A Bold Makeover Took 10 Years Off This Guest Bedroom

If Kathryn Kaiser had to describe the style of the guest bedroom she put together in her 1921 Craftsman bungalow in Birmingham, Alabama, it would be “random.” She had hand-me-down furniture, travel souvenirs, and—against her better instincts—a dated floral bedspread with matching drapes.

“They weren’t my taste at all, which skews more simple,” says Kathryn, “but when I bought the house, the owner asked if I wanted to keep them, and I said sure because I didn’t have any others.” Cut to five years later and, she says, “I still hadn’t gotten around to replacing anything!” That included a wall color she describes as “dried Grey Poupon mustard.”

Just in time for holiday visitors, HGTV Magazine stepped in to create a guest haven with rich blue paint, Roman shades in a contemporary-cool pattern, and a glam capiz shell chandelier. “I used to joke with guests that the room came with the house,” says Kathryn. “Now I’m proud to have people stay over.”

Reno Details

Nightstands

Forget you, lonely old wood table. A pair of sleek black metal nightstands by Noir offer unique book perches. Blue-and-white lamps from Jana Bek Design look especially bright and inviting next to the navy walls.

Paint

Dull ocher walls did not make for a tempting hangout. “This navy reminds me of the sky on a full moon night—it feels so cozy,” says Kathryn. A white picture rail keeps the room from fading into darkness. The butterfly prints are from highfashionhome.com.

Bed and Rug

Replacing the traditional wood headboard with a woven seagrass one from Williams Sonoma—and the floral bedding with a blue quilt and fringed throw from Annie Selke’s Pine Cone Hill—made things approximately 110% more stylish. The once-bare floor got a boost with a colorful rug from rugsusa.com.

Shades

The original drapes were dreary dust magnets. Roman shades made with S. Harris fabric are chic and easier to clean. “Now the window molding isn’t hidden,” says Kathryn. “I love the home’s original features.”

Bench and Mirror

Pre-refresh, the bedroom lacked a spot to sit. Swapping the secretary for a raspberry-hued bench from theinside.com created an area for putting on shoes or dropping a bag. The 43-inch-wide mirror from Ballard Designs beckons Kathryn every morning. “It’s my favorite place to check my outfit,” she says.

Art

Framed prints of luggage tags from airports around the world (by Vagabond Tags on Etsy) represent Kathryn’s favorite destinations and places friends and family call home. The mid-century-inspired white dresser below the art is from West Elm.

Lighting

As much of an eyesore as the ceiling fan was, Kathryn hesitated to toss it: “Moving air is a good thing in the South!” But a capiz shell chandelier from West Elm won her over. “It’s light and pretty,” she says, “and it gives the room a bit of a vacation feel.”