A Polished Primary: Historic Home Bedroom Renovation
This light and airy primary bedroom in a renovated historic Chapel Hill home resonated with so many of you, and we could not love it more! So, we wanted to give it the moment it deserves here on the blog. Come with us to see the story behind this design, and stay to the end for the oh-so-satisfying before-and-after.
If you’ve been following along, you’ll remember this historic home renovation in a classic Chapel Hill neighborhood. If you’re just joining us- hi! You can also catch up on our renovation of the living room and dining room on the blog.
The main living room, where restored historic charm (hello, built-ins!) meets the comforts of daily life. Rich with visual interest, color, and chock full of personal detail, this room sets the tone of cozy and light.
Renovation and Transformation
And now, we’re taking you behind-the-scenes on the second-floor transformation. Renovating a historic home is a unique process —one we love and always enjoy so much. We were dedicated to maintaining as much of the original charm and architectural integrity as we could in this wonderful 1920s gem. Merging the storied past of this classic house with a comfortable and functional, fully updated design for modern living that was perfectly tailored to this family.
A look-through from the doorway, this view draws your eye through the light-filled space, and gives a perfect view of the layers of color and pattern that make the space feel so complete.
Honoring the History
Like many historic homes, this one was full of character from the start. restoring the original hardwoods and preserving the original molding and millwork (those doors, y’all!) honored the history that continues to flow through the bones of the house. Nooks and crannies, funky angles, slanting ceilings- there’s always a lot to consider in the logistics of creating these rooms and making them function comfortably. We never tire of this particular design challenge, because the reward of making these unique rooms perfect for modern daily living is that much greater. This primary bedroom was no exception. Uniquely shaped, with what felt like doors and windows all over the place, space planning and creating a flow that worked seamlessly were key.
Merging traditional features and modern-day pieces gives that so-satisfying mix of balance between historic charm and a fresh updated feel. We loved these very classic, stately reading lamps that align with the charming four-poster. Paired with a more modern bedside table, the combination feels balanced.
Light and Warm
One thing that resonated with so many about this room in particular was that, despite its relatively small size and (very) unique shape, the room also feels light and airy. Warm whites and neutrals paired with light colors, delicate prints, plush bedding, and a super-soft rug help create a cozy feeling we all love in a restful, relaxed bedroom. Pairing these design layers with light colors and airy prints on the bedding and drapes keeps the room feeling spacious, and allows all that glorious natural light to flow throughout.
Original artwork by local artist Katie Porterfield adds playfulness and color to this tucked-away corner space.
Unexpected Angles
Taking advantage of the room's unique corners and angles, we turned this little angular space by the back window into its own design moment. This colorful abstract is such a fun complement to the classic architecture and adds a splash of color to the bedding. Finding creative possibilities in these unique spots also makes the room feel larger (true!), and becomes its own focal point that draws your eye directly into the room. Who wouldn’t want to work at this sweet little desk? We love it so much.
As promised, one of our favorite before-and-afters.
As always, it’s a team effort to create impactful spaces, and a huge kudos to those who made this magic happen- our incredibly talented CFD Lead Designer, Rebecca, as well as our stylist, Heidi Donohue. As always, much love and thanks to our incredible photographer, Michael Blevins.
You can view the first bedroom we showed in our blog series on this home, the kids’ bedroom here. You can also take a tour of the first-floor renovation here! Coming up, we’ll take you to the 3rd and final bedroom —the loveliest teen retreat bedroom —look out for it soon.
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 your home one-of-a-kind here.
Have questions about designing your own dream space? 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.
And, if you’d like to follow along for more in-the-moment happenings and goings-on of this bustling design team, you can also find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest!
