Divine design: Rescuing a retreat

Gutted bed/bath gets final kick with inspired planning and accents

By Candice Olson, Scripps Howard News Service

Published September 12, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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To shorten their long commute, Barb and Evan moved out of the suburbs and into the city. But the economics meant they had to trade in their brand-new, spacious digs for a 100-year-old row house that needed lots of work.

To save money, the intrepid couple decided to don safety glasses and sledgehammers and do it themselves. But after a year had gone by, they realized they had bitten off more than they could chew. Their house still was in shambles and they had run out of money, ideas and patience.

The weary twosome asked me to come in and help them out - before they changed their minds about the house and ran screaming back to the 'burbs. They hoped I could finish off their bedroom so they could get some sleep - and have at least one room in their home completed.

So I gathered my crew and geared up to create a divine master bedroom and bath.

The couple wanted their third-floor bedroom to be an open space with a bright, airy loft feeling. They gutted it with that in mind, but the shell of a room lay unfinished in a heap of dust and debris. So the first order of the day was a lot of drywall.

I created walls and ceilings, and lay down a subfloor covered with beautiful dark vinyl that has the look of wood.

Once the basics were in place, I chose a color palette for the space. When searching around for inspiration, I found a box labeled "Barb's favorite fabrics." In it, I discovered a gorgeous sage-and-gold cloth that gave me the jumping-off point I needed for the paint, fabrics and tiles.

I divided the loft into two zones: a bedroom and a bathroom. I separated the two areas with a wall of closets that provides storage, privacy and soundproofing. In addition, I closed off the smaller entrance to the bathroom with a series of woven panels on a track system that will slide across the space when privacy is needed.

In the bedroom, I put in a king-size bed with a chocolate-brown upholstered headboard. For added warmth and ambience, I put in gorgeous linens and throw pillows in a variety of textures and colors.

And, for a touch of romance, I installed a beautiful crystal chandelier above the bed.

In the bathroom, I created a closed-off space for the toilet, but left the rest of the space open for a gorgeous old-style tub with cast-iron feet; a glass-enclosed shower with solid white quartz walls and a feature wall in green rippled tile; and a stylish vanity with a quartz countertop, a stunning sink in a gold-and-green paisley pattern, a mirror and two sconces.

After adding a variety of accents and accessories, this third-floor bed and bath were complete. With some high-end fixtures and finishes, a mixture of textures and colors and creative planning, Barb and Evan got the loft space they desired.

With their bedroom-renovation woes behind them, the couple can get a good night's sleep - and start dreaming about finishing the other rooms in their house.

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's Divine Design.

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