Attic Entryway Hallway One Room Challenge The Victorian House

One Room Challenge: Week 1 (the Before Shots)

I’m thrilled to be taking part in the One Room Challenge again! A huge thank you to Linda at Calling it Home for organizing the event and inviting me back. I worked on our bedroom and den last time; both are right next to each other on the second floor. Going to sleep and waking up in a finished space is especially nice, but what’s that just beyond the door? Oh, right. A hallway that still looks like this after we rewired the second and third floors of the Victorian.

Hallway Ceiling, Second Floor, with Conduit for Electrical Rewiring

So as I was thinking of which space I wanted to do this time, everything just felt wrong when we still had glaring issues along that hallway. Conduit along the ceiling! Holes everywhere! Bare bulbs and missing light fixtures!

But is that really enough of a ‘room’ for the One Room Challenge? After working simultaneously on two spaces for the ORC last time, just doing a hallway seemed way too easy. Hmmm… What if I do the hallway and down the back stairs, out to the back door. We’ve never touched that space, and it could really use some help.

Back Stairs

Back Door

Back Stairs

That’s more like it. Now we’ve got some work to do. Ah, but what about the front entry? It doesn’t need all that much, but wouldn’t it be nice if the front and back door hardware matched? Plus I’d been thinking of changing the paint color again and I hadn’t gotten around to swapping out the light fixtures yet. Let’s add that to the mix.

Front Door

OK, the front entry, up the stairs, down the hallway, and down again to the back door. Wait, maybe I should update the third floor hallway too? It isn’t as awful as the second floor hall, but it is in need of some repair. I was already planning on changing the sconces up there and the doors could use a bit of love at the same time.

Third Floor Rewiring Damage

Third Floor Hallway Doors

The front entry, up the stairs, down the hallway on the second and third floors, down the stairs, and out the back door. Have I made enough work for myself yet? Yes? Good. All of the connecting spaces together at once. I’ve been planning the design, but work hasn’t started and will be progressing in real time. Six weeks! Six weeks to do all of this…

  • Repair Walls and Ceilings
    back entry and stairway: fix cracked plaster, patch holes
    2nd floor hallway: patch holes, new drywall framed, hung, and taped
    3rd floor hallway: patch holes

  • Stairs
    front stairway, second to third floor: remove old carpeting, repair treads (as needed), install new runners after painting
    back stairway, basement to third floor: remove old carpeting, repair treads (as needed), install new runners after painting

  • Prime and Paint
    front entry and stairway: walls, ceiling, stairs (second to third floor)
    back entry and stairway: walls, ceiling, door, trim, stairs (basement to third floor), railing and spindles
    2nd floor hallway: ceiling, doors, trim
    3rd floor hallway: walls, ceiling, doors, trim

  • Hang Wallpaper
    2nd floor hallway: walls

  • New Door Hardware
    front entry: door knob and deadbolt
    back entry: door knob and deadbolt
    3rd floor hallway: door knobs, hinges

  • Window Treatments
    throughout: roman shades

  • Install Lighting Fixtures
    front entry: two pendants
    back entry and stairway: pendant and two sconces
    2nd floor hallway: four flush mount fixtures, three sconces
    3rd floor hallway: flush mount fixture, sconce

You know. Plus the pretty stuff. Lamps, art, furniture, all that.

Making it Lovely's One Room Challenge (Before Shots)

I’m going to get more into the design details next Wednesday, but for now, I’ll leave you with my color inspiration. The red and pink sandstone of Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India.

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India
Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India
Images: 123

It’s going to be so good! Every single room in this big old Victorian feeds off of these connecting spaces. Getting these right is going to make a huge difference.


Follow along with the One Room Challenge participants!

One Room Challenge• Jana Bek • Chris Loves Julia • Shannon Claire • Coco.Kelley • The Curated House • Driven by Décor • The English Room • From the Right Bank • Sherry Hart • Hi Sugarplum • House of Jade • Hunted Interior • The Makerista • Making it Lovely • Marcus Design • Pencil & Paper Co. • Megan Pflug • Place of My Taste • Suburban B’s • Waiting on Martha • Media Partner House Beautiful • TM by CIH

My One Room Challenge Posts

Follow along from the beginning!
• Week 1: The Before Shots • Week 2: The Design Plan • Week 3: Work Very Much in Progress • Week 4: Those Stairs, That Hall • Week 5: When it Rains, it Pours • Weed 6: Final Reveal!

p.s. If this sounds like the kind of thing that would motivate you to work on a room of your own, join in as a guest!

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

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  • Holly Phillips
    October 5, 2016 at 7:48 am

    I look forward to seeing you work your magic in this space. I adore the inspiration shots.
    xoxo-
    Holly @ The English Room

  • sherry hart
    October 5, 2016 at 7:51 am

    Oh girl….I bow down to you! I see a lot of hard work ahead:)

  • FROM THE RIGHT BANK
    October 5, 2016 at 8:19 am

    Hi, Nicole, I love that the Hawal Mahal is your inspiration! I have a photo of myself in front of it specifically for color inspiration. :) I can’t wait to see you translate it into your space!

  • Amy
    October 5, 2016 at 8:51 am

    YES!!!!

  • IrisNacole.com
    October 5, 2016 at 9:24 am

    I said to myself, “This is going to be good!” after seeing your inspiration and what you are working with. Can’t wait to see it come to fruition!

  • Melanie
    October 5, 2016 at 9:46 am

    I think this is awesome. Can’t wait to see what you do; good luck!!

  • Andrea at Opulent Cottage
    October 5, 2016 at 10:24 am

    Such a great plan! Looking forward to seeing your journey!

  • Erika @ EP - art.food.home
    October 5, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Wow you’re in for a big challenge ! But I’ll be so nice having all these transitioning space done at the end of the six weeks :) Can’t wait to see the progress week over week !!!

  • shannonclaireinteriors
    October 5, 2016 at 10:55 am

    I can’t wait to see what you do! Your space is so beautiful and has so much potential!

  • Jana Bek
    October 5, 2016 at 11:48 am

    It’s going to make such a difference, you’ll feel so much more at home! Can’t wait to see you transform these areas! X Jana bek

  • Kyla @HouseOfHipsters
    October 5, 2016 at 11:55 am

    Even when your home needs some repairs, it’s incredibly beautiful. Can I just move in? You’re going to rock this ORC! Can’t wait to see the pink inspo come to life!

  • Ann
    October 5, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    I’m curious what you do about that conduit. Do you cover it up? Or put in a new ceiling? That would stop me in my tracks.

  • themakerista
    October 5, 2016 at 4:42 pm

    Can’t wait to see you work your magic!

  • judy
    October 5, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    Wow! I just loved this peek at the more remote and thus more neglected areas of your beautiful home. Everything I have seen so far seems so pristine and not really old but these pics really reveal the age of the house and that is fascinating to me. I immediately begin seeing the occupants of another age,kids pounding through the halls,servants hard at work-Madame practicing her Piano or needlepoint. How interesting..wish you could see all of the life that occurred and just think one hundred years from now a Family will wonder what your lives were like. Good Luck with this daunting project-I know you have the ability,you prove that over and over.

  • Emily Clark-Nimz
    October 5, 2016 at 5:20 pm

    Can’t wait to see which wallpaper you picked, I remember you writing about that a while back. ALSO – if you’re going to get rid of that supercool red light fixture at the front entry, hit me up. I’ll pay just about anything. :)

  • Tricia // Suburban B's
    October 5, 2016 at 6:36 pm

    Oh wow that is an undertaking! I can’t wait to see what you do with that inspiration – I just know it’s going to be good!!

  • Dee
    October 5, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    I’m REALLY looking forward to seeing what you do! My husband and I are house hunting right now, and we’ve seen a couple of places that need work like this done. It’s really intimidating, especially drywall and plaster. Will you be hiring that work out or doing it yourself? If you are hiring someone, I hope you tell us a little bit about that process also.

  • Nancy (Marcus Design)
    October 5, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    This is going to be sooo good, I’m excited to follow along and to be in this amazing group along side you!

  • Oksana
    October 6, 2016 at 7:55 am

    So excited to be joining such great talent as a guest participant and to follow everyone’s transformations! I don’t know how I’ll get anything done today – all I want to do is read through everyone’s ORC!! We’re in the middle of renovating a 1930 bungalow that was previously abandoned for 20 years, so essentially I’m renovating all the rooms simultaneously, but for sanity’s sake only documenting the living room for the ORC.

    Cannot wait to see what you do!!! Your work has always been an inspiration. XO

  • Gretchen
    October 6, 2016 at 10:20 am

    I know it’s not terribly exciting, but I’d be so interested in reading about how you handle plaster repairs. Seems like a lost art since almost everyone has drywall (or shiplap!) now.

  • Charlotte Smith
    October 6, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    Haha! It’s like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… interior design style! The true mark of awesome decor is when you can make a dull space like a hall look amazing! Can’t wait to see how you pull bit off!

  • Linda
    October 7, 2016 at 8:02 am

    I love seeing your home. I think I followed all of the flow from these hallways and stairwells. So cool. I remember you discussing all of that conduit sitting on your ceiling. It will feel so good to have that gone. This will be a huge transformation. Good luck.

  • Holly
    October 7, 2016 at 8:16 am

    I would have just done the hallway. Lol. Nicole, you are crazy.

  • marjorie herbert
    October 8, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    I love it! Also that color scheme is going in my daughters room. yup sure thing!

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