Loblolly: Primary Bedroom Makeover

We’re excited to share the primary bedroom makeover at Loblolly today!

Just to recap for those of you that are new, Loblolly, is the name of my childhood home.

We’ve been slowly working on this house off and on since 2015 after completely gutting the inside.

In 2016, we quickly pulled Loblolly together so my parents would have a place to stay while they were caring for my aging grandparents.

When my grandparents passed away within 36 hours of each other in 2017 we took several years off to grieve and focus on other projects.

I’m excited to say, we started working on Loblolly again last year and it’s been so much fun to work alongside my parents to finish it.

Transforming the Primary Bedroom at Loblolly…

From the beginning, my Mom’s vision has always been for Loblolly to serve as a retreat space for our family.

And she was very clear she wanted each space to feel like a European cottage.

So, every time we went shopping we used the words “light, bright and airy” as our guide.

Of all the rooms we’ve been working on at Loblolly, the primary bedroom has undergone the greatest transformation.

In part, because we relocated a few pieces of furniture to other rooms.

And also, because we’ve been laser focused on keeping a tight color palette of whites, grays, camels and pops of blush pink.

Painting the primary bedroom and the rest of the house in Benjamin Moore’s Decorator White was hands down the most dramatic change.

Here’s a before and after look at the primary bedroom makeover at Loblolly…

Replacing the Bulky Dresser with a Vanity

This before and after is such a great example of how scale plays an important role in any space.

We originally used this dresser because it provided a lot of storage.

But you can clearly see how vintage heirloom mirror gets lost in the modern lines of the dresser.

It’s just too small.

So, we brought in a vanity table and painted it in French Linen.

The scale is much better and it feels like everything has breathing room now.

Primary Bedroom Makeover Change Two: Using a Small Dresser as a Nightstand

The second change we made for the primary bedroom makeover was to swap out the nightstands.

We still love this trunk but it didn’t work well as a nightstand.

So, we replaced the trunk with a small dresser I painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint French Linen and Pure White.

It stayed this way for a few years until my Mom decided she wanted something softer.

Since she still loved using the dresser as a nightstand, I simply added antique gold Rub N Buff around each keyhole.

Then we swapped out the lamp, the wall art and the acessories.

Changing Out the Linens

Several years ago, we found a huge stack of what we thought were tablecloths at an amazing price.

It wasn’t until we got home that we realized they were actually French linen sheets.

My parents used them for several years, before transitioning the French linen sheets to another guest bedroom at Loblolly.

Here’s a look at the bed all dressed up in French Linen sheets…

And after we layered the bed with dusty blush sheets, waterfall bedding from Piper Classics, a duvet from Pottery Barn and an antique coverlet.

Primary Bedroom Makeover Change Four: Create a Seating Area

Next, we traded out the sisal rug for a new budget friendly plush rug from Ross.

And we added pink chairs my Mom fell in love with on one of our many thrifting trips.

I tell my Mom all the time, if these chairs ever go missing, I’ve hauled them to my house 😉

From Rattan Side Table to Dresser Makeover to Nightstand Makeover

On the other side of the bed, we changed out the rattan side table for a four-drawer dresser.

This dresser had been sitting in my garage for the longest time before it dawned on me to try it in the primary bedroom at Loblolly.

I also painted in French Linen and Pure White.

And while the free dresser provided extra storage for several years, it was not to really to scale either.

So, we moved it to the closet in the primary bedroom at Loblolly, and brought in an actual nightstand.

I also painted it in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint French Linen and Pure White.

Primary Bedroom Makeover Change Six: Creating a Custom Bookcase

One of the biggest changes in the primary bedroom at Loblolly was the custom bookcases my Dad built for my Mom.

They originally had a desk in the corner.

But it was just too small to carry the area alone.

Adding the bookcase helped to give the room another layer of visible height.

And it also helped to create a cozy corner for reading and relaxing.

Adding a Chandelier

Finally, we changed out the original light for a chandlier which is probably one of my Mom’s favorite features.

Here’s how the room looked before…

During the time of grief and transition….

And now…

While we still need to find a runner, artwork and a chandelier for the hallway I feel like we’re well on our way to being finished with this space.

As you know, it takes time to find just the right pieces.

Especially, when life gets busy and you have a full plate.

That said, the effort is always worth it.

So, if you find yourself in a similar situation where it feels like the look you’re after is never going to come together.

Don’t give up.

Sometimes, the most important part of the journey is figuring out what you love most.

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo