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Interior designer Denise McIntire renovated a couple’s plain Craftsman-style primary bedroom, adding a stained cedar-plank ceiling with darker faux beams and extending the fireplace stone to the ceiling. The changes also addressed a leaking skylight, an awkward TV angle and the homeowners’ request for more privacy.
Interior designer Denise McIntire turned a plain primary bedroom in a new-build Craftsman-style home into a warmer, more personal retreat, using a stained cedar-plank ceiling and darker faux beams as its central architectural feature. Apartment Therapy reported that the renovation also closed a leaking skylight, extended the fireplace stone to the ceiling and repositioned the television so the homeowners could watch from bed.
When McIntire’s clients moved in, the bedroom had white walls and little character. The couple wanted a private, comfortable room that would work for their family, preserve their existing furniture and accommodate a television. They also had a practical concern: the skylight was leaking, while the fireplace and TV mount were angled so the screen could not be watched comfortably from bed, according to the Apartment Therapy report.
McIntire closed the skylight and painted the walls and trim in Sherwin-Williams’ Iron Ore, a charcoal shade. She added picture-frame molding and a ceiling treatment made from cedar planks stained to match the ceiling in the en suite bathroom. Darker faux cross-hatching beams added contrast. McIntire told Apartment Therapy that the cedar’s tone worked with both the dark walls and the home’s warm hardwood floors.
The renovation also reframed the fireplace, carrying its existing stone finish from the original feature up to the ceiling. A small crew helped with the drywall and stone work. The resulting design aligned the fireplace with the ceiling beams, while a revised TV arrangement gave the homeowners a more usable viewing angle. The project retained the central ceiling fan and light, added wall sconces, and used floor-to-ceiling linen-blend curtains for privacy from neighboring homes.
How the Ceiling Ties the Room Together
The ceiling is more than a decorative finish in this renovation: it links the bedroom visually to the en suite bathroom, where cedar planks were already present, and gives the room a stronger sense of structure. Paired with charcoal walls, the wood creates contrast without requiring the homeowners to replace their existing furniture. The fireplace’s full-height treatment reinforces the same vertical lines, helping the different features read as part of one design.
The work also shows how an aesthetic update can address everyday use. Closing a leaking skylight and correcting the TV sightline responded to specific shortcomings in the room, while curtains provided more privacy. The designer’s account describes the family gathering on the bed to watch movies or read before bedtime, suggesting the room now serves the retreat function the clients requested. That outcome is reported by the designer; the article does not provide independent evaluation or project measurements.
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From Blank Room to Family Retreat
The homeowners’ requests shaped the project from the outset: they wanted the skylight closed, more privacy from neighbors, a workable TV position and a design that incorporated their furniture. McIntire also had to account for the existing fireplace and the proportions of the bedroom. She measured the space to plan the rug, furniture placement and wall and ceiling details, according to Apartment Therapy.
After the architectural work, McIntire brought in the couple’s existing pieces and selected a washable rug to suit a household with three children and two dogs. She also incorporated sentimental objects, including a wedding-gift sign above the bed and a framed guest book signed by visitors. The curtains were chosen with the homeowners after discussion of shades versus drapes; they filter light but are not fully blackout, the report says.
“It was lacking personality and personal style.”
— Denise McIntire, interior designer, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Project Costs and Timing Not Given
Apartment Therapy’s report does not state the renovation’s cost, schedule, exact dimensions or the materials and methods used to close the skylight. It also does not specify the final TV mounting hardware or whether any additional repairs were needed because of the leak. The account is based on the designer’s description and does not include a separate assessment of the skylight’s condition or the durability of the work.
The report says the curtains are light-filtering rather than blackout and that the homeowners planned to live with them before deciding whether to make further window-treatment changes. It does not say whether they later added shades or made other updates.
Homeowners to Test the Curtains
The homeowners planned to spend time in the room before deciding whether curtains alone met their needs, according to the report. No further renovation phase, completion date or follow-up decision was announced. The immediate next step described was simply living with the new window treatment and assessing how it worked for privacy and light.
Key Questions
What was the main design change in the bedroom?
Designer Denise McIntire added a cedar-plank ceiling with darker faux beams, making it the room’s main architectural feature.
Why was the skylight closed?
The skylight was leaking, and the homeowners wanted it closed to prevent future leaks, according to the Apartment Therapy report. The report does not give details about the repair method.
What changed about the fireplace and TV?
The fireplace was reframed and its existing stone finish extended to the ceiling. The revised arrangement also let the homeowners change the TV’s angle so it could be viewed comfortably from bed.
Did the homeowners replace their furniture?
No replacement was reported. The couple wanted the design to incorporate their existing furniture, and McIntire added a washable rug and personal keepsakes to finish the room.
Are the new curtains blackout curtains?
No. McIntire described the linen-blend curtains as light-filtering but not completely blackout. The homeowners planned to live with them before deciding whether to add shades.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
