Welcome to the Fall 2016 edition of the One Room Challenge™! I’m so honored to be back again, and thank you to Linda of Calling it Home for all of her hard work putting this together. She gathers such talent and incredible sponsors to make these six weeks possible. To those of you who are new, thank you for stopping by and I hope you’ll stick around, as it’s sure to be interesting. Home reno always is, but especially this time around! My husband and I have been renovating our 1980’s suburban colonial room by room over the last few years the kitchen, basement, and dining room are the spaces we’ve completely finished and for this challenge we’re tackling our upper sunroom.
Off of our master bedroom is this 12×30′ space. With 10 windows, a fireplace and an enclosed deck overlooking the pool it has loads of potential but is rather bland and dated. This is how the room has looked for most of the almost two years we’ve lived here. It’s played office, craft room, storage, drop-off space, and this is also where Micah watched TV until we finished the basement for the last challenge. Moving forward it will be my office and a nursery for our third child, due this fall.
Such an inspiring work environment, right? Ha. Staring at a tan wall is not my idea of motivating. I can’t wait to have a desk that allows me some space to sprawl out a bit and a view that encourages creativity.
A sink is a rather strange thing to find in a sunroom. Both our sunrooms have them, and I’ve actually found it to be incredibly useful. Whether my water cup is low, the iron is out of steam, or kid’s hands need a rinse – having a sink in here has been convenient. I can only imagine it will continue to be so with a baby. While the function is staying, the form will change, as the cabinets are rather blah and break up that wall in a visually obtrusive way.
First order of business was clearing the room out. I really recommend this to people because it can help you visualize and plan so much more clearly. It keeps you from boxing yourself into what you already had there. We sold all of the furniture except for the filing cabinet and I spent a few days going through all of my crafting and design supplies. Just making it a blank slate, the room was already showing more of its potential.
There are several stained glass windows in our home, and while I like most of them, I’ve never loved this piece. Because this was an addition, it’s not original to the home, and it doesn’t speak to any of the other glass throughout. Lucky for me my dad and sister both create stained glass pieces as a hobby, and my sister is working on something that is a better fit with our design plans.
There are four mantles in our home (two double-sided fireplaces) and this one is my favorite. The scale is strangely large for the 8′ ceilings, but I love the layers. It’s the only woodwork that is staying. I’m hopeful that as we beef up the crown, base, and casings it will feel more proportionate in the space. The current baseboards are about 2″ tall. Lame.
So, onto the plan. The truth of the matter is I’ve been working on the design of this space for some time. Deciding on a plan for a room that will be your work space for the long haul and a nursery for the short term especially when you are not finding out the sex of the baby wasn’t the easiest, but in the end I went with details that made my heart sing and colors that were bold and glam enough to inspire, yet fun enough to play a bit juvenile. You can never go wrong with a stripe, and this Farrow and Ball wallpaper was just the jumping off point I needed.
This is a six week challenge and I’m due with this baby in about four or five weeks. If you were already questioning my sanity, you’ve surely made up your mind now. We’re plowing ahead as fast as we can to get this room ready for our newest arrival. Everything is ordered and renovation has begun, but Micah will have to tackle more on his own than usual not that I’m some Nicole Curtis or anything, but I always help where I can. I’m already to the point where bending and straining are not ideal, and we want this little one to cook as long as possible. I’m crossing my fingers that the hiccups will be minimal and that I don’t go into labor on a Tuesday – because I’ve got six Wednesdays committed to sharing this process with you all. 🙂 I’ll be back next week with lots of sources for all of the pretties above and room updates, hope you’ll follow along!
There are so many talented, inspiring bloggers participating! Don’t forget to check out…
Jana Bek | Chris Loves Julia | Shannon Claire | Coco.Kelley | The Curated House
Driven by Decor | The English Room | From the Right Bank | Sherry Hart
Hi Sugarplum | House of Jade | Hunted Interior | The Makerista | Making it Lovely
Marcus Design | Pencil & Paper Co. | Megan Pflug | Place of My Taste | Suburban B’s
Waiting on Martha Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by CIH
Karen @ a house full of sunshine says
I’m so looking forward to seeing this! Your design plans look amazing. And wow, congratulations on the upcoming little arrival!! I *may* have been on a ladder installing wallpaper in my son’s nursery the night before I was scheduled to have a C-section! He’s now 6 months old so we both survived to tell the tale. 😉 All the best for the next month, I’m sure it will be a whirlwind! Exciting times ahead. xo
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, that gives me hope, Karen! Yes, I’m just plowing along and hoping this little one stays in for a while longer!
Holly Phillips says
I look forward to seeing you work your magic in wonderful space…and fast!
xoxo-
Holly @ The English Room
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Holly, right back at you! 😉
sherry hart says
Nothing I like better than a good room full of color….even though it scares me I secretly wish I could pull it off!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, thanks Sherry! I’m sure you can, can’t wait to see what you do!
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
Love the colors. I’ve been buying a lot of outfits in those colors.
I’d love to have a sunroom with a sink in it so I could paint and make it a studio.
themakerista@gmail.com says
A sink would be ideal for painting! I wish I had that gift. 🙂 Thanks, Julia!
FROM THE RIGHT BANK says
I’m in this with you this time except for the part about expecting a baby in the middle of it! But if anyone can pull this off I know you can! I’m loving what you’ve shown – that wallpaper, hello?!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Ally! Yes, it’s so beautiful in person too…I can’t wait to get it on the walls!
Jennifer Bridgman says
I can’t wait to see this come together, Gwen!! I saw that EXACT chair (the burgundy and brass one) at Home Goods a couple weeks ago in white and I stared at it for the longest time. I am totally regretting not snapping it up now!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Really? I hate when that happens! It’s from All Modern and the price is super reasonable, can’t wait to share more!
Jennifer Griffin says
What a fun space! Can’t believe how your timing is working out on all of this…eek! Take your time, baby! 😉
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, yes, definitely not dull over here, but it’s funny how the third time around you just don’t feel as taken by it all. I’m much less freaked out than I would have been with the first two. This time it’s like “eh, a baby needs a place to sleep and some nightgowns and diapers…not much else!” 😉
Hollie says
Loving the colour pallet big time & I agree 2″ baseboard is super lame, but I know you will make is aesome1
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Hollie! Yes, new woodwork is going to be huge for the space…literally. 😉
Ariel says
Oh my goodness! I love it! I would definitely have chosen that wallpaper too. I cannot wait to see it all come together! I hopenit finished before the baby arrives!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Ariel! I’m hopeful too but I know it will all work out and I’ve got some friends who can swoop in at the end if I’m in dire straights. 🙂
Neha says
MAJOR heart eyes! I LOVE everything you do, Gwen. Good luck and can’t wait to see the results.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thank you so much!
iris Nacole says
Love the design, and can’t wait to see it come to life!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Iris, excited to bring it to life!
TNic says
Love that wallpaper! So glad to see you using wallpaper, it certainly seems to be trending! (The roll I bought is still sitting in a roll…waiting for my husband to have time to help me hang it and each day it sits, I question whether…but now I know for sure, always learn from your decorating.) I love the colors in the inspiration collage, cannot wait to see the end result! Congratulations again on your upcoming arrival!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks! Yes, you should get that hung, that will feel so good! I can’t wait to see this up…it’s bold but all of those windows break it up quite a bit and the space gets so much light I know that it can handle it. 🙂
Erika @ EP - art.food.home says
Just discovered your blog because of this challenge ! Now I can’t wait to see what you’ll do and in the meantime I’ll be reading all of your older entries. I really love the color palette you’re going for the room ! I’m already ready to pin the final result 🙂
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Erika, and so glad to have you!
Shannon Claire says
Oh Gwen, these colors are so dreamy! I love love love your plan, and I know you will knock it out of the park. Can’t wait to see!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Right back at you! 😉
Emily of www.elevengables.com says
I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us!! It’s going to be so good!!! Looking forward to linking up tomorrow!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Emily, I can’t wait to see what you do as well!
Jana Bek says
I’m excited to see the new form the sink takes on and way cool that your fam makes stained glass for a hobby! Can’t wait to see this come to life!
cassie {hi sugarplum} says
I can not wait for this!!! I’m obsessed with your moodboard!!!
Emily says
Good luck lady, can’t wait to see the results as always, and see that sweet baby of yours!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, I can’t believe you only have a week left, best of luck!
Katherine~FurnishMyWay says
I’m super excited to see what the end result looks like! That is such a super spacious room that the possibilities are endless!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Katherine! It does lean itself to lots of possibilities and I’m excited to get started!
Pamela says
Adore this plan! I have the original pink fixtures like that in 2 baths of our 1950s/60s home and spent a good deal of time locating th e perfect pink for the walls that are clad in pink tile. That wallpaper!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Glad you noticed the sink, I found it for a steal and just love the color! Thanks for following along, Pamela!
Tricia @ Suburban B's says
Oh I love your plan for the room as much as I love your moxie! Nothing like a looming due date to get you going on a project! I thought a basement finish project as well as doing a nursery was a great way to spend the last two months of my pregnancy with #3! This is going to be amazing!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Tricia! It’s good to hear I’m not alone in my nuttiness sometimes. 🙂 Excited to see what you all do too!
Nancy (Marcus Design) says
Wow you are amazing!!! I can’t believe you are due so soon, you go girl! Thanks for visiting today, I’m so honoured to be in this fall line up with you. Xo
Nancy
themakerista@gmail.com says
Hopefully I can pull it off, same here!
Megan says
Love the color palette of that paper. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Here’s hoping that your new addition waits until after your finish ?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, and yes, here’s to hoping!
Dianne says
So excited to see you are doing this again. I was afraid with the pregnancy you would not be able to. Silly me! You are indeed super woman!!! I will be here each week cheering you on.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Maybe crazy woman. 🙂 Thanks for the support, Dianne!
Chelsea @ The Johnsons Plus Dog says
I can’t believe you have FOUR mantles!! I would kill for just one. 🙂 I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
themakerista@gmail.com says
It sounds wonderful, but their placement and sizes make them a bit tricky. Thanks for following along, Chelsea!
Callie says
I have to tell you it is SO encouraging to see that you still have rooms that aren’t finished. Nice to see the real life of a home 🙂 I’m guessing our full home remodel/beautification will take 5+ years, haha.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, we have a lot of them still and I think we’re on a 10+ year plan over here 😉 I’m sure I’ll do another update about where things are at in the whole house when we hit the two year mark. Hard to believe that’s coming up!
Oksana | FOXYOXIE.com says
So excited to be joining such great talent as a guest participant and to follow everyone’s transformations! I don’t know how I’ll get anything done today – all I want to do is read through everyone’s ORC!! We’re in the middle of renovating a 1930 bungalow that was previously abandoned for 20 years, so essentially I’m renovating all the rooms simultaneously, but for sanity’s sake only documenting the living room for the ORC.
Cannot wait to see what you do!!! Your work has always been an inspiration. XO
themakerista@gmail.com says
Sounds amazing, Oksana! Best of luck with the reno and I totally understand…it’s so easy to go down the rabbit hole of all of the ORC inspiration!
Amy Mitchell, Home Glow Design says
Gwen, your style and sense of color are so original, daring but not in-your-face. I’ll definitely be following your progress each week. Tell baby to keep sleeping! It’s cozier in than out! 🙂
Haneen says
That mood board is amazing, and I’ve come across that chair online before and thought of you immediately! So glad you’re using it! Good luck, you will ROCK this!
Katie says
Love the multi-purpose aspect of this, and can’t wait to see how you address it. You are one brave lady, taking this on so near to your due date! Gorgeous inspiration…I’m excited!
Calling it Home says
Oh my, I’m nervous just reading this. The plan is a killer and I would love an office with this much sunlight. What a talented family to have your sister make a custom glass piece for you. I can’t wait to see this unfold and to hear if it is a boy or a girl!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Linda! I know it will all work out and am so excited to see it come together (and find out what this little baby is)!
Erica says
So exciting! I’ve got all my fingers & toes crossed for you! xo Erica of Pemberley Rose
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Erica!
Rosanna Bassford says
Gwen, this room is amazing. The bones have so much potential and your plan is going to be beautiful. Plus congrats on the baby! Can’t wait to see it all come to life! Good luck!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much, Rosanna! Yes, it already had great bones, and I can’t wait to really make them shine!
Obie Comfort Solutions says
Very good!