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Thursday, April 2, 2015

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE {WEEK 1}


Hi everyone!  If you're new here to follow along with the challenge, welcome!  I'm so glad you're here.  

It is with a great deal of excitement and an equal amount of fear that I kick off my project for the One Room Challenge today.  This is my first time to participate, and I'm afraid I don't know what I'm in for!  If you're new to the ORC, it's a challenge to design and complete a space in just 6 weeks.  There are many home and design bloggers participating, and it's so much fun to see what everyone gets accomplished during such a short amount of time.  For years, I've enjoyed following along with others who are participating... Wednesdays and Thursdays are easy to waste away on the computer checking up on everyone's progress.  And the week of the finale?  It's like Christmas morning for design bloggers!  Many thanks to Linda of Calling It Home for dreaming up the ORC, and keeping it all so well organized.




For the next 42 days, I'll be doing my best to transform my Master Bedroom.  I'm considering these my true before photos, since it's the last time the room was finished.









It was full of nice things, but what was I thinking??  I think I did this room right at the end of the Tuscan look and Restrained Gold paint craze.  All of that is SO far from what my style has evolved into.  I just consider it a part of the process...

We started a makeover of this room 2 1/2 years ago with a new paint job (did you see the swatch on the wall in one of the photos above?), but then it totally got stalled.  Other projects kept jumping to the front of the line, and it quickly became an extra storage spot.  THIS is why if you were to ever visit my house, the bedroom door would be closed... this is where every oversized accessory and furniture cast-off without a home sits in a holding pattern... so we'll just call these the transition photos, where the room has been stuck for years almost 3 years.

 Let me just give you a full tour...


Niiiiice....  mismatched lamps, outdated orange nightstands, no proper bed, just mattresses on a hollywood frame, thrown together bedding.  But a cute leopard pillow makes everything better, right? ;)

Or how about this view?  I talked about this armoire oh, 2 YEARS AGO trying to decide what to do with it.  As a reminder, my Dad made it from scratch.  It's a really nice, sentimental piece with tons of storage, but the orangey-oak color isn't working.  Remember when I finished my green china cabinet  over 2 year ago?  I stole two knobs from the bottom drawers here... yep... still missing a replacement.  I think I have a plan now, but still need to do some experimenting.  The doors that lead to the bathroom right next to it are a similar size and shape and give a bit of an odd look on that wall, so I have some ideas to make that look better as well.



Let's rotate a bit more... loooovely.  See?  I really have been collecting parts and pieces for this makeover for way too long.  Fabric, frames, artwork, furniture... etc. etc. etc.  Most of the parts are here, now it's time to get it together!  Believe it or not, I cleaned this side of the room up a lot before I photographed this yesterday.  Yikes.



Lastly, the window wall.  When the old silk check drapes came down, nothing else has gone back up since.  I'm SO looking forward to having some room-darkening drapes back!



You guys, you've seen behind the veil today.  Embarrassing, but as they say, bad before photos make the after even better, right???  That's what I'm clinging to.  ;)

OK, you've seen the bad and the ugly, now how about some good in the form of my plan?  There are some big pluses in this room.  It's a nice size, the ceilings are tall (10 feet), crown molding throughout, good light, and it has nice big windows.  I shared some of my inspiration photos on Monday, but this should give you a good idea of where I'm headed with the room.



Lots of things are still up in the air.  I think I want a gallery wall on the fireplace side, but I'm pretty clueless on artwork for the wall that the bed is on.  The plan for the armoire is still not solid.  I also have no idea on lighting yet, other than the overhead light.  And, an accent fabric or two might still be in question.

Alright, the clock is ticking!  See you next Thursday to hopefully share some progress!

If you want to get in on even more fun, you can see the entire list of One Room Challenge Designer/Blogger participants here, or look through tons more projects here of people like me who are joining in the challenge also by linking up our room progress on Thursdays.



Would you like to comment?

  1. OOOOOH YAY! it's gonna be sooooo good!

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  2. Oh Jennifer I absolutely love your mood board and those colors are definitely your signature colors! Love your plan, you're going to rock this! I did our master bedroom for my 1st ORC, and so glad I did! Can't wait to follow along & see you transform this space into nothing less than fabulous! This round I'm working on Glaming up my office. -Sarah, Sarah Sofia Productions

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  3. Heather @ Southern State of MiApril 2, 2015 at 8:06 AM

    This is going to be so fun!!! I can't wait to follow along.

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  4. I'm so excited Jennifer!! I know it will be fabulous and you will be so glad you did it!! Finishing our master was the best decision ever!! You got this friend!!

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  5. It's going to be great! Thanks for sharing a peek "behind the veil" - our master bathroom has been the bane of my home for far too long, so this challenge will hopefully help to push me to get it finished! ORC Rookies unite! :-)

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  6. I love all of the color!! It's going to look fabulous!!


    Meg

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  7. Oh my gosh! I am so glad that you are participating this time and I love your plans. You will have so much fun with this challenge! I can't wait to follow along, I know it's going to be fabulous!

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  8. Girl, this room will be gorgeous!! I 'm excited to join the fun and I can't wait to see your transformation! Your mood board is Fantastic!

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  9. I cannot wait to see what you come up with; it's going to look fantastic!

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  10. Love your inspiration board. Can't wait to see what you do.

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  11. Congrats on your first ORC!!! Its challenging but so worth every single second. You will be amazing! xo

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  12. Laurie Chattin-JonesApril 2, 2015 at 10:13 AM

    Always fun to see before pics and see how our design evolves! I love your plan and can't wait to see the finished room!!!

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  13. LOVE the plan Jennifer! Working with everyone through the ORC is going to be the perfect motivator I'm sure (or at least I'm hoping so for my sake too!). Looking forward to following along!

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  14. All I know that after your done with this room, it will be FABULOUS!!!!! So excited to follow along dear!

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  15. Pam @ Simple DetailsApril 2, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    LOVE your bright stylish plan, and I'm so excited for you to have a gorgeous bedroom in 42 days!! :) So fun to have you participating, too!

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  16. Lisa @ Shine Your LightApril 2, 2015 at 3:04 PM

    Jennifer this is going to be so good!! I can't wait to see this room come together, I love your plans!!

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  17. As always, love it!!! Can't wait to follow along!

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  18. This looks so so good! Can't wait!

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  19. Super posh plans! I love it already Jennifer. Those mirrors, your bamboo chairs. This is going to be fun!

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  20. It's definitely the jump start I obviously needed to get this finished! Thanks Kristi!

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  21. Thank you Marigene. Lots of DIYs and hard work to get there, but let's hope so! ;)

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  22. My master bedroom has been on the back-burner for years, too. Kudos to you for tackling it now! Love your plan. Lots of cute, colorful decor! Can't wait to see your progress, and take notes along the way, so I maybe someday soon I can tackle mine!

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  23. Brenna@DomesticCharmApril 3, 2015 at 8:20 AM

    Love your design plan! With all of your talents, it will turn out fantastic!

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  24. I cannot wait to see what you do! Good luck!

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  25. I love the colors you are choosing for the room. Good luck! Excited to see how it turns out.

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  26. I have always wanted a fireplace in my bedroom or master bath. I love the look you are going for and it certainly is more cohesive with your other rooms. Robin @ www.designbyrobinsnest.blogspot.com

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  27. These are some great plans. This room will look fantastic, can't wait.

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  28. Thank you so much for revealing this before. I'm not a blogger but love reading them, yours especially. I must admit I get a little intimidated by all the style and perfection. Your transparency really speaks about your character. I'm excited to see the finished room. I'm sure it will be lovely.

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  29. Love the plans! Looks like you already have lots of great stuff in your room to work with. Is that a gold deer I see lurking there under the window? Fabulous! Excited to see how it turns out!


    http://whitedogvintage.wordpress.com

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  30. Love the color palette! I will definitely be following along for this one!

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  31. Kris {Driven by Décor}April 6, 2015 at 8:15 AM

    That bedroom definitely doesn't look like a "Jennifer" design but it sure will when you're done with it! Love all of the ideas that you have - it's going to be sooo good!!

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  32. cassie {hi sugarplum}April 8, 2015 at 9:27 AM

    Oh man, this is gonna be good...I can not wait!!!!

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  33. I'm so excited to see this makeover, it's going to be so good!!

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  34. I love your plan! It's definitely your signature style. I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress and reveal!

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  35. So excited for this Jennifer. I have no doubt that it's truly going to be amazing. You have such style... I have to admit I love that you let us 'in' to see your secret bedroom before shot. ;) You are so great. Love the plan thus far... You ROCK at mixing a little bold with classic designs and color. Green is one of my favorites and the malachite fabric design is to die for. xoxo

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