Filed under: Color, Projects, Design, etc, House Tours
A Seattle homeowner gets a crash course in decorating small spaces as her dark, top floor storage area is transformed into a play space, guest room, home office and TV room. Really!Most people have it -- that dreaded space that you've been dying to makeover but you're not quite sure what to do with it.
When a friend contacted me to help her solve such a conundrum for the top floor of her Seattle townhome, I immediately wanted to help.
Photos: Allison Lind
The task seemed daunting. But I decided to take on the challenge.
The room was previously just a glorified storage area where guests occasionally slept and the homeowner occasionally worked. The first priority was to bring some life -- via color and pattern -- into the room. I started with the walls. Should I paint the space or wallpaper it? I decided that the perfect wallpaper could transform the room and brighten it up, so I went on the hunt.
Photos: Allison Lind
There are a few odd alcoves in the space, and I wanted to paint them colors that would contrast nicely with the wallpaper. In one alcove, I located the play space for her nephews. Here, I chose a rich turquoise that was playful enough to please the boys but serious enough to still feel grown up.
My friend has a vibrant personality, and I wanted the space to reflect that. While it may seem like there's already enough color here, I sensed that we needed more. I decided to begin hunting for a piece of furniture that would add even more color to the space.
I was thrilled when I came across a burnt orange daybed, which just happens to fold out into a queen-sleeper for even more guest sleeping space. The orange offered the perfect colorful contrast to the bright blue. (Orange is, in fact, fun to decorate with. Check out our round-up on orange!) I chose black chalkboard paint to help offset the intensity of the hue.
With so much bright color and pattern now there -- and more to come -- we kept furnishings sleek and simple.The lounge chair and sofa provide ample space for guests to hang out and watch TV, or for business clients who visit her home office to sit for a comfy meeting. Plus, the sofa folds out into a queen-sized sleeper. Jonathan Adler helped (Thanks, Jonathan!) add some extra quirky personality with his ceramic Giraffe Lamp.
Photos: Allison Lind
Here, I painted the half-wall with more chalkboard paint. (It's like instant decor since you can scribble sayings on it or draw different pictures on it everyday, if you wanted to!) Then I picked up a funky locker-style cabinet (find it at IKEA!) and adorned it with a flat screen and shapely black lamp with black shade for effect.
The result: An unused corner suddenly has a purpose.
Lastly, we fixed up the home office area, which is located on the other side of the stairwell. We kept the desk and chair because they do the job and look nice (and my friend was working from a small budget). But we added low shelves for extra storage behind the desk, including some green filing bins to match the green chair. Surprisingly, the green plays really well off the orange and turquoise in the room. (I was a little worried about it clashing!)
The homeowner was obviously pleased -- she called me complaining the next day that she was still stuck in her new office because she "didn't want to leave." All the difference that a little money and two days of work can get you!
Want more fun before and afters?
Here's another office that's sure to wow.
Get a load of this bland to glam bedroom.
What can three days and only $1500 bucks get you?
Sometimes all it takes is a can of paint.