The Guest Bedroom Makeover Runs into Two Dilemmas

The feeling of our guest bedroom makeover coming to completion is finally setting in. After another week of dilemmas on the project, two to be exact, the beginning of the week felt like it was just going to be a disaster. That being said, here is how the two issues were solved.

Dilemma One: The chair is gone!

I placed a gray geometric upholstered chair from HomeGoods on hold, and when I went to pick it up, someone in the store had sold it. Frustration set in! I scrambled, driving from one HomeGoods to another, searching for the chair I wanted for this guest bedroom makeover. I had HomeGoods employees reach out to stores I could drive to where I might be able to pick up another of the same chair without luck! Knowing that Cheryl loved this chair and it had the nail heads that would match the headboard of the bed, I was getting a little frantic. I drove around to other stores knowing that I could not order a custom chair, and because this was a budget project, it was not in the plan. Quite honestly, as a guest bedroom that will probably not get used very much, I’ve ventured into my local Christmas Tree Shop. Yes, as a luxury interior designer, I do have sourcing options. Lo and behold, I found a persimmon fabric chair with white flowers, which was perfect. Because we needed a pop of color, and the gray chair next to the gray dresser was a little too much gray for the space, the persimmon option was the pop of color the room called for. After purchasing the chair, I wasted no time driving around the back of the store for pick up. I didn’t want to lose the opportunity of this find again.

Liz Roache saves the day!

The persimmon color was intended to be the pop of color in the room. After collaborating with color artist Liz Roache at her Boston Design Center showroom this week, Liz’s trained eye and expertise came through with a color scheme for artwork that would be the focal point in the room. Liz conceived two color options based on the persimmon pillow fabric. This fabric is for bed and window seat pillows. The newly purchased chair was a perfect companion to the Fabulous Flowers artwork. The first option Liz presented was a light gray background, persimmon color flowers, and a floral center of a touch of green pulled from the lamps and area rug. The second option was the opposite colorway. Persimmon background with light gray flowers. After presenting the two options to Doug and Sheryl on a mood board, the light gray background Fabulous flowers was the winner.

Dilemma Two: No Window Treatment Fabric!

The second dilemma came when the second selection for our side panel window treatments for the room was on backorder. As our first fabric was discontinued second fabric is now being back-ordered, I was panicking because I still need to have the drapes made and installed by the end of Week Six. Due to crunch time, I went into my fabric inventory and found a bolt of the perfect colorway of fabric. The Ivory background with the same color green floral as in the rug was perfect for hanging on a backdrop of paint color lingerie from Benjamin Moore. All have finally come together. With just a few accessories left to purchase, for the space, I decided to add a white garden stool next to the persimmon floral chair. This piece will act as a small side table next to the persimmon chair. The green stripe vintage pottery planter will provide the perfect contrast of green.

DIY Window Treatments & Pillows

However, the next task will be sewing this guest bedroom makeover's window treatments and pillows. I will be very busy this coming week. This will be my DIY part of the project as I know with crunch time and Thanksgiving just around the corner, custom-made items on a deadline will not happen, and I will not be able to have a workroom fabricate the window treatments in time for the Week 6 reveal of this guest bedroom sanctuary. I have experience with sewing window treatments as I used to own my own window treatment workroom many years ago when I began sewing window treatments back in the 80s. This was the beginning of my interior design career.

I am confident that all the furnishings and accessories in this guest bedroom makeover will create a warm and charming sanctuary welcoming guests. Once they come and stay in Doug and Cheryl’s home, they may never leave.

Once again, I want to thank Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, for creating this motivational design event.

You can follow more of my ORC on Facebook and Instagram as well. Come back to see Week 4 of this sanctuary guest bedroom makeover. Better Homes & Gardens is the official media sponsor of the ORC.

About Debbe Daley

Debbe Daley is New England’s leading interior design expert in the fields of design, decorating, and styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, and business coach in interior design. She also teaches creative interior design and change-of-career-minded individuals at her School of Interiors. These courses provide mentoring and hands-on training. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center. She also is an educator and instructor at Middlesex Community College in the field of interior design.

Contact Debbe at ddaley@daleydesigns.com or (978) 697-0288.