Cabin Vibes Bedroom: ORC Week One

Last week, I was writing little notes for myself, and I realized that this is my seventh One Room Challenge. I remember the first like it was yesterday. Everyone was so welcoming, and the One Room Challenge founder, Linda from Calling it home was always encouraging.

I remember being so nervous because the ORC is full of real designers, and there I was with my Grandpa’s hammer and a couple of gallons of paint.

For me, the hardest part of the entire six weeks was photography. Excellent photography has always been my weakness, but I like to think I’ve gotten better at it. Taking the photos for that first reveal post challenged all of my meager skills. If this is your first One Room Challenge, we’ve all been there, and I am rooting for you.

Welcome to Blake Hill House

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This may be your first time visiting the Blake Hill House blog. Welcome! BHH was built sometime between 1880 and 1885. We have lived here for a little over five years, and we believe in restoration and respectful renovation over remodeling. This big old house already has character and soul. My goal is always to tread lightly and do no harm.

If you have followed along here for some time, I’m excited to show you that my mood board skills have improved. Check this out:

Photo credit (l to r): 1. Pendleton throw blanket 2. tree wall mural 3. tan buffalo check sheets 4. plywood headboard 5. roll-up shades 6. bookshelf

I made that. There’s no telling if I can also make the stuff that I put on it, but that’s the plan. Long-time followers may also remember that I talked about this particular bedroom a few months ago. Back then, my idea was that it would be part-bedroom, part-recording studio for the podcast. However, now that I have a real office, thanks to the spring One Room Challenge, I do not need a recording set-up in this room anymore.

The Project – Before

Here is the current situation:

This room belongs to my oldest son, who is away at college. We haven’t touched this room since we moved in five years ago. Overall, it is in serviceable condition, and it will require few repairs.

I describe his style as minimalist + books and laundry.

At the end of the challenge, we will use this room as overflow for guests, and our son can have it back when he comes to visit.

The room has an attached bathroom that I spruced up last year (I think? This is all blending together.)

Cabin Vibes Bedroom – The Long Version

We just shelled out a pretty penny for a new chimney, so this entire bedroom plan is mostly a paint and polish project. It’s all about creativity, but I am excited to learn some new woodworking skills too.

Over the next six weeks, I plan to paint a hand-drawn mural on two of the walls, and I will give the acoustic ceiling tiles a coat of white paint to help them recede into the background. There’s no time or money to address the possible can of worms lurking underneath them. Old house owners, you know what I am talking about.

The color scheme is based on a Pendleton wool throw that my mother-in-law gave to me as a present, and I still have the two lamps that I bought for this room last year.

Hopefully, my friend Dale will be on board again, and he can help me with the bed that I want to make out of maple plywood. He’s in the middle of a huge project at his house, so I’ve got an alternate construction plan if I need it.

As is typical in an old house, there are some function issues–mainly the closets. The clothes closet in this room is too narrow, front to back, to fit hangers. I may convert it to all shelves. I will play that by ear since no one is using the closet right now. My time may be better spent on building the bed and painting the mural.

The last few items are fixing the wall sconces, building a bookshelf, and making roll-up shades for the three windows.

Cabin Vibes Bedroom – The Short Version

This section goes out to all my list-making friends.

• Paint the ceiling
• Repair the plaster
• Paint a mural
• Build a bed
• Build a bookshelf
• Make roll-up shades
• Convert the closet to shelves*
• Fix the wall sconces

*if time allows

Follow Along

There will be so much going on for the next six weeks, and it is hard to keep track of everyone’s projects. Over on the sidebar, please subscribe to this blog for all the updates or add me to your favorite reader. I promise to never sell your e-mail to anyone, ever. You can also follow me on Instagram where I post regularly in my feed, in stories, and more recently, IGTV.

If you are working on a One Room Challenge project, let me know in the comments. I would love to support you and follow your progress. We are in this together.

Thanks to everyone following along. You make this fun when I’m sick of painting and ready to crash and burn during week five. You help me remember that I’m not saving lives one wool blanket or fake brass sconce at a time. Keeping it all in perspective is key.

Now, it is time for me to get to work and for you to go to the One Room Challenge site to see what the featured designers and the other guest participants have planned for fall.

Ready. Set. Go!