From old attic to... modern oasis

Blake, Sharon and their three children live in a stunning, century-old Victorian home. They have spent countless hours restoring the house to its original glory: They redid the living room, updated the dining room and refurbished all of the children's rooms.

But the couple's own attic bedroom was last on the priority list, and remained an eyesore in the otherwise beautifully renovated home.

Hoping to give mom and dad a special gift, Sharon and Blake's children wrote to me to see if I would transform their parent's old bedroom into a relaxing adult oasis. Agreeing, I climbed the long stairs to the top-story and found an oddly disorienting room. Not only was it awkwardly angled, it was covered in hypnotic blue and white striped wallpaper, bold floral curtains and a slew of fabrics and styles.

I decided on a contemporary look for the space. Because the attic did not have a direct connection with the rest of the house, it was one room that could stand to go more modern. So I got set to blow the roof off this old house and, when the dust settled, reveal a luxurious, up-to-date bedroom retreat.

I started by stripping off the stripes and painting the walls and ceilings in a soft cream color. This neutral shade helps to unify all of the surfaces and accentuate the architecture of the room with light and shadow. I then ripped up the old greenish carpet and replaced it with a darker, mushroom-colored broadloom.

While the neutral tones were soothing, the room still needed a healthy injection of color and style. All of the fabrics were chosen for their rich tones (rusts, golds and greens) and interesting textures (puckered silk, deep mohair and raffia accents).

I swathed the bed in a taupe silk coverlet and jazzed it all up with rust, cinnamon and gold pillows. The drapes on the room's beautiful bay window also got a new color and texture treatment: dummy panels in an iridescent blue-gold-green and sheers with a geometric stripe for light control and privacy.

The lighting in the room was fluorescent and insufficient. I replaced the old lighting in the bay window area, put in new recessed halogen lights in the ceiling and used contemporary glass lights on either side of the bed -- all of which add to the modern ambience.

Next up: the furniture. The existing pieces were an amalgamation of every style conceivable, so I used a contemporary furniture plan and created three specific zones -- a bedroom section, an office zone and seating spot.

The bedroom got a taste of hotel chic vis-a-vis a new bed that has a custom-upholstered headboard covered in dark taupe mohair and an overhead art shelf threaded with a rope light. I then installed two mirrored, floating bedside tables on either side of the bed.

The seating area got two new comfy chairs, a table and an overhanging non-electric chandelier (a chandelier with candles) that is perfect for a little romantic relaxing. I also created a sleek new office area with a streamlined desk that looks out over the street.

By concluding with such accents as artwork, vases, pictures and candles, this dated master bedroom got a modern-day wake up call.

Using elegant finishes and fixtures, luxurious lighting and linens and contemporary furniture and flourishes, I created a high-style bedroom for Blake and Sharon. The couple is sure to raise their kids' allowance for giving them this divine gift!

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of Home & Garden Television's "Divine Design."