One Room Challenge - Week 1: Double Duty — Redesigned by Carley Brandon

I'm so excited to share that I will be joining the One Room Challenge as a Guest Participant for a 2nd time! Thanks to the lovely and extremely organized Linda of Calling It Home as well as House Beautiful, 20 feature designers and well over 100 guest participants will cheer each other on as we transform our spaces in just 6 weeks. Two of my blog heroines, Gwen Hefner of The Makerista and Jenny Komenda from The Little Green Notebook are featured designers this round and let's not forget guest participants Vanessa Francis of Decor Happy and Leslie of The Lesile Style, other favourites of mine.

Last fall was my first challenge and it was a huge learning experience for me. I jumped in late with the launch of my blog, didn't link up my posts and barely made it to the finish line in time for the big reveal of Lily's Room in week six. In the end, we finished on time and Lily absolutely loved her room. Take a peek at Lily's finished room from the Spring One Room Challenge HERE.

This time I'm doing things differently starting with some advanced planning, ordering and drafting blog posts. I will also be my own client - designing my principle bedroom which will also need to perform double duty as my home office.

Like many homeowners, I'm finishing my room last and over five years after we bought our newly built home. I still have the original builder's paint on the walls with the exception of an accent wall painted in Benjamin Moore's "Love and Happiness" after Pantone announced "Rose Quartz" as one of their colours of the year in 2016. Yes - I did that - and I've regretted it ever since ...

I love the natural light, size and shape of my room and I've tried my best to work with pieces that I already have but a few things just aren't working including the:

mirrored bedside tables - really pretty but too small to accommodate a substantial lamp, cup of tea and book or magazine at the same time
wing back headboard - reupholstered in Caitlin Wilson's Mint Fleur Chinoise fabric is beautiful but the wings blocked the light for reading and it limited my ability to change things up easily
white walls accentuate the lack of architectural details common in new builds
layout - I've moved my bed and desk a couple of times to try and make existing pieces work
bookcases - our family room library can now house my books so it's time to move these out and regain some space
lack lustre ceiling fixture (aka "boob light)

I'm stripping it right back to a blank canvas and keeping only 3 pieces that are really sentimental - and stylish - if I do say so myself:

Grannie Audrey's Art Deco dresser with scalloped mirror
Nanny Lillian's Art Deco dining table (desk)
Art Deco secretary desk that my Dad bought me for my birthday a few years ago

Follow me here an on Insta over the next few weeks as I transform this space with the help of my brother Paul from Brancon and other talented trades and artists. Next week I'll share my inspiration for the overall design as well as my plan.

- Carley