Host Susan Blake introduces designer Linda Applewhite, who created a soothing bedroom filled with the sunny color of south France. The walls were washed in a golden yellow, and custom furniture built and finished in the Napa Valley was treated to a unique antique crackle finish in the same yellow. The monochromatic look makes the room feel spacious and peaceful. Custom yellow bed linens, window treatments and slipcover for the settee, along with a dark bronze wrought iron bed, added to the designer price tag for this Inspiration Room.Transforming the Makeover Room
Below are steps used to transform the large practical bedroom that doubled as an office into a warm, inviting bedroom:
- Traded the cool white walls for a warm faux finish in which flat yellow paint (Benjamin Moore: #2155-50 Suntan Yellow) was rag-washed over the existing white walls.
- Backed inexpensive organza curtains with a cream liner and hung them in the alcove for a more elegant look than the sheer panel alone would provide. A decorative balloon shade was fashioned from the same drapery materials cinched with gold braid and tassels.
- Used a dark brushed aluminum head and footboard with brushed brass finials. To get more height for the headboard, it was hung from with wall with picture frame hooks.
- Added an extra mattress on the bed for height and drama.
- Used white bed linens to contrast with the yellow walls, and added a gold bed skirt and shams, throw pillows and a soft yellow throw.
- Above the bed, hung a eucalyptus wreath with dried yellow accent flowers.
- Painted raw pine side tables in raincoat yellow with coral accents and antiqued them with a brown rubbing oil used to cover scratches on wood furniture.
- Hung floral-themed artwork with a rustic laminated finish above the side tables and added lamps with white shades and a stack of books.
- Painted an unfinished demi-lune table with the same finish as the side tables and placed it at the foot of the bed. It was accessorized with a golden vase of parrot tulips and some stacked books.
- Placed a settee bought at an estate sale in front of the window area.
- Added yellow throw pillows in a mix of pattern and stripes.
- Placed scalloped-apron two-shelf wood side tables on each side of the settee. They were painted in the same finish as the other occasional tables in the room.
- Accessorized the seating tables with two lamps featuring shades trimmed with brushed fringe.
The Bottom Line
To see where the savings are, take a look at this direct cost comparison of some Inspiration Room items and the creatively comparable ones used in the Makeover Room:
Wrought iron bed, $2,200 / Brushed aluminum bed frame, $300
Custom bed area, $8,250 / Sensible Chic bed, tables and art, $1,300
Custom table and accessories, $1,350 / Painted table and accessories, $195
Slipcovered settee, $2,000 / Estate sale settee, $300
Custom tables and accessories, $2,225 / Sensible Chic version, $180
Taupe and yellow down pillows, $150 each / Mixed print yellow pillows, $40
The $500 Challenge
If you had only $500 to create the warm look of the south of France, makeover designer Stuart Piontek recommends you start with yellow walls and yellow furniture. The important element is the monochromatic look, no matter what color you choose. You can save money by refinishing your own furniture in a color that matches the wall. Choose bed linens in the same range of color. Try using less expensive white linens as a background color with a little contrast, and adding plenty of pillows and a throw in the theme color.
glass vase (Venezia Crem, #564043431), two pieces of flower basket art (#735598926 and #735517611) - Z Gallerie
pillows - Ross
cream-colored sailcloth panels, gold embroidered panels - Pottery Barn
curtain rods, lamps (#07400911 and #074000288) - Target
black metal bed (#15691280) - IKEA
yellow-checked pillows, yellow knit throw, yellow plaid sheet set - Strouds
pillow shams, duvet cover - Costco
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