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a work in progress

hello, my dears! my first decorating project is underway and i couldn't be more thrilled to share a sneak peek with you today. it's my bedroom in the off-campus house i'll be sharing with seven girlfriends next year at bucknell and, although i'll only live here for one year, i want it to be a place i can get inspired or wind down, depending on the time of day!
what a dreary "before" picture! the room does have great bones though. the amount of space is generous for a college student and i love the bay windows! the dark trim, white-paint-over-wallpaper and icky purple carpet were calling out for a little love.
so we painted the trim white (the best trick for lightening a space!) and gave the walls two coats of glidden's sexy pink.
we also taped off some rectangles to frame the bed i have yet to buy (ignore the evidence of wallpaper underneath!).
i think they turned out quite splendidly if i do say so myself.
so we moved in the furniture i have found. pete did a few final touch-ups (i told you he's detail-oriented) and beth put up the blinds (thank goodness because i have no patience for that sort of thing). many thanks to the crew, also known as my loving parents who put up with my need for blindingly bright color and a flawless paint job all while listening to me change my mind about minute details 13,000 times.
how do you feel about the pink and leopard combo? beth says it's a little flinstones but the rug (overstock leopard print novelty rug, $85) i hope you don't think it's too much because there's going to be a gold-skirted table in between those babies (ikea tullsta chairs, $99 each) next time you see photos! (worry not — the bed linens will be white.)
somehow we had time (and paint) left over to redo the tragic bathroom we're inheriting. wallpaper and carpeted floors? in a bathroom? briana and her mom agree that it was a no-go.
her dad laid down cheap linoleum and we painted the walls with our leftover pink paint. we found the shades in one of the many nooks and crannies in our soon-to-be home. don't you prefer it all new-and-improved?

i would love to hear your thoughts on this initial sneak peek. please be kind — this is project numero uno!

44 comments:

Unknown said...

i'm LOVEN' the pink the bedroom!

*kiss kiss*
Erika
~Tiptoe Butterfly~

Anonymous said...

Love the pink color, so girly! That leopard rug is the perfect glamor for the room!

Anonymous said...

Wow that is amazing! And to think it's only for a year! worth it, though, I'm sure.

Lilacandgrey said...

LOVE the pink! And I think the cheetah goes perfectly :)

Kelly Green said...

love all that pink! KG

Will @ Bright.Bazaar said...

Oh, it's coming together so well, M. Love the rectangles and the animal print rug is a super fun feature of the room! Thanks for sharing!

Elizabeth said...

i love the pink. i think a fabulous chandelier would make the space!

Briana Dawn said...

dank you for that flattering photo.

the rectangles look great! they echo the shape of the bay windows, which i love. i die for the pink/leopard combo and obviouslyyy i do not think it's too much (do you know me?). a gold skirted table too?! pink, animal print, and shininess?! my three favorite things in the universe. i cannot wait to see!

Anonymous said...

Can't believe its a college apartment, it looks great!

I'm excited to see the full reveal.

Chic Geek said...

Love it! So exciting, can't wait to see the final reveal! I especially like how you taped off the rectangles above the bed. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Raina Cox said...

That is a 1000% improvement!

SpryOnTheWall said...

I LOVE it! Can't wait to see more. I adore the rug! And I'm w/Elizabeth a chandelier would be super fab!

Kristen said...

Love love love love love love love it! It looks so fab! I saved a pic of the final results to my comp so I can use it as an inspiration in the future! The rug is a bit flintstone-ish, but I like it! You have great taste!

paula said...

oh my, this is just too fun! Great work.

Saara {www.varv.ca} said...

I think it looks great so far! It looks like a lovely room for a college student, that's for sure! I like where you're headed with the rectangles/faux moulding behind the bed, and think a chandy over the table you plan to add would look perfect!

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

Oooh sweet Mackenzie it’s looking amazing, and what a biiiig big room! Well done honey!!!

A Casa da Vá said...

omg you did such a great job! show us more, this is exciting! love the pink and white trims, such a lovely combination!

audrey marie said...

great job! can't wait to see it all pulled together. and those ikea chairs have a nice shape for $99!!

tenia said...

I think it looks amazing -- and I second Elizabeth -- a chandelier would be perfect!

MaryBeth said...

I think it is great, I love the painted rectangles. I can't wait to see the bed to go under them. I also think this is the time and place to do this kind of design scheme. Is this a rental? I am shocked you have no restrictions on the work you do (not that it doesn't need it!).

Chedva @Rooms and Words said...

Can't wait to see how it comes out, it's already so promising!

Sweet Southern Prep said...

I love it! A lot of hard work goes a long way! The pink is perfect, and the rug goes well with it. Very Victoria's Secret. Ooolala. :)

this free bird said...

The people you are renting from have to be so thrilled to have you in there improving the place!! Everything you've shown look so much better. Your crew is amazing (hehe).

Seriously though - love the color, the chairs look outstanding in the Bay Window, the rug is darling...can't wait to see the finished product.

xoxo,
Carrie

deliciously organized said...

That pink is so much fun! What a cool place to live in!

love jenny xoxo said...

I love it, but I don't think my husband would go for the pink leopard room... maybe we just need a bigger house!!

Kelly said...

OMG I LOVE ITTTT!!! can't wait to live in your room.

Kristen said...

it looks great. how are you so lucky to have such an amazing space?! you are never going to want to leave in a year.

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

WAY cute! I love the cheeful color. Those windows are pretty fabulous, too! Great job =)

Visiting your blog via Style My Happiness!

Averill said...

Goodness, this is one cool dorm room! My 20-year old self is so jealous. My senior year apartment was way, way less cool (and included the requisite futon, folding table, and cheapie bed that I bought from a head shop (no lie!)).

amy b.s. said...

looks amazing!

a lovely being said...

makenzie, it looks fab! I love the pink walls. can't wait to see what it looks like when you're through.

Fargerike Dagny said...

Mackenzie, I LOVE it!! Looks incredible chic!

xx
dagny

ps - have a fabulous weekend!!

Naomi@DesignManifest said...

I love that you are having fun with it! This is such a perfect college bedroom. Takes some risks, go crazy... you can't always do that with paying clients! ;)

Apt. #34 said...

lovin' it lady! Go bold or go home :) I have those ikea chairs too!!

alli/hooray said...

the pink transforms the room! love the white framed rectangles, too - can't wait to see the finished look.

happy weekend!

Sarah Klassen said...

looking lovely!!!

chantelle said...

pink walls ♥ wow, what an amazing job! is that a lovely leopard print rug i spot [excuse the pun, it actually wasn't intended]?!

Unknown said...

So far...so great! Very anti depressant living colors! :)

pve design said...

Tickle me pink! I want to go back to college....but alas I have twins that will be off to college in one more year (J'espere) and I am thinking what color they will want.
Probably some sort of cave color. I am loving all the work and would love to see some art and a desk for studying. Do they still do that in college?
pve

Splendid Willow said...

Fantastic, splendid (well of course!), lovely and so much fun! Well done to you and your crew!

Love how the windows turned out and the bathroom does not even look the same!

ox, Mon

Sarah said...

ah!
LOVE!
i wish i had had the ability to be creative with my college housing! what a wonderful time of your life to go all out and be overly girly.
perfection!

keep it coming!

Full House said...

Oh pls. pls. make sure to post the room when you are finished.

What a fun place to come home to. Perfect for a house full of girls.

Unknown said...

what a perfect place for college! it is just so cute!

Kelly said...

I'm still waiting for the final reveal!