Before and After: A Two-Tone Paint Job Breathes New Life into a Once-Lackluster Kid’s Room

Historic homes can have some great features, like detailed, rich mouldings, but they can also have some quirky features, like a sink in a bedroom.

Yes, it’s true. In Sameera Stern-Gillet (@21_holmfield)’s 1887 Victorian home, there was a sink in the corner of her son’s bedroom — see the real estate listing photo below.

There was also “horrible brown carpet,” Sameera says. “The carpet was filthy, and our son cried the day we moved in as he thought that’s how his room would always look!”

But thanks to a plumber, who helped remove the sink; plasterers, who helped smooth some uneven walls; and a bit of DIY work, the room is now a fun, colorful space for her now-10-year-old.

“Once the plastering finishes been made, we painted the room and then had a new carpet put in,” Sameera says.

She selected Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe, a dark grayish green, for the walls, which she says will “grow with” her son as he gets older, his interests change, and the design of the room changes.

“I’d never painted a room in such a dark color before but am so pleased that I took the step and did it,” she says.

The dark color makes the colorful prints in the space pop. “I love having the dark canvas to show off colorful prints and accessories,” she says.

She used bright-green bedding and plants in the space and repeated yellow accents throughout, like the locker nightstand from Habitat.

She also hung a white chandelier from IKEA that helps to draw the eye upward in the tall space. Sameera says the picture rail in the room is original to the house, and using it as a divider to create a two-tone look worked in their favor. The darkness on bottom adds some drama, while the lighter top section makes the ceilings look extra high.

In all, Sameera is pleased with the new look she created for her son. Her total cost: about £2500, or about $3,300 USD.

She’s most proud of “turning this room into something that [her] son loves,” she says, and one of her main takeaways is to not be afraid to experiment with paint.

“Always remember, if you don’t like it, you can paint over it!” she says. “I absolutely love the color of the room. It is such a versatile color and even though it’s dark, the room doesn’t feel small … I wouldn’t do anything differently.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.