A marble side table with a white lamp and flowers.

We love a good designer challenge and that is just what we got when we agreed to take on a room for this year’s Heart of the Home Tour in Piedmont. (Are you in need of media room decor ideas? You’ll love the before and after shots of this room transformation! Read on…)

Our assignment: to transform an awkward space, with angled ceilings, shutters on the windows, and lots of clutter — which made it feel dark and heavy and not at all the kind of energy an adolescent girl would feel drawn to or enjoy — into a pre-teen dream hangout room for movie watching and sleepovers.

The homeowner wanted a space where she knew her girls would feel relaxed and happy; a room that would be sophisticated enough for them to feel like it was appropriate for the young ladies they are becoming, yet still playful enough for them to not take it all so seriously.

The result: A lovely room that is light, happy, sassy, and fun, with just enough tradish mixed in with the girly room decor to make the grand, old Piedmont home not feel too left out.

During the two-day event, I spent the entire time hanging out in the super-inviting hanging-bubble chair — and it was the most fun I’ve had in ages.

Designing and being in that girly hangout room certainly brought out my inner teenager. I felt playful, engaged, and relaxed — which I think is a testament to the transformative energy of design.

Girly Media Room Design Before and After

Take a look at the outcome below in the after and before images and let me know if you can feel the shift.

AFTER:

'After' image of a girly media room design challenge.

'After' image of a girly media room design challenge.

BEFORE:

A 'Before' shot of a media room.
A 'Before' shot of a media room.

FAQ’s About This Modern Hangout Room

Some of you on the tour were curious about where the bubble chair came from. Here’s the link to the one we specified (a must-have if you can’t live without floating while journaling, meditating, or watching Modern Family—three of my favorite past times).

Special thanks to all of my supportive and talented staff, especially Darshan who contributed greatly to the media room design process with her organization and task mastery. We couldn’t have done it without the countless favors we called in from our generous vendors and a very big THANK YOU to McCutcheon Construction and MB Jessee Painting. And to all of the generous and kind people at the CSL who volunteer their time for such a good cause. We appreciate being a part of such a successful tour and a great cause.

Photo Credits (“After” images): Steve Babuljak