A Vintage Splendor Tackles Bedroom and Office Space in One Room Challenge

Annette Vartanian of A Vintage Splendor has built an Instagram following and lifestyle blog mixing vintage fashion and interiors with the everyday to create new and exciting looks. But when she entered the One Room Challenge — a six week challenge where 50+ designers make over one space in their respective homes — Vartanian decided she’d up the ante and do two rooms instead of just one. The first space? An office nook atop the landing of her bedroom staircase. Here, for Vartanian it was all about maximizing storage by placing shelving along the stairwell wall that flows into the work space. The second room was Vartanian’s master bedroom.

Office Space One Room Challenge

Vartanian describes her home as Mid-century Modern, and although she and her husband have worked to preserve its original architectural style, “we're not MCM purists,” she stated. This affords them the opportunity to have fun by mixing things up.

The blogger and her husband had already converted what was a large upstairs rec room into their master suite but wanted to add personality to the otherwise blank space for this challenge. They used a mix of Ikea and Semihandmade products for the built-in cabinets, desk, and floating shelves to complete the office nook. Part of the DIY project also included building a lucite and brass handrail, as well as a gallery wall. The whole nook was rounded out with Dunn-Edwards paint. “We definitely wanted the bedroom to be moody and mix in Mid-century Modern and antique pieces to create a really beautiful and serene space for us that is reflective of our personal style,” Vartanian stated.

For the office space, Vartanian knew she wanted a really dark blue to create the perfect moody vibe. As it happened, the very first blue she saw — Deepest Sea (DE5825)— was the one she ultimately fell in love with. “Dunn-Edward paints are rich in color and offer great coverage. I find that I can get high-quality coverage in just one coat, but I always do a second one! The staff at my local store were super responsive and helpful, and the entire experience (even during COVID) was amazing,” Vartanian explained.

For Vartanian, the One Room Challenge creates community within the design world where designers share tips, advice and progress photos of their projects. “It builds camaraderie since you can't wait to see what others are accomplishing and it's definitely inspiration overload,” she stated.

Master Bedroom One Room Challenge

Annette and her husband love color so much, which made the process of finding the right hue for the master bedroom lengthier. They ultimately chose the stormy, deep green color Stone Bridge (DE5747). “I really wanted the bedroom area to flow with the rest of the house but also carve out a unique aesthetic for the upstairs since it's all part of a master suite. I love that the dramatic dark blue stairwell and office leads you to a serene, yet moody bedroom.”

Vartanian has completed the look in her bedroom with pieces that harken to former eras such as the decadent black and gold accents, black-rimmed rattan headboard, and leather upholstered settee.

If you’re feeling Annette’s use of moody hues, and you’d like to see other examples of these colors in spaces, take a look at how one CEO used a mix of pinks and dark shades to deck out her L.A. headquarters.