Creative Room Makeovers: Before & After of a Maynard Interior Design Project
Transforming a house into a beloved home doesn’t always mean expensive renovations and an empty wallet.
Quite often, completing a series of smaller, thoughtfully-designed projects can give the most significant impact without breaking the bank.
Here’s an example from one of my Maynard clients, a busy professional who loves collecting art, traveling, and volunteering. He envisioned a relaxed and livable home where his friends and family could feel thoroughly comfortable gathering for an evening, or visiting from out of town.
This was the scene: 1) an extra bedroom containing laundry baskets, suitcases, a vacuum cleaner, unwanted furniture, a ladder and an old tv. No bed, night stands, or chair. Nothing to suggest how this space could function or feel.
2) a totally bare landing en route to the extra bedroom. No furnishings or artwork, just a generous but empty pass-through space.
And 3) a very plain bathroom with the original claw foot tub and wainscoting. Fully functional but nothing special, everything beige, except for the exterior of the tub.
That’s how these three rooms started, and I couldn’t wait to transform them into warm and welcoming retreats for my client and his guests.
The house is a historic Craftsman, with its original woodwork and floor plan. Keeping those features intact meant that I could focus on new furnishings, layouts, and lighting to bring this home up to date.
Guest Bedroom Before
One: Guest Bedroom
In the guest bedroom, the paint was in good shape and we liked that the darker color makes the room feel cozy. It sets the stage for relaxing and winding down after a long journey.
I specified a new upholstered headboard with simple lines and classic nailhead trim that adds a little masculine element. The light, textured linen compliments the wall color, while black night tables ground the space. Pulling the turquoise color from the new bedding, we chose curvy glass table lamps and a sweet little side chair to brighten things up.
Guest Room After
Two: Landing
For the generous, light-filled landing, we decided on a comfy chair and side table, with a soft rug that defines the area. A rustic ceramic lamp fits in with the client’s hand-made aesthetic, and there’s room for books and a mug on the table.
The soft throw blanket and teal pillow make it cozy and allow him to relax and read in the evenings, which is exactly what he was after in this space.
The Landing After
Three: Bathroom
Even though the bathroom was completely functional, it needed some personality.
Years ago, my client had painted the outside of the cast iron tub a deep green. That color led us to a lighter, sagey-green botanical wallpaper to go above the wainscoting.
This small design tweak adds just enough color and visual interest to this little room without overpowering it.
The Bathroom After
What do you think? Are you feeling inspired? These are small projects with seemingly simple designs, but collectively they bring to life the relaxed and livable home that my client was craving.
If you liked this article, you’ll like my newsletter too. Sign up right here for monthly design tips, info and inspiration.
About Nan
I’m a holistic interior designer who’s devoted to functional & livable design. I’ve been working as a professional designer since 1995 and one thing I love about interior design is how it can evoke a mood and create whatever feeling you want in your space. In that way, it’s kind of magical.
