A small room with big style

Southern Living, Oct 2001 by Jernigan, Sarah

Natalie Meeks's bedroom is a perfect example of a tiny but terrific room. When her parents, Julie and Gregg, needed to stretch the space in their Memphis home, they turned their unused attic into second-floor bedrooms and a bath. Although the finished area provided ample square footage, 12 x 14 feet, the low knee wall resulting from the roofline made it look much smaller. Thanks to Julie's style and the clever decorating of designer Shelley Miller, the room is now quite comfortable.

CHOOSING A COLOR SCHEME

Julie and Gregg's house features cheerful tones in yellow, red, and green, so bright yellow was an obvious choice upstairs. "In a room with few windows, you want to lighten it every way possible," says Shelley.

Lightly patterned wallpaper provides a texture and depth that a basic paint job can't duplicate. "The paper makes the room," says Julie. For interest, the wallpaper was hung on the walls and ceiling. "Covering both surfaces de-emphasizes the ceiling angle," explains Shelley. "Now it looks like one big space."

FABRICS AND FURNITURE

Shelley chose the window treatment fabric as the ingredient to tie everything together. All three colors-pink, blue, and yellow-are found in its design. "Too many patterns can be contrived," she explains. Instead, she suggests repeating just a few, and then pulling them together with details. The bed skirt is a good example. Trimmed in a strip cut from the window shade fabric, it links the bedding to the window.

Washable monogrammed coverlets and pillows were an investment Julie knew would stand the test of time. "Natalie can graduate from high school with this room," says her mom. "We'll just update accessories as time goes by." The painted chest and the beds' bunny motif add touches of youthful whimsy. A small desk and comfortable chair, in addition to the window seat, were also included.

Why go to such trouble for a child's room? "Children need a place where they feel comfortable," says Shelley. Julie and Gregg agree. "It's so nice to know Natalie can spend time reading, visiting with friends, and just playing in a room all her own," says Julie. "She loves that the room was made especially for her." Sarah Jernigan