The Fall 2019 BHG One Room Challenge Week 6 Reveal Day
Yes! We made it to the reveal day.
Boy did I ever have doubts about whether we’d reach the finish line or not.
Keep reading to find out why.
Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine before doing so. This post contains a bit of everything ORC reveal day related and it’s a lengthy one.
Our moody urban modern college student oasis (phew!) is complete!
This was one of the most challenging projects I’ve taken on so far. Seriously. Designers are known for our studious work on the homes of those around us. However, when it comes to taking on a reno of our own home abodes then the game throws some serious curveballs at you. I honestly did not think we would finish this challenge. Add to the drama my father’s unexpected hospitalization, an unexpected flurry of new clients for me, several last-minute renovation mishaps, and you find a #babydesigner on overwhelm yet still managing to do her thing.
The melee all started when I decided to join the Fall 2019 BHG One Room Challenge and chose my son’s (also a college student) bedroom as the featured makeover spot. He was beyond excited to get rid of the Kraken (courtesy of Jack Sparrow and POTC) rising out of the waters inside his bedroom. I mean, 13 years ago this was the hot spot for his friends to hang out. Elementary kids do love Jack Sparrow.
Just as the franchise seems to have lost a bit of its steam, so had the thrill of watching the Kraken and fluffy airbrushed clouds sail above the old wooden loft bed each night. Since he has chosen to remain at home while he finishes his degree in cybersecurity then he needs a space that serves multiple functions… library, study, dorm room, game area, and tons of storage. When he moves out this room will become our home office/guest room. Little did I know the One Room Challenge was going to be the biggest one I’ve taken on yet. Take a look at the concept board I created for the design for proof of the challenge I’d taken on.
Before we get into the recap of the reno, I’d like to introduce you to the way our moody urban modern college student oasis looked before the final touches. Before the room was a washed-out play on an old theme that no longer held any relevance in the twentysomething-year-old college student’s lifestyle. There was little to no storage, no place for relaxing, and a mural that no longer fit the age of its occupant.
After the gorgeous Sherwin William’s 2020 Color of the Year, Naval, was applied to all five walls (yes, including the ceiling) we brought in gorgeous but simple curtains to use as closet doors, added hints of industrial elements, shots of warm colors throughout the design, and an accent wall to die for to create this gorgeous moody urban modern college student oasis.
Parts of this reno started a few months back when we replaced the old wooden bed with a wrought iron one. During the first week of the ORC, we performed a Marie Kondo decluttering job on the room and installed extra storage units inside the closets. To preserve space and add a bit of drama to the room, I installed floor-length curtains instead of folding doors. On the main window, I added these gorgeous geometric shaped curtains to really bring the heart of urban drama into the room. The goal was to draw the beholder’s eye to one of the several star’s in this showroom as a hint of what’s to come inside.
Did it work? You tell me.
And here is a photo of the gorgeous wall of silky navy blue curtains. What are they hiding? Perhaps a door to a fantasy world? Nah. That’s another story. LoL Behind these flowing doors sits my son’s newly renovated shelving unit. It’s designed to hold his clothes, memorabilia, books, board games, and also acts as a hidey-hole for his cat baby’s food. More on how we handled the litter box situation in a bit.
Let’s talk about this ceiling fan. To transform an outdated light fixture into a modern-day showstopper took some fancy thinking. I didn’t simply want to just paint it and call the project complete. Design means bringing unique elements into a plan and creativity must play a part. We created a metallic battered finish that speaks volumes for a moody urban modern design with a hint of industrial. I chose to create an ombre effect on the glass bulb covers which truly gave this design the recognition it deserved as the centerpiece of the room.
When I decided to go with Naval as the chosen color for the basis of our moody design there was a great deal of debate about my choice. My son wasn’t buying it. He wanted bright blue. I thought that would defeat the purpose of the calm and relaxing spot he desired. Eventually, we compromised. Thanks to a suggestion by the beautiful designer, Leslie Carothers, we found a way to bring both a shot of a lighter blue and bright color into his design. We would paint the ceiling two shades lighter, a beautiful color called bracing blue, a hue found on the same card as Naval.
Feeling beyond accomplished, I purchased a quart for the ceiling (not nearly enough btw) and hopped out of my car with the purchase. However, the paint can had a different idea… It chose to burst through the bottom of my ‘single” bag (avoid bagging your own reno items at the self-checkout please). This is where all my lovely blue ceiling paint landed.
This happened 24 hours before our designated reveal day. Talk about trauma, right? Naval stepped back on to the drawing board as the color of choice for our fifth wall. We did not have an unlimited budget and most items we purchased ourselves. So back on the ceiling, Naval would go. And the result wowed my son with Naval’s embraceful beauty as a ceiling color.
We still had a backup plan for adding a lighter blue to the design, however. Take a look at this gorgeous accent wall by Urban Walls.
And here’s how his new library-study looks when furnished.
We didn’t stop there. This mega gallery wall plays off the warm colors typically found in urban modern design and adds a hint of personal touch for my son to enjoy each time he looks at the wall. Gone is the Kraken from POTC and here instead now sits a pop of color in his moody college student oasis. We added bits of his personality into the room and added a representative for each one of the five elements of Feng Shui as we described in this post.
We went with a bright red carpet to replace the aging mauve-colored flooring instead of wood. Yes, you can pull off the usage of carpet in an urban modern design if you go with a bright hue such as the one we chose. To marry the design of the bench with the window treatment, we added this gorgeous rug, a play on the patterns found in both pieces.
I almost forgot to mention his Hercules, my son’s fearless cat. Can you find the litter box in this photo?
No? Hint. Move your eye towards the game console in the above photo and carefully examine the espresso colored structure that holds the items.
It’s a side table.
Nah, it’s a mini console.
Wait… It’s a cabinet.
Nope! It’s a litterbox! I promise.
In the end, the design came out better than I expected it to do. There were doubts and mishaps and personal trauma that all hindered progress. Yet, we banded together as a family and made it happen. To finish this challenge meant more to me than I can describe in this post. The important thing is we made it to our reveal day, a personal ode to the strength of the right design and a family’s love for one another.
Now that we’re all done, you should definitely make sure you stop by the online homes of the other designers of the BHG One Room Challenge and prepare to be inspired beyond your wildest imagination.
A little something for your Pinterest page.
Hi there, KaSonndra! What a story…and what a transformation! I bet your son is SO happy now that his room is renovated into one that reflects his current age and interests. And thank you for giving me credit for the suggestion that gave you a solution to your argument about the 5th wall color. I’m glad, despite the mishap, that your son is now really happy with the color and with his room.
And.. the way you accomplished the Marie Kondo’ing of his closet was a stroke of genius. Everything is better when things are organized and clutter free.
You did a great job on giving your son a room that really reflects his interests, yet will work for you when he finishes his degree in cybersecurity.
Congratulations on completing your first ORC!
Thanks so much Leslie. Your encouragement throughout the process truly meant a lot to me. It was a tough process with everything going on behind the scenes. But we got there!
I can imagine how happy your son is! He’s a lucky young man to have a talented mother to create the perfect cool hang-out for him. I’m a newbie here from the challenge and glad I found you.
Thank you for stopping by lady. I’m looking forward to getting to know you too.
This is really lovely! I hope your son loves it! Here’s to a great ORC!
He does love it. He loves the Naval too even after having initial reservations. Thanks for stopping by.
cute!! love the wall covering! looks great with the geometrics on the bedding!
Thanks Julie! We wanted to add pops of color to help compliment the allure of Naval’s deep inky shade.
Congratulations on finishing up the ORC! I bet your son LOVES his new space! My favorite part is that geometric design on the wall – such a great look with the desk and bedding!
That was a super last minute addition and took a lot longer than we expected. But we did it. Thanks for stopping by.
That was a super last-minute addition and took a lot longer than we expected. But we did it. Thanks for stopping by.
Great job and love how you hid that litter box! Great idea to paint the ceiling a lighter shade of blue.
Litter box hiders have come a LONG way. LOL
Your son must be over the moon! What a great transformation.
It was a toughie but we’re beyond happy with the results.
Love the update! HIs room is a great spot to hang out and study! It looks so handsome!
Thanks so much Lisa!