I recently took a client through the Design From Within program to help her determine the best possible choices for her master bedroom makeover.

When we started the process initially, Michele shared the areas where she was struggling:

• She had general feelings about what she wanted, but she didn’t know how to pull it all together. 

• Michele was able to identify concepts and ideas of what made her perfect space truly hers, but she needed some help to really articulate those details and create something meaningful.

• She struggled with narrowing down all the myriad of choices out there, and with a specific budget to stick to, she knew that she needed to make smart purchases. 

So we got together and started down a very unique design pathway. She was ready to get a jumpstart on her soon-to-be new master bedroom, but instead, I started asking her questions about her past…

First, we glance to the past…

When I have clients share their past experiences of meaningful places with me, it opens up a world of design choices, while making them very specific at the same time.

Michele identified a very clear childhood memory of a place she loved - her grandmother’s house. She was able to describe the setting for me, and several details stood out as quite important to her: 

• Michele loved the minimalism, natural elements, and family coziness the space instilled.

• She described fond memories of playing in the trees

• She remembered feeling at home in the comfortable kitchen, full of love and laughter

She also noted a very specific life experience when she lived in a craftsman-style home.  She was in love with the wood, the clean architectural lines, and the comfortable, warm furnishings. The home had amazing views of surrounding trees that welcomed nature into the space. The light and bright home lent itself to the pure, uncluttered and natural feeling Michele knew she loved.

Hearing these memories helped me to understand that these elements needed to be incorporated into her future design plan.

Then, we become aware of the present…

Once I had a good sense of her most positive past experiences of place, we spent time discussing her present home and what worked, and what didn’t.

One of the things lacking in Michele’s current home was adequate private space, and a comfortable space for retreat.  Her bedroom, while good-sized, was a very dreary shade of gray-blue, which, without much natural light made for a rather dreary room. Quite the opposite of the light and bright space she craved. 

Michele also revealed a love of French Country design elements: the overstuffed comfort and warm undertones made her heart sing.

At last, we look to the future…

Finally, we discussed Michele’s vision for the future space and what that looked like for her. Themes that stood out from our discussion:

• warmth 

• comfort 

• earth/nature 

• bright 

• easy to care for 

• blend of craftsman and French country

My job was to translate those positive feelings from her past, consider the issues with her current space, and merge them with her future vision to create a tangible and livable interior design. 

I knew I needed to take a dark space and brighten it up, add some natural elements, incorporate coziness and warmth, while creating a blend of craftsman and French country — two very different styles. 

With my punch list in mind, I got started.

After: French Country, Craftsman & Cozy

I worked with a local craftsman, Rustic Red Door, to create a one-of a kind custom headboard that would become the focal point of the room. Made of reclaimed barn wood, I upholstered the center with a creamy linen for a perfect blend of rustic softness. 

The bed linens followed with washable fabrics for the custom duvet cover and shams. The overall effect is one of sink-into comfort, while blending seamlessly with the clean lines of her existing side tables and dresser.

I opted for a warm neutral on the walls, with a pop of soothing green on the ceiling. Crown moulding was added to help frame out the space with much-needed architectural detail. The windows were finished off with custom smocked drapery panels with the same fabric that was used on the headboard. The sheer fabric helped diffuse the light around the space, and the smocking details were completed in the same color thread as the ceiling paint.

We bought new lamp shades and painted the lamp bases to match the drapery hardware and furnishings. Hanging some of Michele’s favorite botanical prints and some dried hydrangea blooms completed the look.

The journey Michele took with me to reminisce and identify specific details of space allowed me to address all of her needs, creating a room that now serves as a place for her positive well-being and growth.

If you’re ready to begin your own design from within journey, I’m here and happy to help.

Ready to Design from Within?