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Psst: The Country-Chic Curtains in My Speedy Bedroom Makeover Aren't Curtains at All | domino
Christene Barberich, writer and creator of *A Tiny Apt.*, chronicles her journey of transforming a former 1960s doctor's office building in upstate New York into a cozy and inviting weekend home. This installment, titled "Chapter 3: From Eerie Exam Room to Country-Chic Bedroom," focuses on the rapid and budget-friendly makeover of one of the building's four exam rooms into a primary bedroom. The overarching challenge was to counteract the clinical ambiance of the former medical facility and infuse warmth and comfort into the space without embarking on extensive and costly renovations.
Initially, the exam rooms presented a stark and unappealing environment, characterized by flat gray linoleum floors, thick industrial blinds, and dropped foam ceilings. Barberich highlights the unsettling feeling of sleeping in a space that still retained a clinical identity. The strategy for transformation began with addressing the most impactful and manageable elements. Her husband initiated the process by removing corporate carpeting throughout the house and painting the plywood subfloors a crisp white. This cost-effective step significantly brightened the space and made it feel more like a home. The same white paint was applied to the linoleum floors in the exam rooms as a temporary solution, accepting that some wear and tear would occur due to the material's non-absorbent nature. The industrial blinds were removed, and in their bedroom, an existing sink, which made the space feel too much like a hostel, was taken out to create more functional living area.
Barberich emphasizes her belief in the transformative power and versatility of textiles and paint as quick and affordable ways to alter a room's aesthetic and mood. For window treatments in the bedroom, she ingeniously repurposed two identical scraps of vintage Schumacher fabric. These were mounted using double-sided adhesive and plastic utility hooks, eliminating the need for hardware or hemming. This creative solution served as a stylish and functional alternative to traditional curtains. She experimented with various rugs from her textile collection, from sisal to Moroccan patterns, eventually settling on a high-pile 3x5-foot rug from Archive New York. The dense texture of this rug added a touch of luxury and warmth, making it a comforting first touch in the morning.
A central decorative element and source of vibrancy in the bedroom is a hot pink vintage Mexican blanket by Fred Leighton. Barberich had owned this rare piece for nearly 15 years, awaiting the perfect setting. Its vibrant color instantly brightens the small room and contributes to a cocoon-like, inviting atmosphere. She encourages readers to experiment with patterns and textiles, such as printed pillowcases, rugs, and blankets, to solve design problems and inject personality into a space. For her, these elements act as building blocks that connect and enliven a room. A practical decision was to retain the slender shelf under the window, a remnant from the room's previous life as an exam room. This shelf now serves as a display area for thrifted pottery, books, and small plants, maximizing utility in a space with limited floor area. This series of thoughtful and resourceful interventions aims to create a pretty and comfortable weekend retreat, making the interim period before major renovations more enjoyable and livable.
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