A Blogger’s Dream: Inside Pinch of Yum’s Master Bedroom Remodel
Back in 2006, explaining that your job involved ‘blogging’ often led to blank stares and confused expressions. Many people simply didn’t know what a blog was! Fast forward to today, and blogging as a legitimate profession is widely recognized. You likely know a blogger, maybe even living right in your neighborhood. That’s why we were excited – though not entirely surprised – when we discovered that prolific food bloggers Bjork and Lindsay Ostrom, the creators of Pinch of Yum, resided just a short distance from us.
Bjork and Lindsay are renowned for their stunningly photographed recipes (especially their famous chocolate chip cookies, often touted as the best!), and for empowering aspiring bloggers through their comprehensive FoodBloggerPro program. This program provides the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the blogging world.
Today, we’re thrilled to offer you an exclusive tour of Bjork and Lindsay’s master bedroom, a space they recently transformed through a meticulous remodeling project. We had the pleasure of meeting with them during the design phase. They had already selected paint colors, installed flooring, and chosen the main furniture pieces. Our role was to assist with styling and adding the finishing touches – a task we eagerly embraced.
Here’s a glimpse into how we styled their master bedroom, along with Lindsay’s personal insights and lessons learned from the entire remodeling journey:
Defining Your Style: Scandinavian Meets Mid-Century Modern
Translating your personal style into a living space can be a challenge, especially when blending two distinct styles to create a harmonious shared environment.
Our blended style falls somewhere between Scandinavian, Mid-Century Modern, and Urban Modern. Bjork tends to favor the clean lines and minimalist aesthetic of Scandinavian design, while I’m drawn to the warmth and character of Mid-Century Modern. Reconciling these preferences created exciting design decisions for our master bedroom.
Our uncertainty regarding some final design elements was the primary reason we enlisted the help of our friends at Curbly. We needed their expert guidance to finalize the finishing touches and solidify the overall aesthetic. Curbly provided invaluable suggestions and steered us in the right direction. Their insight and expertise helped complete our vision for the master bedroom.
From Attic to Oasis: The Master Bedroom Transformation
Our home is a Post-War Cape Cod, a style we weren’t even aware existed until we bought it! As HGTV aptly describes, these houses are “more functional than fun.” Think compact closets, cozy bathrooms, and generally smaller rooms.
We love our house and, above all, the neighborhood it’s in. However, when hosting friends or having guests stay over, we truly felt the constraints of the “small and functional” design, especially with everyone sharing a single bathroom.
Remodeling the attic allowed us to inject some much-needed “fun” into our functional home and truly make it our own. We converted a previously underutilized space into a comfortable and stylish master suite.
And, while we appreciate the occasional impromptu teeth-brushing session with our guests, there’s something undeniably grown-up about retreating to separate spaces and enjoying the privacy of individual bathrooms.
European Inspiration: Finding Design Ideas Abroad
At the end of 2016, we embarked on a European adventure and stayed in one of the world’s most charming “hostels”: Hotel Tannenhof.
They had recently renovated their rooms, and we were captivated by the look and feel. We snapped several photos to bring home as inspiration for our own remodel. The hotel was a fantastic example of elegant design.
The Last 20%: Tackling the Toughest Design Decisions
We partnered with McDonald Remodeling, who were absolutely incredible to work with. They skillfully created digital layouts that showcased the space with all the major furniture pieces in place. This allowed us to easily experiment with different configurations before committing to any final decisions. While the overall remodeling process had some challenging moments, piecing together the major elements wasn’t quite as difficult as we initially anticipated.
The biggest challenge came down to making the final 20% of the design choices. Questions like: What artwork should we hang? What should we display on the shelves? Where should our dog, Sage, sleep?
Yes, we actually debated the merits of different dog-bed locations. And, for those curious, Sage’s bed is nestled next to Bjork’s side of the bed.
Elevated Luxury: Enjoying the Second-Story Master Suite
Every home we’ve owned previously had the master bedroom on the main level. With our current house, the bedroom door opened directly onto a sidewalk and street. Having a master bedroom situated above ground level feels like an immense luxury! We appreciate the quiet and privacy of the new space.
And, of course, there’s the undeniable perk of not having to share a bathroom with overnight guests!
The Ultimate Indulgence: Zoned Heating for Year-Round Comfort
Zoned heating was definitely our biggest indulgence! The temperature difference between the attic and the main floor can be quite significant. Combine that with Minnesota’s scorching, humid summers and frigid winters, and you can experience some extremely uncomfortable temperature fluctuations.
Zoned heating allows us to precisely control the temperature on each level of the house. Initially, we weren’t entirely convinced we needed it, but we’re incredibly grateful we invested in the system. Plus, we integrated our Nest thermostats with an Amazon Echo, enabling us to adjust the upstairs or downstairs temperature simply by asking Alexa. It truly feels like living in the future! The zoned heating keeps the entire house comfortable year-round.
Secret Gaming Room or Heated Floors? Next Time’s Wish List
Add a hidden bookshelf door that opens to a secret gaming room where you can only play classic Nintendo games like Tecmo Super Bowl (this is Bjork’s idea that, believe it or not, didn’t get added to the final plans).
In all seriousness, we absolutely love the space. Perhaps we’d consider adding heated floors in the bathroom next time around. It’s a relatively small detail, but today it’s -5 degrees Fahrenheit outside. A warm bathroom floor on a frigid Minnesota day would elevate the experience to a whole new level of comfort.
Product List: Get the Look
Recreate Bjork and Lindsay’s stylish master bedroom with these hand-picked product selections.
- Bed: Asher Bed
- Bedside Tables: Rove Concepts Asher Nightstands
- Bedside Lamps: Alworth Table Lamps
- Bedding: Cultiver Linen Duvet
- Pendant Light: Random Pendant
- Armchair: Luca Armchair (in Tweed)
- Bedside Art: Forest Prints in Minted Frames
- Windy Tree Painting: Vintage from Hunt & Gather
- Planters: Hexagon Planters
- Armchair Throw: Chevron Throw
- Kilim Pillow