How To: Bright Bedroom Renovation

The 450-square-foot-space is part of the residents gradual renovation to turn their classic New England shingle house into a modern interior with some period details. The attic was originally a cramped and cluttered bedroom, so Barrett made unifying material moves and added custom storage. The floor running throughout the room is bamboo strand flooring from Plyboo and a mix of cream and funky orange (Benjamin Moore Calypso) adds a crisp dose of color.

In order to save space, Barrett designed custom storage under the shortest part of the sloped roof. "The custom millwork was a big ticket item, but critical to making the suite feel spacious," Barrett says. "Built- in storage is good value for the money because it allows you to harvest previously unusable space and it allows a smaller space to feel larger since you don’t need a lot of furniture.

Barrett also had to make some cost-conscious decisions to stay within limited financial constraints. "The most cost effective thing one can do as an architect designing on a tight budget, is to design efficiently." To that end, she stacked the new bathroom on top of the existing bathroom on the floor below to limit the amount of plumbing labor( "Skilled labor such as plumbing and electrical work are typically the most expensive aspect of interior construction," she says). Barrett also left several structural elements, like leaving the collar ties rather than removing them.

In the bathroom, Roca wall tile in Rainbow Azul continues the citrus color scheme, and the floor is clad in ceramic plank. The Ikea sinks and faucets also helped the design come in on budget.

Although the built-in storage eliminated the need for a lot of furniture, classic items like the Eames walnut stool and Executive Aluminum Group chair, and De La Espada's 011 Atlantico bed.

For more bedroom ideas, check out our ten tips for clutter-free bedrooms.