Cozy Corner: A Teen Bedroom Retreat
Designing this sweet, colorful teen bedroom retreat was equal parts joy and fun. We set out to transform this cozy corner bedroom from a neglected space a playful but sophisticated hangout room. With color, shape, re-imagined antique pieces and funky art, we created an airy vintage vibe that kept it perfectly aligned with the historic character of this 1920’s cottage. The result was a pairing of classic and youthful elements that made this room one of our true favorites from this historic Chapel Hill home renovation.
This corner bedroom is tucked into the alcove of the second floor in this gorgeous 1920’s historic Chapel Hill cottage. Located in one of the original Chapel Hill residential neighborhoods, this storied home sits just adjacent to the UNC campus. If you’re new to the project, you can find the first post here!
When a couple of our much-loved clients were looking for a place close to campus, they came across this historic cottage-style house and fell head-over-heels in love with it on the spot. Location? Unbelievable. Charm? Through the roof. But… it really was in need of a LOT of love. It had been used as a vacation home, a crash pad, and probably a lot of other things over the last 100 years, and it showed. It needed a full renovation (think overhaul of every single room). We were only too happy to jump on board. We could see so much potential beneath the surface, and we loved all the historic architecture that could come to life with the right design. We couldn’t wait to transform this into a beautifully restored home fit for modern living.
We love this shot of the room so much, because it showcases how lead designer Rebecca used layers of pattern to create visual interest and depth. The fun contrast between shapes- seen in the quilt, the rug, the patterned chair fabric, and detail on the drapery comes together to create a rich visual effect, creating a space that’s cozy and unique while still light and airy. A perfect combination for this small corner space.
One of the most fun things about this historic home was that it came with a lot of furniture- it was wild to see how many decades the different pieces spanned! The family wanted to preserve as much as we could, and there were many pieces we were able to restore. This classic Biedermeier chair you see above on the right was one such piece, part of a pair that were native to the house and were in rough shape. We had them refinished and reupholstered, and were thrilled with the outcome. It was perfect to be able to save and restore some of these timeless pieces and give them a place in the next chapter of this home.
The “you are my sunshine” pillow is a sweet personal touch from Cat, who was inspired by her own daughter when crafting this room.
One of the aspects of renovating and designing a historic home is finding that perfect balance between old and new. We are forever fans of classic architecture- original moldings, doors, woodwork like built-ins and the kind of detail and quality that aren’t often seen in this age. But creating a design that highlights all of that beautiful historic character and also feels fresh, comfortable, and fit for the rhythms and needs of modern family life is one of the design challenges that we absolutely live for over here in the studio. We love to find that sweet spot where modern elements balance the more traditional features. The culmination is something that feels beautiful, functional and unique to our clients. In this room, which we designed for a tween or teenager, we took special care to make the design feel fresh and updated, while still pairing beautifully with the classic details. This scene above is one of our favorite examples- this very traditional bedside table refinished to a playful sage color, paired with a modern lamp, funky books and fun, unexpected styling layers.
A cozy desk spot for homework, reading, journaling, or crafting.
And tucked into the quietest corner over is this sweet writing desk, and we could not love it more. It’s classic in a wonderful Jane Austen-eque way, but still feels young and little unexpected. The slim lines of the writing desk paired with a traditional upholstered chair is livened by an abstract art piece and that wonderfully unusual lamp. We also love the setup of layered art and the pairing of a very classic piece with some bold shape and color.
Smaller and (sometimes) unusually shaped spaces are so common in historic homes, but there’s such an opportunity for creative thinking. We love getting into a space that’s a little unusual because we can do so much! With the right elements and intentional design in place, rooms this room became cozy, functional, and so charming. Despite its diminutive size and angled ceilings, stepping into this room now feels bright, spacious, and happy.
We want every room we create to feel as good as it looks. In this gorgeous historic home, it was so much fun to create this space to be the perfect cozy bedroom retreat and a comfortable, playful hangout spot meant to be enjoyed.
See more from this home on our portfolio page here!
Images by Michael Blevins. Styling by Heidi Donohue.
We’re so glad you came over to hang out with us on the CFD blog today. We love what we do, and we love sharing it with you. Curious about our process? Check out more about our full-home design here. Learn about our decades of design experience, and how we make home your favorite place here.
Have questions about designing your dream home? We’d love to help. Start here at our contact page. Or, feel free to just give us a holler anytime at hello@catfrenchdesign.com.
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