Room for Improvement: Two Rooms Makeover

WSVN -- We're helping a homeowner in her brand new home transfer her bedroom from blah to beautiful on today's "Room for Improvement."

Martin: "Hi Carmen."

Carmen: "Hi Martin, well come in."

Martin: "Congratulations on your brand new home."

Carmen: "Thank you."

Martin: "So where's the bedroom?"

Martin: "What do you envision for the room why haven't put it together a little bit more?"

Carmen: "Because I don't know how to do this. I am not an expert. So that's why I hired you for it."

Martin: "Buying furniture was not in the budget, so I'm building a lot of it myself. Let's unload the car and make it happen."

Martin: "Now believe it or not I'm not painting the space today. I'm going for a softer country cottage look. So, I'm using the colors in the existing comforter to pull the room together. First project up is to build a headboard...you can't have a bed without a headboard so lets get to work."

Martin: "The first step in creating the headboard is to put foam up on the wall. I'm literally doing this by stapling it up on top."

Martin: "I'm putting the fabric on top as well to give it the affect of an upholstered headboard."

Martin: "Stretch the fabric out so you get rid of any kinks and any wrinkles."

Martin: "I'm placing wood casing all the way around to frame the headboard and give it a finished look. Easy Easy Easy."

Martin: "To finish off the headboard and make the casing pop. We're going to add a distress look by using paint."

Martin: "Rubbing it on with a dry brush technique, and wiping it off. And now we have an elegant upholstered headboard for around $40 dollars."

"Here's a tip to give wall art visual impact and add more color to the room."

Martin: "Let me show you how I did this: First, I measured out five inches all the way around the frame. Next, making sure your line is level go ahead and draw your frame border. Next step we're going to mask off the edge. Go ahead and paint the inside of the square."

Martin: "Voila. Now we have our matte effect with paint. And, don't worry if the lines aren't straight, because that's going to be covered up with molding."

Martin: "Here's an important tool that will give you that finished look. It's a nail puncher. It counter sinks the nails, so once that's done you go back and spackle and put some paint over it and no one will ever know how it's attached to the wall."

Martin: "Ok, so now the bed becomes a focal point in the room. It's time to load it up with accessories."

Martin: "Now since we needed night stands in the room, these decorator tables fit the bill, literally. They're inexpensive and they add a lot of charm to the room."

Martin: "And, remember, night stands don't always have to match. Mix it up a bit and go for that eclectic look."

Martin: "Now I usually only do one room in a day, but I cannot leave this space empty. So let's see what I can find around the house ok."

Martin: "Here's another tip: if you have an empty space that needs decorating. Shop around your own house before buying something new."

Martin: "The pattern is outdated, but nothing a slip cover can't fix."

Martin: "Now you can't have a cozy reading nook without a place to put down your magazines and books. Now for that, a simple seven dollar handbag does the trick."

Martin: "Well today we tackled two rooms. And I'm very pleased with the outcome. We've turned a new house into a home for less than $800. Now lets see if the homeowner likes it."

Martin: "Open your eyes and see what it's become."

Carmen: "Oh my goodness. Wow. Beautiful."

Martin: "Goes to show you don't always have to paint the entire space or buy lots of expensive furniture to make the room come to life. So, just be creative and let your home be a source of inspiration. I'll see you next week with another one day makeover."

Contact: room@wsvn.com

Dade: 305-576-HOME 
Broward: 954-962-HOME