Typically when you read a post that’s unveiling a room redesign, it’s all about the space that has most recently undergone a transformation. Not so with my monochromatic bedroom makeover reveal. In fact, this room technically served as the starting point for our whole home redesign about 3 years ago (yikes)!
So why are you just hearing about it now?
Well at the time of the redesign, I had just started my blog and the content I was sharing was exclusively about home organizing. The good news is that I had enough foresight to document the transformation with some before and after photos. Yey Me!
So I thought it was high time to dust off the photos and share them with all of you this week. Ready?
Monochromatic Bedroom Makeover: Where We Started
This is what the room looked like for 8 years. As you might remember, I had a thing for red and gold…in fact it was the color palette for our entire house as you can see in the dining room reveal, the powder room reveal, and the redesign color palette “reveal”.
I was oh so proud of that faux finish I lovingly applied to the bedroom walls. But man, by 2013, I was so ready for a change. Looking back, I wonder what exactly I was thinking when I chose to decorate with so much fake greenery.
Oh my.
I have always had a love-hate relationship with the wall of windows in our master bedroom.
Of course, they’re awesome for bringing in lots of natural light, but I’ve always struggled with how to “dress” them. I’ve gone through phases of using no window treatments beyond the blinds, but it always seemed just a bit too stark for the space.
Maybe if our windows had gorgeous, thick moulding I would have liked the “blinds-only” look better.
Next, we graduated to cranberry-colored dupioni silk panels. They were pretty, but the western exposure did a number on those poor panels, fading them to oblivion.
I learned a thing or two about the proper way to hang curtain panels since I installed these. When it was time to revamp this room, I knew that I was going to ditch the massively long rod and replace it with a series of short rods.
I was also going to be on the hunt for 95″ panels that I’d hang as close to the ceiling as possible to achieve that “designer look”.
Moving to the other side of the room, you’ll find my all-time favorite furniture purchase from one of the countless back-ally furniture warehouses of High Point North Carolina (where I lived prior to moving to Ohio).
I scored this Hickory White chair that retailed for $1,500 for around $400 and I bragged about it for the next decade+. Even though the chair was a vestige of my former design style, I could not bare to part with it.
Somehow, some way, this chair was going to live on in our bedroom redesign (or at least elsewhere in the house).
Monochromatic Bedroom Makeover Reveal: The Process
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This makeover began with a good ol’ fashioned room painting. At the time, it was the height of the gray interior design trend and I was jumping on that bandwagon.
I will say that selecting the right gray is not an easy task! I followed a specific process for selecting the wall color to select Benjamin Moore’s Silver Fox as the starting point of the redesign.
It’s the perfect shade of gray, with gorgeous violet undertones that mesh perfectly with the wood tone of our existing furniture. Since I was trying my hand at a monochromatic color palette, the wall color was going to be the star of the redesign show, rather than serving as a backdrop for other pops of color.
Monochromatic Bedroom Makeover: The Final Product
I do believe that Silver Fox didn’t disappoint…do you agree?
Peaceful. Serene. Calm.
These are the feelings I wanted my bedroom to evoke. And that’s exactly how I feel each time I enter the space. I’m so excited to take you on a tour!
Let’s begin with the bedding.
One of the rules of decorating when using a monochromatic color palette is that you’ll need to bring interest into the space using textures and patterns (since you won’t be doing that with color). The pinch-pleated duvet cover and shams, the ribbed off-white coverlet, and the embroidered toss pillows are the perfect way to add that required texture.
[If you’re wondering about item sources, I’ve got you covered with a source list at the end of the post]
Oh yeah, I almost forgot the focal “wall of gorgeousness” behind the headboard. Nope, not wallpaper.
I used a stencil from Royal Design Studio to apply that trellis design from floor to ceiling. That was DEFINITELY a labor of love, but so so worth it! It really makes the room.
Moving clockwise, you’ll find my second favorite addition to the space…these gorgeous table lamps. OMG I love them! The base is shimmery and full of cool texture, and the shade boasts a unique oval shape.
Gone is all the faux greenery from the room. In its place, I added this simple orchid.
When we first installed these, I could not believe what a difference it made to bring those panels to the ceiling. It really made the space look like an entirely different room from where we started.
Remember the red chair? Same chair. MUCH different look.
I wish I could take credit for the reupholstery job, but I’m just not that talented. I worked with a local reupholstery company to transform this chair to be in keeping with the redesign.
That meant reshaping the old curved back to make it straight, replacing the fabric with this fun gray and off-white pattern from Ballard Designs (more texture!), removing the skirt, and replacing the legs with ones that give off a more contemporary vibe.
I also used fabric remnants from the chair to create a coordinating throw pillow. The floor lamp was relocated from another room into the bedroom in order to create a reading nook.
My dresser is located to the right of the reading nook. We updated this area of the room by installing 3 door mirrors in a horizontal orientation above the dresser. It fills the expanse of wall space and reflects light. A win-win.
I added some new coordinating accessories on the dresser top, including a spray-painted tray, framed photos, and a table runner that I created from the chair fabric remnants.
This pair of distressed candleholders served as the perfect finishing touch:
On my side of the bed, you can sneak another peek at lamp perfection and a close up of the wall stencil…
These pillows are as gorgeous today as the day I purchased them…
There you have it. Another room reveal in the books! If there’s something in the room that caught your fancy, check out the source list below.
Also, let me know what you think about the whole monochromatic color scheme thing.
Have you decorated a monochromatic room? Thumbs up or down?
Monochromatic BedroomSource List
- Wall paint – Benjamin Moore’s Silver Fox, eggshell finish
- Stencil paint – Martha Stewart Living Precious Metals – Silica {similar alternative}
- Trim paint – Glidden’s Antique White, semi-gloss finish
- Moorish Trellis Wall stencil – Royal Design Studio
- Duvet cover & shams – Wayfair
- Coverlet – Tuesday Morning {similar alternative}
- Sheet set (gray chevron) – Target
- Chair upholstery fabric – Ballard Designs
- Wall mirrors – Home Depot {similar alternative}
- 95″ window panels – TJMaxx {similar alternative}
- Curtain rods – Bed Bath & Beyond
- Floor lamp – TJMaxx {similar alternative}
- Nightstand lamps – TJMaxx {similar alternative}
Check out our whole home redesign progress to date in the My Home Refresh Series:
Happy Decorating, Friends!
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Rosanna says
Natalie PLEASE share where your bed is from!!
Natalie Gallagher says
I purchased it a long time ago (like 15 years), so I don’t expect that it’s still available. Sorry!
Tricia says
I am in absolute love with the finished product!! What color did you use for the stencil? Does it have a metallic finish?
Natalie Gallagher says
Aw, thanks Tricia! Yes, the stencil color does have a metallic finish. It’s Martha Stewart Living’s Precious Metals line (color=Silica). I believe it’s still sold at Home Depot.
Amy says
I love this look and was wondeting where i can buy the Martha Stwart stencil paint
Natalie Gallagher says
Hi Amy! So glad you like it! The source list for the project is at the bottom of the post, including a link to the paint. Here it is again 🙂
Kim says
Love all of this!! How did you hang your shorter curtain rods? I’m feeling very inspired!!
Natalie Gallagher says
Actually, they are hung with the same standard hardware as any other rod (came with the poles). You can find them at Bed Bath and Beyond (see link in post) 🙂
Lindsay says
Incredible! It looks absolutely gorgeous! thanks so much for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Natalie Gallagher says
Thanks so much Lindsay and thanks for hosting such an awesome link party!
Angela @ Setting My Intention says
I love that grey! I want to paint our bedroom grey so I will definitely check that color out!
Natalie Gallagher says
Hi Angela!
It’s always a bit of a risk with gray paint…I wanted a shade with warm undertones to avoid the “prison cell” effect. Silver Fox is a beautiful color! You may also want to check out Revere Pewter, another warm gray that I’m in love with that plays nice with so many other colors. Let me know what you end up using!
Nicole Q-Schmitz says
Loooove this updated master bedroom! And the re-upholstered chair looks amazing 🙂
Natalie Gallagher says
Many thanks Nicole! Yes, I was amazed at how my reupholstery guy was able to reshape the frame of that chair to transform it from formal/traditional, to clean/contemporary. Thanks for stopping by the blog!