Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Room of Shame No More

For years, my Michael has called our bedroom "The Room of Shame." It's always the last room I clean when I clean the house and sometimes (most times/almost all the time--don't judge me) I run out of steam so I don't really do a good job. I have always shut the door to our room when people are coming over because, in truth, I have always been ashamed of anyone seeing what a disaster zone hides behind that door.

My Michael has complained to me, "It just seems like you take anything you don't want people to see and you shove it in our room." BINGO! "That's because that's what I do," I have responded.

In my defense, even when my room was picked up and organized it was nothing to look at--with its four different colors of mismatched adolescent furniture, its flat white walls and its general blah-ness. I never took any pride in my room.

Well, dear friend and devoted reader, I decided to make some changes around here in the master bedroom department.

My Michael had to go away for two weeks and I thought I'd give our bedroom a make-over while he was gone. I thought I'd change everything he hated about our room and even some things he'd never mentioned. In short, I thought I'd play HGTV (one of my favorite pastimes).

When I went to take some "before" pictures, I thought I'd leave things as messy as they were so that the after would look all the more dramatic. Looking back, I see that step was completely unnecessary and I'm more than a little embarrassed to show you the grossness that was my master suite, but alas, that's what I get, I guess.

Without further ado, I present the Before and the After of our space:

Do you like how I didn't even shut the dresser drawers to snap the photo? Cuh-lassy! And do you think we have enough books?

This is my Michael's awesome hand-me-down dresser. The last owner of this small wonder was a two year-old girl, hence, the tulip shaped drawer pulls.


Here is the new view of my side of the room. What? You think this looks better? I mean, it's basically the same, right?



This is my Michael's grown up big boy dresser! Isn't it pretty? And don't you love how Maia's copper embossed art project from school matches the room and looks great in the space? I know I do!

Now, dear friend and devoted reader, please don't think that the Hunter children will not be able to go to college just because their parents now have a decent space in which to lay their weary heads. 'Tis not so!

I'm nothing if not thrifty and I stuck to a pretty tight budget to pull off this spousal surprise. I scored both of the new dressers and the lamps for free, thanks to a friend who wasn't using them to do anything other than gather dust in her basement. I bought the new, slim bookshelf off of Craigslist. I stumbled upon some bi-fold doors at the thrift store and was able to quickly turn them into an easy headboard. Several cans of spray paint made all my "new" furniture match, if not in style at least in color. I got my pretty coverlet (the first bedspread I've ever bought for my bed) on sale at Target and I sewed my accent pillow shams and bed skirt one late night with Kendra (my sewing machine). So, you see, not bad at all. We won't be eating beans until Christmas because of my room redo!

And my Michael? Let's just say that sometimes I catch him up there just staring, enjoying the adult retreat he's always wanted our bedroom to be. (And it's never been messy for even 30 seconds since I did it nearly two months ago. I won't let one misplaced item mar its peaceful beauty.)

22 comments:

Mary said...

I love it. I also once saw someone refinish a huge old barn door for their headboard. I loved it too. You are so creative.

Jenny said...

That is fantastic, Mendy!

Lynette said...

I love it Mendy!!! I especially love the headboard..i need to try something like that. Great job!!

Sommer said...

Wow that is amazing, truly it is wonderful. I would NEVER, never think to do that for the headboard but it looks simply fabulous. I am beyond impressed. You are so creative and your room looks beautiful!!!!

supersonicjan said...

now that's talent!

felicity & nathaniel said...

domestic goddess! I love it. My bedroom has been lacking attention too.. Time to paint my high school furniture that we've been using! :)

Christie said...

Wow... Beeeee U tee full!!! WEll done.. and on that budget... amazing!!

Jann said...

It looks so good. Way to go. I need to do this. My room is totally like your before picture.

Awesome job.

Julia said...

Wow. It looks so... so... so HGTV. It looks so professional. It looks like a before and after of Clean Sweep, one of my favorite TLC shows. It looks amazing. You must really love just hanging out in your new space, all neat and orderly and everything. I am suitably impressed.

Amber said...

Kudos and kudos. And it no longer looks like a place that lice might be able to reside. jk!!! It's beautiful in every way.

Cami said...

GORGEOUS!! I feel your pain. It's always the last room to be done. So I did it FIRST in my new house, and I'm so glad I did. Yours is just lovely. You should have a show.

Heidi said...

Wow, Mendy! You did HGTV proud. Everything looks great. Come help my finish my computer room. I seem to have lost my steam!

Margaret said...

I am so proud of you! And happy Michael has such a wonderful wife.

Life In a Blended Family said...

Mendy,

I had to stop by today as I was talking to Mellisa and mentioning that I always finish the kids rooms and the rest of the home and they are beautiful but I never finish our room no matter where we live and she said you had blogged and I should read it...so hear I am. I had looked a couple of weeks ago but hadn't seen and update. Anyway, I love it. You, as always, are amazing and so talented. Lucky family!! Love to you all.

laura said...

It's SO lovely. I'm seriously so happy for you. It's relaxing just looking at those after pictures. Now, what can you do with my "new bedroom"? :)

whitney allison said...

And how! Nothing like a good bedroom make over surprise for your husband, I always say. It is truly fantastic!

Corinne said...

Seriously cah-razy on so many levels. What a WIFE! What a HOMEMAKER! I need you :)

CJohnson said...

I'm so impressed! So how long have you been married? Just want to tell B when he can expect a "real" bedroom instead of our sad little nook.

Anonymous said...

Hey! I have to admit that our bedroom is the exact same way. And I hate it. You have inspired me! It looks beautiful. Great job!

Deb said...

that is incredible! all that hgtv watching has paid off.

Lara Neves said...

So I just came over here from Better After's blog and a) I LOVE the redo, you are AMAZING! What a fun surprise for your husband and 2) I know you! I served in Romania with you for a short, short time. Sister Martin trained me. (I'm Sora Preston)

Jenni said...

Beautiful!!! I am seriously impressed! Yay for your new room!!

Quotation of the Month

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.

-Jill Churchill