Who doesn’t love a great “Before + After”? They’re downright addicting (and pretty much the reason HGTV even exists!) and completely satisfying. This month I’m sharing the behind the scenes of the show house I participated in last month. And let me tell you, it was one for the books!

I designed the tween dream “Girl’s Garden Bedroom” inspired by the classic novel, “The Secret Garden.” The experience was my first design showhouse, which was a longtime dream of mine, and it more than exceeded my wildest expectations! I’ve loved getting to know all the other talented designers and tradespeople I met throughout the process, as well as the amazing women who run the WAMMC. It was their tireless enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism that truly made this fundraiser a first-class experience. Well done, team!

For some brief history, Tyvan Hill was originally built as a summer home for financial giant, John Castles and his photojournalist wife Dorothea in the 1920’s. The home included servants’ quarters, which is where my room came in to play.

Originally maids’ quarters, my space was very dark and the ceiling felt oppressively low. I knew I wanted to paper the room and my challenge was to try and visually lift the ceiling, so I picked Brunschwig and Fils’ “Bird and Thistle” for it’s verticality and it’s charm. I fell in love with the Aqua color way, and I selected Benjamin Moore’s Ash Blue for the trim and radiators to compliment the paper.

To help bounce natural light around the room, I painted the old linoleum floor Bird’s Egg, also by Benjamin Moore. I love the happy effect it has on the whole design.

There are so many things that I loved about this room, but if I had to pick a favorite aspect, I would say I love the mix of lavender stitching on the bedding with all the blue tones that come from the wallpaper. It’s an unexpected detail that brings me so much joy!