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Before & After: A Low-Cost Summer Guest Room Makeover, Cape Cod Edition

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Before & After: A Low-Cost Summer Guest Room Makeover, Cape Cod Edition

July 5, 2023

This week we’re combing through the Remodelista archives for some of our all-time favorite summer stories. Here’s one:

A few summers back, Julie realized she had to do something about the neglected guest bedroom in her Wellfleet, Massachusetts, summerhouse if she wanted repeat visitors. Formerly used as a study, the room had seen better days: The shelves were lined with dusty academic tomes, the baby blue walls and ceiling were peeling, and the closet interior and ancient iron radiator hadn’t been painted in decades (if not a century).

For advice on achieving the perfect summery seaside palette, using Behr paints from the Home Depot,  Julie called in Remodelista contributing editor and Cape Cod neighbor Justine Hand for a consultation (Justine’s pitch-perfect cottage in Orleans, Massachusetts, is featured in our first book, Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home). Justine is a genius with color, so the two pored over the Behr palette (which includes hundreds of options) and chose a watery pale blue/green Behr River Mist for the walls, an all-purpose, can’t-go-wrong Behr Linen White for the ceiling and trim, and a cheery, sunny Behr Bicycle Yellow for the closet interior.

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Join us for a tour.

After

Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: Justine dreamed up a summery palette for the guest bedroom; the walls are painted in Behr’s River Mist, a blue/green shade that subtly references the shimmery Cape Cod coastline.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: For the closet, Justine recommended Behr’s Bicycle Yellow to pick up on the yellow accents in the bedroom and to give the interior a cheerful feel.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: “The palette gives the room a luminous, glowy feel,” Julie says.” The quilt and patterned pillow cover are from Les Indiennes and the mustard linen throw pillow is from Hawkins NY.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: Julie and Justine “shopped” the rest of the house and created a mini gallery wall over the bed using framed pieces.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: It’s an old Cape Cod trick: Go beachcombing for a sculptural seashell to create an instant light pull.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: Julie’s cat JoJo approves.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: “We pruned the library, keeping only a few volumes, and added items collected from the rest of the house,” Julie says. “The landscape study is by my daughter, who took a plein air painting class a couple of summers ago with my favorite artist, Rob DuToit.”
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: The rocking chair is a flea market find and the vintage dresser came with the house; Julie painted it white a few summers ago. On the rocking chair: a stack of Les Indiennes sample fabrics Julie picked up at Summerhouse in Mill Valley, California.
Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: New England thrift: A sample scrap of Les Indiennes #006 Daisy block-printed fabric serves as a runner atop the dresser.

The Palette

Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8

Above, L to R: Behr River Mist, Behr Linen White, and Behr Bicycle Yellow.

Before

Before  After A LowCost Summer Guest Room Makeover Cape Cod Edition portrait 8
Above: The guest bedroom before the overhaul was a bit tired-looking.

N.B.: This story is an update; the original post ran on August 1, 2018, as a sponsored post and is reappearing here as part of our Summer from the Archive issue.

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Frequently asked questions

What is this article about?

This article is about a summer bedroom makeover done by Home Depot in Cape Cod.

What were the challenges faced in the room?

The challenges faced in the room were lack of natural light, odd angles, and outdated decor.

What was the color scheme for the makeover?

The color scheme for the makeover was blue and white with accents of gold and natural fibers.

What kind of furniture was used in the makeover?

The furniture used in the makeover was a white bedframe, blue nightstands, a blue and white striped armchair, and a white desk.

What kind of lighting was used in the makeover?

The lighting used in the makeover included a chandelier, bedside lamps, and a task lamp on the desk.

What other decor items were used in the makeover?

Other decor items used in the makeover included a woven rug, blue and white patterned bedding, throw pillows, and wall art.

Where can I shop for these items?

These items can be found at Home Depot and other home decor stores.

Can I recreate this makeover in my own bedroom?

Yes, this makeover can serve as inspiration for your own bedroom makeover and you can use similar color schemes, furniture, and decor items.

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