Master Bedroom Makeover of Booken House

It only feels like yesterday we moved in with unpainted rooms, sand as far as the eye could see, and even a few unclad walls. We had a firm budget when we set out on this dream to create an affordable, sustainable home, and we weren’t going into further debt for anyone.

So we made do with what we had and ticked off jobs one by one.

And now after six years, I can happily declare the master bedroom is done!

One of the things we (reluctantly) decided to forgo back when we moved in was the installation of quality, thermally-efficient drapes in the bedrooms.

As an 'interim' measure we installed holland blinds to block light for sleeping purposes (knowing full well they had zero thermal properties) and accepted that although they weren’t ideal in a passively designed home, they would at least allow us some shut-eye.

So the big-ticket item for our master bedroom glow-up was always going to be floor to ceiling drapes that would slow down heat losses and gains and stop the pesky convection current that occurs against glazing.

The concrete floor in our bedroom receives direct north sun all day in winter, so adding the thermally backed drapes has helped the room hold a nice stable temp overnight, and the full block-out is pretty darn fabulous too!

I decided to stick with my bargain secondhand bedside tables - made by a local apprentice out of messmate timber and sourced on Gumtree for an absolute song - and added a budget-friendly bedhead.

I am yet to find the perfect artwork to replace the horse print I picked up in a scratch and dint bargain box many moons ago, let’s just hope it doesn’t take another six years!

So here's cheers to ticking off projects, being resourceful and reminding ourselves occasionally that, ‘Home wasn’t built in a day!’

Drapes are linen blend box pleat in Allusion fabric, colour mazipan.