Restyle It Wright

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Fall One Room Challenge| A Special Space

I know I’ve been a bit quite on this ‘ol blog of mine – thanks to my recovery from an MVA and subsequent PTSD as well as physical therapy. For awhile I wondered if I’d ever enjoy the things in life that used to bring me such joy. But over this time of recovery I’ve realized that while my priorities have certainly shifted I still have space for this creative world and it’s good for my soul. Thanks for hanging with me through this and your kind words and stories of grace and strength. I still enjoy budget-friendly decorating, all things pretty, and trends in home decor and I’ve been working behind the scenes on the most special space that encompasses all those passions for quite awhile!

By the title of this post you know that we are participating in our THIRD one room challenge! Holy Mama!! Thanks to

Linda from  Calling It Home and media partner House Beautiful for hosting this bi-annual challenge!

Last fall we made over our formal living room and this past spring we tackled an over-the-top kitchen renovation! We have been enjoying these renovated spaces tremendously and have almost forgot about the blood, sweat, and tears haha. In fact, we hadn’t even completed the Spring Kitchen Reno when we had already decided on our next fall challenge space!

But first – a bit of a back story.

Flash back about 20 years on the 4th of July and I was a freshman in high school band ready to board the buses for the annual parade.  I was young, somewhat introverted, and didn’t have a lot of friends. I’m really selling myself right? haha. Enter a junior nicknamed Molly – who asked me to sit on the bus with her – and would from that day on become my lifelong best friend.  Our friendship has endured all.the.things any friendship would – living in different states, college, long distance, being each others maid of honor, and the list could go on and on. In fact, up until two years ago we had lived-in different states for most of our friendship. Now, we are miles away from each other for the first time since high school.

Well, this best friend of mine is going to become a Mom for the first time in December with her husband Alex. We are all over-the-moon ecstatic.  I may have ugly cried when I found out what felt like 25,000 years ago (really it was in April).

So, how does this story relate to the One Room Challenge?

Well, as her best friend and this baby’s Auntie Frenchy, I HAD to give her the nursery of her dreams!! But there’s a catch …

She doesn’t know the gender but I DO and she won’t find out what she’s having until the nursery reveal at the end of the six weeks!!

IT’S A SURPRISE GENDER REVEAL NURSERY!

How exciting is that?!!? So here’s how this six weeks is going to go down.

I’m going to reveal two mood boards today and plans for the space and each week we’ll post updates on the nursery progress but there will be no gender specific details until the final reveal. Lemme tell you – holding onto this secret from the person I speak to multiple times every day has been tough! And so has picking out nursery details – running them by her in a very ambiguous way – and then holding onto the items I’ve collected so far and keeping them away from my husband and kids so they don’t see! (I have a very excited and nosey ten year old boy who CAN’T keep secrets).

But enough of that let’s dive right into what I have planned for the space!

Molly’s style is very different than mine – while I’m all gold and glam – she’s more oil rubbed bronze and rustic. I’ve had to go outside my box to design this space that will be perfect for this sweet baby and fit within the more craftsman style of their home.  It’s been challenging for sure but fun to explore other decorating styles.

Here are two mood boards for the baby that will be referred to as Baby Boochie to avoid any gender slips haha.

Some key elements of the space (regardless of gender) is a wood feature wall, freshly painted walls, a new (and bigger) window, and a new floor.

The colors we chose for the space are also gender neutral and classic so that when baby boochie #2 comes along there will be no need to re-paint! I may be a bit ahead of myself…

Here’s how the room looks now:

It’s basically a blank canvas! We are SO excited to get started! You can see that some of the work has started- first thing was to get the new window installed to ensure it was done in time to start with the rest of the space. Never underestimate the power of widening a window! So much beautiful light now fills this space that it instantly feels bigger and cozier!

Huge thanks to my husband for spending his weekends and nights after work working on this space because he loves me – thus loves my best friend and her husband – and this new sweet sweet baby. It’s truly going to be a team effort working on a room not in our own house so shout out to Alex for all his work too! Molly wants to help – but I won’t let her. I want to spoil her with this nursery and don’t want her lifting a finger.

We have some amazing sponsors once again for this surprise nursery! I really wanted to focus on small business and local to Michigan shops to spread the word about the wonderful people and goods right here close to home.  I’ve also partnered with some great companies that albeit are larger but have exceptional customer service and quality goods.  I appreciate you supporting the brands that make this nursery makeover possible! Throughout the next 6 weeks I’ll be featuring each one and sharing even more about what they have to offer!

 

 

We’ve got BIG plans and a lot of work ahead of us but this baby sure is loved by so many already! Oh, and for those wondering – yes Molly will be able to see the nursery as we work on it up until the last week of the challenge where I install the gender specific details. That week the nursery is on lock down and she’s totally okay with it!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Have you ever made over a space to surprise a friend?! I feel like we’re staring a new trend – nursery gender reveals!

See ya next week for an update! Don’t forget to check out what all the other amazing featured and guest bloggers are up to! There is so much talent in this world!

 

 

 

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Comments

    • Thanks Cristy!!!! So bummed I won’t be seeing a ORC space outta you this time! You’re SO talented!

      Reply

    • Thanks Jeanie 🙂 We’re all lucky to have each other! Where the world be without great friendships!

      Reply

  4. This is the sweetest story and I don’t know how you can stand to keep the gender under wraps! I would spill the beans! I am looking forward to following along to see the gender reveal!

    Reply

  5. I hope you continue to get better after your MVA, you are very talented in what you do and I hope you keep it up! What a special space you are doing for this ORC, can’t wait to see how it turns out.

    Reply

    • Thanks for all your support Jessica 🙂 I appreciate all the kind words! Can’t wait to see what you’re up to this time!

      Reply

    • Thank you so much for your kind words throughout! I’m doing much better. Thanks for following along and I can’t see what you have planned this time!

      Reply

  10. I love the concept of the big reveal happening at the end of the six weeks. Whatever gender they are having, it’s going to be getting a beautiful nursery to start their little life out in. I can’t wait to follow along with your progress!

    Reply

  12. OhEmGee! This is like the most awesome plan in the history of ever! I’m so excited for YOU and for all you are doing for this precious arrival. Let the week-by-week begin!! Susie from The Chelsea Project

    Reply

  13. Omg what a sweet gesture!! I literally got choked up reading this post. Your friend is super lucky to have such a phenomenal, giving BFF like you! I love the idea of a surprise gender reveal nursery! Will definitely be following along & will be on the edge of my seat for the Week 6 reveal to see if my guesses as each week’s progress is shared are correct. 😊

    Reply

  14. What a wonderful gift to give to your best friend! i think this will totally become a new thing…gender reveal nursery makeovers, I love it!! I can’t wait to find out if it’s a girl or boy!! Susanne, Pearl Street Designs

    Reply

  17. Seriously!!! I was excited just reading about your nursery reveal! What an exciting project as you create an amazing space for your friend!

    Reply

  18. This is so exciting!!! A gender reveal nursery at the end of the 6-weeks, such an amazing idea. I’m excited to follow along and glad your took on the additional challenge of a different design style, so much fun.

    Reply

  20. Oh my gosh. first- greatest friend ever, second what a awesome idea and third, fourth& fifth… YAY Michigan, great designs and this will be a emotional finish for sure! i hope you get it on video!!

    Reply

  21. So exciting! Love that your are doing this for your BFF. Excited to see it come together. Is it wrong to be rooting for a girl??? Love love love that pink rug!

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  25. This is so amazing that you’re taking on this project. Nursery designs are the best and I’m currently in the midst of one for a client too ( sometimes it makes me want to have another lol!). And I absolutely adored your last ORC kitchen reno- so I’m super looking forward to how this turns out!

    Reply

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