I was a teenager once, and I'm sure my mother would have been beside herself with joy if my room were ever as neat as this before photo. But while uncluttered, this teen bedroom lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. A teen's room is the one place where they can express a style that is truly their own, and this room wasn't cutting it.
The ladies from Elemental Interiors, a New York-based design firm, worked with their young client, Megan, to design a room that would express her personality and style. To give this Manhattan bedroom an 'ocean view,' they created a collage by tiling a beach photo that Megan took in her hometown. The collage, which occupies the wall behind the bed, serves as a focal point for the small room, while other elements in the space pick up on the artwork's beachy blues. Painted 'frames' and custom Roman shades add a little personality to the windows, and plants placed throughout the space bring the outdoors in.
To read more about this project, check out the project page on The Sweeten
The Sweeten is an online resource that connects New York-area homeowners with qualified local architects, designers and contractors. You can check out their blog for lots more projects.
(Images: Tom Sibley for Elemental Interiors via The Sweeten)
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I am a bit confused... where does it say this is supposed to be a teenagers bedroom?
If it is, the after does not read as one either. It's more up-scale beach resort than teen personality.
Just my two cents..
i think they're saying the before would make the mom of a teen happy because it was neat, but for an adult it was boring so they spiced it up.
I like the "before" much much more than the "after". Before is simple, calm, good colors and if they had painted the floor white it would have been perfect. The "after" seems to have too many things going on, which makes it confusing.
The only difference I would have made is put up those sheer window coverings on the lower half of the windows since that view so not the prettiest. There like peel and stick for windows and you can purchase them with a varity of designes. That being said, the transformation if very nice. I like the crispness of it all.
I am not sure that the post is better than the before....
No, the post specifically says "this teen bedroom" and "their young client" but there is no reference to a teenager at the project page, or any indication that "Megan" isn't Megan Downing, one of the designers.
Before.
I like the redo. It's not my style but it clearly suits the person it was designed for.
Which brings me to this point....not sure what is so hard to understand, it's a before and after of a teenage girl's room.
(One thing that *I* don't get though is taking purposely grainy, dark pictures for the before since it's always so hard to judge what you're seeing. I guess the idea is to convey the before as somewhat bleaker, but it's the design equivalent of those before and after wrinkle cream pictures where the before is in black and white or something.)
After. It looks great!
Although I'm normally not a fan of theme room, I like the update. There is more color impact now. Also love the crabby pillow next to that cute poochie.
Oh, wait, now I see - it's in the URL of the project page. Still not sure whether Megan is the client or the designer, though.
Also, I agree with Sylly that it's a bit busy, but actually I think removing the plant between the windows would be enough to tone it down.
Fresh and lovely- Wish there were closer shots of the ocean wall and could see the mural better - I can't even tell it's water or a beach.
Love the renovation! The blue and orange look great together and the room looks much more put together.
Love the after,much more personality!
Wow, pretty amazing style for a teen! My walls as a teen were plastered in heavy metal posters. Though I would have flipped out if I'd had glass doors and lack of privacy.
I like the nightstand in the after photo.
Love the 'after'!! The room was simple and pretty 'before', but has the perfect amount of pop, color and elegance in the 'after'. Interesting and uncluttered. I LOVE the painted detail around the windows... made a huge difference. What a wonderful, personal touch to use a photo taken by Megan (the teen/room occupant) as accent wall and headboard. As the mom of teen girls, I can testify that not all teens desire crazy colors and walls full of poster/photos/beads, etc. My girls also choose 'tranquil' over 'busy' decor. Great job on the youthful, soothing space. :)
Lovely space! Terrific transitional room for a teen!
I agree with Lyon Still, about the windows.Decorators aren't too jazzed but they really are needed for privacy, always implement a privacy curtain or window cover, or if windows are covered by privacy film. Noted that N.Y. has all those old buildings with high ceilings and they, in themselves are wonderful but most condos and apartments around the country do not have them which means while i can admire the looks i cannot use that much busy-ness.
I agree