Recreating the magic of 6151 Richmond Street, Miami
This post is dedicated to my adorable husband. Thank you for being a friend.
Blanche. Rose. Dorothy. Sophia. Name a more iconic squad. I'll wait.
When we made the decision to relocate closer to Brian's work three years ago, I had this imaginative idea I couldn't get out of my head. I was going to design our powder room around one of my favorite TV shows.
Oh, the options! Would it look like the front desk of The Dragonfly Inn from the Gilmore Girls? The wildflower mural where Ben and Leslie's budding romance took shape in Parks & Rec?
No.
There was only one muse in my mind. I wanted to recreate the glamour and glitz of Blanche Deveaureax's boudoir from The Golden Girls.
I first met these four incredible women early on in my childhood. Despite maturity, education, and major life changes, I have never fallen out of love with their stories. I watch it almost every day. When I think of growing old with style and sophistication, these four women are my inspiration.
I could dedicate an entire month to describing, in great detail, how these women shaped my life. They were my four beloved aunts lovingly exposing me to the complexities of issues I would encounter in my adulthood.
They brought a world view into my tiny little bedroom in Eastern Kentucky. Want to know my stance on immigration, gay marriage, sexism, or homelessness? I am a more empathetic person based on how the Golden Girls addressed it in their episodes. Truly.
They were ahead of their time in every sense of the word. Well, maybe the shoulder pads and ice cream-colored pantsuits are a little dated by today's standards. But their enduring message that soul mates can be your best friends? *French chef's kiss* Perfection.
I realized in doing a project like this, I had to completely nail it. I'm so relieved to say that my vision has become a reality! But it wasn't cheap. Luckily, I married a suave gentleman who indulged me a little.
So how did this project start? I'd like to say I did a ton of research, but Blanche's boudoir was the sole inspiration. Despite pouring over countless articles, advice columns, and designer message boards, I never lost sight of the four women I was honoring with this project.
THE WALLS
GG set designers knew a modern woman like Blanche would marry timeless elegance with an 80s twist. The wallpaper and linens in her room were a pattern called Martinique, a tropical banana leaf print that famously adorns the interior of The Beverly Hills Hotel. Hollywood decorator Don Loper famously brought this print to the hotel in 1942, but few realize it is a complete ripoff!
Designer Dorothy Draper originally designed a conveniently similar pattern she called Brazilliance for the Arrowhead Springs Hotel in California in 1937. Typical patriarchy.
Regardless, here's a history of the print if you are a huge nerd like me and love your tea served piping hot. Draper went on become to the designer in residence at The Greenbriar Hotel, and her work is still beloved by many. So honestly, there are no losers here.
Today, Martinique is not shockingly, extremely expensive. I'm not kidding, a single roll sells upwards of $400 per roll. And my little tiny powder room would require 4-5 rolls. Yeah, that was not in the cards. Sad face.
Briefly, I considered doing removable and adjustable wallpaper myself, but when my favorite Etsy seller suddenly stopped selling this option, I knew I needed to call in a professional.
After two wallpaper experts left me hanging, I sought out local interior designer Rachel Brosky. Apparently, I am not the first person to fall in love with Martinique's whimsy.
When I saw Thibaut's Palm wallpaper, I knew I had found the one. It had the depth and colors I was looking for! Initially, I was worried that a busy print would create a Magic Eye Puzzle effect for such a small space, but after seeing it in person, I couldn't be any more in love with it.
I decided to document my experience through TikTok, but to savor the magic, I posted all videos in black and white, opting to reveal the Oz in Technicolor here!
THE FIXTURES
Deciding on fixtures might have been the only time Brian and I were on opposite sides during this project. Ordinarily, Brian doesn't attempt to budge me from something I have my heart set upon, but as the cutest straight man on Earth whose taste I trust, I occasionally allow him to nudge me slightly.
Initially, I wanted deep brass fixtures, reminiscent of Blanche's time period, but my husband lovingly reminded me how much I hate the Home Interior's style of the 80s. Fair point.
This was also a turning point in the project because I couldn't decide whether to go with golden/light brass fixtures, which would mean I would have to change the vanity fixtures or just go with a silver and make the artwork in the room golden. Decisions, decisions.
Since our vanity is granite that matches the kitchen, I chose the path of least resistance and just went with silver.
I moved on to consulting with an artist to create some custom lighting pieces for me, but when that price superseded the entire budget completely, I realized this was the one area in which I had to compromise dramatically.
The first sconces I picked online Brian hated. They were feminine flower cubes mounted flush against the wall. He reminded me that this was an opportunity to get something incredibly luxe, without the price tag. He had a point.
We settled on some modern romantic lighting fixtures and paired them with a geometric mirror. It had just enough 80s flair to satisfy my vision, but modern enough to not look like something my grandmother purchased with redeemable stamps from the A&P. I'm really happy with the result! I can imagine Dorothy applying her coral lipstick in the mirror daily.
THE ARTWORK
If you don't already know this, Etsy is a magical place where dreams come true. You can find everything on Etsy! Lucky for me, it is a hotbed of Golden Girls artwork and memorabilia.
I went a little crazy. Just a little. Truthfully, I lost my mind on Etsy. The artwork is where our ordinary budget-friendly project ventured into "honey please stop" territory. Luckily for me, Brian doesn't have plans to send me to The Shady Pines Retirement Home anytime soon.
So one thing I would share with you about a project like this - buying art is easy. Custom framing? Much different story. Dear Lord, get ready to pay. Honestly, consider how much you really need both kidneys.
I had this preconceived notion that Michael's would be an affordable option. Oh, my sweet St. Olaf child, how I was wrong!
Custom framing was on par with the wall coverings on a budget standpoint. Still, I knew really beautiful artwork would bring this entire project to life, and just once, I was unwilling to compromise. To date, every project we've done to the house was affordable and very low cost. For once, darn it, I wanted everything to match!
I picked out a textured golden frame with beaded inner trim. I paired it with a burlap matting, mostly because it reminded me of the wicker furniture in the girls' living room.
When my framer rang me up, I froze and blew out a long breath. Reluctantly, I handed over my AmEx, realizing that the rest of the artwork in my possession would have to wait a few months. As I was driving home, I got a text no wife wants to get.
Husband: Did you really just spend X at Michael's or was your card just compromised?
Me: No, that was me. It's legit. I love you a lot.
In all, I only had five of the eight pieces custom framed. So the Golden Girls powder room will continue to be an evolving project. Good thing I'm adorable.
Brian spent an entire Sunday creating an intricate diagram on butcher paper of my four girls. By the time he sat down at 5:30 pm, I think he earned a little rest and relaxation.
So how did it turn out? I love it. It's incredible. Picture it, a beautiful bathroom that doesn't look like it's in Sicily in 1925. I want to wrap my arms around it and give it a big hug.
But I'm completely biased. I loved it from the moment I dreamt of it. And I'm so excited I'm thinking about throwing a COVID-19 gathering to celebrate it. If I threw a party and invited everyone I knew... You would see the biggest gift would be from me and a card attached that says "thank you for being a friend."
Enjoy!
Thanks for reading!
~ Christy
