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24 Hour Makeover: Modern Farmhouse Bedroom

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hey there! I'm monica 

I pride myself on making amazing style and design accessible for everyone, regardless of location, budget, or ability! My design philosophy is rooted in authenticity + attainability - If I can do it, you can too! My work has been featured in countless publications, but I take the most pride in homeowners that have been personally inspired by my DIY ideas and have tried something in their own homes!

learn more about ME + MY BIZ


Modern Farmhouse Makeover East Coast Creative SM

Sometimes I get ideas in my head… big ideas… and thankfully, I have an incredible husband that jumps on board pretty quickly (most of the time!) On Christmas eve as we were falling asleep, I asked if he’d be okay if we did a 24 hour bedroom makeover for two of our friends that were away on vacation.  They’re good people (the kind of friends you want to have) and they’d been talking off and on for three years about the rough shape of their bedroom.  You know how some rooms, you just don’t know where to start, and so you get stuck.  They were stuck. So Christmas eve (technically Christmas morning at 1:00am) Eric agreed to my idea of a 24 hour modern farmhouse bedroom makeover and my wheels started turning.

Modern Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover

 Not to shabby for 24 hours right?  Here’s how it all went down…  Obviously, we had Christmas festivities and lots of fun planned for our break, but on Christmas afternoon, on our way to dinner at my in-laws we stopped by our friends house, let ourselves in using the key they forgot we had, and snapped our before pics… I love that Eric is straight up whistling dixie or something… it’s true we’re both total whistlers (except I’m terrible at it… I’m a one note wonder, but it doesn’t stop me!)

Modern Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover Before 4 SM WM

Dec. 26th I hit the home improvement store early, got my supplies, and that afternoon we brought our kids over, popped a movie in for them and got to work!  Clear the room. Install new molding. Build a headboard. Paint walls. Paint doors.  We finished all of that in about 2 hours and called it a night.

The next day E and I worked in shifts, he went over to hang some shelves, while I ran to Target for pillows, then we swapped, I went and finished the faux doors, he fed our kids lunch, then we swapped again… You get the idea.  It’s how we roll.

We finished the room in record time and then a couple other amazing gal pals came and cleaned our friends’ entire house and Eric and I jumped into a week-long marathon of Mangin Christmas activities with our out of town family!

Here’s some before and after eye candy and tomorrow I’ll get right into things with tutorials!  

**Update: Click here for the DIY Barn Door Tutorial

Before: yeah…issue #1-the mattress was on the floor.

Modern Farmhouse Makeover Before 1 WM SM

After:  inexpensive metal bed frame, cedar shingle headboard (spoiler alert it cost $8.00!) Spray painted their lamps, added a few pillows. Done and done!

Modern Farmhouse Makeover After 1 WM SM

Before: The bedroom also doubles as a work space for my friend who is a photographer, so the work station was essential.

Modern Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover Before 3 WM SM

After: Planked walls add the farmhouse vibe (and are the least expensive wood!), pine shelf and spray painted metal brackets, an ugly lampshade stripped down to the metal and painted copper.

I’ve gotta say- I deeply loathe the positioning of the yellow mason jar.  I must have bumped it at some point.  I feel it’s my civic duty to let you know that I do not recommend a mason jar directly in front of a clock.  #designerfail 
Modern Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover After 4 WM SM

 I picked up the stitched floral print at Liberty Thrift and it’s been in my sunroom, but I thought it would look nice here.  And I love the Batman printable- “always be Batman”

Modern Farmhouse Bedroom Workspace WM SM

Before:  Brown Hollow Core Doors… need I say more?!?  I don’t need to, but I’m going to say more anyhow.  These doors are the nemesis of many homeowners all across America (perhaps the world, but I can’t confirm that for sure)  I knew building a new closet wasn’t an option in 24 hours, so I had to get creative…

Modern Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover Before 2 WM SM

After:  How ’bout them apples?!?  They’re like the awkward girl from high school that goes off to college and returns a smokin’ hot babe!  They’re still the same old girl you knew, but so much cooler.  I’ll be sharing the tutorial for these doors tomorrow, but let me just say this:

1 Sharpie + 4 wood planks + 2 handles = Faux Barn Doors

Modern Farmhouse Bedroom After 2 WM SM

Tomorrow I’ll begin tutorials for this space. Make sure you check back- you can set a reminder in your phone if you need to.

**Update: Click here for the DIY Barn Door Tutorial

Modern Farmhouse DIY projects WM SM 2

I love this makeover a whole lot.  I love that it proves you don’t need a ton of time and a ton of money to create an incredible space (duh, that’s kind of my mantra).  But, even more than the space- I love doing stuff like this for people.  I’m not a touchy feely, let’s hug it out kind of girl, but I do love making people happy, pulling off surprises, and overall just using what I’m good at (or at least halfway decent at) to encourage people and maybe impact their lives in some small way.  That was one of my favorite parts of hosting our first TV show- seeing how much our makeovers really meant to homeowners.  I can’t wait to get back to work with my new show and be doing this kind of thing all the time again!

I’d love to know what you think of this 24 hour modern farmhouse makeover!  

Would you be freaked out if one of your friends surprised you with a makeover? 

(don’t worry, they weren’t freaked out- they were happy, once they determined that they hadn’t been robbed!)

-Monica

The comments +

  1. I seriously love this! I am in love with the head board! I can’t wait to see the tutorials! yes I would be in heaven if this were me. I love your style!

  2. Shawna says:

    I wanna know more about this farmhouse bedroom make over,cause I wanna do my bedroom just like it?

  3. Hollie says:

    I would seriously kill you for this. It looks good, great in parts, and I know it was a lot of work and came from your heart, but I would die a thousand deaths to see the before published and know people had been in my space. I’m a housekeeper for a living and see these kind of before and after effects as part of my everyday life, and would never *ever* EVER publish or take a photo of a place before I cleaned it.

    I’m glad your friend was OK with it! I do like the closet doors a lot. And everything is tidier.

    I’m sorry. I really love you and I love your work. I just kind of wish you’d kept it to yourself. It makes a voyeur of me when I didn’t want to be.

  4. This is SO great!! Love what you did with the doors! The room has such a fresh crisp look to it now! Love it!! Nice job!

  5. Greta says:

    Love this room! Are you taking makeover requests for your new show?

  6. Christina says:

    I miss your show. You have so many great ideas. This makeover just gave me inspiration to do my bedroom. We have been in our place for almost three years now and all the rooms have been decorated (more than once) except our bedroom. Our bedroom always seems to be the place to throw everything that does not belong anywhere else. We always seem to run out of money when it comes to that room in the house so I am going to make it my mission to find a low cost way to make the room feel like a bedroom instead of a warehouse. Thanks for the inspiration.

  7. Sarah says:

    Monica, this is incredible! It almost makes me wish I had hollow core sliding closet doors… I LOVE the barn door look! I also love stripping the lamp shade to the metal.. Might need to give that a whirl. You’re such a great friend for doing this, and kudos to hubby for helping out!

  8. Beth DelConte says:

    Can’t wait to read the tutorial for the barn doors!

  9. THIS IS AMAZING!!! Those doors are fantastic…sharpie…say what?!!!! Such an awesome surprise. I would love to do this for someone. Can’t wait to read all the details. ~Sonya

  10. holly says:

    that’s beyond incredible that you did this for your friends, not to mention, pulled it off in 24 hours…& it’s adorable! I hope they loved it. 🙂

  11. Joann says:

    Monica, what a wonderful gift for your friends! You are so kind! I love the barn doors and how the planking on the walls give it the farm vibe. When my brother passed away, many years ago, my sweet sister-in-law came over and gave our small home a much needed makeover! I’ll never forget how loved it made us feel.

  12. Ruth Lutz says:

    Monica,
    What an awesome friend you are – great job! (Although I would be totally mortified if someone took pictures of my messy bedroom and posted them!- better make my bed, quick!). You did a beautiful job and even better, impacted the lives of your friends in a tangible and deeply meaningful way!
    Warm regards,
    Ruth Lutz

  13. Karen says:

    I MUST know about these door!!! ASAP please! And what paint color did you use for the walls and doors? Love it!

  14. Mindy says:

    This is crazy awesome. 24 hours and such a difference! You are a wonder!

  15. Leslie says:

    This is an incredible, gorgeous makeover! I would be thrilled if somebody did this for me, and if the only drawback was having my messy bedroom photos posted online, well I would consider that nothing more than a small inconvenience!
    You’ve inspired me — I’m thinking of a makeover for our closet doors now, and they’re not even horrible doors! But this look would really add some lovely visual detail to the room.
    I love your ideas and I’ve enjoyed watching the fantastic things you do on your TV show.

  16. Kim says:

    Love the quick room make-over ! Can’t wait to learn more about the closet doors.

  17. gailanneM says:

    I have now checked TWICE for the tutorial on how to do those closet doors….. You promised it would be up today…..can’t WAIT!!

    • Diana Trotter says:

      Hi Gailanne,

      Tutorial will be up tomorrow, the full post of the before and afters is today! So glad you love the closet doors. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

  18. Gina says:

    Wow! Love it! I’d love it if you’d be my friend and surprise me with a makeover. It wouldn’t even have to be a surprise….you provide the creativity and I’ll provide the budget. 🙂

  19. Debbie says:

    Once again shows how creative and energetic you are! Awesome how your hubs helped too. I’m trying to get a plan (And people) to surprise a tiny Animal Sanctuary with a small make over. All your tutorial
    S help regular folks every day

  20. Cathy says:

    Can you be my friend?!!!! Love the cost effective and fun makeover.
    What a fabulous treat for your friends, I am sure they loved it!!

  21. All I can say is, won’t you be my neighbor?!? LOVE!

    • Monica says:

      Ha! That made me laugh Kim! I’ll be in New England this weekend, but not quite your neighbor! 🙂 Hope you’re well! -Mon

  22. Michele says:

    I ready your post twice and thought how was it possible that you did such a great makeover in such a short period of time…Amazing!! My fave was the closet door! You are quite the visionary…well done!!! And oh yes, I would have been mortified too about the before photos but it could have always been in worse shape and just shows we do not live our lives like photos in a magazine. Very real, very normal, thank God!

  23. Oh. My. Gosh. I love it. I am interested in how you planked the walls. Will be back tomorrow.

  24. Jessica Martinez says:

    I love it!! It definitely shows you what a little paint and imagination can do for a room!!

  25. Sandy Campbell says:

    A.mazing! I just have to say that it would take me 2 hours just to mask the room to get ready to paint lol Awesome job and what an amazing friend. Those are hard to find!

  26. Mary King says:

    Wonderful makeover. I’m betting your friends are elated to have such a wonderful surprise. It amazes me that you can do so much with so little.

  27. Oh wow, I’m so loving this!

  28. Gina says:

    Wish I had some hollow core closet doors….love this. Thanks for the tutorial! Eager for the shingle headboard tutorial. You did an awesome job on this room!

  29. Donna says:

    Very nice makeover! Love that you show how a makeover can be done with so little $$$$…..guess it’s a matter of using your head & making some changes (like putting the bed on a bed frame instead of the floor!) that make a very real change in the way a room looks. Great job and great friend you are.

  30. Kaleigh says:

    It took my husband and I an entire evening to hang some shelves… how the H did you manage this?! AMAZING! LOVE IT!! You have some very lucky friends! I would have loved to see the looks on their faces!!!

  31. Joni says:

    I am a hermit and have a “do not disturb” sign on my front door but if I ever know anyone like you and you did this for me you could take all the pics you wanted.

  32. Mary says:

    LOVE!!! Will you be my friend? I would be your partner in makeover crimes and crunch ideas with you!

  33. Yiola Cassity says:

    Love love love it doors. How could I get this look with my brown sliding doors? There’s not room to add any planks to it because they have to cross each other.

  34. […] Cedar Shingles: The most amazing thing about this modern farmhouse headboard is that it cost only eight bucks to […]

  35. Veronica Johnson says:

    Thank you so much for this post. Held onto it this long and finally got my door finished. Looks great.

  36. Shereese says:

    I love the barn door look – thanks for sharing! I am interested to know what you did to the floor, I’m looking for ideas to replace my carpet and can’t afford the wood flooring I want!

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