When we moved into our second home in the U.S., we knew right away it had great potential—but it needed updates to reflect our personality and style.
In our first home, everything was very neutral. The walls were freshly painted in beige tones, and our furniture followed the same palette: mostly brown wood and ivory. Color? Almost none—except for two green armchairs in the family room. That was our entire “pop” of color.
But in our new home, the walls had a yellow undertone that didn’t feel right to me. The structure was beautiful, and the house had charm, but it definitely needed some love and personalization. So we began a slow and intentional renovation, room by room.
The first space I tackled? The guest room.
Why the guest room?
It was a large, bright space, and I immediately saw the potential. In our previous house, the guest room had a very subtle hint of pink, and I loved the softness it brought. But this time, I wanted to be bolder. I decided to go all-in on pink — but not a childish or overly romantic version. I envisioned a dusty rose, elegant and grounded with modern accents.
I tested multiple paint samples until I found the perfect shade:
🩷 Persian Pearl from Sherwin-Williams (sold at Lowe’s).
It was love at first brush.
From there, I built a color palette that would balance the femininity of the pink:
Medium to dark gray Matte black Crisp white
This way, the room wouldn’t lean too girly — it would be modern, clean, and cozy.
Reuse and repurpose
One of the main principles I applied in the entire renovation was repurposing everything we already owned.
I didn’t want to throw things away, and I didn’t want to overspend.
The guest room includes:
A desk from 2009, which started as white, became gray, and now found its perfect home here. A mirror I saw online that inspired the color combination. A chair from IKEA, which I found on sale and matched the exact shape I wanted — clean lines with a modern vibe. A chandelier we had bought years ago for our former entryway but never installed. It’s not real crystal, but the acrylic creates a gorgeous effect and fits the room perfectly.
Small touches, big results
One element that changed the feel of the room instantly was adding boiserie (moldings) to the walls. We used tall, minimal panels — not too many — just enough to elevate the space and add visual interest. The moldings also helped unify the design with the rest of the house, since our doors and built-ins all have framed details.
For me, walls without any texture or trim feel a bit unfinished — especially in a home that leans toward a modern classic style. These moldings gave the space just the right amount of detail.
This room, although not over-the-top in budget or complexity, made a huge visual impact. Everyone who sees it falls in love — especially with the pink tone. It’s soft, chic, and timeless.
And best of all? It was completed in just a couple of days.
Summary – Guest Room Renovation: What Worked
🎨 Color choice: Chose “Persian Pearl” by Sherwin-Williams – a dusty pink that’s elegant and cozy. 🎨 Balanced palette: Mixed the pink with medium/dark gray, black, and white for a modern touch. ♻️ Repurposed: Used what we already had — desk, chandelier, mirror, and accessories from previous rooms. 🪞 Mirror + inspo piece: Built the color scheme around a mirror found online. 🪑 IKEA find: Added a simple modern chair that complemented the space beautifully. 🖼️ Boiserie moldings: Added tall wall moldings for sophistication without clutter. 🏡 Style harmony: Ensured the room’s design aligned with the rest of the house (which blends modern and classic). 💡 Quick transformation: The entire room was done in 2–3 full days. 🛋️ High-low design: Mixed more affordable pieces with elements that have sentimental value and timeless quality.
