One Room Challenge 2021 Fall Week 1: The Project!

Ahh I can’t believe the day is here!  I get to share with you not only the projects I’ve been designing behind the scenes but also the amazing news that I have been asked to be a featured designer this season!   I’m so incredibly honored to be 1 of 20 with 19 other fabulously talented designers featured this fall on the One room Challenge series.

I would like to express my utmost gratitude to Linda Weinstein for the opportunity to be included.  And the One Room Challenge media partner Better Homes and Gardens for partnering up with Linda and the ORC team to host this fantastic event.

This will be my 7th, yes 7th! One Room Challenge.  (Here are a few of the most recent: Main Bedroom & Bath, Laundry Room, Kitchen, Office)  And for this one I am embarking on a very different concept….

I am tackling not 1 but 2 bedrooms for the most difficult and gray hair inducing clients I have ever had…..my teenage children.  I’m diving into a his and hers concept with 2 VERY different styles.   And I don’t just have to win them over with the designs but they also double as our guest rooms.  So I need them to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional for guests too.

Let me show you what we’re dealing with.

One Room Challenge Fall 2021: the Rooms

His Room

This is my almost 18yr old son B’s room.  A total leftover schmorgasbord.  He didn’t want any color except his football jerseys and the old high school lockers.  It’s just so sad and uninviting.

From the corner you see the closet and the jack and jill bathroom door.  This is the slightly larger of the 2 rooms at 13×14.

From the opposite side, is the entrance and the only solid wall in the space. You can see we never got around to painting the ceiling. (ugh smh)

The issues with his room include carpet that runs throughout the upper level that needs to be replaced.  The ceiling needs to be finished and the only storage he has are the drawers under the bed.  The storage bed would be great but he never actually uses the drawers, which leads to not knowing what’s clean and mom doing extra laundry.

I need to give him a dresser to make it easier for him to keep his clothes put away and give guests somewhere to set their things.  There is only one nightstand in here now so I need to get a set (again guests).  He also needs lighting that’s functional and easily accessible.

His only major want was an all black room.  Spoiler I couldn’t do an all black room, it’s just not in me, I needed some color.  I legit have a flat butt from searching high and low for the perfect way to incorporate his one liner “I want a black room” direction into something we can both we very happy with.    And I must say I think I nailed it.  (coming up next week friends 😉)

Her Room

Next up!   Here’s my 15 1/2 yr old daughter A’s room.  I did this room a few years ago designed around that antique bed. (you can peep that here)  In the last 6 months she has slowly been removing almost everything I put in here.

Who has teenagers, raise your hand?! 🥴  She decided she wanted all white, boho, rattan everything and maybe plants.  Pretty much the exact opposite of the way it is now and as far away from my particular style as possible.

Peeping the other side shows her closet door and a sliver of the bathroom door.  This room is slightly smaller than the other room so furniture selection is going to be important to cover what she needs but doesn’t make it feel cluttered.

Sadly the bed is going to go, it’s just barely a full size and can’t accommodate guests.  Also, she has decided she wants something “less princess-y”.

From the far corner looking out, the bathroom door is on the left and the entrance is next to her desk.  She loves to draw so a desk is a must.  I’m on the hunt for something a little more special.  Or maybe I’ll give this one a major makeover we’ll see.

The ceiling is a peel and stick so we need to remove that and underneath is the same ugly brown as the other room.  I’m sad to see this mural go but I’m excited for what I have planned!

Her room has the same layout as the other room with only one solid wall and one wall with 2 windows.

To recap, we need a different bed to accommodate guests and something more adult-ish.  Get rid of the pink walls, paint the doors, trim and ceiling.  Add in artistic elements to bring in her love of art and lots of boho touches.  A pair of nighstands, task lighting and a comfy desk chair.   She told me she’s open to some color, so I’ve been working with her every step of the way to get approval and make sure I’m creating a space SHE loves just as much as I do.

Open Walkway

And that’s not all, I am completely renovating the 2nd floor open walkway that connects the 2 for a BIG impact change.  I know what you’re thinking, she must be CRAZY!  Yes, yes I am.

This is the open walkway that connects B’s room (pictured here to the left) to A’s room where I was standing to take this photo.  The carpet, ugh it’s everywhere up here and has got to go.

Whoever thought half wall railings was a good idea should be fired.  They are never a good idea.  They are unattractive, clunky and visually take up so much real estate it distracts from the other great elements like ceiling height and flow from entry (chandelier in background) to family room on the other side.

Looking from B’s room over to A’s room.  You can see how it’s open to below which is the entire main portion of the house.  “Hey I know! Let’s build a wall, but like a half size one, it won’t look random or ugly at all!” Said no one ever.

What do you think?  A his/hers concept for 2 teenagers to encompass their wants/needs while also doubling as guest rooms along with a major change right smack in the middle of them.  Hit me up in the comments below with your thoughts, I always love to hear from ya.

I am SO ready to get started!  Come on back next week to see the designs for each space and how I plan to deal with the issues for each!

And be sure to hit up the subscribe box!  Come tag along for the next 7 weeks as we tackle it all.  There’ll be DIY, excitement, probably at least 1 meltdown by yours truly and a minimum of 1 or 2 pivots.

And be sure to check out the other talented featured designers projects!  All linked below for ya to pop over and check out.

XOXOXO