IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

See this dreary attic flipped into a colorful master bedroom

This home came with a bare-bones attic space without insulation or a bathroom. Now, it's a colorful retreat for busy parents.
/ Source: TODAY

When artist Kelly Rae Roberts and her husband bought their house, it came with a totally bare-bones attic space without insulation or a bathroom. The walls were made from just a single sheet of plywood — but the space had elegant fir floors (hidden under a coat of orange paint) and the couple saw something magical in the large area. They knew right away they’d transform it into an open-concept master suite.

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

“What I love about attic bedrooms is that they feel like childhood forts,” Kelly Rae wrote on her blog.

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

See the couple’s miraculous transformation of the raw space into a dreamy, cozy, fort fit for grownups.

Charming details

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

They chose Benjamin Moore's "Palladium Blue" as a serene paint color throughout the master. Various practical built-ins housed family treasures, like a magazine collection, clock collection and an array of objects in the hue of turquoise. And the couple filled the space with endless artistic touches — such as candles on top of flower-shaped quilting pieces from a local junk store.

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

They put in two skylights that bring in significant light to this space, and in fact make it the brightest area in the entire house.

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

An intimate bonus space

The couple made a small alcove at the top of the stairs into a heavenly reading area, complete with an heirloom chair.

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

“The chair belonged to one of John's great aunts and was passed down to him,” Kelly Rae wrote. “He's got great memories hanging out in this chair as a kid and I’m so happy we've got it with us. It's low to the ground, super cozy and it got a fashion face-lift when my mom reupholstered it with some fun fabric.”

Bathroom built for two

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

The other alcove houses the master bathroom. “We spent a lot of time configuring where to put a full bathroom in this space and we're really happy with how it turned out,” she said. On the opposite wall facing the shower is a built-in and another door that opens up to the toilet.

Kelly Rae described the bathroom as “a great space to wake up to each morning: nice and bright, cheery.” And she loved how they were able to incorporate two sinks for a luxe his-and-hers feel.

Courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts

She found the vanity years ago at a garage sale and painted it white, lending a feel she described as pleasingly “proper” and “girlie.”

Final tally

Thanks to DIY ingenuity, the family saved some major money on the remodel using their own elbow grease. They did outsource the electrical, plumbing, flooring and drywall to skilled tradespeople.

All in all, Kelly Rae said the overhaul took 13 weeks. To rework the entire house cost about $100,000 — and that included the attic, as well as three bedrooms, two full baths, full basement, kitchen and living spaces.

The family now lives elsewhere, but still owns the home and maintains it as a rental.

See more photos of Kelly Rae Roberts' blog.

Alesandra Dubin is a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of the lifestyle blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Twitter.