It’s here! Week one of the Spring 2018 One Room Challenge. I am still on cloud nine after being chosen to be one of the twenty featured bloggers but now reality has set in. I have to transform a room in six short weeks! Actually, it’s only five weeks since the photography has to be done sooner for the week six reveal.
Now in it’s thirteenth season, The One Room Challenge is a highly anticipated room makeover event. Twenty featured bloggers have six weeks to transform a room of their choosing and blog about it each Wednesday. Hundreds of other designers and bloggers join in on the fun by linking up and blogging about their own room transformations on Thursdays.
Today is day one and I am so excited to share my room with you. The room I will be transforming is a little different from the other participant’s rooms. You see my room is really not a room at all. Let me explain. One of the sponsors of this Spring’s One Room Challenge is the Boston Design Center. The building is under new ownership (Jamestown L.P.) and is now called the Innovation and Design Building.The building has eight floors of design showrooms and offices and this is where local designers go to source for their clients.
The Boston Design Center marketing group asked me to make over a space located on the fifth floor of the building. The plan is that I will borrow furniture and other items from different show rooms to create my room. Now I know what you might be thinking. “What’s the big deal? She can just pick whatever high end item she wants and create a kick ass space”. Well, not exactly true.
Unlike a room of my choosing where I call the shots and anything goes, this is a commercial space. There are building rules and regulations as to what I can and can’t do. Plus the biggest challenge is that I have to work with what the showrooms are willing to take off their floor and lend me without it looking like a collection of mismatched furniture.
So drum roll please….this is the space I will be making over for the One Room Challenge. It is both awesome and overwhelming.
ORC Room Before
ORC room before
As you can see, there are a few challenges besides the tight six week deadline.
One Room Challenge number one:
I can’t design in my usual way. Normally, after much discussion with my client, I come up with a design plan and then go about implementing it. In this case though I have to work backwards. First I’ll see what I am allowed to borrow and then I will create the design plan around those elements. It’s kind of like being given a bunch of groceries (cheerios, yogurt, strawberries, chicken) and then being asked to create a meal based on those given ingredients. To add a little more pressure, imagine thousands (tens of thousands?) will be tasting your creation.
One Room Challenge number Two:
Since this a temporary project I am not allowed to alter the walls or ceiling in any way. The unsightly HVAC pipes are part of the space and there is no hiding that “design element”.
One Room Challenge number three:
You can see from this angle a big cement block abutting the window frame. I would like to add drapes to soften the space but that block is problematic. I’m still trying to decide the best way to treat this window.
Seriously though, it’s all about location, location, location….right? The first time I saw the space I was practically jumping up and down when I saw the view.That’s Boston harbor out there in the distance. It’s awesome just being in the space and for the next six weeks I am going to pretend I’m designing my future home. Since there is no client involved to dictate design direction, I am the client.
MY design thoughts
It goes without saying, that the space is what it is. There is no point in trying to make it look anything other than a very cool, hip, loft space. Depending on what I can borrow from the showrooms and use from the sponsors I have decided to transform this space into my very own dream pied-a-terre city loft. I would LOVE to own a space like this. Unfortunately, since Boston is the third most expensive real estate market in the country, this make believe pied-a-terre is probably as close as I’ll ever get.
To get started I found I few inspiration photos.
I like this first one except it needs artwork!
Now this one has more of the vibe I am going for. Lot’s of artwork and a little less “showroom” feeling. Also, plants. I want plants in my loft.
Similar to this inspiration photo my pied-a-terre will not only be my work space but a place to entertain and host epic dinner parties. I imagine every weekend all my hip, artsy and designer friends will come and hang with me. Be sure to let me know if you want an invite…oh and bring wine…or champagne…or whatever the cool hip urbanites are drinking these days. You might not guess it from looking at me but in my fantasy pied-a-terre I am a 30 something hip urbanite.
Even though it is still a mystery what I will be allowed to borrow, I created a preliminary floor plan. The space measures 31″ x 21″ and similar to the inspiration photos I envision a large area for relaxing and entertaining and a second area that will double as a work/dinning area. Obviously I need a lot to fill this space!
Pied-a-terre floor plan
Before I head off to the Design Center to begin my hunt (begging) for furniture, I have a quick story to share. About six months ago I was walking down a hallway of the Boston Design Center and passed this empty showroom below. I saw the light coming through the window and I posted this photo on Instagram.
As you can see, my caption reads “Just imagine the possibilities”. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that the Universe always gives you what you ask for. Pretty freaky coincidence. I now have a space very similar to this and have been granted the opportunity to not only imagining the possibilities, but to create it!
Crazy how the Universe works… right???
Starting today be sure to follow the other nineteen designers as they begin their room transformations and on Thursdays, the link up designers
Apartment 34 | Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive
Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design
Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators
Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Style Me Pretty Living
Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC
Linda – this is SO exciting (and your post so well-written, by the way)! I know with your resourcefulness and creativity, you’ll knock this ORC right out of the park!
Thank you so much Kelly and I said it before but I will say it again…I am so glad I have you along on this wild ride with me!
It will be exciting to see this all come together! I’ll join you at your imaginary party but I’m in the designer, mommy to a 7yo, suburb of Charlotte, NC, Chardonnay drinking crowd so I’m not sure what the hip urbanites are drinking? If you’re ok with a nice white and some charcuterie, I’m your gal. 🙂
Great! Your in Claudia! I’ll take nice white any day and thank you so much for following along!
Such a great space and you are the perfect designer to flesh out something cool and usable ( for the hip-urbanite lifestyle). I can’t wait to see! White is my choice too:)
Thanks Nirma! I so appreciate the support!
This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see what you do with this super cool space!
LOL..I can’t wait to see what I do too!!!
Re:challenge #1 think about this as Chopped for designers!
Re: party, I hope you consider me artsy enough for that delightful Imaginary party.
And the synchronicity with your ‘assigbed’ space is divine!!!
Linda, your blogs made me care about interior design more than I ever thought possible.
Mira, you are absolutely one of my MOST arty and hip friends. Yes, I do feel like I am on an episode of chopped and your final comment almost brought tears to my eyes. You have seriously paid me the best compliment ever! Thank you!!
Linda, Love your story about how the universe delivers what you envision! A reminder to not be afraid to fantasize and dream!! Looking forward to sharing your dream with you!!
Hi Debra..crazy story right? Thank you for commenting and thank you for following along as I pull this space together.
WOW Linda, this is fantastic!!! After seeing your other ORC a couple years ago, I know you will make your design loft the loft of your dreams. What a fun coincidence your photography eye turned out to be real, designing a space for the New Boston Innovation & Design Center. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’ll be following along for sure. This is one time I regret moving out of Boston. So wish I could be there for your big reveal!!! Have fun with it all!! ❤
Than you Deborah! I wish you were in Boston too! Thank you though for following along from Austin.
What an exciting space!. I love your inspiration and can’t wait to see the result!
Thanks so much Susan. I have to keep telling myself to enjoy the process and stop worrying. I know it will all work out in the end.
OMG!!!
Yes, be careful what you wish/ask for… manifestation is truly incredible. I am so excited and happy for you – this is a great challenge and I know you will do a stellar design. All my best ~ looking forward to following your progress.
I know..really!! I said the exact same thing to my husband. It seriously gave me chills when it all came about. Thanks for the support Lisa!
Beautiful post and the space has so much potential 🙂 Looking forward to following along and seeing the progress one week at a time. Good luck!
Thank you Marina! I hope it turns out as good in six weeks as I see it in my head!
I SORTA guessed that this was what was going to be happening….but VERY excited to see the process! Your inspiration photos are fantastic- I want to move into any one of them right away! And I definitely want that invite and I will bring my 30-ish hip urbanite along to the great wrap party, lol!! I’ll bring wine!
Cheers!
Meredith
So happy to finally be able to share my “room”. I figured you might recognize the view! Thank you for the support and I hope to see your post tomorrow!
So happy for you Linda! What a dream life you have going on right now! And it is because you deserve each and every goodness that comes your way because you are so special. Good luck with this project. Can’t wait to see what you do! 🙂
Thank you so much Kelly. I am so grateful for your comment and support!
Linda, it’s so nice to know you are a featured designer! I am happy that I’ve met you in person and know this will be a fantastic space. Yep, this is me too in my mind – I am a 30 something hip urbanite (in Paris). I’ll be tracking your progress, while I tackle my own dining room…
Thank you so much Tracey! I’ll be sure to follow along your six week challenge as well. The basement room you did last time was amazing. I have no doubt your dinning room will be equally as fabulous!
I love your analogy with the food. This is going to be fun to watch. I also wish I had a downtown loft. Can’t wait.
Thanks Linda. I hope I can make the assorted showroom donations “taste” delicious!
Very exciting Linda – looking forward to seeing the end result!
Thank you so much for the support Linda!
What an amazing opportunity you have here! I am so excited to see how this project turns out – I’m sure your “loft” will be stunning. 🙂
Thanks so much Rachel. It sure would be fabulous if it really was mine!
Congratulations! I’m so excited for you and will be following your work!!
Thanks Lori. I sure hope I can pull it off!
I wanna be a 30 something hip urbanite, too! I live your design plan and am really looking forward to seeing this all come together!
So excited to design alongside you this year for ORC! Can’t wait to see how this space turns out 🙂
How exciting! Such a unique space. Can’t wait to watch this unfold 🙂
So excited to watch you transform this space! The inspiration is beautiful, I can’t wait to see the end result! Best of luck!
Linda I can’t wait to see how you work through the challenges! With your talent I know it’s going to be a beautiful space! I love that we get to follow along!
Thanks so much Wendy and it was great to catch up a bit with you yesterday.