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Candice Olsen

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Poppy and her two teen-age kids live in a dream home: a huge estate complete with a billiards room, swimming pool and squash court. However, much of the house has the same 1980s decor it did when she and her husband bought it many years ago. They had planned to update it one room at a time, but after Poppy's husband died five years ago, Poppy and her family struggled to rebuild their lives and the house remained untouched.

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The old “not so pretty in pink” room was brought into the current century with modern furnishings and finishes, gorgeous linens and fabrics, and tropical accents and accessories.

This massive bedroom was sadly outdated with floral wallpaper, ornate drapes and dusty-rose carpet.

While she had several rooms that could have benefited from a makeover, it was her master bedroom that needed the most help. The massive room was sadly outdated, with floral wallpaper, ornate drapes and dusty-rose carpet. While the bedroom was a refuge during her healing process, Poppy was ready to start a new chapter in her life and wanted her bedroom to reflect that.

Having spent much of her youth in the Caribbean, she was hoping I could create a room that would summon up a breezy island vibe. So I channeled the tropics and geared up to give Poppy a chic, coastal retreat.

But first thing's first. To bring the master bedroom and its adjacent bathroom closer together, I had to knock down a few walls. I also got rid of the carpeting and put down some prefinished, hand-scraped walnut flooring.

I then got busy dividing the massive space into three zones: a cosy bedroom, a luxurious lounge and a spa-like bathroom.

Using sand, sea and sky for my inspiration, I chose a colour palette of beiges, browns and blues in the bedroom and lounge. I put up new grass-cloth wallpaper with metallic foil backing on all of the walls but one. On the last wall, I put up a tropical-sky mural, which I used as the backdrop for a new four-poster, mahogany bed. From the bed, complete with linens and pillows in natural cottons and linens, Poppy will have full view of a new gas fireplace and a big-screen TV. And for an added island effect, I put up a stunning tropical fan on the ceiling.

Beside the bed, I created a lounge area. It has a small loveseat and two tufted armchairs in neutral shades, a little coffee table and a gorgeous area rug to bring it all together.

On the other side of the lounge, I created a spa-like bathroom. The focal point is an oval, infinity-edge, free-standing tub. It's encased in walnut, tiled in white and wood-inset tiles and topped with snow-white quartz. Above the tub, I put up a small, antique bronze chandelier.

Across from the tub, I put in a floating wood vanity with two gorgeous sconces on either side. This vanity features a pop-up makeup area and a new vessel sink. It's finished off with a huge mirror above.

On the bathroom and bedroom windows, I put up simple translucent sheers and tropical blinds. I used the same sheers on a motorized track system to provide some privacy between the tub and bedroom/lounge.

With a few more exotic touches, this master suite was complete. The old "not so pretty in pink" room was brought into the current century with modern furnishings and finishes, gorgeous linens and fabrics, and tropical accents and accessories. Now it's the perfect island-inspired space to remind Poppy of her past and propel her toward her future. How divine!

* Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's "Divine Design." For more ideas, information and show times visit www.HGTV.com or www.divinedesign. tv. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com.