MASTER MAKEOVER

Michael Holigan: It's the place to sleep, to regroup, to recharge, it's the master bedroom. Is the decorating in your master bedroom getting a little tired? If so, it's time for the master makeover.

Al Carrell: If you'd like to make your master bedroom more livable and more lovable, have we got some great ideas for you.

M.H.: By carefully choosing the furniture, fabrics and colors, you can turn your master bedroom into a dream come true. Let's get started. Today we're starting with a large master bedroom that's serving it's owners okay, but they've called us in to update it a little and help create an environment that's more comfortable and better suited for their lifestyle. We have a four poster king sized bed and two small night stands, a dresser that's also serving as an entertainment center for the moment, a taller chest of drawers, and a large expanse of windows at one end covered with wooden blinds and accented with a drape swag. To get our makeover underway, we've recruited the help of designer John Meaney.

John Meaney: Well, the first thing that we're going to look at that you'll notice is the scale of the room. The ceilings are very high, the molding is very wide, so we want to bring in some furniture pieces that will play that up.

M.H.: Get rid of this small furniture.

J.M.: Get rid of the small furniture, bring in some bigger scale pieces that will fit the size and the proportions of the room. And that will also tie into how the family uses the room. An entertainment center for the TV, a table to read the paper or do laundry, a desk to have a temporary office and then for the bed, have some dressers on the side of it for extra storage space as well.

M.H.: Now that we've got the furniture in, what do we do next?

J.M.: Next we want to soften it up a little bit. Bring in some textiles, so texture, to kind of make it a little more cozy. It is the bedroom, so we want to soften it up a little bit.

M.H.: Okay, John, where are we going to begin with the material?

J.M.: Well, the first place we'll begin is the window, bring in some simple window panels that will help diffuse the western light that's coming through.

M.H.: And why do we need to change the material? It's already got material and it's got some expensive wooden blinds there also.

J.M.: Well, the expensive wooden blinds, we want to play up the casualness of what's already here. The swag that we see is probably a little too formal for the feel and for the way the family lives. So we'll bring in some simple panels that are easy care, nice texture, light diffusing and they'll actually play off the beauty of the mini blinds that are already here.

M.H.: How come we put two on each bracket?

J.M.: Well, you want to have, you don't want the window panels to look skimpy. You want to have some nice fullness. They're very sheer and they have this grid pattern on it, so having the folds in the panel will help soften up the look. We used the existing window treatment, which is pretty much your basic rod and fennel and these simple window panels just hook right on. Easy to do.

M.H.: What are we going to do to the bed to change the look?

J.M.: Well, the wrought iron four poster is a very dramatic piece. What we want to do is soften it up as we are doing with the rest of the room. So, using the window panels, using a natural bedding and throwing in some color with the toss pillows will help.

M.H.: Is it common for people to use the window panels on the furniture like we did on the bed?

J.M.: Well, actually, it is pretty common and it's very easy to do. We've used a heavier, almost burlap jute kind of window panel that we put on the four corners. We put a nice textured one across the headboard, sort of to make it like a cocoon. Add some natural linens. Went away from the strong colors and only used color in the rug and the toss pillows. That way, using this natural pallet, you can change your color tone from season to season.

M.H.: John, we've used a number of window panels. What price range do they run in?

J.M.: Well, the sheer, light cotton ones can run you from $15 to $25. Once you get into the heavier jute and jacquards, they can be anywhere from $35 to $50, which is pretty reasonable for this.

M.H.: So we've made a big change without spending a lot of money.

J.M.: Without spending a ton of money, exactly.

M.H.: Well, we're looking pretty good, what's left?

J.M.: What's left is adding accessories to the room. Lamps, vases, art. What we're going to do is take some paintings that the owners children have done and we're going to frame them up and make them look real nice and have a little art gallery. Then we'll have some pieces that are reflecting the owners taste in the rest of the house.

M.H.: The result we have achieved is a softer look as well as a more functional room. Some of the storage has been redistributed to small chest on either side of the bed that have more room on top for reading materials and accessories. The table and chairs we've added not only create a great retreat for morning coffee or a comfortable spot to fold laundry, but the table also adds space for favorite belongings, a candle holder, and even a flower vase. And with a little attention to how the owners live in the room, we've taken the potential of this space and created a true master makeover that's warmer, cozier, and more versatile.

A.C.: Here are some ideas that can help you to accomplish an easy, uncomplicated master makeover. Depend on light, neutral tones to make a room seem bigger and brighter. Off whites and beige's provide a versatile background able to support any color or pattern and allowing you to update and change the look as the mood strikes you. Choose accessories with care. Instead of a clutter of objects, seek out the perfect piece. Go with unifying themes that pull collections together. Avoid strong, overpowering patterns that can disrupt the tranquillity of your bedroom. And finally, keep the big picture in mind. Don't introduce anything that doesn't fit in with the rest of the elements in the room.

Episode 37 1996 - 97 Season

| Master Makeover | Removing Tape after Painting | Flexible Stucco Siding | Removing Water Spots | Steel Tile Roofing | Private Mortgage Insurance |

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