CASE OF THE MONDAYS: Master Bedroom
Have you got a case of the Mondays? I’ve got a fix for you!
A new weekly blog post where I share mood boards and dream boards for each room in our little abode (that I hope I actually get to implement someday!)
When we first moved into our little coastal cottage, we didn’t have the time – or budget, really – to do any major updates or renovations. For those of you who don’t know the real estate situation around here, a house like this - that is a ferry trip and drive outside of town - can cost upwards of 600K, so it’s quite a stretch for most new homeowners. But, this house was move-in ready so it wasn’t much of a concern for us and we knew we could make updates down the road. I worked with a very tight furnishing budget (thrifting, inherited, IKEA, re-purposed, and homemade) to make this place feel like home to us, and we’ve left it at that.
We wanted to get into the real estate market, and both loved the vibe, scenery, and pace of living on the Sunshine Coast. We also wanted space – a yard, distance from neighbours, and lots of nature – so we opted for a bit outside of town. When we saw this place, we knew immediately that it was for us. It has a lovely yard/garden, and a creek that runs along the edge of the property – something that would keep us busy for a while. (I’ll share something about the outdoors and our plans for it in another post!)
With our schedules and careers, and my family all living in the Greater Vancouver area (I like to be close and easily accessible) we continue to rent an apartment in the city. When we aren’t at the house, we share it with guests who want a getaway from city living. We’re coming upon two years in it and are loving it very much. It cozy, rustic, has its own quirks, and is somewhere we like to spend as much time as we can.
“Our little forest dwelling is rustic and cozy, but I’m dreaming of how we can update it to suit our personal tastes while staying true to the coastal vibes. ”
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about how I can add more valuable design-related content to my blog and social media. Since I only have one project that has carried through the pandemic, I won’t have much content to share from client projects. I am not really able to undertake any major changes at the apartment while in quarantine (we’ve currently got essential workers staying at our house) so what am I to do?
I was chatting with a girlfriend who is also in a creative industry trying to navigate work and pandemic life, and we started brainstorming together. Then I thought, “just because I can’t do the renovation now doesn’t mean I can’t dream about it and plan for it.” So, I decided I would create a new weekly blog post called “Case of the Mondays” and each week, post a mood/dream board for one room – either in the house or the apartment – along with photos, and design plans. Thanks for tuning in! Now, Here goes with the inaugural post: Master Bedroom Dream Board.
Master Bedroom - current state (that nipple ceiling light ugh!)
Sitting Area
Current situation:
Side tables - left by the previous owners and used outside… we just cleaned and re-purposed them
Budget-friendly decor
Inherited lighting, armchair, bed frame, and dresser
Curtain rods from previous owner with thrifted IKEA curtains
Unfinished pine paneling throughout
An abundance of crooked quirks :)
Below is a quick sketch of the floor plan with the new items drawn in. Because of the wall and doorway locations, I’ll be keeping the layout the same, just updating the colour palette and lighting, and bringing in some new finishes, furniture, and decor pieces.
Design Intent:
Our property’s surroundings and the existing style of the home all inform and feed the design style and colour palette of each interior space. Brendan and I both like casual, cozy, and rustic, with hints of traditional elements balanced with clean lines. At least I like those things and Brendan agrees, he just wouldn’t use designer jargon to explain it.
The room gets lots of shade, so keeping the colour selection on the lighter side is important to keep it light and airy. Contrasting elements, such as the dark bed frame and existing hardwood flooring, and warm finishes (brushed brass, and warm earth tones) make the master bedroom more visually dynamic. Not flat or overpowering. but just right.
Below is the mood/dream board for the master bedroom:
Updates to make:
Remove curtain rods
Patch and repair drywall throughout
Install wood paneling on headboard wall to match ceiling
Continue the wainscoting around the side walls of the sitting area
Paint walls, crown, paneled headboard wall, and paneled ceiling a warm off-white (BM Cameo?)
Paint wainscoting, base, and archway/doorways a medium taupe (mushroom?)
Install new flush-mount ceiling light and plug-in bedside sconces
Install roman shades on sliding window and walk-in closet window
Install new curtain rod and full-height drapes along octagonal window wall
Install area rug, bed, nightstands, chair, and dresser
*We plan to update the windows sometime soon, too.
Items to Purchase:
Flush Mount Ceiling Light
Two-Drawer Nightstand
12” x 16” Gold Frames
Corded Bedside Sconce
8’ x 10’ Persian Area Rug
Abstract Landscape Art (this one is by Laurie Anne Art)
And last but not least…
BUDGET:
Under $3000 is the goal!
Hello! Catherine here.
I’m a Vancouver-based interior designer and love all things creative! I’ll be sharing things that inspire me, posting design tips and DIY projects, chatting about all kinds of topics, and hopefully inspiring some people to make little changes at home to create an environment that is functional, beautiful, and a perfect reflection of you!
