A master makeover tames clutter

By Candice Olson

Since Patty and Allan were in dire need of more closet space, I designed some custom cabinetry for them. We created a clean white headboard for the bed and flanked it with two spacious built-in closets. These his-and-hers organizers really solve the storage problem, and their crisp whiteness helps to balance out the strong colors used in the rest of the room.This bedroom definitely had some great features: large dimensions, a cathedral ceiling and windows dressed in crisp white shutters. But the room was in need of some serious organization. Closet space was practically nonexistent, so more storage was a priority. Patty and Allan also spend a lot of time watching television in their bedroom, so integrating the TV into the new design was a must.HOME AND GARDEN TELEVISIONBy coming up with a colorful new plan of attack, this bold, beautiful bedroom really wins the battle against clutter. With the addition of spacious built-ins, fun fabrics and bright colors, a chaotic bedroom was transformed into a vibrant, functional retreat.Scripps Howard News ServiceTo highlight this vibrant new space, we installed two pendant lights on either side of the bed and some recessed halogen lights above the built-in wardrobes. We also added an updated track- lighting fixture to provide overall illumination.Patty and Allan were fighting clutter for control of their master bedroom, which had become a multipurpose battleground with the television, an office nook, the bed and an exercise bike all competing for floor space.I finished things off by bringing in a maple dresser, a couple of comfy white armchairs and a bright, colorful area rug.One important thing to realize with this design is how much the white cabinetry, window treatments and accessories really balance the bright colors elsewhere in the room.Candice Olson is an interior decoratorand host of HGTV's "Divine Design."When selecting paint and fabrics for this makeover, I kept largely to a fun, high-energy color scheme of teal blue and lime green. Then I selected a complementary color, a wonderful bright fuchsia, and repeated it throughout the room in the accessories and fabrics. A good example of this use of color is the wonderful new teal and lime duvet cover that sports just a punch of fuchsia.To soften the effect of the white shutters, I decided to frame the windows with a sheer white fabric covered in hundreds of tiny little mirrors. This fabric adds some glitz and sparkle to the bedroom, while the fuchsia trim along the bottom of the sheers ties them in to the rest of the decor.They wanted to conquer this chaos while creating a colorful sanctuary where they could hide from the pressures of life with three kids.

Scripps Howard News Service