January 23, 2010

Guest Bedroom: Before & After

We started designing our guest bedroom last summer and I'm finally ready to reveal photos of its new look. It has become my favorite room in the house because one, it's the only room that is actually "done" or done enough and two, we were able to stick with our budget and because we did a lot of the work on our own (we made the headboard, repurposed furniture we already had, etc.) I don't feel like the room left a big hole in our pockets.

Before Photos:







As you can see this room had lots of mismatched furniture, random bedding, and no color on the walls. I was pretty embarrassed to have our guests stay in this room.

But after a new coat of paint and some elbow grease, the room now feels like a retreat, which is what our friends and family deserve.

After Photos:



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I never imagined this room being blue. In my mind, it was always going to be green. I had walked into Restoration Hardware and the store was painted the prettiest color of green (Silver Sage), but I knew I wanted the bedding to play off the wall color and I just couldn't find anything to match. So when I saw this bedding at Target, my paint choices had to adjust and honestly, I really like the blue.





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This chair was one of the first pieces of furniture ever given to me. It was my step-mom's and she gave it to me when I moved into my first apartment in college. It had been in the master bedroom and almost made the Goodwill pile a couple of times, but thankfully I kept it around. This chair was the inspiration for our headboard.




I'm pretty proud of this headboard. I think we spent less than $50 for everything. We used tips from two great online tutorials to make ours and they can be found here and here.





I had all but three of these frames just sitting around the house. I found the two small square frames at Ikea for 50 cents for the pair. Can't beat that! The others were originally black, so I just spray painted them white and then painted a few of them brown using a free paint sample I had been given. Paint samples like I used are really inexpensive and great to have around the house. You never know when they will come in handy!

The photos are from our wedding. This is the first time in the almost five years that we have been married that we have had our wedding photos on display. I would say it was about time.





This table was given to us as a wedding gift. We just spray painted it white and used one of the pillow shams that came with the bedding to tie it all together. The vase and floral arrangement are from Michaels.














I wanted a little word of encouragement as our guests went out the door. I chose this one because I feel like it represents our whole house. Todd and I moved out here because we had some big dreams to chase (and are still chasing). I strongly believe that nobody should stop chasing their dreams, regardless of age, location or situation. We serve a big God. Nothing is impossible with Him.

Overall I have been really pleased with how everything came out. The room still needs some accessories and a few more photos on the walls. If we ever have extra money come our way, I would love to put a flat screen TV across from the bed to give it more of a hotel feel. Plus, when we decide to start a family, our parents will camp out in that room and it would be great to give them their own private getaway. Maybe one of these days!

I have officially become addicted to finishing the rooms in our house. I think the laundry room might be next. Just don't tell my husband!

Happy Saturday!

7 comments

  1. awesome. we have a chair just like that one, we cut the wicker out of it and put some gold leaf on it. i love the blue btw.

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  2. Looks great, Tara! I love that blue too...looks like the color I painted our bedroom in Hawaii. I was also surprised at how much I loved it.

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  3. It's so beautiful Tara! When I saw the first "after" picture I felt like I was looking at a room at a spa. Very well done!!!

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  4. that room is gorgeous and high class. it's put together from corner to corner from top to bottom. and i love the photos - yes bout time to hang them! you are officially hired to decorate my home... when i have one. :) - ash

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  5. I love it. You guys did a great job on this. Don't feel bad about the wedding pictures. We were married 4 years before I decided to frame some of ours and put them up!!!

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  6. You are amazing.

    I'm trying to figure out how I can justify not driving back to my own home some night so that I can stay there! You did a fantastically wonderful job - it's so charming and beautiful, while feeling inviting and cozy.

    I am SO impressed with you.

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