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Earlier this spring, I introduced my dad’s empty condo. My dad and his partner, Cyndi, split their time between a home in Indiana and a condo in the Chicagoland area. They purchased the condo last year and the entire second level has remained empty. He is not into interior design and felt completely lost and overwhelmed at where to start.
Designing These Rooms From Scratch
I told him I would help out and he gave me the green light to do pretty much whatever I wanted to their guest room, loft space, and guest bathroom. He just wanted it to be furnished and feel “done”.
I’m not gonna lie. It’s pretty fun to design when spending someone else’s money! I perused all of my favorite retailers to find the perfect furniture pieces and decor to bring these spaces to life. Because we needed so much furniture, it took about three months from start to finish to get these rooms completed.
I found myself driving out to his place every other week or so to unload boxes and see what had been delivered since the last time I was there. Here on the blog, I shared my mood boards for all three spaces (bedroom, bathroom, loft) and even added a DIY slat wall to the loft space to add interest.
I also spent a day with my bestie, Bridget, shopping and accessorizing all three rooms. We hit up HomeGoods and had three carts full of accessories to complete these spaces. It was the best afternoon ever and we made so much progress styling the rooms.
I’m happy to announce that these three spaces are finally done! Let’s see how far they’ve come…
Bedroom – Before & After
The all white bedroom had to go. Between the walls, doors, and tan carpet, this small bedroom was feeling pretty bland and boring. I’m happy we were able to inject some blue hues into this space. It makes the room feel so much more inviting.
Grey and Blue Bedroom Details
First, I had the walls painted my favorite gray-blue wall color, “Boothbay Gray”, by Benjamin Moore. It’s my go-to when adding a calming color to a space. This blue color scheme instantly made the room feel cozier!
With the walls drenched in this serene blue, we added this light blue rug underfoot and a velvet navy headboard. My goal for the bedroom was to showcase their Art Deco style, add hints of glam, and use different shades of blue.
The Cozy Bed & Curved Nightstand
When sharing the mood board for the bedroom, I was undecided between a mauve headboard and this navy one. I went for the navy and ended up adding that pretty pink color via the quilt on the end of the bed. For bedding, I chose this crisp white duvet set so guests have a comfy spot to rest.
The curve of the nightstand also fits with the Art Deco style. It was one of the final pieces to arrive and it’s absolutely stunning. I found the perfect little white box to go on the nightstand shelf, from HomeGoods, and it’s a cute little addition.
To camouflage the oddly placed electrical box on the bedroom wall, I miraculously found this artwork from HomeGoods that fit it perfectly. It was meant to be. Normally, I would hang wall art a bit lower and centered over the nightstand, but this one is placed where it is to cover the electrical box. I think it does a pretty darn good job!
My Favorite View – This Statement Wall
This floor mirror. O-M-G! It’s insanely large and so freaking gorgeous. It’s just about the heaviest mirror you ever did see and it bounces light like a dream. I wasn’t sure what I would put on that large wall and this mirror ends creates the perfect accent wall.
The chair was also a fabulous find. It swivels and the curves mimic the curves of the nightstand on the opposite wall. I added a marble side table (Again, it’s all about luxe materials when it comes to Art deco style.) and I found this gold alligator to add a bit of quirk to the space.
The White Dresser
The dresser ended up fitting the nook between the two closets beautifully. It was an excellent choice for this space! On top, I added this black marble table lamp and some gold accents and accessories.
My dad had some frames in his office that he hadn’t hung, so I stole a few pieces to do a mini gallery wall over the dresser. It takes up the wall space between the dresser and the window.
Speaking of the window, I have gray roman shades being installed in a few weeks to complete the space.
Oh, I can’t forget the coolest light fixture that I had hung in this room. I’ve always wanted a bubble chandelier somewhere in my own home and I was so happy I could use one here. I originally had this one picked out, but it was going to hang too low. I ended up getting this one on a whim and it’s fantastic. It emits a good amount of light and those bubbles look so cool and glam!
Light Blue Bedroom – Sources
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore’s “Boothbay Gray” // Upholstered Bed // Crisp White Bedding // 8×10 Rug // Nightstand // Brass Lamp // Bubble Chandelier // White Dresser // Black Lamp // Swivel Chair // Black Marble Side Table // Large Floor Mirror // Mattress // Green Branches in Vase // Gold Planter // All other accessories & textiles from HomeGoods
Overall, I’m thrilled with the unique look of the bedroom space. The grey and blue is a classic color scheme and the velvet, marble, and gold take things up a notch. I don’t think this room has been used just yet, but I would be happy to spend a night in this luxurious bedroom.
Bathroom – Before & After
Here is another before, with a lot of white on white on white. While this bathroom was updated and nice, it was lacking personality. It now complements the blue bedroom design next door.
Bathroom Details
First, we painted the walls “Brewster Gray” by Benjamin Moore. Because this is a windowless room, I had to be careful with choosing the right paint color so it wouldn’t read too dark or too saturated. I dove into some of the paint color contenders in this blog post and I am very pleased with the one we chose.
While it’s a blue wall paint, it has a lot of gray and green undertones. This is a new favorite shade!
Adding Warm Tones Using Wood & Gold
To add warmth to this stark space, I incorporated both wood and gold accents. The wood shelf ended up working out beautifully. It fills the space above the toilet, while offering some extra storage in this small bathroom.
I added more wood on the opposite wall with this coat rack turned towel storage. Wood tones are always a good idea to make a space feel relaxed, lived in, and warmer.
You’ll notice a new light above the mirror. This space only had overhead lighting, which isn’t at all flattering. I had an electrician wire in a sconce over the vanity to incorporate another light source. This one works out great!
For the hardware, I chose gold/brass for everything including this toilet paper holder, this towel ring, these brass knobs, and the sconce. I always recommend choosing hardware from the same retailer. It’s a good way to ensure that the the finishes match exactly.
Bathroom – Sources
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore’s “Brewster Gray” // Vanity Light // Cabinet Knobs // Towel Ring // Wood Towel Rack // Wood Wall Shelf // Toilet Paper Holder // Trash Can // All other accessories from HomeGoods
All of the accessories, including that cool rug, are HomeGoods finds. They elevate the space and add an extra special touch. The blue and gold in this room are a classic color combination to add personality to an otherwise bland space.
Loft Space – Before & After
This living space was very empty with white walls and cream carpet. My dad envisioned a loft area for the grandkids to hang out, play video games, watch movies, and even sleep on the ground for sleepovers.
Leather Couch & Feature Wall
The leather couch was the first piece of new furniture to arrive and it set the tone for the entire room. Leather is a popular choice for family-friendly areas because it’s very easy to clean and gets better with time. I was originally planning on just adding a gallery wall over the couch, but once the sofa arrived that white wall felt so expansive with those high ceilings.
I ended up adding black walnut slats to create an accent wall behind the couch. It was a fun and simple DIY project (Here’s the full step-by-step.) and it added so much to the space. On top of the slats, I hung this symmetrical gallery wall showcasing pictures of my dad and all of his grandkids. It’s the true focal point of this room.
On the couch, I added lots of throw pillows and cozy blankets. These velvet blue pillows are a favorite because they incorporate some of the same blue accents from the bedroom.
My dad already had the side table on the left, so we elected to keep that in place and just added this sleek gold lamp on top. On the opposite side of the couch, I added this black floor lamp for an additional light source.
A Dark Blue Rug & Sleek Furniture
While the bedroom and bathroom feature the Art Deco and glam styles, I wanted to go a different route in this space to make it kid-friendly. Even though this space already has carpet, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t layer a rug on top. I opted for this navy patterned one and it’s awesome. It immediately added color and personality to the large room. Navy blue is just a versatile color.
On top, I chose this oval coffee table, along with a black tray and some decor.
To make it a cool hangout spot for kids, I found these bean bag lounge chairs. They complete the conversation area with the couch and are so easy to move around for game nights. I know the kids will love them!
The dark wood TV console was another stunner. It was late to arrive and transformed the space once it was put in place. It has a lot of storage and the gold handles make quite a statement.
I love the TV console area, but the TV does need to be moved down a few inches. This is why it’s hard for me to manage projects from afar. The painter ended up mounting the TV and my directions for placement got lost in translation. An electrician is coming out to move it down a bit and hook everything up for my dad. (In case you’re wondering, I suggest hanging your TV about six inches above your console).
The Bookshelves
The built-in bookshelves are awesome because they offer so much storage, but damn, they were hard to fill with stuff because they’re so expansive! While I was able to style a few cubbies, I couldn’t finish them all. My dad is planning on bringing some of his favorite books out of storage to add to these shelves and then I can really finish them up.
I was able to add a few special touches with a picture of my dad’s grandmother and a frame of us as children. Plus, I displayed a few Notre Dame favorites. I incorporated natural materials like a wood bowl, leather organizer, and wicker baskets. Using these textures when styling is a great way to add visual interest.
Loft Space – Sources
9×12 Area Rug // Leather Sofa // DIY Slat Wall // Oval Coffee Table // Floor Lamp // Velvet Pillow // Gallery Wall // Gold Lamp // Wood TV Console // Bean Bag Chairs // Shelf Baskets // Coffee Table Tray // Throw Blanket // Faux Pothos // All other accessories (HomeGoods)
This loft space was my favorite to design and execute. Yes, it’s a kids’ room, but it can also function as a cool spot for adults to hang, read, and relax.
Yay! They’re Finished!
I am so happy to officially cross these spaces off of my to-do list. I had a blast designing them, but wow, it’s tough working on rooms from afar. I am relieved these are done and looking so good for my dad.
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