This Bedroom Makeover Hinged on Finding the Perfect Wallpaper (and It’s Truly Perfect!)
When it comes to adding historic vibes back in to a home, era-appropriate wallpaper can be a surefire way to add character. In a guest room redo that was part of a whole-home reno, Ali Burgoon Nolan of Studio Burgoon drenched the room with wallpaper.
“We completely reversed the original floor plan — moving the bedrooms to the front,” Ali (@studioburgoon) says of her whole home reno. This guest bedroom, for the prior owner who had the home for 50 years, used to be a living room and formal dining room.
During the reno, Ali and team got rid of the archway divider, added a guest bathroom in the once-wallpapered part (the dining room), and added a statement-making wallpaper where the wood paneling once was to complete the guest suite. Compared with the rest of the home’s transformation, it’s “wild” to see how far this room came with mostly cosmetic changes, Ali says on Instagram.
New wallpaper brought the room back to life.
“The transformation hinged on this cherry fern wallpaper, which brings such life to the room,” Ali says on Instagram, adding that “any space can be completely transformed just by rethinking what’s on the walls.”
This botanical print is a good match for the pecan trees outside the bedroom window, too.
The bedroom has vintage nods — plus new finds that feel vintage.
Ali filled her entire home with vintage furniture and added history-inspired details, and this bedroom is no exception. The nightstands are vintage, and there’s a vintage South Shore Line poster Ali loves.
“Originally designed in 1928 to promote train travel from Chicago to the Indiana Dunes, the poster celebrities the blooming of trillium and ferns along the route,” Ali says. It’s fitting for the wallpaper print, and a personal touch, because the poster reminds her of her uncle, who had South Shore Line posters in his home when she was growing up.
There are also new finds that look vintage, like the bobbin bed from Wayfair, lamps from Crate & Barrel, and a quilt from Pottery Barn. It all comes together and “feels like a true retreat for our guests,” Ali says.
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