Master Bedroom Design: Progress Report

It's been a few months now since I first posted about my plans for our master bedroom, but I promise that I didn't forget about it, despite my baby haze. In fact, real progress has been made towards achieving my initial vision and I'm excited to share the changes the room has undergone in recent weeks.

I've swapped out our queen size bed with a larger king. I selected a modern, black version of a Shaker pencil post bed from Ethan Allen to help fill up some of the vertical space in the room. I had initially considered getting the canopied version of this bed and leaving the canopy frame bare, but ultimately decided to go with the four-poster (though it can always be converted to a canopy later fairly inexpensively).

My almost all-white bedding also got traded out with far more colorful peacock dove bedding from DwellStudio. For me, this is the change that really makes the room...well, make sense. The print brings out the blue-gray of the walls, the metallic slate gray of the ceiling and even the black of the bed frame. The print's modern take on Chinoiserie helps tie in the existing Japanese woodblock art above the bed. In short, the bedding looks like I picked it out first (rather than vice versa, which I'll admit was a bit ass backward of me but no matter...) and based the entire room around it.

The other major change in this space is that I replaced the too small, matchy-matchy side tables with a larger side table and long dresser. Initially, I had planned on going with all-mirrored options, but ultimately selected these white and mirrored babies from ZGallerie's Concerto line for two big reasons: (a) I am way too type-A to not let smudged mirrors get to me -- and, let's face it, they'd inevitably get smudged, cracked, etc. with a new puppy and a baby on the way; and (b) these pieces were way, way cheaper than the ones I had initially chosen. As an added bonus, I got them in just a few short weeks instead of the typically 8-12 week lag of more expensive furniture. I was a bit concerned about quality given the relatively low price and the fact that I'd never purchased ZGallerie furniture before, but I'm happy to report that these are both very solid, well built pieces that look far more expensive than they actually were.

So what's left? Well, I still need to trade in my drab, too small 5 x 8' rug for a larger, punchier 6 x 9'. I'll still mulling over whether or not I am going to go for the Madeline Weinrib Greek key, which means I should probably keep looking to find something I love even more. I'm also in desperate need for large-scale art or a screen (or something!) for the wall across from the bed. Replacing the sleigh bed freed up more floor space as this four-poster sits tightly against the wall, so I'll also be looking for a deep bench or maybe even a small sofa for the foot of the bed. Finally, fixed drapery panels on either side of the windows will add the finishing touch to the space. Of course, I'll keep you posted, but I can't guarantee much more progress before Baby Boy Conn's arrival in early March!

Little Boys' Rooms

Amanda Nisbet

I thought in many ways it would be more difficult to do a roundup of little boys' rooms that I love as opposed to little girls' (see HERE for last week's installment), but once I got going, I found a ton of wonderfully inspiring spaces that tow the line perfectly between a mother's desire to decorate and a boy's desire to be, well, a boy. As with the girls' rooms, trends did tend to emerge. Firstly, bunkbeds and twin beds appear to be very popular in boys' rooms -- is this because little boys share rooms with their brothers more often than little girls do? Or is it just because there's an inherently pleasing symmetry in two beds? Another trend I noticed is that little boys rooms tend to be more theme-y than little girls (unless you consider "princess room" a theme, in which case, you got me): from jungles to ships to circuses, boys rooms seem to veer more towards a specific motif.

That said though, I do love this decidedly un-themey room by Amanda Nisbett. The touches of bright orange-red are wonderfully crisp against the white, while the oak furniture lends a warmth to the space that it might otherwise lack. And those monogrammed pillow cases? Yes please!

Massucco Warner Miller

Navy and white stripes are a particular weakness of mine, especially when paired with orange. The Jonathan Adler giraffe lamp is also a personal favorite (and on my wish list for the nursery!). The seagrass rug brings a great organic texture to the otherwise modern space.

Jodi Macklin

A nautical theme is a popular choice for boys rooms -- and I love the colorful, graphic punch that traditional nautical flags can lend a space grounded in navy and white. Note here how the attic roof resembles an overturned ship, further enhancing the theme. The sunny yellow paint pops against the white trim and beadboard as well as the crisply painted white floors.

Palmer Weiss

There are quite a few examples of red, white and blue boys' rooms floating around the Internet -- and little wonder as the palette is preppy and timeless. Here, Palmer Weiss's iteration brings a further crispness to the palette by repeating a subtle square motif throughout the space.

Kristen Buckingham

There's a wonderfully natural, undecorated look to this bedroom -- this looks as though boys might actually live here. I love the playful illustrations hung across the back wall, sandwiching in a British flag.

And unlike in my quest for girls' rooms, I found a number of boys' nurseries that I found inspiring:

Lulu De Kwiatkowski via Lonny

I love this picture in part because I think it's such an adorable moment between a mother and her children -- but I also love the decor. The grasscloth wallpaper and pale blue bedding are classic coastal choices, punched up by the playful addition of that ark print (which is gorgeous) and the colorful throw pillows. All in all, a great balance between kid-friendly and designer-friendly.

Kristen Hutchins

This nursery bedding is from Serena & Lily, and a strong contender to go in my own nursery. But what I really want to know is: wherever did Kristen get that adorable elephant box pillow? I want. I also love the wainscoting, an elegant touch to a playful space.

Mary Anne Smiley

The circus pattern on the walls reminds me of the Serena & Lily bedding that Kristen used, writ large. I love how seamlessly the valence continues the stripe tent.

Sally Steponkus

Jungle themes are popular in boys' rooms, but I think they can easily be overdone. Sally keeps it simple with khaki walls and classic, masculine furniture.

Jenna Lyons via Domino

Proof positive that black can work beautifully in a bedroom, especially when paired with lots of white and yellow. 

Marianne Strong

Marianne Strong, designer and blogger behind Haven and Home, did her own riff on Jenna's black, yellow and white nursery. I love how the pops of red bring in a more playful element and how elegant the art over the crib is.

Elizabeth Kimberly

This nursery just makes me smile (and crave some oranges!) -- and it's the perfect example of how white walls can be the perfect backdrop for some seriously big color statements. Note too how just a few big, bold statements (like the wall decals and curtains) can make a huge impact and avoid the cluttering effect of lots of smaller moments. This is especially key in most children's bedrooms as (a) they're often small and (b) they'll quickly be cluttered by toys, books, etc.

Sarah Richardson

Sarah's design show (Sarah's House) on HGTV is one of the few my husband can tolerate watching -- and there's good reason for that: Sarah is really, really good. I particularly loved the nursery she designed in the mid century back split she renovated back in season 2. It's quiet and peaceful and in many ways very traditional, but the mix of fabrics is so clever and sophisticated, that I really think it elevates the room to truly special. I also love the whimsical alphabet she propped up along the plate rail (which is a great opportunity to display pictures, objects, etc. well out of the reach of tiny tots).

Project Nursery

The feature wall is inspired by the alphabet DwellStudio bedding (a favorite print of mine that is, alas, not currently in production) and it is, to quote Fergie, "F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S". I'm not sure I have the patience (or the steady hand) to pull this off myself, but I love it. The Thomas Paul rug is a wonderfully adult option that coordinates without matching.

P.S. - Don't forget that there's still time to enter to win a copy of Mary McDonald's new design book!

Little Girls' Bedrooms

Natasha Baradaran

Of course the past few weeks I've been busy collecting inspiration photos of children's rooms. So I thought I might go ahead and post a round-up of some of my favorite rooms: first girls' and then boys' (which, I'll admit, where a lot harder to find!). [Aside: And no, I still don't know what I'm having, but I should when I go to the doctor next on the 20th!] This first room from Natasha Baradaran (whom I only recently discovered but very much love) is a great way to kick this post off. I love the melon and yellow color scheme -- and that butterfly fabric is pretty dynamite. Overall, this is a kid's room that doesn't feel particularly kiddish, but also doesn't feel too adult. It's that delicate balance that I think is so difficult...and that I'd argue all these rooms have in common.

Natasha Baradaran

Another Natasha Baradaran room, this time in a lovely lilac and sage. The palette is very soothing and feels a bit Provencal to me. I love how natural this room feels, too, with the nubby natural headboard and very clean and simply white fabric draped around the bed. 

Jeff Andrews

I just realized this is the only nursery I've featured on this roundup -- but frankly in many of these rooms you could just swap out a bed for a crib and pretty much be there, yes? In any case, I love how there are two gliders in this room. Perfect for your spouse or friend to keep you company while you nurse. I also love how the shaggy green rug looks almost like turf -- it brings a naturalness to the room that's a great counterpoint to all that pink and yellow. My only complaint? Those yellow sheers! They just look dirty to me.

Melissa Rufty

I'll admit I'm a bit jealous of that girl -- her bedroom is pretty darn fabulous! The headboard is sophisticated and neutral, a piece that could easily see her well into her adult life. The large-scale square and circle print doesn't feel overwhelming thanks to heavy doses of white (and keeping the wallpaper to just one feature wall). Oh yeah, and at her age I would've killed to "play" on a pink guitar!

Jeffers Design

This room is a personal favorite of mine (in fact, I posted on it at length HERE). The colors, the prints, the furniture...it's just all so fun and funky! The wallpaper is particularly fabulous, especially with the pink ceiling and gold crown molding. Fit for a princess, indeed.

Suzanne Kasler

A second example of how to use this great, graphic print, this time used more sparingly in just the drapes. I think though my favorite element in here is the daybed-cum-hammock. What a great spot for daydreaming, reading and gossiping!

Amanda Nisbet

I include this room primarily because I am completely in love with that headboard. Note how the greek key motif is again picked up on the carpeting.

Massucco Warner Miller

This room sure made the rounds in the design blogosphere a few months ago, but it's too great not to include in this roundup. I love how the bed/bookshelves combo are completely built-in. It's a tremendous use of a very small space. The pops of pink and turquoise make a big impact and I love the sophisticated use of a chinoiserie; it's pretty and feminine, but not babyish.

Elizbeth Martin

As a little girl I had a strong affinity for Impressionist art, especially anything by Claude Monet. And there's something about this room that reminds me of him. The soft colors and prints almost bleed into each other, creating a soothing, pretty picture. I also love the flatweave striped rug -- a brilliant choice in any kids' room for hiding all manner of sins.

Sally Markham via House Beautiful

As a woman who doesn't consider herself overtly girly, I can definitely appreciate a girl's room that doesn't have an ounce of pink in sight, but still strikes a decidedly feminine note. The turquoise, chocolate brown and white combination is exceedingly popular -- you need only look at PB Teen to see that, but I really love how Sally brought in hits of chartreuse to bring an extra dimension and real jolt of novelty to the space. Note how the spotted print on the floor cushion brings the entire color palette together. Sometimes an inspiration print doesn't have to be the dominant print to be the spring board for the entire look.

P.S. - Those bedlinens are purportedly by Kate Spade? When did Kate get into linens? Is she still doing them?

Sixx Design

Did y'all catch the first season of Nine by Design on Bravo last winter? While I'm not wholly in love with most of the Sixx Design portfolio, after catching that show I am now very much in love with the darling family behind Sixx Design. Of the few rooms of theirs that I do love, their twin daughters' bedroom has to be near the top. Perhaps it's that dreamy antique bed or the giant art installation of fake flowers behind plexi-glass, but there's just something so joyous, feminine and yet very clear and modern about this space. It's a great dichotomy that makes for a very refreshing girl's bedroom.

And finally, what roundup of little girls' rooms would be complete without a collection of fantastic canopied daybeds?

Angie Hranowsky

A great modern approach with a sharply tailored canopy and graphic geometric print.

Ruthie Sommers

Ruthie Sommers goes the more traditional route with lots and LOTS of pink. The blue and white porcelain table lamp is a great touch and really helps to break up the monochromatic room.

Palmer Weiss

Perhaps my favorite version of this look -- the floral print has a great color palette and a more graphic, whimsical touch. Love how the inside is lined in a solid -- it really helps break up all the pattern.

Tobi Fairley

I love purple in a girls' room and the touch of zebra in the canopy lining brings a more grown-up look that's perfect for a preteen or teen.

Orange + Aqua = Love

So in my last post I mentioned in passing that I was really loving orange lately. And I am. In fact, I've been itching to design the nursery in orange and...well, and something. I didn't want to do brown because it's too harvesty. I don't want to do just white because it's too monochromatic and modern for my taste. And then I saw the divine Ms. Tobi Fairley's feature in Traditional Home earlier this week as I paged through the magazine en route home from LA. And I fell in love. Aqua and orange -- that's it! It's fresh, young and fun but still sophisticated and interesting. And even more important: it's gender neutral. I've decided to eschew traditional gender decorating (for now) and go with a more neutral theme for a nursery.

But back to these rooms....Tobi Fairley designed the master bedroom and adjacent sunroom for a Showhouse in Arkansas using predominately green materials (and plenty of antiques and refurbished furniture). And this may be about the freshest, happiest approach to reduce, reuse and recycle that I've ever seen.

I'm particularly fond of how Tobi doesn't try and match tones too closely. The aqua Rubie Green fabric on the vintage sofa isn't precisely the same tone used on the legs of the orange chair or on the finish on the cabinet. And I like that. The overall effect is more layered and less stuffy -- but still conveys the pulled together look that a tighter color palette can give you. Also love how there are only two throw pillows on the sofa and none on the armchair. Much as I love a throw pillow (and you know I do), I get tired of seeing designers completely cover furniture in them. It's impractical and they'll only end up on the floor.

Mmm...pretty lamp, pretty flowers, pretty curtains. All around great styling generally and I appreciate that this nightstand isn't completely cluttered with stuff. All too often these vignettes just read as overstyled to me. Here, Tobi sticks to a classic group of 3 (I consider the orange book more of a stand than an object itself) with staggered heights. It's a simple formula, but it always works.

In the sunroom, Tobi painted mismatched vintage frames the same coral shade and displayed simple shells within, treating them as shadow boxes rather than traditional frames. This a trick that's been used to great effect by a number of designers -- and even on HGTV, but I still like the look. It's a great and inexpensive way to fill a big wall. And of course I love the hit of KWID Imperial Trellis in that great spice colorway.

So yes there are a lot of throw pillows on this daybed, but I make an exception for daybeds as they're deep enough both to accommodate a plethora of pillows and a person (or two), especially if they're backless as here. The embroidered teal pillows are particularly gorgeous -- would love to know the source if anyone knows it. But is it just me or does that art look an awful lot like a chalkboard?

Those lamps are actually old flea market finds that Tobi painted orange -- brilliant trickery for decorating on a budget. I also have to add that the Izze orange sodas displayed on the makeshift bar are personal favorites of mine. I've been drinking it regularly since I found out I was pregnant in an effort to stave off the boredom that comes with abstaining from alcohol and diet soda.

Natalie Umbert makes me happy.

Last week I was flipping through the latest issue of Town and Country and saw this picture included in their feature on up and coming LA designers -- and I stopped dead in my tracks. Now this is the type of room that just makes me happy: bright colors coupled with lots of crisp whites and a great mix of patterns and styles. So of course I had to google the designer behind such a great room and boy was I not disappointed.

Natalie Umbert's portfolio is, start to finish, just as jubilant, fresh and eclectic as I had hoped. In short, I have a new design crush -- and a serious and new found appreciation for the color orange.

I'm so in love with that window seat. And all the built-ins around the fireplace. Okay and those floors.

I love the colorful patterned backs of these charges -- such a great injection of color into an otherwise neutral space. I also love the juxtaposition of the very casual floor and rug with the formal coiffured ceiling. Gauzy linen drapes and a capiz shell chandelier bring in a beachy vibe.

I actually just got back from an all too brief trip to Pasadena, CA, late last night and I'm still definitely California dreamin'. The weather just could not have been better (or a more welcome respite from the humidity we've been suffering through all month). In any case, this room just screams California beach to me with its bleached floors, clapboard walls and brilliantly fresh combination of orange and aqua. So spot-on.

The orange Eames Eiffel base chairs are a classic choice, done up more playfully in orange. I do wish the rug underneath the Saarinen table were a bit bigger though, I prefer a rug large enough to cover the floor area underneath the table and the chairs.

More orange and aqua, but this time in a more saturated setting. I love how you can go with just a few hints of bright color set against a white backdrop for a calmer, more casual air or really go all out for some major drama. The palette stays the same, and yet the mood is so drastically different. The Chinese wishbone arm charms all done up in bold orange lacquer and fun stripes are my favorite elements in the space.

Another view of the same room. Note how Natalie goes with just one large piece of art on one wall and a large mirror over the fireplace. I'm a big fan of using just a few large-scale pieces on your wall and with this bold wall color and all the ample patterns on the soft furnishings, not only do you want to avoid cluttering up your walls, but smaller pieces would really just get lost here.

Natalie's portfolio has a separate section entirely devoted to children's rooms. I absolutely love how she picked up on the hot pink of the Serena & Lily bedding with just the narrowest of pink stripes on the walls. The wide spacing makes the small room appear larger and less busy than a more traditional stripe would have.

When I first saw this room I couldn't help but think: "Okay, that's a pretty sophisticated kid's room", especially with the fairly tight black, white and silver color palette. The playful rug does inject a more youthful note, but it's the feature wall of silver-foiled wallpaper that I really love.

Master Bedroom Design: The Beginning

Now that I've completed (or nearly completed) decorating our family room, I'm turning my attention to our master bedroom. Since any great "after" needs a "before", this is what I'm starting with right now. No, it's not bad -- and I am still very fond of the wall color (Farrow & Ball's Parma Gray, which is really more blue than anything), but it feels...imcomplete and just not as "wow" as I'd like it to be.

While the furniture and accessories from our old house were working just fine from a functional standpoint, the much larger scale of this room made things a bit awkward from a design standpoint. Not only is there a lot of wasted space, but the queen-size bed, two small rugs and tiny end tables look positively pint-sized. Hardly the cozy, sophisticated look I'm going for in the room.

So what am I keeping? Quite a few things actually: the paint color, the Japanese wood block prints, the Jonathan Adler lamps, the clean lined grey linen armchair and the very cool wingback chair I had reupholstered a few years ago in a fun Mod Green Pod damask. Everything else is going. The bedroom set I'm actually selling to my sister to help offset the costs of the redo. If you're interested in either of the rugs (a 2.5' x 9' wool runner and a 5' x 8' wool rug, both from Pottery Barn and in excellent shape) or the tall silver candlestick lamp, email me and I'd be happy to quote you a great price and provide more pictures.

In any case, after swapping out my existing bed, side tables, dresser and rug, the new floor plan will look something like this:

As you can see, a larger (king size) bed and (6 x 9') rug go a long way towards filling out the space. I also decided that swapping out a side table for a long, low dresser would further maximize the long wall opposite the door (and, I'll be honest, give me tons of space to stack all my books and magazines). So, armed with this general space plan, I set about looking for the specific pieces that would not only suit the space, but bring in some much-needed luxury and glamour.

I like to start a design out with a single, amazing element that ties everything together -- and that something is usually fabric or a rug for me. Having a one truly wonderful print or piece as a jumping off point makes design a room so much easier. After seeing a whole lot of things I just felt lukewarm about, I stumbled on DwellStudio's new peacock dove duvet a few weeks ago and realized that it was exactly what I was looking for. Not only does it pull in both the gray and blue tones of the existing paint, but it also brings in a wonderful Chinoiserie pattern that will play off beautifully with my existing artwork and the more modern choices I'll be making in furniture. And once I found my inspiration, everything else just seemed to quickly fall into place:

First off: the bed. The focal point of any bedroom and my first big "want" for this room. I decided to go with a spare, modern canopy in a dark wood stain to add some volume and strong architectural lines, both to create a cozy, "room within a room" effect and to provide a strong visual frame for the fussier, more feminine pattern. The too small 5' x 8' rug will be swapped out for a 6' x 9', which will enable me to comfortably fit two chairs on the rug itself rather than having them awkwardly hang half on/half off. When I saw this Madeline Weinrib rug's quatrefoil and greek key design, I felt like it was just meant to be. The darker gray will also play off of the darker gray ceiling, further tying the room together and enhancing the cozy feeling I'm going for.

Next, I'd like to do away with the heavy, dark wood side tables and dresser and replace them with some much more glamorous pieces. To up the glam factor, both pieces will be mirrored, and a great, bold contrast to the dark frame of the bed. Nestled between the grey linen chair and my wing chair will be a gorgeous greek key silver table that I picked up on the cheap from One Kings Lane to replace the heavy wood pedestal table and bring in yet another element of sparkle (and yes, even more greek key!). And finally: my big "wish" (and major splurge) would be the silver bamboo tufted bench for the foot of the bed. Given it's cost, I'll be holding off for either a sale or a finding a great lookalike.

Finally, I'll be adding curtain panels to frame out and soften the wall of windows and add some additional art (or maybe a screen?) on the wall across the bed to help balance out the room more. I'm ordering some wallpaper samples (including this one from Osborne & Little shown above) and may end up using one of the patterns to create a large triptych. Regardless, I'll keep you posted!

P.S. - I'd like to apologize for my sporadic posting of the past few weeks -- and even more sporadic reading/commenting on all my favorite blogs. There have been a lot of new (and good) developments both at work and at home that have kept me a bit distracted, but I promise to get back to blogging in earnest very shortly!