Before & After: New Bedrooms for the Whole Family in a Brooklyn Brownstone
Considering the amazing renovation work done on the living room, dining room and kitchen of Nicole and Dan Lucey’s Brooklyn brownstone, it’s not exactly a surprise that they also showed the same care, intention and design savvy with the family’s upstairs bedrooms. What is surprising are the bold design choices in two of the rooms, and the serene space the master bedroom turned out to be.
Nicole and Dan’s sophisticated son originally wanted ALL black walls. Nicole was pulling for all white walls.
So the two struck a compromise, and a dynamic half and half mix of Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace” and “Onyx.” While this paint treatment would have been plenty dramatic enough on its own, the black and white rug with wide stripes adds even more energy to the bedroom.
Dan and Nicole’s daughter’s bedroom is a perfectly pastel play space that features sophisticated accents. It’s a room ideal for a young kid, but also the kind of design that could easily translate to an older girl’s taste with a few tweaks. The colorful combo of Benjamin Moore’s “After the rain” (a lavender hue) and “Soft Mint” (on the ceiling) are entirely unexpected yet complementary. The gold ceiling stars from Etsy add a youthful spin on the entire room.
Finally, the master bedroom. Like all of the rooms in the entire brownstone, it didn’t just need decorating, it needed reviving. But in the before photo it’s clear that the architecture — even tired and in need of some love — is stunning. So, the couple decided to go neutral in the bedroom to highlight the charming structure and create a tranquil sleep space that feels airy and bright.
Tranquil did not mean boring, however. The walls are covered in Benjamin Moore’s “Chantilly lace,” which does indeed provide a soothing backdrop. But they then layered in design elements with interesting details, like the West Elm chair and the brass Accordion Side table from Urban Outfitters. Sparse art makes the room feel modern. The Malone Floor Mirror reflects the beautiful natural light.
To add contrast, the bed and nightstands are in dark wood tones, which echo the room’s dark-wood flooring. But the real beauty of the space comes from the Anthropologie wallpaper; its colors are soft but the pattern busy, which gives the room a vibrant feel (despite the neutral color palette).