painted and gloriously empty. I’m guarding it with my life. My family knows not to put anything in there or I will come for them.
I still need to warm up the room with more artwork, and I’m thinking maybe roman shades on these windows? But for now I’m enjoying how clean and fresh it feels. I’m fighting the urge to move in myself.
Linking up with Metamorphosis Monday.
So pretty! The furniture is gorgeous. I noticed that you changed a couple of other things, like the rocking chair. Last fall I was able to turn one of our bedrooms into a guest room too. After four sons, I was ready for a girl-y room and chose a paint color called Ballet Slipper Pink. It’s such a pale color that the pinkish hue doesn’t really show through with the sunlight streaming in, but it’s just pink enough that the two guys who still live at home stay away and the room stays clean:) (kind of like your empty closet situation). However, I really like the color you have and the way it contrasts nicely with the white trim. I know there’s no way I can talk my husband into repainting this room anytime soon, but this next time next year we’ll have another empty bedroom…
Karen, I love that your paint color keeps the guys away. Genius! I’ll bet you’re happy to finally have a room you can do your own thing with. You’ve earned it.
Love the room! Grace has recently vacated her room and I am contemplating how to do a make-over. I’m just not ready at this time to paint over her teenage walls just yet. It’s a process. Thanks for the ideas.
Agree, Barb. It’s a process.
Julie, I love the new look in your refreshed guest room. So tasteful, classic, warm and inviting. My suggestion for the window treatment might be just a white sheer panel, maybe even pulled/swagged to one side, then you could even us a tassel (sp?!) to pull it back to one side. Just suggestion. Or white eyelet. I’m not a fan of heavy curtains, or window treatments of any kind, as it seems to really draw the light energy out of a room.
Keep us posted! I also checked out your reference to the patio redo (I had already admired your kitchen redo!), and how great that turned out!!! I’m much impressed with your lovely home. Nancee
Nancee, I’m with you. If I had my way I wouldn’t have window treatments of any kind. I love having the light and view unobstructed. Thanks for your nice words.
OMG!! It looks fabulous. Love the paint color and furnishings! Enjoy your week.
Thank you, Katie. Same to you!
Julie, this is so timely as I’m in the midst of redoing a guest room. I love everything about yours…so tasteful and welcoming. I can understand your urge to move in! I like Nancee’s suggestion of sheer panels for the windows unless there’s a privacy issue. Roman shades would also work nicely.
Can you tell what size both the room and bed are? The room we’re using is fairly small…about 12×12. I’m thinking maybe a full size vs. a queen bed? Right now there’s just a twin bed in the room. Thanks! ~Jillian
Jillian, this room is small too. About 10×12 actually. The bed is a queen bed. Hope that helps. Good luck with your redo!
Oops…sorry…I meant to type…Can you tell ME what size the room and bed are?
Very impressive. It’s amazing what a little re-working can do!
Thanks so much, Julie…that does help!
Love the buffalo check bedding! Where did you find it?
Jessica…Ikea. It’s super reasonable too.
Hi Julie,
Just found your blog through Pinterest while searching on paint color Stone Hearth. It looks just lovely, as does the whole room redo. I am thinking of use this color in our large, open downstairs space. Might be just right, not too dark or too bright and will go with anything. I’m going to check out the rest of your blog 🙂
Angela
Hi Angela. Thank you for your comment. I love Stone Hearth as much today as I did when I first started using it. It’s the perfect neutral for me.