Sound the horns, strike the drums, or do whatever you do to attract a ton of attention because today is the day – today you get to see the AFTER of our 6-week One Room Challenge. Are you excited? I’m excited. But to quickly recap for anyone who might be new here, I decided to transform my son’s nursery into a toddler room for this ORC – since he is three, going on ten now. I’ve summarized the room’s before look for you quickly below.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

And without further ado, here’s our after!

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

Ta-da! Do you love?! I love. I’m seriously so happy. But where to begin, where to begin?! Well, let’s dive into room layout first. I essentially mimicked the very same layout I used for the nursery design. As I’ve mentioned, this room is shoebox-shaped, and not particularly spacious. There’s only one solid wall. All the other walls are broken up by either windows or doors. So I stuck with what I knew.

Bed on the far wall to the left of the central window. Bookcase to the window’s right. Reading chair floating next to (the dreaded!) curved wall. Dresser moved into the closet. Thankfully, I was able to use an amazing new moving and storage service called Trove to remove and store all of my nursery furniture so I could move all the new pieces in all in just a couple of hours. Phew.

And just like that, it suddenly feels as if the amount of space has doubled. I accomplished this by getting rid of all things oversized. The 8×10 area rug, the floor-skimming drapes, the oversized glider – they are all gone (and I ain’t sad about it). Now the space has room to breathe. But it makes sense. The nursery was about being cozy and nesting. The new version of this room is about making space for energy, fun, and play.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

Shall we talk color scheme next?? I hinted at my paint inspiration in previous weeks’ posts, but did you guess what I would do? I really didn’t want to fully repaint the room as I still love its original light gray hue, but the transformation did require a little refresh – something to make the room feel more mature. Well, I went with the triangle around the toddler bed idea and I’m obsessed with how it turned out. The paint color is a gorgeous deep teal/blue/green called Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball. It became the inspiration for all the other deep blue accents in the room.

I love how the triangle corner cocoons the bed and offers a graphic punch. I decided to go with a toddler bed because, well look at it, it’s just too dang cute. My son thinks its a car. I’m also hoping that the nest effect will entice him to actually sleep in his new big boy bed because right now he continues to opt for the crib (any and all parental advice on this one def welcome!). I kept the bedding nice and simple and added just a little playful touch with a block print pillow from Pom Pom at Home.

Since we live in earthquake-prone San Francisco, art over beds is generally frowned upon and so I needed to come up with an innovative way to hang art. I did that in two ways – first, I simply decided not to frame my art find –  Sloths Riding a Tandem Bike with a Surfboard (love!). I then decided to hang the print using simple clips. It feels both more young and more casual that way. Bonus, using clips also doesn’t damage my 150 yr old plaster walls (more to come on the challenges of plaster – keep scrolling).

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

A simple, modern Nova End Table from Room & Board in black offers a landing spot for books, my husband’s childhood pinewood derby car and my latest favorite parenting invention – the Stay in Bed clock. These things turn from yellow to green telling your child when its ok to get up. Genius. A gorgeous Helix Light in deep navy created by my friend and rope artist Windy Chien serves as a gorgeous bedside light.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

Opposite the toddler bed sits the room’s new play/reading corner. I love the open, modern vibe. It’s now super easy for my son to pick from his ever-growing book collection or pull out his legos for a major building session. On the upper shelves, I added an homage to his current interests including a guitar print by another friend, artist Jennifer Ament custom framed with Framed & Mated as well as a replica of Sutro Tower, a San Francisco landmark that we can see from our neighborhood.

The Wing Chair from Overstock offers a comfy seat to read. I love the low profile. It’s also really comfortable for humans of all sizes – my three-footer and my six-footer both really like it. A striped round rug from eSale Rugs offers the perfect little padded play space. And I continued to pull in my blue accent color through the custom roman shades I had made with Dwell Studio fabric at Calico Corners. I love the road-like ribbon pattern. Blackout shades are must for those tiny humans. They make bedtime so much easier!

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

The Woopsy Desk Lamp from LampsPlus offers a little whimsy. The Children’s Dictionary also comes from my husband’s childhood room. Some prized construction vehicles and jungle friends from my favorite online kid’s shop Bitte take pride of place.

And now to my curved wall challenge…

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

To accentuate the wall, I added three-dimensional constellations! Now I can’t take total claim for the idea. I spied something similar in a room by J&J Design Group. I’d been hoping to incorporate something star themed for a couple of reasons. Carter had a print of his astrological sign hanging over his crib since birth so I wanted to keep the theme going. We also sing Twinkle Twinkle Star every night. He immediately understood these were stars.

But perhaps most importantly, the way I conceived of the solution solved both my curved wall and my plaster problems. If you’ve never worked with plaster – don’t. It is SUCH a pain. It is highly ill-advised to put holes into plaster as it can make the entire wall crack. And once you do poke a hole there really isn’t any changing your mind. You can’t simply patch and repaint. It’s a process. So rather than deal with that headache, I used magnetic paint (per many a commenter’s suggestion) on the wall! Then to create the constellations, I simply used sets of magnets to create each constellation shape.

Truthfully, I’m a little disappointed with how the constellations look in photos. These images don’t really do them justice. The design would have photoed much better if I had used black cord, but I found glow-in-the-dark cord that turns his wall into a personal starry night. You’ll just have to trust me that it’s very cool in person.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

Now, I couldn’t only use the Hague Blue around the toddler bed. I needed that color elsewhere in the room – and so to the closet I went! I painted both the exterior french doors and a half wall around the interior in that nice rich color.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

I also transformed the closet back from a mini play area into the storage space I know we’re going to need long-term. Thankfully I could find a stylish dresser that fit into this relatively small space at Room & Board. They have such a great variety of sizes, styles and finishes. I knew I would find the perfect piece. And it actually holds a ton of clothes.

A sturdy two-toned basket from Overstock serves as a new laundry bin and I added a simple coat rack for jackets, hats and backpacks. It’s never too early to teach a kid that there’s a place for everything and everything should go back in its place! We’ll see how that goes of course.

I couldn’t bear to part with the animal alphabet print I got before I was ever pregnant so it now adorns the back closet wall. A Hey Handsome print from Minted is another nursery holdover. I couldn’t help myself – it’s too cute.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

So there you have it. I’m pleased to report that my kiddo is totally into his new room. He’s already spending more time playing in there then he had before (mission accomplished!).

I so hope you enjoyed following along over the last six weeks. I’ve truly appreciated everyone’s comments, ideas and suggestions.

one room challenge toddler room on apartment 34

SHOP THE ROOM LampsPlus Tides Pendant / Bitte Wooden Toys / Farrow & Ball Hague Blue PaintPomPom at Home Pillow / Ferm Living blanket / Toddler BedSloth print / eSale Striped Rug /  Woopsy Desk Lamp from LampsPlus / Pehr Designs Alphabet Bin / Overstock Wing Chair / Sutro Tower / Overstock Woven BasketRoom & Board dresser / Room & Board end table / Calico Corners Roman Shades  / Minted Art PrintStacked Bookcase from Sourced By Good / Birch Coat Rack / Jennifer Ament print / custom framing Framed & MattedWindy Chien Helix Light / Cork Globe / Throw Pillow / Lego Storage

Be sure to check out everyone’s reveals by clicking on the links below! I can’t wait to see them all.

 

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE 

Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive

Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design

Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators

Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Bisou Style

Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC

 

To catch up on the entire ORC, click the following links Week 1Week 2, Week 3Week 4, Week 5

original photography for apartment 34 by bess friday

Guys, I can hardly believe it, but we’re only one week away from the conclusion of the One Room Challenge and the big reveal of my son’s brand new big-boy room. I have to thank everyone for their recommendations on my curved wall dilemma last week. I think I’ve finalized my solution and design idea and I’m rurl excited about it…but I’m not gonna tell! Not yet anyway. You’re going to have to wait to see the finished product until our finale next week.

For now, I thought I’d update you on the goings-on. Over the past week, I’ve been frantically working to finalize all the details; things like toy storage solutions, all the little design accents and finalizing art and lighting. It’s always a little hard to know when enough is enough, but I think I’m getting close. So today I thought I’d give you a little sneak preview of the final design.

Remember when I described my design vibe as “CA + Scandi, aka California laid-back casual mashed together with a Danish modern edge? Here’s the mood board again to remind you.

one room challenge on apartment 34

Well, I think I’ve zeroed on my vibe… but really, you should tell me if I’m on the right track. Whatta think?

This is my furniture plan! To bring the Scandi feel into the space all of the furniture I selected is made of light woods and features clean lines. Sure, I could have used color in a kid’s room, but I feel like all the white oak will age better. Case in point, the clean, modern Moda dresser from Room & Board. I’d like that to stick around for quite some time.

Our dilapidated glider is finally getting ditched for a modern shell-style chair I found on Overstock. I firmly believe that you don’t need to put kid furniture in a kid’s room but the pieces you do pick should still feel playful. The slim silhouette of the shell-style chair should also open up more space in the room. I’m also ditching the too-big area rug that’s in there now for a smaller round rug in a graphic stripe to add the illusion of even more space. (if you need a reminder of before images, click here).

The lighting in the room is going to get a little upgrade too. I love the Tides pendant from LampsPlus. It’ll accentuate the 11′ ceilings nicely. A cheeky Woopsy Table Lamp will be a fun discussion point for a three-year-old.

I’m keeping all the art and accessories in muted tones so that all his toys, his art creations, and imagination will bring the color to the space. And of course I have a few surprises up my sleeve as well but you’ll just have to come back next week to see those. For now, I’m frantically painting, assembling, organizing and prepping – all around nap times. Working on a child’s room is much harder to schedule than I realized. Oy. But I’m confident it’s all going to come together beautifully. Well fairly confident (just kidding!). I can’t wait to see the look on my son’s face when he sees the final product.

To catch up on the first four weeks ORC, click the following links Week 1Week 2, Week 3Week 4.

Everyone else is probably in the same boat as I am (aka biting their nails wondering how they’re going to get in all done in time!) so be sure to check out their updates below.

 

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE 

 Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive

Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design

Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators

Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Bisou Style

Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC

This week’s installment of our One Room Challenge update is a bit of a cry for help. Things have been going pretty smoothly thus far. I have my design direction. I found some killer ideas for cool paint features. I’ve zeroed in on my furniture plan (will be sharing next week!). But there is one part of my son’s room that continues to stump me. It is….

curved wall on apartment 34

The dreaded curved wall!

You see, my son’s room is basically shaped like a shoe box – except for the right corner – which curves in to accommodate our curved staircase on the other side. (btw, the beat to a pulp three-year-old glider, Home Depot paper blackout shade on the window and that too-big rug are all going buh-bye and I can’t wait).

But back to the curved wall conundrum. I see the options for this thing as follows:

> Paint it – either as a feature or maybe some kind of mural. Bu that feels a little too permanent. Plus I do love my paint color.

> Wallpaper – this would definitely make that wall a focal point. But I’m a bit of a wallpaper-phobe. Wallpaper on a curved wall also seems like you’re just askin’ for trouble.

> Decals – Some sort of cool (non-cheesy!) decal to add some adornment is a viable option. But non cheesy decals are few and far between.

> Simply leave the wall as is. Maybe it’ll fade into the background with the other focal points I’m creating in the room. But that seems like a missed opportunity, no?!

Here are some of the ideas I’ve been considering.

kid's room ideas on apartment 34

I could do something large scale like a massive tree sticker. But I’m not sure it will age well. What’s cool at three years old just might not cut it at five, six or seven.

The world map is fun but I’m afraid all that color and noise would be too overwhelming.

Then there are repeating pattern ideas like a series of clouds, dots, stars, ships, planes etc etc. It’s a viable option. But clouds feel pretty babyish. I’m kinda into the abstract paper planes moving up the wall, but it also feels rather random and not cohesive with the rest of the room’s design. Le sigh.

I know there are plenty of ideas that would work, they just wouldn’t be the perfect fit.

If you have any creative ideas or amazing sources for a brilliant unforeseen solution, please (please!) send them my way. Cuz I gotta figure something out and real quick!

To catch up on the ORC to date, click HERE for week 1,  HERE for week 2 and HERE for week 3.

And be sure to click on the links below to take a look at everyone else’s progress. There are SO many good projects.

 

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE 

Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive

Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design

Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators

Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Bisou Style

Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC

 

For today’s one room challenge update, we’re talking paint. Choosing a paint color is often a very tricky business. Yes, white is an obvious (and actually deceptively challenging) choice. I certainly have never seen a white room I didn’t like. But white can also feel a little too simple. There’s always the accent wall idea. Kinda meh about that one too though. When it comes to a kid’s room, especially a toddler room, you have the liberty of getting extra playful with how you paint. I have committed to doing just that for the challenge, but the question is how??

As a reminder, here’s what the room’s paint job currently looks like.

paint inspiration on apartment 34

The room is currently a soft blue gray, painted up to about two feet from the room’s 11′ foot ceilings (rough life, I know). I still really love the paint color and the effect it has on the room – it really helps draw the eye up and makes the room feel bigger than it is. Rather than repaint the entire space, I plan to add a playful modern accent moment (or maybe two!). You can just have so much fun with it.

The first idea is to highlight the bed. It’s going to be the new big-boy toddler bed so I think it would be wise to make an extra big deal out of it.

paint inspiration on apartment 34

I could do a mountain motif.

paint inspiration on apartment 34

Or perhaps a super hero theme?

paint inspiration on apartment 34

Or maybe go prehistoric (though I guess this is technically an accent wall).

But I’m really gravitating to a more modern, abstract accent around the bed.

paint inspiration on apartment 34paint inspiration on apartment 34paint inspiration on apartment 34

I think the triangle idea is cool, simple and would still feel fun a few years down the road.

But I don’t want to stop here. I also want do something on the room’s set of closet doors. Something like this…

paint inspiration on apartment 34

I love the idea of painting the doors just half way up. It offers an unexpected focal point without being too strong.

paint inspiration on apartment 34

Or perhaps going full height with a bold dark color like this! Go bold or go home right?

I’m still zeroing in on the final look. I’m also trying to not be intimidated by the DIY factor of all this (not my strong suit). And of course, I actually have to select my paint color. I’ll be finalizing my paint design and color selection sometime this week, so be sure to follow along on Instagram stories! I’ll be sharing all and most likely asking for your opinion there.

And if you have any creative ideas or DIY painting tips, please send them my way! This might be the scariest part of this whole project.

To catch up on weeks one and two of the ORC click HERE and HERE.

And be sure to take a look at everyone’s week 3 updates by clicking the links below. Can you believe we’re already halfway through?

 

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE 

Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive

Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design

Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators

Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Bisou Style

Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC

images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Week two of the One Room Challenge is upon us. Today I have my moodboard to share with you all. When working on a design project, I find it’s always helpful to create a moodboard to set clear boundaries – it helps in the decision-making process so much! A moodboard enables you to zero in and make all those difficult choices; overarching design style, color palette, perhaps a creative design element or two. Otherwise, there are just too many options out there to choose from. I always get distracted by the newest fun thought. Or I just can’t commit. Or I second guess myself. But eventually, you have to tune out all the distractions so you can actually get something done!

one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34

So I’m declaring this my official design direction. And since I only have four more weeks to make it happen, I really can’t back out now. I’m calling my look “CA + Scandi.” Think California laid back casual mashed together with a danish modern edge.

I want to accomplish three key things with this CA + Scandi design plan. The first is injecting a modern, slightly minimal Scandinavian influence. Think less is more. Kids accumulate so much stuff. The room design doesn’t need to add too much. That’ll come. I also want to create a space that I enjoy being in too. I firmly believe my kid’s room can fit within the vibe of the rest of our house while still being a room that is unique to him. And finally, I do want to ensure the room is fun and childlike. It should be a space that fosters creativity and play.

one room challenge on apartment 34

I hope to accomplish those goals by sticking with a pretty neutral color palette – black, white and natural oak with the injection of an accent color here or there (tbd on what color that will be). I definitely plan to have a little fun with paint to add an eye-catching design element (or two). And I know I will lean on the modern side when it comes to furnishings. That’s where I’ll really be injecting that Scandi feel. Accessories and accents are where I’ll get to add the bit of whimsy I’m looking for.

So what do you think?? You like? With my direction set, I’m off to pick my paint colors, source all my furnishings and work on one big design dilemma that I’ll wait to discuss until our next check-in. I’m curious – what are you most interested in about this process? Let me know in the comments so I can be sure to answer any questions and share what you really want to see.

I also can’t wait to check out everyone else’s progress. Click the links below to see where their projects are headed.

To catch up on Week One of the challenge, CLICK HERE.

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive

Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design

Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators

Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Style Me Pretty Living

Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC

If you’ve been waiting to have a little design fun around these parts, today’s your day. I’m thrilled to announce my participation in this season’s One Room Challenge! For the unfamiliar, the One Room Challenge features 20 bloggers as they tackle a room makeover – in just six weeks. You get to enjoy weekly updates, following along on everyone’s journeys, with a culmination of 20 final room reveals. You excited yet?! I know I am.

It seems only fitting that on the eve of my son’s third birthday, I tackle transforming his nursery into a full-fledged big boy room. Here’s what the room looks like now (at least when its photo shoot ready).

one room challenge on apartment 34 one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34

I’ve loved this room as a nursery. It has a sweet, tranquil vibe, but really nurseries are designed as a space for us, the adults, to function and care for our tiny humans (when stumbling around in the middle of the night). But now that I have a full-fledged person, with very big thoughts and very strong opinions, on my hands I’m eager to create a space that reflects his burgeoning personality. I want to give him a room where he can evolve and grow. I think it’s also time that we finally transition out of the crib (any advice on this highly welcome).

one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34one room challenge on apartment 34

I have a lot of goals for the redesign of this space. Ample toy storage, a good sized play area, and a big boy bed are all on the must-have list, but I also need a spot to read bedtime stories and a super functional closet. I want this all to come together with a modern, sophisticated, but still kid-like vibe. No problem (ha!). So be sure to check in every Wednesday for the next six weeks. I’ll be sharing my inspirations, design plans, resources and progress sneak peeks that will all lead up to the official reveal. It’s going to be one heck of a good time.

And if you check in on Instagram today, you’ll get a bonus! I’ll be sharing a before tour of the room on Stories! Oh, and be sure to follow along with everyone in this season’s ORC by clicking on the links below. It’s a super impressive group. I cannot wait to see what rooms everyone will tackle.

For details about the nursery’s current design including where to source everything, CLICK HERE and HERE.

 

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive

Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design

Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators

Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Style Me Pretty Living

Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC

Well, as much as I tried, I couldn’t stay away from here for the entire rest of the year. I just missed you all too much! And when these pictures of my completed media room came back, I also couldn’t stand waiting to share the final reveal. So without further ado, a 2016 bonus post – call it the year’s finale. Seems fitting that is should a room in my own home – this really has been my biggest project to date!

apt34_media_room

Now if you’ve been an Apt34 reader for awhile (and I hope some of you have been!) this space might look familiar. That’s not just because I gave a little sneak peek in my holiday cocktail post a couple of weeks back.

You might recognize this space as I actually featured it as part of the One Room Challenge in October 2015. Yes, I said 2015. Back then I still had renovation naiveté and actually thought there was a good chance of construction being complete in time to finish a room in six weeks. HA! It only took seven more months. Lesson learned. Since moving in earlier this year, it’s also taken a significant amount of time to make my original design vision come to life. Unlike with our lofts, I’ve been incredibly picky about every single piece that comes into this house. Thankfully, I discovered ATG Stores , a new online furnishings retailer that carries just about everything under the sun. I was able to find all the finishing touches I’d been waiting for that ultimately pulled this room together. And I think my patience has paid off. I managed to create a respite from what is otherwise a toddler play zone! What do you think?

apt34_media_room2

Being that this is our media room, I always knew I wanted this room to have a dramatic, dark color scheme with a very monochromatic palette. I’m obsessed with the black/blue that I found – it’s Benjamin Moore in Gravel Gray. We painted the entire space, including the crown molding and the ceiling in the same color with a flat finish. It gives the room the modern, masculine feel I was going for. Our light oak floors add just enough contrast to brighten the space. Having two oversized windows also flood the room with light so it feels chic rather than cave-like.

A point for the renovation geeks – I’m also obsessed with my outlets and light switches from the Adorne Collection by LeGrand – they come in a gray which compliments my color palette. Seriously awesome.

apt34_media_room8

Keeping accessories to a minimum helps give the space a calm feel.

apt34_media_room6 apt34_media_room9

I used brass accents to warm the room. I love the little cocktail table – perfect for resting my nightly glass of wine (or two!).

apt34_mediaroom7

A throw pillow with chartreuse and greens adds a touch of color to break up the monochromatic scheme.

apt34_media_room4apt34_media_room5

I can never resist having a few treasures sitting out that make me smile. A selection of my favorite design books, a little bowl I’ve had so long I can’t remember where it came from. A strand of wood beads from the flea market.

I’ve broken down how you can recreate this look shopping from ATG Stores below.

apt34_mediaroom_list

SHOP THE LOOK: cactus / pendant light / brass table lamps / black throw / sectional / coffee table / marble & wood bookend / pillow 1, pillow 2 / brass & marble cocktail table / wood tray

 

For all the design inspiration for this room CLICK HERE

For the latest about our renovations, CLICK HERE

 

original photography for apartment34 by aubrie pick

This post is in partnership with ATG Stores. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that have kept apt34’s doors open!

If you visited this post two years ago, you would have seen that I made the naive decision to participate in the six week One Room Challenge – on a historic house I was gut renovating. Relying on contractors, hardwood floor installs and major electrical to be completed in a six week window was a wee bit over my head at the time. It only took seven more months to actually finish our renovations. Lesson learned. But, I did finally manage to finish our media room and wanted to make sure you saw the completed space. Scroll for the final look!

Well, it’s here. The sixth week in the One Room Challenge – alla reveal day! So I’ve got some good news and bad news. The good news is that our media room design is complete! The bad news is that it’s only done in my head. Apparently, the old adage in major home renovation is quite true: things will take twice as long { and always cost twice as much!} as you anticipate. Since we bought this 145 year old house nearly a year and half ago and started construction back in February(!), I thought there might be a chance for our renovation would be complete in time for the end of our challenge. Alas, we still have quite a long way to go.

But I would never leave you high and dry! I can see the final media room in my mind’s eye, so I thought I’d do my best to show you everything I’m seeing. Remember when we were trying to pick a paint color? The crowd favorite in this post was actually Benjamin Moore’s Almost Black.

apt34roomchallengewk2_paint

Well, we were able to get our future media room painted. Here’s how things were looking in 2015.

apt34thisoldvictorian

Can you tell which color we selected?? We ended up going with the Benjamin Moore Gravel Gray in flat. It’s a bit hard to tell in a photo, but it turned out to be a richly hued gray – it has a navy undertone that I absolutely love. It’s dramatic but it doesn’t feel ominous.

Here’s how the room ultimately turned out!

SHOP THE LOOK: cactus / pendant light / brass table lamps / black throw / sectional / coffee table / marble & wood bookend / pillow 1, pillow 2 / brass & marble cocktail table / wood tray

If you’ve been following along with my inspiration posts, then you’ve seen how I wanted to create a space that’s comfortable – perfect for movie nights – but also an elevated and a touch dramatic. I think this final design and product selection is going to help me do just that.

The space is a little tight, the room is only about 10 feet across, so the Room & Board sectional is the perfect solution. I’m not typically a fan of the chaise style, but with limited space it’s the perfect way to create a cozy place to snuggle up. The round brass coffee table is practically perfect in every way.

Of course the media storage is a big sticking point with the hubby, but we both agreed that the Blu Dot Console is modern and chic, but understated. I’m trying to keep the attention away from the ginormous TV as much as possible {wish me luck!}.

With little room for side tables or other lighting, I hung a classic  George Nelson Cigar Pendant in the far corner of the room. It’ll give the space a nice golden glow. It’s all about ambient light people. A few choice pillows and a luxe throw are really all we’re going to need to make the space feel homey. The gorgeous Arhaus Rug will pull all the blues and grays together beautifully.

You can catch up on the entire six week One Room Challenge HERE.

And of course you have to check out everyone else’s big reveals! This is the ultimate in interior inspiration. I feel lucky to have been involved in such a great group.

Apartment 34 | Arianna Belle | Because It’s Awesome | Coco+Kelley | Design Darling | Design Indulgence |Design Manifest | Christine Dovey | The English Room | Vanessa Francis | Hi Sugarplum | Honey We’re Home | Jojotastic | The Pink Clutch | The Pink Pagoda | Simplified Bee | Style Your Senses | A Thoughtful Place | Kimberly Whitman | The Zhush |

So we’re getting down to the wire. We’ve gone through five weeks of the One Room Challenge. The big decisions – paint color, lighting, selection of core furniture pieces – have been made. The piéce de résistance is just around the corner, but the it’s the final details that really bring the puzzle together. Adding personal mementos mixed with an eye-catching accessory or two are the icing on your design cake.

media-room-decor-21ecc4ede38383297a12f98eb8a52f0ddmedia-room-decor

As the baby stuff continue to pile up around the loft, I’m looking to keep accessories in the new house to an absolute minimum. I only want to see things that make me smile every time I look at them. I feel like your stuff recedes into the background when it’s too crowded. Guys don’t like a lot of crap laying around anyway right!? A choice throw, a striking vase & air plant {cuz they’re really hard to kill!} and perhaps a high-style speaker could be all the media room needs to feel complete.

media-room-accessories-1

Get Your Shop On:

1. > Wood Candlestick
2. > Striped Throw
3. > Rebecca Atwood Pillow 
4. > D.S. & Durga Candle
5. > Air Plant Art Print
6. > Sauda Basket
7. > White Vase
8. > Wireless Sound System

Now the count down is really on! Be sure to check out everyone’s final sneak peeks by clicking the links below!!

Apartment 34 | Arianna Belle | Because It’s Awesome | Coco+Kelley | Design Darling | Design Indulgence |Design Manifest | Christine Dovey | The English Room | Vanessa Francis | Hi Sugarplum | Honey We’re Home | Jojotastic | The Pink Clutch | The Pink Pagoda | Simplified Bee | Style Your Senses | A Thoughtful Place | Kimberly Whitman | The Zhush |

image 1 via Stadshem //  2 April & May // 3 via Broste Copenhagen 

Older posts
Gimme More