This was the hardest room to brief. The primary suite has a clear identity. The Wild Tropics bedroom is overtly bold. The third bedroom had to work for more configurations, more guest types, and more use cases without feeling like it was designed to please everyone and ended up pleasing no one. Clean but not empty. Flexible but not generic. And one pop of Frida Kahlo blue to remind you that you're still at Terra Luz.
Dawn Asher, our brand lead at The Olive Jar, called the vibe California coastal meets desert. That's why we call it the Cali Room.
The room reflected. Wavy wood mirror, rattan cane panel headboard made from IKEA cabinet doors, amber pillows, the HOMETOWN lumbar, and the figurative print that anchors the whole wall.
The trundle problem
Early on I wanted a twin trundle that would slide under the king bed. It sounds simple. The issue is that standard trundle frames are built for twin-over-twin, not to fit under a king, and most king frames run 6 to 11 inches of clearance underneath. Not enough.
I measured the clearance under our frame, confirmed it was 14 inches, and built a trundle myself from 2x2 plywood with four caster wheels underneath. The casters let it roll out smoothly and sit flush when tucked back in. It sleeps a child or a small adult comfortably, and when it's not needed it disappears completely under the bed so the room stays clean.
Both beds out. King for adults, trundle for a kid or a solo guest. When the trundle is tucked back under, the room looks like a standard king.
The headboard from IKEA IVAR doors
We needed a headboard that felt substantial but didn't crowd a room with a lot going on at floor level. The solution was four IKEA IVAR doors with bamboo woven panel fronts, laid horizontally and mounted wall-to-wall above the bed. Four doors across create a continuous panel that reads as a single built-in headboard from across the room. The texture is warm and natural, nothing about it telegraphs its origin, and the horizontal orientation makes the wall feel wider. Two small sconces flank the panels for reading light. Total cost under $200 — full breakdown in the DIY headboard post.
The headboard close up. Four IVAR doors, solid pine frames, bamboo panel. The sconce sits just outside the panel edge.
The Frida Kahlo blue workstation
Behind the stained louvered bifold doors is the best-kept secret in the room. Open them and you get a Kahlo Blue lime-washed wall, a floating live-edge hardwood desk, a rattan wishbone chair, and a TV mounted above. Same lime-wash technique used on the TV cove in the living room, but here the blue is more saturated, more Frida than desert sand.
The Kahlo Blue workstation. Floating live-edge desk, rattan chair, TV mounted above. The mug is a custom handmade commission from a local potter.
The reveal. Bifold doors open, Kahlo Blue wall, desk ready. Close them and the whole workspace disappears.
The desk is a Lowe's butcher block that we hand cut to span the full width of the closet, about 25" deep. Deep enough to actually work at rather than perch a laptop on the edge. The terracotta tile continues into the closet floor, threading the same material through every room in the house.
Rug, curtains, books, floor cushions
The rug is a blue striped jute, positioned under and just past the foot of the bed. Mudcloth curtains hang in the doorway, billow slightly, and make the entrance feel intentional rather than just an opening in the wall. Two kids' floor cushions can be placed next to the trundle for anyone who needs them, along with a small shelf of children's books: a Mariachi board book and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
The stained bifold doors open to the Kahlo Blue workstation. The wavy mirror and fiddle leaf fig sit just outside.
The armoire. Ribbed natural wood, arched doors, brass pulls. Enough storage that guests aren't living out of a suitcase.
Everything in the room, what it cost
- Tile work (shared with whole house): $3,750
- Helix Hospitality King mattress and bed frame: $700
- Floating live-edge desk (Lowe's Butcher Block): $200
- IKEA IVAR door headboard (8 cabinet doors): ~$200
- DIY trundle build (plywood, caster wheels, hardware): ~$50
- Backdrop Kahlo Blue lime-wash paint: $80
- Slatted Bench (FB Marketplace): ~$75
- Blue striped jute rug: ~$90
- Deny Design curtains: ~$80
- Floor cushions and kids books: ~$60
The tile is the number that moves everything else. The individual room pieces stayed manageable partly because the headboard trick and the DIY trundle solved two design problems for a fraction of what custom solutions would have cost.
Who this room works for
If you're a family with one or two kids, this is the room. King sleeps two adults, trundle adds a child's bed without bringing in a separate cot, and the books and cushions are already there. If you booked Terra Luz for a work-from-desert trip, the desk actually functions as a workspace rather than just being decorative. And if you're in a group of eight and this is the room that's left, it'll be comfortable and not boring to look at.
The house sleeps eight across three bedrooms. For everything else at Terra Luz, pool to outdoor kitchen, read what I built. Bringing a dog? Check the pet policy first. Book direct at indigopalm.co/terra-luz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Cali Room trundle work for adults or only for children?
The trundle was built from 2x2 plywood with caster wheels and fits within 14 inches of clearance under the king frame. It sleeps a child comfortably and a smaller adult fine for a few nights, though it's not as deep as a standard twin mattress. Most guests use it for a kid or a solo third person who doesn't need a full bed.
Can you actually use the desk in the Cali Room for remote work?
Yes. The workstation behind the bifold doors has a floating live-edge desk cut 25 inches deep, wide enough for a monitor setup rather than just a laptop perched at the edge. A rattan wishbone chair and TV above the desk are included. Close the bifold doors and the workspace disappears completely, so the room doesn't feel like an office for guests who don't need it.
What kind of kids' amenities are already in the room?
The Cali Room comes with two floor cushions, a small shelf with children's books including a Mariachi board book and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and enough floor space for kids to spread out next to the trundle. The room is designed for families traveling with one or two children alongside two adults in the same room.
How much did the IKEA IVAR headboard cost to build?
Under $200 total. Four IKEA IVAR doors with bamboo woven panel fronts were mounted horizontally wall-to-wall above the bed, creating a continuous rattan headboard that reads as a single built-in piece rather than four separate panels. The full DIY breakdown is in the headboard post. See the complete property at indigopalm.co/terra-luz.