One Room Challenge Spring 2018 - Week 1

When you read the title of this post, be honest, did you think to yourself 'she's crazy'? Because you just might be right! Apparently I've got myself into another grueling 6 week One Room Challenge, but in all honesty I'm beyond honored to have been chosen as one of the 20 featured designers for the second time. What an anxiety-inducing, thrilling, and rewarding process this ORC game is! If you are new here, welcome, I'm Nancy and I'm so happy you are here. I'm a 30-something biology college prof whose been blogging her way through most of her 'adult' life. Since 2010 I've been exploring my passion for design, with my first home reno, and now my second home. You can view my past ORC guest participant nursery here, breakfast nook here, and my featured designer bathroom here.

Now the next question you are likely asking is, what room is she doing this time? Well, it turns out it's already time to create a big boy room for our 2 year old son Marky. It literally feels like just yesterday we finished the nursery. And before you think to yourself, aw boring, she's just re-doing a room she's already decorated ... nope! We are starting from scratch with an all-new bedroom that hasn't been touched as far as decorating goes (it's currently a dumping ground). Why, you ask? Well, as it turns out we have one other little project going on .... poor Marky will be evicted from his current nursery come September 2018 ... to make way for BABY #2 :)

So let me quickly take you back, way back to what the Real Estate photos of the room looked like approximately 3 years ago when we bought this home. Pretty plain-Jane with the 1980's carpet and blue blinds, a chair rail and nothing much going on.
There was an overall pink undertone in the space and I'm going to go ahead and blame that on the dusty rose carpet. Also note the light fixture and the popcorn ceiling, both of which we have already addressed before we moved in:
So if you look at the current state of the room, we've smoothed out the ceiling, replaced the tiny crown and baseboard, and of course that flooring is long gone:
I'm showing you all my mess in here, which is a bit embarrassing, but I'm hoping it'll make for even better before & after comparison's in the end!
I'd say we definitely have a clean and blank slate, let the decorating begin! And I'm nervous but ready to dig in. Here's a mood board to start us off and give you an idea of the direction I'll be going in:
I'm hoping for a handsome and grown up feel that won't quickly lose it's charm. I'm going for a classic blue and white palette but will plan to add some unexpected doses of color here and there throughout the room as well. Here are a few inspiration photos I've saved:
I love the nautical-nod in this space above by Suzanne Kasler, and I'm going to add a Company C striped rug from Bellacor to emulate this. I'll also be adding some wood furnishings to warm up the space. And take a look at that stunning addition of the Les Touches fabric combined with the monogram on the bed below, that's definitely the pattern pop I will be adding from Arianna Belle's shop!  Just look at this perfect combo of glossy red millwork and raffia textured wallpaper by Ashley Whittaker, so divine! We are planning a built-in with a window seat, more to come on that front next week. We'll be selecting Benjamin Moore's Gentleman's Gray for an inky blue feel and painting all the Metrie trim in the space the same color.

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