Tag Archives: Design

Bedroom Design: What to Do Before You Hire a Designer

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Don’t have a design direction for your bedroom? Maybe you have one of those rooms with too many doors and windows, and you don’t know where to place the bed. Or, maybe picking colors isn’t your strong suit, and you always turn to ho-hum beige. Hiring an interior designer to decorate your sleep space might be worth your time and money, but before you make a commitment to work with any decorator, here are a few things you should do first.

Create an inspiration file.
Use Pinterest or look through magazines and websites to create a file of bedrooms you like and would love to be yours. Doing research will establish a direction for you and the person you potentially hire.

Meet with several design pros.
Ask friends and look online to peruse portfolios and check references. Meet with at least three designers, and get a feel for how each would approach your project. Even if you have to pay a consultation fee, you’ll get practical advice, and chatting for an hour or two will get you one step closer to selecting the right person.

Know your budget.
Before you start your bedroom project, have a number in mind and communicate that to your would-be designer. Some decorators have minimums, so you might be expected to invest a hefty sum. Others will accept any project, and be happy to work with you, even if you’re scope is small and your budget smaller. By establishing a number in your mind, you’ll also know pretty quickly if you can afford to hire someone in the first place.

Be clear about what you like and don’t like.
Even in your initial meeting, be clear about what you like and don’t like, as well as your wish list. King bed? Upholstered headboard? Storage? A sitting area? Be sure that you’re on the same page as the person you might work with and your expectations are reasonable. Plus, establishing great communication from the get-go sets the tone for a working relationship with the interior designer you select.

Posted in Bedroom Design | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bed Heights: How High Should You Go?

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Beds come in a variety of heights, but most fall in the range of 18-25 inches from the floor to the top of the mattress. Formal, more traditional beds tend be higher while antique beds can come as high as 36 inches, and perhaps a little higher once you add bedding.

You can decide on the height that works for you, and that’s often based on design style, comfort, ease of getting in and out of the bed, etc. You also might think about how much storage you need under your bed, and this will help determine the bed you choose, so you’re sure to make the most out of that space between the bottom of the box spring and the floor.

More and more mattresses run thicker today, especially with pillow top options, so the standard heights of beds have increased over the years. Many people like that soft cocoon-like feeling they get from a pillow-top mattress. One option with a thicker mattress is to purchase a platform bed, which sits closer to the floor; hence you will get a lower bed. Bear in mind, you won’t require a box spring with a platform bed.

Elderly folks will probably feel more at ease with a bed height that’s more in the 24-inch range –– since they’ll be able to get in and out easier –– and should aim for a design in which their feet touch the floor when sitting on the bed. Lower beds are usually easier for children to crawl in and out of, once they graduate from their crib.

Whatever bed frame and mattress you choose, consider the overall height and what will feel most natural for you when you’re at rest, sitting, and getting in and out of bed.

Posted in Bed Nuts & Bolts, Bedroom Design | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bedroom Design: 5 Benches for the Foot of the Bed

Post by Tracy Kaler.

If you have enough clearance in your bedroom, consider placing a bench at the foot of your bed for practical and/or decorative purposes. Benches are not only for sitting, but ideal for removing your shoes after a long day or even laying out an outfit the night before an important meeting.

Benches prove to be one of the most useful and versatile pieces of furniture. These five show different design options when placing a bench in a bedroom.

Unusually practical because it offers space underneath for storage, this bench is perfect for a young person’s bedroom. Tchotchkes such as toys and stuffed animals fit neatly inside the wicker boxes without detracting from the clean lines of the bench. A boxed cushion on top makes for comfy seating.

Tufts and acrylic legs on this bench help complete the look in this somewhat feminine bedroom. Decorative starburst pillows and a pink throw at the foot of the bed add the right amount of texture while the zig zag rug adds pattern. Overall, this space is fresh, interesting, and serene at the same time.

With an upholstered back, this bench strays from the norm, and the chrome arms and legs are unexpected. The scale is just right and the almost monochromatic scheme works to its advantage. More than a spot to throw a handbag or put on your boots, this bench looks fit for sitting too.

An all-white bedroom welcomes this modern yet primitive DIY walnut bench with metal hairpin legs. Probably more aesthetically pleasing than functional as a piece of furniture, this bench finishes the space, in my opinion.

A grey and white scheme might seem boring to those who love color, but there’s no lack of design in this well-though-out room. Two benches hug the foot of the king-size upholstered bed, both of which boast chrome nailhead trim. The pattern in the headboard marries nicely with the legs of the twin benches.

Posted in Bedroom Design | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bedroom Design: 4 Unconventional Sleep Spaces

Post by Tracy Kaler.
Do you have a dream bedroom? Perhaps you fantasize about sleeping in a canopy bed with rays of natural light streaming in through tall casement windows. Or maybe you prefer a dark, masculine space with rich red wall covering, deep mahogany floors and formal damask drapery.

You probably have a distinct vision in mind when it comes to your ideal room. Sweet or sassy, quaint or ordinary, bold or soothing, no matter your personal taste, if you’re a design aficionado like me, you more than likely appreciate even the most unconventional rooms.

Talk about a view! This oversized Los Angeles bedroom extends out to the deck, which overlooks the ocean. The room has no ornamentation and doesn’t need it. The exterior becomes part of the interior.

There’s nothing mundane about this bedroom in New South Wales, Australia. From the dark paint on the walls to the whimsical wicker headboard, pendant lights, and the unusual accessories, the space strays about as far as from conventional as you can get.

What is it? A micro-bedroom? A mini-loft? It’s a space-saving bedroom in Manhattan’s East Village that’s pretty darn clever, if you ask me. The room may be compact, but sure looks cozy.

“Zen minimalist” is what the designer calls this space, and with its exposure to the great outdoors and Asian influence, I can see why. Designer Vivian Dwyer wanted to “insert modern elements into this house of the earth.” The bedroom has an adjacent open bathing area and faces giant redwood trees at the rear of the property.

Posted in Bedroom Design | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bedroom Design: Decorating with Toiles in a Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Toiles –– also called Toile de Jouy –– got their start in mid-eighteenth century Ireland, and shortly thereafter became increasingly popular in France and Great Britain. The decorative fabric is most often cotton or linen printed with pastoral or colonial scenes.

The factory of Jouy-en-Josas, near Versailles, became famous for toiles. The notably French fabric usually comes in a white or cream-colored background, with the pattern printed in a different color, such as black, red, blue, green, brown, or beige.

Many decorators have a love for toile wallpapers, specifying them in baths, dining rooms, libraries, and just about any room in the house.

You’ve probably noticed toiles grace the pages of magazines, and liven up furnishings, windows, and walls of showhouses. Used mostly in traditional rooms, the classic textile has made a comeback in the past 10-15 years. One of my favorite spaces in which I’m fond of toile is a bedroom. These five sleep spaces look lovely in Toile du Jouy.

What a gorgeous guest room. The toile-upholstered walls, bed, and window seat should almost be overkill, but the amount of pattern works well. Subtle green and white at its best.

Touches of toile make this bedroom feel inviting and distinctly French. Notice how the red and white plates continue the theme.

I can’t help but adore this crisp yellow contrasted with the dark wood furniture. Botanical prints marry well with the not-so-typical “unbusy” theme of this toile room.

Highly traditional and incredibly elegant, black and white toile sweeps through this large bedroom making a design statement.

Blue and white toile dresses up this bright Hamptons garage bedroom. Interior designer Anthony Baratta chose complementary patterns for the area rug, seating and artwork, creating a delightful, happy space.

Posted in Bedroom Design | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment