Colin and Justin: Pillow Talk | Toronto Sun

Colin and Justin breath new life into a 1980s style vacuum bedroom Joan Collins fans: stand aside.The80s Dynasty look was all very well when cell phones were the size of shoeboxes and razor-heeled white stilettos the acceptable face of fashion footwear.But these days?

Weve moved on. Aside from the shocking before visuals, the bedrooms most surprising element was its occupant: a perfectly stylish 40 something called Cathy.Lets just say the disconnect between her decorative and sartorial prowess was gobsmacking .

To say the very least .Her professional schedule, we learned (guilty tones settling like concrete) meant shed rather neglected to keep her innermost sanctum abreast of evolving home trends. So, our brief?

To deliver antique style and fresh colour in equal measure.Stop the bus: this from a woman whose bedroom looked like that ?Hell mend us, we love a challenge.

And so, all guns blazing, heres how we washed away the dated lather from Cathys Bad Taste Soap Opera. Walls Freshly indulged with expensive wallpaper? Nope .

Our striped results were achieved using good old-fashioned latex.First, we painted everything white and then, when dry, we marked out bands using low tack decorating tape. Tip: use your thumbnail and apply light pressure to flatten seams doing this helps avoid paint bleed.

Next, we employed a small foam roller to add colour (Dulux Blue Heaven 50BG 74/130) gently applying paint over and away from tape edges to achieve optimum results. Flooring Quality lumber is a wonderful investment being that wooden floors rarely go out of fashion.Market leaders Armstrong have fantastic options and, with their collection available at Home Depot, you wont have to go far to make your choices.

The Bruce American Vintage Scrape hardwood collection would make a quality statement that would deliver luxury and perceived value to any home.Visit for more information. Rug For stellar choice, try The companys massive buying power means great deals every time.

Tip: select product with even a little man-made content to make maintenance and spills easier to deal with.Manufacturing processes are now such that its almost impossible to discern 100 per cent wool from 100 per cent nylon.But youll certainly discern the difference in dollars.

Antique-style French bed Scan the web (eBay, Facebook Market Place or Craigs List make great hunting ground) and prepare to brandish your transformative muscle. Okay, so you might have to tackle a few wee dings, but, if the price is right, itll be fun to bring your find alive. Tip sand old furniture carefully, then use a hair dryer to blow dust from hard to reach nooks and crannies before painting.

Were all about the preparation. Bedside tables and mirrors Dont be put off if you find something thats the right shape but the wrong colour. Todays nightstands, for example, were knotty pine in their original incarnation, but we had other ideas: glammed up with a lick of water-based satin to match the bed they take on a whole new identity.

Simple, right? Alternative lighting This is a fun lighting idea and particularly useful if surface space is tight.Instead of positioning lamps atop your nightstands, try hanging eye-catching chandeliers from the ceiling.

We recommend a qualified electrician for this job, but the invested cash is worth every cent.For a similar look try the Opulence chandelier from Canadian Tire.Aye, we shop where you shop.

Youll find no airs and graces here.But its how we put it all together that makes the biggest difference Drapery Sometimes well be lucky and find just what we need on sale in stores such as The Bay, Ikea or Bouclair.Other times (depending on budget, sizing and availability) well specify custom drapery as we did for this bedroom.

For inspired curtain choice and reliable service, try Amazing Window Fashions Chairs Our redesign called for antique French-style seating which we could have bought second-hand and painted and reupholstered to match our scheme. But time was tight, so we visited Toronto upholsterers N Shape Design.After leafing through a catalogue of chair skeletons (and finally settling on this classic Bergre) we chose fabric to complement drapery, then instructed a paint wash colour for the arms and legs.

For unique, well priced results (from around $675) contact Frank Escuela on 416 742 7323. So job done, and the dated vibe has been triumphantly obliterated.Sure, it took time and effort, but the ambitious reversion more than makes up for our collective sweat.

Whether Alexis Colby would feel the dominatrix quotient sufficient (for her level of nocturnal expectation) is open to debate.But Cathy, our sweet natured and lovely client, was more than delighted with her bedrooms new dynasty.More from us next week