With three tiny kids underfoot, the owners of this bedroom were more familiar with sleepless nights than uninterrupted quiet. After buying their “lifetime” home for its great bones and coveted neighbourhood, they found themselves camped out in a bland and unadorned master bedroom that was outfitted with a mishmash of furniture they’d accumulated along the way. What they craved was a bedroom that seemed as “grown-up” as their house. So I created a calm and sophisticated refuge from the sea of kid stuff that had overtaken the rest of their home, and a space that would be theirs alone.
Panelled walls offer an easy opportunity to play with a multihued paint scheme. Using the predominant shades of dark and light grey for the areas above and below the chair rail creates a harmonious connection to the room’s fabric scheme, and the ceiling is the ideal place to introduce a subtle hint of colour by reinforcing the accent blues. After all, a pale blue ceiling is far more inspiring to wake up to than plain old white.
When choosing paint colours for your bedroom, consider the times of day you are most likely to have the chance to spend time enjoying your environs. If your bedroom is painted in a deep, smoky hue, it will feel inviting in the evening, and you might just find yourself stealing away to curl up with a good book rather than turning on the TV.
When the goal of redesigning your bedroom is to create a tranquil refuge from the busy world on the other side of the door, it logically follows that you might benefit from borrowing a page from the amenities of luxury hotels. There’s always a chair (or two) just waiting for you to collapse in after a long day on your feet, ample storage to absorb all your stuff, a delightfully plush bed, and a desk area to serve as mission control. In essence, it’s got everything you need, so when space permits, I suggest you go for the gusto and outfit your bedroom with everything you’d expect to find in a five-star hotel.
For a better-than-average look, consider layering your window treatments. I started with a gauzy Roman blind made from inexpensive and lightweight printed Indian cotton for privacy, then added a layer of full-length drapes for drama. These wide-striped dupioni silk drapes were added to frame up the view and amp up the glam factor with a hint of sheen!
For every part of a room that is fresh and new, I tend to counter it with another element that has history and soul. While there are many options for new, wood-case good furnishings, I’ve always found that more unique and inspiring spaces are created by introducing vintage and antique finds. The footstool is light enough to slide back and forth and serve as a footrest for both chairs; the side table has a generous surface to accommodate a lamp, books, and even a tea tray; and the pale marble top on the console offsets the richness of the antique walnut and mahogany woods. I like to think of these accent furniture pieces like the accessories you add to an outfit — each should have the presence and personality to make a statement.
Look for inexpensive art glass baubles, paperweights, and bowls (or ashtrays) at consignment shops and flea markets. They’re a great way to introduce an additional hit of your accent colour, and the bowls make handy catchalls for pocket change or jewellery.