Decisions – Headboard Design, Recliner Color, Closet Island Color, and Countertop Design
Since yesterday was Wednesday, and I don’t work on Wednesdays, I still don’t have any progress to show you on the closet island. But I have made some decisions on some things, both for the closet and for our bedroom. So let me get you caught up on those.
First, I wrote a few weeks ago about the headboard that I plan to make for the bedroom. If you’re new around here, this is a mockup I did to show the general direction that I’ll be heading once I get started on the bedroom makeover.
And as a reminder, this is what the bedroom looks like right now.
The striped walls are left over from when this room was our home gym. I loved those stripes for a home gym, but that’s not at all the look I want in our bedroom, so those have to go. And they’ll be replaced with creamy white wainscoting and a rich teal grasscloth wallpaper.
Anyway, in that post about the headboard design options, my main issue was that the fabric I’ll be using isn’t wide enough to cover the width of a queen size headboard without having to seam the fabric together. But after a couple of people sent me pictures of upholstered headboards done by professional upholsterers that did have seams in them, but that were done very well with perfectly matched patterns, I’ve decided that I’m going to stick with the fully upholstered headboard option. And this is the design I’ve decided on.
That’s basically the same design I put in the mockup, minus that top curved section in the middle of the headboard. This more streamlined design fits me a bit better, I think. Y’all know how I tend towards squares and rectangles over circles, ovals, and lots of curves. This design gives me both, but without it being too heavy on the curves. Those two curved areas on the corners will give just the right amount of needed softness to the design.
But I’ve decided to go with a contrast welt around the side and top edges of the headboard, and it just so happens that I have several yards of a solid fabric that looks like it’ll work for that, pictured on the right side of the picture below.
I bought that fabric several years ago, and I can’t remember why. I think it might have even been so far back as when I tried to turn our living room into a dining room. How many of you were here then and remember that wayward era? 😀 So I’ve loved this color for many years, and it’s nice fabric, so I’ve never parted with it. It’s just been folded up in my fabric stash ever since then. And it just happens to bring out those cute little orange/coral birds perfectly, so I think it’ll make a great contrast welt for the headboard.
Also, I don’t think I ever showed you the fabric that I chose for the recliner in the bedroom. I know I’ll disappoint some of you who were hoping that I’d go with the coral color, but I decided to go with the teal color called French, which was the lighter of the two teals I was considering. The darker one is called Sapphire.
So this is what the recliner will look like. It’s the Jude recliner from Interior Define (affiliate link), which happens to be 25% off right now.
But keep in mind that there will be plenty of opportunity to bring in accent colors with throws, a pillow, artwork on the wall behind it, etc. I think this is the right color to use to balance that corner of the room.
Now on to the closet island color decision. I realized pretty quickly, as I was reading through the comments, that I’m going to disappoint about half of you regardless of what decision I make. But the overwhelming favorite from everyone who commented was… (drum roll, please)…
…Billowy Breeze. About 60% of you said I should stick with Billowy Breeze. The other 40% of you were kind of all over the place, with suggestions ranging from one of the pinks, yellow, green, navy blue, etc. But a solid 60% of you said to stick with Billowy Breeze, so that’s what I’m going to do. Your points about there being so much more color in the room once I bring in my shoes, purses, and clothes, made a lot of sense.
And then when I brought in the plywood for the top of the island and saw just how big this finished piece is going to be in the room, I also made another decision. I’m going to paint the entire thing, including the top, in Billowy Breeze.
I am, after all, building this to look like a double-sided dresser, and most (but not all) dressers have a top that matches the body of the dresser. If the body is painted, the top is generally (but not always) painted the same color.
But once it’s done, and because it’s so big and sits right in the center of the room, this island is going to be so dominant that I don’t want such a large, white (or even marbled) countertop being the focus. So, it’ll be Billowy Breeze all around. It will be color-drenched, indeed!
And that means that I’ll also be painting the countertops over the washer and dryer with Billowy Breeze as well. I don’t want any countertops standing out and grabbing attention. But I will be making a little something to sit on the island countertop that will be painted in one of the pink colors. That way, that color can be brought to the center of the room, but it’ll just be an accent and not a monstrous island in a color that dominates the whole room.
I probably still have at least three days of building left on the island before I can even get to the priming and painting, but I’m glad to have that decision made! And I have a whole, uninterrupted workday ahead of me, and I have all of the supplies needed to finish this build already on hand. So hopefully, I won’t have to waste any part of today with more trips to Home Depot or Lowe’s. I hope to have a good deal of progress to share with you tomorrow!
Side note: I updated yesterday’s post this morning with the example of the rage bait Facebook post because I saw it yet again this morning when I opened up the app on my phone. I’ve seen it no fewer than ten times now on different pages, and it’s just one example of probably tens of thousands of posts like it.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Good paint choice for island and looking forward to seeing it finished, but what about the washer and dryer installation? Is there still room around the island to comfortably move them into the room?
The island will be on wheels, so she could move it out if needed.
She has answered this question multiple times.
There will be plenty of room. I’ve actually decided not to put the island on wheels, but it will be built like a dresser with little furniture feet. With no drawers in it, it’s not heavy at all, and I can move it by myself. With it moved to the side, there’s more than enough room (about six feet width) to get the washer and dryer by it.
Well thought out decisions!
Just wondering if you have a surface you use to flat dry things such as sweaters etc.?
I think you are making a fantastic decision doing the Billowy Breeze for the full dresser and laundry cabs. This room is so elegant and fun as is, in my mind the room itself is the accent!!!! You have created such a special space, less can be way way way more in this case…it all sings in perfect harmony due to the careful thought you have poured into every decision. So happy for you!!!!
Strengthening the furniture look with painted countertops is a beautiful choice.
Love the tree view from the window. For window treatment, what are you thinking that will address both privacy and convenience?
I still haven’t decided for sure, but I think I’m going to try the shade on top (the one I already have) and the privacy film on the bottom. But I still haven’t made that final decision.
I agree that having the entire “dresser” as well as the countertops over the washer and dryer painted Billow Breeze is the best option. Another color or design would most likely be too much with the wallpaper and all the clothing that will be in there. I think the shape of the bed with the orange cording will look great! I would have chosen one of the greens in the bird fabric for the recliner because there will be so much teal in the wallpaper and drapes, but that’s just my preference and not yours.
Kristi,
I am so relieved that you are going with the blue everywhere. You will not be sorry and you won’t have to later repaint. I’m also glad you are painting the flat surfaces “Bellowy Breeze”. It will all be so pretty.
In my opinion your bedroom colors are perfect.
Have a good productive day.
Thanks for sharing your up and downs with us. I love your blog. I learned two new things yesterday: content farmers and rage bait. I’d never heard of either. I’m on the look-out now!
Great decisions, all. It will be spectacular.
Love all your decisions! Especially the one for closet island!
After seeing your post, I agree with the other 60% who said to paint the island the same Billowy Breeze as the rest of the closet. Once you get all your colorful clothing, purses, and shoes in place, there will be enough color in the room, and the island will not dominate. I’ve never seen a room that was “color-drenched”, but this closet is a great example. The color is soft enough to be a neutral, and yet not be so plain. You have a good eye, Kristi, and I am really looking forward to seeing the room completed and stocked with all your lovely clothing and jewelry.
Girl, you should hire movers to move the washer/dryer in SOON! Hopefully they can also hook it up, but I think you can handle it if needed. Do it before you paint the island! (maybe the guys that deliver for Home Depot can do it!) Now, as for your decisions, I’m on board with all of it. I love adding the piping to the headboard, and I would make extra, and maybe add it to the bedding or pillows/shams also. Love that the island will be the same as the rest of the room; maybe a pink tray, mirrored or not, for the accent on top.
I’m just wondering, will you have anyplace to sit down to put on pants or shoes?
ADDRESSEDShe has addressed this over and over again. 😁
I can’t say for sure, but I think Tammy may be new to my blog, so she hasn’t gotten all of the background on this project. I think I have lots of new people reading (yay!) who have found me through my Facebook page over the last couple of weeks. 🙂
Yes, I’ll be putting a full-length mirror and an upholstered bench just outside the closet doorway in the bedroom suite foyer. I didn’t want to give up wall or floor space for those things inside the closet. 🙂
My gut says that fabric is from when you were building and upholstering the dining chairs in the dining room. https://www.addicted2decorating.com/dining-chair-makeover-from-cane-back-to-tufted-skirted-part-1.html
You also had an earlier post talking about fabric then. https://www.addicted2decorating.com/my-dining-room-fabric-selections-and-how-i-plan-to-use-them.html
Oh my gosh, I had completely forgotten about those chairs! That was during my bird-and-limb entryway wall mural era. 😀
I love
a thick(er) piece of glass with polished edges on top on furniture, it allows the wood to show through, but it eliminates any potential damage. Yeah, yeah…it’s in the closet, it won’t get stained. Well, it only takes once. Especially over the washer and dryer with the cleaners you’ll have around there..
Oh, I actually love that idea! And it would add some pretty shine to the dresser top. Sparkle and shine are always a good thing (except on paint finishes for me 😀 )
Wow all your choices made my day. I was a BB proponent for the dresser. Love all your bedroom decisions, especially the headboard shape and the welt fabric.
So looking forward to see the progress in the days ahead.
I think your decision to paint the island/dresser one solid color, top to bottom is EXCELLENT!
Love all your color decisions….looking forward to seeing all of it; it will be beautiful!
I like keeping the island a bit understated. The size alone will grab attention, it doesn’t need to be more a diva! If you find it boring after you move everything in though, you can always repaint. I’ve always loved how you’re open to changing things up if it doesn’t work out how you wanted. Watching you do and redo had given me freedom to do the same sometimes instead of sticking with something I wasn’t thrilled with just because it’s what I decided to do.
Hah, I think that dining room/living room transitional period was when I tuned in to your blog. I vaguely recall you refinishing a table for the 100th time? 🤣
Looking forward to the closet progress! At least not having to do all the faux marble means you’ll get to be done the counters sooner, hah! It’s gonna look great 😊
Oh my, that dining room phase was awful. Truly awful. 😀 It hurts my head to even remember that phase.
I love all your choices! I tried to ask if you had considered painting all the cabinet tops the same color as the rest of the cabinets, but my post kept disappearing, so I gave up knowing you always make great designs decisions!
And your comment today got stuck in moderation. I’m glad I saw it! But I had to manually “approve” it. I’m not sure what’s going on with that! Sorry about that!
I was certainly here for the dining room attempts. My strongest memories are the painting/repainting x 4 of the poor table and the efforts regarding the chair/s. It was mightily interesting whilst it was happening. But I absolutely love your living room, so all’s well that end’s well. I love your choices here too!
Oh my gosh, that poor dining table. I think I heard it groan when it saw me walking towards it with a paint brush for the fourth time. 😀
I’m so glad you are sticking to main color with the island and even the tops! It is going to look so beautiful, and the rest of the colors will be with all the things stored there. It is the best closet I have ever seen! I wish I had thought to make my closet bigger and add the laundry room to it…love how this is coming out. The bedroom looks like you have great plans as well. The colors are amazing, and fabrics…wow. You must be excited to get in there next. Watching how you make that bed…I want to do something similar as the beds I see are either very expensive, (you KNOW I said we could make that ourselves for less!) OR cheap but ready to fall apart. I ordered one once and it was so flimsy I returned it. UGH I just know my husband and I could do it…!
Since you decided to paint the island all one color (love that option), what will you do for above the washer and dryer? Will you consider light wood to complement the floors? Same blue? Or weren’t you considering a faux marble treatment?
I’m going to stick with the blue for all three countertops. 🙂
My sister really dressed up her painted dressers with a nice glass top. They weren’t that expensive, looked great, and protected the top. I think this would be great on your tops, especially for the laundry end, which might take more of a licking.
I love this plan!!!! The blue will be absolutely perfect!
I love the colors for the master bedroom…the headboard will be amazing. Actually, I love everything! Glad you went with Billowy Breeze for the island.
I can’t imagine the anguish you must feel to see your hard work stolen. I would have lost a lot of sleep stewing about it especially since there’s very little that can be done.
Seems there are predators at every turn. Too bad that these people can’t put as much effort in doing good!
You made a good couple of decisions! I LOVE every one of them!
ADORE your bedroom combination of textures, color, and shapes!
Quick question, and you may have already answered—full length mirror somewhere in closet? Gotta have a full view from head to toe!
It will go in the foyer just outside the closet doorway along with an upholstered bench.
Way back in the era when you tried to decorate with granny curtains and miles of picture frame molding because you thought you were supposed to.
Before ripped it all out and starting fresh.
To dismay of half your readers for redoing literally the ONLY finished room in the house while the rest was in shambles.
But try to picture the house you’d have ended up with had you not been brave enough to do that and instead had persisted in attempt to decorate your house around that room just because it was finished…
Speaking of… I feel like we’re like overdue for itteration 43B of the entry way saga…
It’s coming! I have a wallpaper mural! 😂