Random Bedroom Details — Front Door Privacy, Bathroom Door Question, New Artwork, And Coffee-Dyed Drapery Trim Success
I started working on the makeover on my “new” bedroom lamps yesterday, but the project turned out being a bit more complicated than I had intended. The lamp bases are made of resin, but they have a very textured/antiqued finish on them. I didn’t realize just how long it would take to get all of that original finish sanded off so that I can paint them. But even though it’s taking longer than I thought, I’m still so excited about my Facebook Marketplace find. So while we’re waiting for me to finish that project, I thought I’d share a few other details.
First, I’ve been wondering what I would do with the door in the bedroom to give us privacy. I absolutely love having this new door in the bedroom, but it’s on the front of our house, which makes privacy an issue. I don’t like shades attached to door, so that wasn’t an option for me. Of course, I could always fall back to my go-to solution and use the privacy film, but I really love the option of being able to see clearly through this door.
So when I put the sheers up (which aren’t really typical sheers, but are a bit thicker), I thought maybe that would solve the issue. But as you can see, even though they’re not your standard thin sheers, they’re still very gauzy and see-through.
I went out last night to see just how see through they are, and you can see everything. I wish I had remembered to take a picture, but even during the day, you can see the ceiling light (top right pane) very clearly through the fabric.
But then it dawned on me that I have four panels hung on this door. So I wondered what how it would work if I just pulled all of the excess over the door when we want privacy. It’s not the prettiest look, but who cares? If it works, I’ll only pull them closed like this at night anyway, so I’m the only one who would care what it looks like from the inside. And since I’ll be asleep, I really don’t care. (I keep forgetting to paint those outlet covers.😀)
Again, I wish I had taken a picture of it last night, but it looks like this will work! At night, even with all of the lights on, I couldn’t see through this. And during the day, you can see how it blocks out that ceiling light.
So it looks like we’ll be able to have the needed privacy at night, and I’ll be able to keep the glass free and clear with no privacy film required so that I can see out the door. Initially, I was really bothered by the fact that these are a bit too short. If you’ll remember, the floor in this room is the most unlevel floor in our entire house, and this is the low side (in general, it’s lower, but the right corner is high). I was considering rehemming them so that they’re the length I prefer, which is about 1/4″ above the floor. But if I’m going to be opening and closing them every day, and the bulk of them will be behind the velvet draperies, I think I might just live with this length. You can let me know what you think. They’re about an inch off of the floor.
And then that brings me to the bathroom door. Someone yesterday asked me if I’d be removing the privacy film from this door, and to be honest, I hadn’t even thought about it.
But now I’m considering it. I think it would be very pretty to have the clear view of the bathroom through this door. I initially put up the privacy film not only for privacy (since I didn’t ever close the window shade on the front window in the previous home gym), but also to block out the view of the home gym from the bathroom. But now that the two rooms will be finished and cohesive, I’m considering removing it.
In other news, the artwork that I ordered from Minted (affiliate link) has arrived! And I love it even more in person that I did online.
I can’t wait to get this framed and hung on that wall to cover the breaker box.
I’m pretty sure that this is the first time I’ve ever ordered a print from Minted, and I’m very impressed with the quality of the print. The paper they print on is amazing. And I can’t get over how this looks like it was painted specifically for this bedroom.
And finally, I coffee-dyed the trim for the draperies. I think it was a success! I just wanted to tone down the bright white and darken the orange a bit. The trim didn’t soak up much of the coffee dye because it’s all polyester, but I think it soaked up just enough to achieve the goal.
Here’s a reminder of what it looked like before…
I just used some organic dark roast instant coffee from the grocery store and poured about eight ounces of that instant coffee into a large pot of boiling water and then added the trim. I left the trim in about five minutes, stirring the whole time, and then took it out and rinsed. It seems to have worked perfectly!
So I have a couple of projects “in progress” right now. I still need to finish the draperies, but I kind of lost steam on that since the curtain rings I ordered won’t be here until Friday anyway. I’ll work more on those this weekend and hopefully get them finished. And then I have the makeover on the lamps underway as of yesterday. So hopefully I can get these two projects finished up in the next few days and then move on to the headboard! While I know I won’t get all of the details finished by the time I take my break, my goal is to have us moved into the room before I take my end-of-the-year break. It would be so nice to be in our new bedroom over the break, even if all of the little details aren’t finished.
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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.
I’d put the shade on the door. Door will rarely be opened, and it will look much more cohesive both inside and outside.
Agree! I would rather see a shade like the ones on the windows, maybe with a block out liner, than curtains, even leaving off the Velvet drapes. Or if you really want the Velvet there, make a Roman shade for the door. I think the sheers and drapery is too much, too heavy and overpowering, especially with how far they extend past the door. Sometimes less is more!
Great! All your little elements and finishing touch tweeks are coming together. I like the artwork it’s perfect. I’d leave the length of the sheers I think-you’ll know when you get the side panels up but I think they look fine. The trim turned out perfect-toned down just enough-I still like the thought of using the full width of that trim though, I love it so much and it adds some drama to all the blue and white.
There is one-way privacy film available. See out, not in.
I considered that, but it’s also sun-blocking. I don’t really want a sun-blocking film. I like the option of having all the sunlight possible at times.
I just looked it up again to remind myself why that wasn’t an option. Those only work for privacy during the daytime. At night, when it’s dark outside and light inside, it has the opposite effect and you can see inside the room, so we’d still need something else for privacy at night. I’m not concerned with daytime privacy.
The colors in the artwork go beautifully with the colors in your room! I was skeptical about the drapery trim taking the dye but it sure did and it looks perfect! I would like shades like you have on the windows on the door. I have a pair of resin lamps I would like to paint but don’t know what type of paint to use or how well it will stick. What advise do you have?
I think it would be wonderful if you could be in your bedroom by Christmas. Even if you have to finish a few things after.
I think the curtain length is fine and I would definitely remove the film from the door. That bathroom is so gorgeous that I personally would leave it open when not in use.
I think I’d leave the privacy film on the bathroom door. There may be times you have the front door curtains open but still want the privacy in the bathroom. You probably need to experience how the rooms “live” before you make the decision to remove the film. Love how it’s all coming together.
Regarding the privacy film on the bathroom door—my concern is during the day when the outside door is not covered, will people on the outside be able to see into the bathroom?
I think an inch is acceptable and once the other drapes are up you wont even notice.
Light from the bathroom will come into the bedroom through the glass. If someone is sleeping the lights on in the bathroom could disturb them. Just a thought
Everything is looking great! The trim, the art, the solution for the egress door.
Your hard work is paying off with dividends too!
So pretty! You’ve come soooo far and this is amazing and lovely. Glad you will go ahead and move in even if everything isn’t completed, because everything else can certainly be done while you live on site.
You’re an inspiration to me daily.
Thanks for that and all you share.
You’re very close to a finish, and it will be very livable and pretty. I’m not sure why you want to bunch up a lot of fabric over the door, even for privacy? It seems kind of odd to cover the door up as though it was a window. But if that fits your needs, go for it, you can make things look so nice.
Would you share the link for the drapery trim. Thank you…..
The print is so perfect for your room! What a lucky find! (have to say when I first looked, I didn’t see the print on the chair, and thought “why is the breaker box framed by a medieval looking cutout?”) My mind is not functioning on all cylinders! LOL! And I am still confused as to why you extended the sheers so far outside of the door? To me, it looks like there would be a sliding patio door there. Now I’m heading to Minted to browse!!!
Your print does, in fact, look like it was printed for your room. Good choice. I’d lease the bathroom door just like it is for privacy. Just soaking in your tub, do you want anyone looking in? The sheers look just fine the length they are and with 4 panels over the outside door no one should be able to see in. When the sheers are pulled back in the daytime, you don’t want anyone looking through to the bathroom, I’m sure.
I could not tell that the trim was different after the tea stain, but side by side, I’m sure the difference shows. You are moving right along of your projects. I am proud of you.
If you use only 3 panels of the sheers on the door, it would look better… then you can bunch them together for privacy when needed. Also, please keep the film on the bathroom door for practical purposes, but leave the bathroom door open when not using it. Then you have the look of both.
I have only one question: the drapery trim wouldn’t fade through washing? I consider to dye myself, but still hesitate…thank you for your answer. The room is very pretty though! Greetings from Hungary
These draperies aren’t washable since they’re made of velvet. I find that they stay clean with occasional vacuuming with an upholstery brush attachment.