OUR FARMHOUSE
THE ELEVATED RANCH
THE RESTFUL VILLA
THE RUSTIC MINIMALIST
THE REIMAGINED RETREAT
THE UPTOWN INDUSTRIAL
THE STATELY TRADITIONAL
THE RUSTIC MINIMALIST
THE VINTAGE DWELLING
THE STATELY TRADITIONAL
THE DARING ELEMENTAL
THE HANDCRAFTED HIDEAWAY
THE HOMESPUN COTTAGE
Mornings at the farm are quiet and tranquil. We have no city lights or street sounds to nudge us from our sweet slumber. On most days, we wake up just before the sun does, only because that’s when our rooster starts to crow. Chip and I try to leave our cell phones charging in the den when we go to bed at night so that we can start each day on our own terms. Sometimes we forget or fail to do this, but we really try to be deliberate about boundaries when it comes to what we let infringe on our time. For Chip and me, it’s important that we keep our bedroom as a sort of sanctuary, an escape from the busyness of life. We want to put our best foot forward from the start of the day and peacefully sink into bed at night, so we try to remove any distractions that don’t help that cause. I like to envision that a line is drawn at the base of our bedroom door frame, separating our space from the things that feel like diversions—our work, our chores, our devices. Leaving those things on the other side of that line is how we clock out. While a lot of those things are good and important, they are not more important than taking the time to unwind and truly rest.
Early in our marriage, Chip and I were on a pretty tight budget, so we spent most evenings at home. We didn’t have the cash to eat out a lot so we stayed in and cooked instead. We’d typically spend the rest of the night working on a project together or doing something as simple as playing cards. We found ourselves hanging out in the living room more than anywhere else, but that space always felt full of distractions and reminders of things that needed to get done, whether it be a stack of mail or items out of place. We both wanted a space that felt separate from all of that, and somewhat unconsciously we fell into a rhythm of seeking out our bedroom for refuge and for time spent together. Almost immediately, there was this silent agreement between us that work wouldn’t follow us into that space. It became a well-worn pattern of how we lived, which in turn caused me to really think through how the design of this space could help facilitate these intentions.
At the time, the setup of our room wasn’t ideal in light of all the time we started to spend there. Really, this space had been an afterthought when we first moved in. I had spent all of my creative energy on the more visible rooms of the house so that our home looked finished and presentable to others. This meant that our bedroom received the leftover furniture that I hadn’t liked enough to use in the main living area. When guests came over, I would just shut our bedroom door so I didn’t have to explain why it wasn’t finished.
Gradually, though, Chip’s and my tendencies were teaching me more about design than I ever could have learned any other way. Our bedroom was important to our relationship and our ability to connect. So, slowly it evolved from being an afterthought to a priority, and I began to create a space that felt like a retreat from the outside world.
I wanted our bedroom to feel separate enough from the rest of the house that we would be prompted at the door to quiet our minds and really relax. For the first time, I was able to see how impersonal a lot of our mismatched furniture was. The secondhand furnishings communicated that this room was less important than the other, more visible parts of our house. The full laundry hamper that sat beside our nightstand was a reminder of a never-ending chore waiting to be done. These things felt contrary to what had become the clear intent of this space. It was then that I decided we’d keep only the furniture that we loved, and I became pretty critical about what we kept out in the open. I placed items like that laundry basket in the closet and moved the catchall to the entryway. And for a long time we lived with a half-furnished room, but half-furnished with pieces that meant something to us. That bedroom, so imperfect and in process, felt just like us. And for that season of life, it was just right.
One weekend, Chip and I scored a couple of beautiful old leather chairs from an estate sale for a great price. I placed these comfortable chairs in a corner by the window in our bedroom, and they were the perfect addition. As simple as they were, those chairs were really significant in helping Chip and me to unwind and connect. In every house we’ve lived in since, I’ve always placed a pair of chairs in our bedroom. Sometimes they were crammed into the corner of a really small room where there really wasn’t space for these two large pieces, but we didn’t care. By that point they’d come to mean too much to us to live without them.
Over the years, our tendency to hang out in our bedroom has never faded, which has made me feel all the more compelled to make this space all about Chip and me. I began to place things in our room that were meaningful only to us. Old letters and small mementos became the invaluable pieces that I hung as art and arranged on shelves. These served as reminders of where we’ve been and what we hold dear, helping to keep us grounded and really making this space feel sacred. Details I wouldn’t display in other rooms of the house were perfect in our bedroom because they helped to tell our story as a couple. This is the one place that’s for us and no one else.
That’s what I enjoy most about working on bedrooms. It is the room that has the best opportunity to use design to communicate an individual’s preferences with details from his or her life. When I design a client’s bedroom, I pay particular attention to the things they find interesting. The colors, patterns, and styles that they gravitate toward or their hobbies and places they’ve traveled lead me to choose materials and pieces that I know will bring them comfort and peace.
In any room, but particularly in the bedroom, it is important that the space feel restful and not chaotic. Clearing away clutter and nonessentials really can promote peace. This room should be the one place that you can count on to provide you with the rest you need to feel renewed. When your bedroom shelters you from the worries of the world while making room for the things that energize you to get back up and tackle another day, that is how you know that you are home.
I wanted our bedroom to feel like a true retreat, so I incorporated a soft, peaceful color palette with cozy textures, traditional shapes, and sophisticated finishes. The cream wall color is warm in tone and the plush blue accents add a sense of calm. A chandelier hung above our bed brings some definition to this wide open space. This antique card catalog–style dresser adds a sense of story to the traditional and modern elements of the room, and the large botanical artwork hung above ties in with the vintage academic vibe. This quiet corner adds to the retreat-like feel of the room. Outfitted with a writer’s desk and minimal decor, this spot is ideal for quiet time and reflection.
BEDROOMS: WHAT TO CONSIDER
Our bedroom should be a place that provides us with rest and refuge. One that actually feels like a breath of fresh air typically requires deliberate efforts to edit out any meaningless items and nonessential pieces that take up precious space. The rooms in this chapter have all been designed and styled minimally, making the pieces that are on display feel significant and a reflection of the stories and personalities of the people who live in them.
COMPLEMENTARY ARRANGEMENT
Consider how the size, shape, and arrangement of furniture contribute to the flow of the bedrooms shared in this chapter. Typically, I style clients’ bedrooms by sticking to the basics with a bed, dresser, rug, and two nightstands when space allows. This needn’t mean that the bedroom should look or feel bland or generic. The select few pieces of furniture you do choose should reflect your personal sense of style and complement the shape and size of the room, while leaving plenty of space to relax.
DETAILS MATTER
Pay attention to what your eyes are drawn to in each room. For me, it’s typically a bold or unique bed, layered with interesting textiles. This is why I recommend investing in a quality frame and bedding if you can. Linens that feel as comfortable as they look beautiful are a worthwhile investment. The bedroom is a great place to highlight mementos, artwork, and personal photos that celebrate a life well lived.
THE ELEMENTS
•BENCH OR CHAISE LOUNGE•QUALITY BED FRAME
•PERSONAL ARTWORK•SIDE TABLES
•ADJUSTABLE BEDSIDE LIGHTING•CATCHALL OR VALET TRAY
•ARMOIRE OR WRITING DESK•SOFT AREA RUG
•COMFORTABLE BEDDING•WINDOW TREATMENT
You can refine your bedroom by establishing a simplified color palette for the space. For example, this room is defined by neutral tones with accent hues of green and blue, found in the art prints, potted plants, and books. The muted bedding and jute rug also help to smooth out the dark lines of the furniture for a beautiful blend within a traditional style.
The live-edge headboard is the design highlight of this guest bedroom. Since it is such a unique and organic piece of furniture, the other pieces I incorporated are sleek and understated, like the modern light fixture and the small metal shelf in lieu of a nightstand. I added a small side porch off this room with a wall of sliding doors so that guests could enjoy the view or an early-morning cup of coffee.
In this master bedroom, traditional farmhouse features like the board-and-batten accent wall are balanced with industrial elements, including the black metal bed frame and copper light fixtures. To achieve a simplified and clean feeling in this room, I kept the decor to a minimum, and chose neutral art prints that would subtly blend with the rest of the room. Instead of traditional nightstands, I opted for narrow side tables to better suit this relatively tight space.
Instead of using a traditional headboard in this industrial downtown loft bedroom, I incorporated a wood-paneled half wall. This unconventional headboard not only complements the style of the home, it also doubles as a shelf for books, layered art, and plants. In a relatively neutral room, a bold-colored rug will not only ground the space but also provide plenty of color.
The textured rug, throw blankets, and paneled ceiling add layers of visual interest to this crisp and clean-styled bedroom. I balanced the quirky angles of the ceiling with the symmetrical placement of the twin beds and sconces. Since it is a small space, I kept the color palette simple by using mostly neutrals with a subtle addition of yellow. A little bit of black goes a long way toward helping a space like this one convey a modern sensibility in a country aesthetic.
Simple, natural design was the inspiration for this loft bedroom. The warm wood tones, neutral textiles, and vaulted ceiling offer an organic and raw aesthetic that is complemented by a practical and understated floating wood shelf in lieu of a larger piece of furniture.
When I designed this room, it was intended to be a quiet retreat for a writer. The clean, natural palette offers minimal distractions, and is ideal for cultivating creativity. There are few spaces that wouldn’t benefit from adding a couple of potted plants. They instantly bring warmth, life, and movement to a room. To me, plants are the easiest and happiest quick fix for any spot.
If a bold or unique paint color seems intimidating for the bedroom, wallpaper can be an excellent option for adding some personality. This unique wallpaper choice makes a statement about the couple’s fun and original style. Matching furniture, along with calming, neutral textiles with subtle textures, ensures a sense of balance. A gallery of abstract artanchors the wall opposite the bold, papered accent wall.
To highlight the historical architecture of this Hillcrest Estate bedroom, I refinished the original built-in bookshelf and desk. I created a moody aesthetic and highlighted the masculinity of the space by painting the walls a dark blue. I typically try to strike a nice balance between masculine and feminine elements in every room. Here, the botanical prints and the movement of the linen bed skirt help balance the masculinity of the rest of this bedroom.
This cinder-block wall continues to play an important stylistic role throughout this house, including in the bedroom. True to industrial style, these homeowners have creatively repurposed this urban material to serve as a nightstand, allowing for fewer furnishings in this space. If you’re building something new, consider working an inset structure like this one into your design plans. It can be both a significant and functional design statement. The unique wall pairs well with the bold color of the window drapes—a reminder that it only takes one unexpected choice to make a room come alive.
I love when a bedroom features pieces that are important to the people who use them every day. The chest at the foot of this bed is a family heirloom, and the unique wood nightstand was cut from the homeowner’s property, just for this purpose. The substantial pieces in this bedroom, including the metal bed frame, jute rug, and wood accents, vary in style, yet they work well together in this space because they are all in a similarly unrefined, raw state.
The original architectural details of this bedroom are the first things that catch my eye. The antiques that fill the space, including the nightstand, writing desk, and turned-wood bed frame, create a cozy atmosphere and a sense of historical importance. The neutral palette and minimal decor allow the wide-planked floors and exposed wooden beams to be the standout features of this primitive bedroom.
BEDROOMS
TROUBLESHOOTING
INSUFFICIENT STORAGE
If your space allows, select bedside tables with drawers for maximum storage space. In the absence of a large closet, bring in an armoire, dresser, or chest of drawers that can help the cause. I have four large plastic bins where I like to store extra linens and blankets under my bed year-round.
SMALL SPACE
If you don’t have a ton of extra square footage in your bedroom, you can opt for floating nightstands in place of standing furniture. A built-in headboard or low-profile bed frame can take up less visible space, while losing the footboard will save you a few extra inches of floor room.
OUTDATED CARPET
If your bedroom carpet is outdated, consider replacing it with a newer style you like. You can also place a large area rug on top of the carpet in a color and pattern that gives your bedroom character. A rug is usually one of the first details I add to a client’s bedroom, and it’s amazing how this one piece can easily bring a room to life and help establish the overall design of the space. An alternative option is laminate or wood flooring, which will give your room a lighter look.
LACKING PERSONALITY
Your bed and bedding can be your biggest investment in this space. Once you have those in place, everything else you layer in should be complementary and draw your attention back to this main focal point. Adding a decorative wall sconce or lamp to each side of the bed will add dimension, interest, and light. You can also bring in some colorful detail by painting or wallpapering an accent wall. Putting art you love in your bedroom is a great way to make the space feel personal.
BARE WINDOWS
Window treatments can provide privacy, texture, and detail to a space. I typically choose them in neutral colors so that they can serve as a subtle backdrop to the room. You can select from many options, including blackout curtains, a pleated or panel style, roman shades, and plantation shutters. To make your windows appear larger, hang curtains a few inches above the trim.
NO PLACE TO RETREAT
Add a chaise lounge, chair, or window seat with a cushion for relaxing. A bench at the end of the bed also offers a nice spot to land.
