Reader Space: A Dreamy Dressing Room

Could the timing on this be better?  I am working on my own dressing room {actually, I have stenciled a wall and saving the funds to proceed}, but as I wait to finish it up, I have been cruising for inspiration so I can make it oooh la la lavish {on a beer budget}.

Now, I promise you that I am not going to be featuring magazine staged pictures on Reader Space Wednesdays, EVER, but I absolutely will feature ones that you amazing readers have completed that are magazine worthy.  Today is no exception.  These pictures look like they are right out of a poshy home mag, but they are from a real life transformation.  And there is endless amounts of ideas and inspiration that can be taken from it.

I will also state, I understand that some of us live in super tight itty bitty living spaces, some of us live in giant homes with wings and pool boys.  So although not everyone may have a dressing room, never under estimate the power of taking an idea and making it your own, no matter the size of your home.  I love to feature all kinds of spaces since I have all kinds of readers.

Dina wrote:

Hi Jen!

I'm not sure if this is something you'd be interested in but I've just finished a big organizing project in our home.  All this year, I've been on a mission to transform formal but purposeless spaces into our home into places my family and I will actually use.  This first room is {or was!} a formal sitting room off of our master bedroom.  It sat empty and unused for a long time because we are just not sitting room people!  So I finally decided to ignore the label and transform it into something my husband and I would use literally every day - a master closet/dressing room.  I'm so happy with how it turned out.  Let me know what you think!

Dina

And she blogged:

You have no idea how excited I am to finally publish this post.  I first posted about converting the sitting room off our master bedroom into a dressing room back in February.  FEBRUARY people!  That is SIX MONTHS ago.  I guess I won't be too too hard on myself.  I managed to sneak in a few other side projects along the way like new chairs, a stenciled rug, a painted porch ceiling and my campaign dresser.

Hmm...when I write it out like that, suddenly I don't feel so bad. But either way, thank you all for being so patient with me.  I shall reward you with approximately 9,000 pictures of this room.

Let's recall what this room started off as, shall we?

 

I think it's safe to say, it started off as a whole lot of nothing.  Here is the same view into that room now!

 

Left wall before:

Left wall after:

Remember my 6 year old-esque drawing of each side?  With a few tweaks here and there, it actually came out pretty close to how I originally imagined it.  

 

One of the things I really wanted on my side was a makeshift vanity surface.  Someplace I could mount a mirror and display my jewelry.  I have a thing for big, fun necklaces and I found that I was never wearing them because they were tucked away in a drawer.  So I purposefully sacrificed hanging storage space in exchange for a solid shelf vanity surface.  A vintage mirror finishes off the space.

I used a vintage ceramic glove mold to hold some of my chunkier necklaces.  I love this because it keeps them out in the open and I'm wearing them much more as a result.

I mounted 2 of these knobs right on the wall and am using them to hang a few other necklaces.

My everyday jewelry sits on its own little perch right near a framed pic of my favorite people in the world.   The bracelet draped over the frame is vintage from my day at The Liberty Antiques Festival.

Overall, I'm really pleased with how this little spot turned out. 

I also got to put to use some of my favorite hardware that I've been hoarding.

 

Right wall before:  

Right wall after:

I don't LOVE this full length mirror but we had it and I fit it perfectly between the 2 sides of shelving.  It hides that weird small door but still allows us access to it when needed.  

And my original drawing: 

 

This light was a bit of a compromise {see the others I considered here}.  Left to my own devices, I would have opted for a crystal-laden, super glam chandelier.  But Mr. H+F quickly reminded me that he had to get dressed in there everyday too.  We settled on this light and I actually love it.  It's throws off a great glow and is made of woven metal over a silk diffuser.

You know I agonized over which way to go with the curtains in here.  Ultimately I decided to go for super bright yellow silk dupioni and I am SO HAPPY I did.  They add the perfect bright happiness to the room that I wanted.  Afterall, I start and end virtually every day in this room!

 

Finally, without a doubt my most favorite thing in the room - my super tufted velvet ottoman.  It adds the perfect bit of funky glam the room needed and manages to remain gender neutral.  Mr. H+F loves it...success! 

One final look at the whole room! 

Well that's it!  I hope it was worth the wait {that's a joke}.  All in all, we are really enjoying this room.  It's brought great purpose to a once completely dead space in our home.  And we love having all our clothes out in the open.  It keeps you really honest and there's no hiding when you truly don't need yet another blue button down or black skirt, etc. 

{Sources}

Shelving System:  Container Store elfa in platinum and walnut finishes

Ottoman Fabric:  Schumacher via Furbish Studio

Ottoman:  Custom made to my specs by ABZ Upholstery

Curtain Fabric:  eBay via this seller

Hooks:  Anthropologie 

Knobs:  Anthropologie

Vintage glove mold:  Raleigh Flea but you can find lots on eBay here

Read more: http://honeyandfitz.blogspot.com/2011/08/dressing-room-reveal.html#ixzz1VxMRmb89

And since I am a sucker for side by sides, one last one?

Wowzers.  I now will be seeking out a plush ottoman or bench for my future personal haven.  Those curtain panels on neutral walls.  Divine.  And all the mix and match of old and new is THE BEST.  I have vowed to do oh so much more of that.  I love the built over time feeling it gives, even if it really was done in just six months!

What I really love is that she had a vision and drew it out.  I do that too.  Maybe it's a secret tip of an organizer at heart?

There is no ignoring that Elfa system.  Dreamy.  It's a superstar system combining hooks, shelves and drawers, that keeps the space looking clean and organized and easy to maintain for a lifetime.  Purely pristine.  And the mix and match of hangers based on clothing type is purely genius. 

And the hardware.  It speaks for itself... love when that happens.

Last but not least, don't you adore the light fixture?  It really shows that the light fixture can be one of the show stoppers in any space, big or small.

So what do you think?  Who has a takeaway {or ten} from today's space?  Where is your favorite place to seek out old finds to bring into your new space?  Anyone else have the amazing opportunity to experience Elfa first hand or rethinking how you use spaces around your home?

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and un-editted.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!  More Info HERE.