One Room Challenge, Desert Chic Guest Room + Hallway REVEAL!

We are HERE!! Praise the sweet laaawd, the bright desert chic guest room + hallway of my dreams is a  freakin’ reality. Fist pounds to all who jumped on this crazy One Room Challenge train. YOU DA BOMB. 👊🏻💕 If it’s your first time here, hop back to Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 and Week 5 to get the full monty of what led up to this colorgasm of awesomeness. All sources can be found at the end of this post!

Let’s get-to-it with a handful of no-nonsense before + afters shall we?

This guest room began its design transformation three years ago. It’s previous persona—The Indigo Room—is home to my first attempt at a moody view and this self-taught, carpentry-lovin’ gal’s deep, deep love for the pneumatic nail gun. As much as I loved the rich, navy blue hue, I felt inspired to create an airy, whimsical space bursting with color and texture. And plants. Forever.#hoarderculturalist

Buckle up, ladies and gents. We’re going for a wild ride.

THE HALLWAY

This hallway had seen no love the four and a half years we’ve inhabited the Brigham Craftsman. The stairwell is relatively dark and tucked behind interior walls. After a much needed riser and molding paint job, I said buh-bye to the banister (she wasn’t doing anyone any favors), gussied up her walls with a bold color—Bright Gold by Benjamin Moore—and a vibrant selection of artwork.

It’s really chartreuse. The name drives me crazay. Take heed, Ben. Take heed. 🤪

Let’s talk for a moment about this modern white glass, waterfall chandelier from Pepe + Carols, OK MEIN?! Does her bulbous bottom not just pop in this room or what? Meticulously crafted, this forged brass beauty is made to last and makes a major statement in my hallspace. I’ve been itching to get a globe chandelier and these are the balls I’ve been waiting for! This isn’t the first Pepe + Carols creation to enter my home (they were in my first ORC!!), and it surely won’t be the last.

I fiiiiinally got rid of the plain jane hollow wood door and fancy finger bolt lock 🙄 to our attic. I removed the crappy retrofitted jamb and replaced the entryway with an original, single-panel door. I found her (plus the closet door to the guest room) six or so months ago at a local salvage shop. A little bitta strippin’ and alotta elbow grease later, she’s back to lookin’ like new. The hardware was pretty rotten. A quick coat of primer + brass spray paint and a crystal knob from the collection brought her back to life. Tutorial soon!

The journey upstairs is a time capsule to a recent trip to Kinsale, Ireland with colorful, vintage-style art prints from The Canvas Works. Patrick’s shop was less than fifteen paces from our B&B’s courtyard. He launched his custom print + frame shop site the night we checked in. Serendipity much?! I love that the first thing you see when you open our dining room door is a color-tastic explosion to this “surprise” third bedroom. We spent hours drinking all the Guinness at The Spaniard. 🍻 I scored the vintage Richard Lindner Metropolitan Opera poster at online auction for $32 (!!!).

THE GUEST ROOM

Wahhh-naaah-naaaaaah! Here she is! In all her glory. It wouldn’t be a JB-made room without a BBB—big, bold, beautiful—statement piece, amirite?! Upon entry, an antique brass bed frame is like Hey Girl, get outta the way, namaslay.🙏🏻 I’ve always loved the feeling of a bed facing the entry door (feng shui, babay) and was delighted when I loved how the frame looked abutting the windows. The open (and giant) headboard doesn’t take away any natural light!

Does anyone see dreams coming true? I do. How about them plug-in Schoolhouse Electric Co. Isaac Sconces, ahh?! I’ve been ogling those eyeballs forever. And now, they’re here. AND they fit perfectly in the tiny wallspace next to the windows. The luscious brushed brass gives this bubbly nook a high-end look. Albeit off-center, the head swivels in, balancing the entire frame.  

I adorned the bedside with what ended up being two quaint, mid century accent tables from Targét. These guys fit like a freakin’ glove. Clearly designed for this dormered space. A few pieces of thrifted bric-a-brac; DIY macrame planter hangers (tutorial soon!); a colorful assortment of pillows from Kaekoo, Articleand IKEA ;and a rusty orange abstract throw from CB2 seals this funky alcove’s deal.

Bring on that color, color, color! While visiting Ireland, I came across a Galway gem with electric yellow trim that stopped me dead in my tracks. To fill-in the guest room’s unusual nooks and crannies, I came up with a plant wall DIY—these unmellow yellow honeycomb hexagon shelves. I placed the shelves in a progressive, almost symbiotic, pattern and, on a hunch, used a few bits of wallpaper scraps from previous projects. Not only does this highlight the second BBB in the room—a mid century walnut executive desk—procured from Mid Century Collective, it helped incorporate the bank table lamp seamlessly. I’m OBSESSED.

Don’t ask me where the desk chair is from ‘cause, girl, all I know about it is my I-ty bestie slash thrifter slash chair whisperer found it and it ended up in my house. 😂 I designated her desk area with a little faux fur rug layering over the fun, natural decorative circles rug from RugsUSA.  

Strolling to our collective left, this is my favorite nook of them all! The crazy rainbow gradient motel cum hotel—The Saguaro Palm Springs—gave me the chills while in its good, hip company. I framed my favorite photos from our jaunt along the grounds and did a color full circle with this DIY Kilim Bench. And then I did a jig because do you see those colors on that bench?!?!!! I DIE.

Tucked behind the jungle, you’ll find the prettiest little switch plates in all zee world. These unlacquered brass Art Deco reproductions from House of Antique Hardware are just beautiful, substantial and gaudy AF. Just how I like it. ✨ I personally love how the brass tarnishes over time, ‘cuz I ain’t the polished brass kinda gal, ya dig?! They’re slowly overtaking all of the electric turner-on-ers throughout my home.

I’m all about drumming up some heartfelt hospitality for my guests (Charleston, SC is to blame. I’m just going to call this the inspired-by-adventure room 🛫). You can’t do that without a little nightcap before bed. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Down in my bellay. I don’t even particularly like scotch, but if I was staying here, you bet your fine ass I’d have some.

Did you know? My house is a salvage yard of craftsman-style interior doors. The guest room entry door came from a neighbor’s house three doors down. Pun intended. 🙌🏻 Many moons ago, this house was on legit fiaaah. Many of the original doors got junked and replaced with hollow, six-panel doors. Nooo thank you! I stripped and sanded the closet door and, in a pinch, applied one coat of Minwax Polyshades (stain + poly combo) in pecan to match. This product is 100% guaranteed amazeballs.

I was stupid excited when I scored this kitschy, cactus-carved dresser on Facebook Marketplace for $45. I mean, it’s got saguaro columns. C’moonnnn. I didn’t even notice those doodads until it showed up at home (my husband’s a hunk for picking up my junk—gotta keep those pecks lookin’ fresh 💪🏻). A killer pink elephant sculpture from HausMatter and a few abstract line drawings from HENRIxLYDIA tie in all the bright colors in the room.

THE INSPIRATION

There’s tidbits from all the travels, but most especially a recent excursion: I cruised through the Southern Californian desert solo to visit family + friends this past March. The introspection I felt driving 500 miles with the top down in the Black Mamba—that arid, “cool” desert air blowin’ through my hair and mountains as far as the eye can see—resonated with me a sense of rediscovery and internal happiness. Hanging out in this space, kicking back to the whir of Alabama Shakes radio, I’m instantly transported back to that feeling. It’s so awesome.

IN SUMMATION

I have my life back. 😂 I yolk, I yolk (maybe not). This was my second foray into the One Room Challenge and I’m so grateful for its very existence. The community of designers that bands together to encourage and support one another’s transformations is extraordinary. I’m so happy with the way this room came out I’m ready to pack my bags and move upstairs. Sorry, hubby; you can come, too.

Gracious thanks to all of the sponsors who donated their beautiful products to make this wild, desert dream come to life. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to mentally transport myself to all my design biffles brand spankin’ new ORC spaces. ✌🏻

This post is sponsored by Schoolhouse Electric Co, Pepe & Carols, The Canvas Works and House of Antique Hardware. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting this space!!

Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3 // Week 4 // Week 5

 

Paint Colors:

Super White / Benjamin Moore
Bright Gold (it’s chartreuse) / Benjamin Moore

Sources:

Pepe & Carols Waterfall Chandelier
Schoolhouse Electric Co. Isaac Sconces
The Canvas Works Vintage Ireland Art Prints
Vintage Richard Lindner Der Rosenkavalier Metropolitan Opera Poster
House of Antique Hardware Art Deco Switch Plates / Outlet Covers
RugsUSA Maui Jute Decorative Circles Rug
CB2 Succulent Sunprint Fringe Throw
Target Mid Century Two Drawer Accent Table
Etsy / HENRIxLYDIA Blind Contour Art Print
Etsy / HENRIxLYDIA Eye Poster
Etsy / HENRIxLYDIA Abstract Ink Drawing
Article Lucca Pillows Italian Plum
Kaekoo Vera Pillow
Target X Justina Blakeney Ayo Pillow
World Market Ivory Mongolian Faux Fur Pillow
Blue Geometric Planters (similar)
IKEA Ängslilja Duvet Cover
IKEA Sanela Cushion Cover
IKEA Fransine Cushion Cover
Amazon Dali Tuscan Bamboo Blinds
Clearing House Estate Sales Online Auctions
IKEA Snajdare Clock
IKEA Picture Frames
IKEA Flådis Basket
IKEA Indoor Plants
Parabo Box Gray + Gold Home Decor
Tropic Wall Banana Leaf Wallpaper
Wallshoppe Best Fronds – Yellow

Thrifted:

Brass Bed Frame
Cactus Carved Dresser
Pink Elephant Sculpture
Bar Tray + Accessories
Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk (similar)
Desk Chair
Bank Table Lamp
Single Panel Interior Doors

DIY:

Colorful Kilim Bench
Honeycomb Hexagon Shelves
Macrame Plant Hangers

SaveSave