Convert a Cramped Bedroom Into a Manly Retreat

Host Joan Steffend and designer Richard Anderson pull together a cramped condo bedroom and create a clean, stylish look for a young man.

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Filed under: Bedrooms, Makeover

After

The walls are painted a greenish brown color to set the stage for the formal, masculine look they plan to implement.
The old curtains are replaced with contemporary toile panels and a coordinating striped valance. Anderson places a piece of pipe foam insulation over a basic tension curtain rod to make the top of the valance more prominent.
The bed is given more presence with a mahogany headboard and footboard found at a garage sale. Since it was missing side braces, they construct a base out of 2x6s topped with 1x4s attached to the top to support the mattress. The entire piece is attached to the head and footboard with L-brackets.
The bedding is a combination of fabrics to give the bed a distinguished look.
Sheer curtains are attached to the wall above the bed to create a dramatic focal point.
The dresser and bookshelf are married together to make one main storage piece. It's topped off with a pediment and painted a darker shade of green than the walls.

Before

The homeowner's end table is cut in half to make two bedside tables. The halves are painted green and finished with new spindle legs on the front.

The computer area is decluttered with a small credenza off to the side of the homeowner's corner desk, which holds office supplies and computer components.

To free up space, the loveseat is replaced with a wingback chair. Behind it sits handmade plant stand made of porch railing spindles and a heating grate.

How-to: Storage Unit

Steps:

Construct a pediment to fit on top of an old bookshelf and attach with L-brackets.
Set the bookshelf on top of a dresser and secure with flat brackets on the back.
Add wood appliqués and brass knobs; paint green and antique with brown stain.
Have mirrors cut to fit in the back of the bookshelf.

Itemized Design Elements

$19 - paint (Behr: #082474160015 - Woodbine)
$46 - window treatments
$68 - bed frame
$76 - bedding
$43 - wall hanging (Kmart: Martha Stewart, #02992718902; Home Depot: curtain rods, #009215028526)
$20 - nightstands
$45 - desk return (Behr: paint - #082474730041, Shag Bark)
$20 - corner cabinet
$69 - hutch (The Home Depot: 781266111562)
$14 - plant stand
$3 - lampshade with fringe

$423 - Total Cost