Happy Monday!
I thought I’d share a master bedroom update since we’ve *fiiiinally* got some wood on the wall up there now. Here’s where we’re at with it:
And again, we had to cover the windows because Kevin’s mom and dad’s Bungalow Barn is on the other side of that wall now. Their roofline cuts right through the middle of those windows, actually. And believe me, I tried to re-size the them (so that we could get a *little* natural light), but they wouldn’t have looked right from the exterior side of our home.
Here’s a Photoshopped photo of where we’re headed with the design:
We decided to go in a different direction (literally!) than I had previously blogged about. A “new twist with a classic material”, kind of thing. Basically, there will be four quadrants, and the tongue-and-groove (beaded) planks will each run (diagonally) toward the center of the wall as pictured above. I had mentioned doing something like this after the wall is painted:
But I got to thinking about how we really *need* that wall to work for us, and I just couldn’t imagine us sitting there very often. Or ever. 😉 I also couldn’t justify putting shallow shelving in those old window holes (and them covering them with sliding doors) because I just don’t have enough tiny things (or jewelry) to justify the added time and expense it would take to build that all out.
What we *really* need is dirty clothes and shoes storage. *That’s* what doesn’t seem to have a proper home right now. *That’s* what I walk into the room and see strewn around or in piles, on top of things and in corners. (Just keepin’ it real!) I still like the idea of waking up to a collection of art and or/photos, but I think we need something else beneath it. This photo got me thinking…
Then I remembered Kristin’s idea. She gave an old ($35) plain jane credenza a printer’s cabinet look using peel-and-stick flooring and a bunch of knobs, pulls and label holders:
Think of all the laundry baskets and shoes we could hide in something like that! I think I might look for something with four doors (vs. three) so I can really maximize the amount of storage on our (wide) bedroom wall. And once I know the measurements, I can search for laundry hampers that fit inside it, and install a few shelves for shoes if there’s room and they’re not already in the right place.
Here’s a look at the finished piece:
So that’s the plan for now. Gotta finish that wall first though. It ended up costing about $160 for the beaded boards for that one section, so (for budget reasons) we’ll probably just work on the other three sections one month at a time. I would like to get that one painted this week though. I’m so eager to see it white! (With gray in the grooves) Oh- and speaking of that…here’s another Photoshopped photo to show what that (and the piece of furniture) might sort of look like:
I’d probably go with a different paint color/wood color on the credenza, and obviously, I could still have fun with the areas on the side of the sideboard, but you get the idea. Fun to dream about!
I guess I’m becoming more of a function over form girl in my fourth decade. 🙂 How about you?
Layla
Linda
A beautiful large basket with a lid just to the side of the credenza will also help with dirty laundry and you won’t have to see it!
donna
Layla,
I love your new idea better! Function over form is a mom thing, I think, and it’s born out of necessity. 😆
This new idea has such a clean, less cluttered look.
Love it!
donna
Kris
I was thinking the same thing … the reality of mothering is that more practical concerns come to the forefront … it has less to do with being in your 40s and more to do with your current lifestyle.
Angela
I’m all heart eyes over the wall. What a creative way to reinvent a plank wall! I’m with you function trumps all! I like your new vision for the wall.
Liz
I love what you’re doing, and the credenza! Do you now where she got that peel and stick flooring that she used for the front? Thanks!
Response
Check out the link to the original post – she shares all sorts of details!
Bev
That would be awesome if the cabinet had slide shelves that would hold the hamper then you could slide the shelves and drop your dirty clothes 😊Love the cabinet!
Narelle
Love this idea – function with form make the best design👍🏻🙂
sandyc
Super cool idea! The clean and uncluttered look will let your clever wall treatment shine without taking over the wall (or without being totally lost on the wall as the original busy and cluttered inspiration idea showed). I love everyone’s take on form and function. I once worked for Caudill Rowlett Scott architects in Houston, Texas and they totally believed in the principle “Form follows Function”. Interestingly, in their early history they built schools all over the place and they proved that you can have both in beautiful combinations.
Cindy Richter
Wow, I can hardly wait to see the finished project. How COOL!
Janice
Have you thought of extending the cabinet/credenza and attaching it to the wall? Our builder actually built in a cabinet size laundry “drawer” with shaker style front panel and an oversized drawer pull on heavy duty glides…LOVE it!!!
Sylvia
I like the idea of the hamper, too. What about having one of the sections of the credenza tilt out with a hamper inside? Or, what about having two or so of the fake drawers tilt out and the door beneath open to get clothes out? Our master bath is very small and I was really tired of having a hamper in the room. I missed the built in cabinets that we had in two older houses. So, I removed the panel from the front of one of the sinks, added hinges so the panel would tilt out. Now the dirty clothes are actually under one of the bathroom sinks. I’m not sure any of this makes sense 🙂
Becky
Great idea. I love beauty and function. Can’t wait to see it completed.
kddomingue
Pretty comes after function because if it doesn’t function well it doesn’t stay pretty for very long, amiright? That’s not age, that’s logical thinking, lol!
Marley
Layla,
I struggle with the form over function as well and I’m in my fourth decade;) I appreciate your thought process; believe it or not it truly helps hearing you walk through it in your mind. People can see that function can be darn attractive! What a creative idea that gal had with the printer’s cabinet…very cool. Good luck and cannot wait to see what you come up with!!!
Jennifer C.
Will you please do a post about how you paint the boards (with the gray in the grooves)? Do you think that would work with the grooves in paneling?
KaryRoss
I love the idea of a useful old or vintage piece made new!! We bought an old “stereo cabinet” made new with paint and knobs to put in my husbands new “vintage” office he is in (the whole bldg was a mercantile 150 years ago!). Maybe that could be another idea for your wall and it provides lots of storage space behind the doors. I have a pic but I’m not able to send thru these comments. I could email to you.what do you suggest.
Kelly Mahan
I really like your plans! The old idea was also nice, but the new one is definitely more practical. I think I’m going to make something similar too!
Hillary
oh my gosh i am in LOVE! that credenza is a genius idea. Laundry ….it is the bane of my existence. I would love a long unit like this to house everything. And shoes are so hard to store in my opinion. My shoe baskets always get jumbled and it seems I never have enough closet space to devote to shoes on shelves. BUT, a credenza with shelving of some sort? Heaven. Would love to see how you build shoe storage if you decide it is what you need. P.S. the patterned wall is so dreamy!
Mary
I need a tutorial on how to do the wall treatment. Please!!!! I love it!
Calle Pittard
You should stain the breadboard!! Look up the Urban Cowboy in Nashville. they have something similar and it looks amazing stained.