Designer's Notes/Master Suites

Designer's Notes

A dark, rich, chocolate-brown accent wall sets the tone for this modern yet romantic master bedroom.

The master bedroom is a luxurious retreat that has a beautiful bed as the central focus. A silk carpet grounds the room, and a great piece of art balances the wall of windows on the opposite side.

Two structural columns in the master bedroom dictated the layout of the room. One of the two structural columns in the room was encased in a free-standing wall built to divide the master bedroom area from the office. The front of the wall acts as a headboard for the king-size bed, while the back of the wall has a built-in desk with shelving above.

The bedroom area is open to the atrium, sharing the light and allowing for views out in all directions. The stone backdrop to the bed unites the finishes with the other stone accents throughout the apartment.

This master bedroom suite is gifted with a great amount of space. The very dark brown, almost-black walls make this lofty room feel more intimate. The fireplace and TV wall was reinforced as a focal point with free form-painted horizontal stripes. The artwork, also in a horizontal format, helps maintain your eyes from perceiving the height of the ceiling. Such a bold combination takes a bit of moxie and faith in your designer's choice.

Imagine the perfect room-within-a-room for a master suite. This reading nook provides a cozy retreat, complete with a chenille-covered big easy chair and ottoman, adjustable reading lamp, and preserved Manzanita tree. The tree shelters the seating area and adds warmth and a sense of security as you relax into this cuddle space.

Warm neutrals with golden accents draw you into this warm, intimate space. The slight sheen on the drapery panels and bedding add a luminous quality, and the linear details of the fabrics and furniture are caught by the light from the wall mounted arc sconces on either side of this master bedroom. A true retreat within the home, this cozy spot will make for a memorable 'staycation'.

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French Decor

French Décor for the Bedroom


French décor’s presence in the bedroom is one of romance, luxury, large furniture and color. Be sure to draw some inspiration from nature and its likely you’ve achieved perfection. French décor allows you to introduce many features into your bedroom in bold ways that most other types of décor generally don’t. The trick is to not go overboard. My advice is to start your project by selecting your color scheme.

French décor uses a broad range of colors, including various shades of reds, blues, yellows and greens. Use one or two colors (at the most) for your primary colors and compliment them with a white or an off white as an accent color. Traditionally, French décor calls for lighter or neutral colors as the primary wall color. However, today it is very much in fashion to use darker colors. A shade of blue, such as blue toile, is a decent color for a French inspired bedroom because blue is a relaxing color which will bring serenity to your bedroom. You can also use a golden yellow or burgundy as your main wall color.

Once you have chosen your color theme, you should decide on the type of furniture, its size and placement that you wish to place in your room. Remember that large, bold furniture is part of what makes French décor so luxurious. Choose a large bed with big headboard that will be used as the centerpiece of the bedroom. While the rest of the furniture should also be large, there should not be too many pieces in the room. A chest of drawers or an armoire is a good choice. If your bedroom is big enough, you can add a rich loveseat as well.

The material that is used for the bed, as well as the rest of the furniture, should be wood. The wood that is used in French décor is either going to be of a dark color or painted in an off white color. The wood should have some sort of carving added to it. At times, you may also find some gold color metal in addition to the carvings. You can complement the dark wood with a dark wall color or white wood with a light color. Feel free to hand paint some flowers or sceneries on the chest drawers to bring some additional color and romance to the bedroom.

Mirrors are a good way to continue the tradition of going large in French Décor. Use a large mirror to make the room appear bigger.

When it comes to curtains, yours should reach from the ceiling to the floor and be made from a rich, thick fabric. Tie the curtains back to let light in and create a more dramatic effect. The color of the drapes should match your bedding and your furniture in order to maintain the color theme.

Add a couple of paintings to the bedroom. Rococo or Baroque themes work best with French décor. Ideal images include those that emphasize nature or people having a nice time.

The final touch to your French inspired bedroom is going to be dazzling bedding. Your bedding should have some shine and luster to it to create a dramatic and welcoming effect. Use white or cream colored sheets to set off a beautiful duvet. Gold, sky blue, white, burgundy and gold are popular colors to construct themes in French décor bedding. Use a lot of big pillows and neck rolls to complete the effect.

While French décor permits you an abundance of freedom to experiment using many variables such as color, texture and patterns in your bedroom, it is very important to not get carried away and be too excessive in your décor. This can make the room appear cluttered and overdone. Have fun decorating and enjoy your new French themed bedroom!

R. Jabbour & Sons first opened its doors in New York City over 80 years ago. Passed through four generations of family, R. Jabbour & Sons continues to be a trusted and highly knowledgeable resource for the finest bed, bath, and table linens. Its loyal following of customers rely on the utmost attention to detail and service.

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Gee's Bend Quilts

The women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama have developed a distinctive, bold, and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional American and African American quilts.

The quiltmakers have passed their skills and aesthetic down through at least six generations to the present. The Quilts of Gee’s Bend have been exhibited in major museums throughout the world, garnering tremendous acclaim. The Log Cabin, with blocks made by laying thin strips of cloth around a small center square, is the quintessential American quilt pattern. The earliest examples of the pattern date from the Civil War era and variations on the pattern continue to be made by quilters of all kinds today. Like many Log Cabins, ours is not lined and the top pieces are tied to the backing rather than quilted. The original was designed and created by Jessie T. Pettway in 1975.

Watch the video from the Museum Craft Collection

These quilts are beautiful, a true work of art!!!

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Design Styles/Part 3 of 3

Today, we are continuing Part 3... About design styles and everything you always wanted to know about design but were afraid to ask.

Moroccan


A heavily layered look consisting of intricately patterned fabrics, colorful mosaics, metal lanterns, textured walls, bold, jewel-toned colors, layers of Oriental rugs and pillows in luxurious fabrics and ornately-carved wooden accents. Design by David Bromstad. LOVE David's creativity and his program (Color Splash)!!!!

Shabby Chic


Coined in 1980 by Rachel Ashwell, this cottage-inspired look includes weathered white-painted furniture, painted motifs, floral prints in muted colors, white slipcovered sofas and vintage accessories. A sense of brightness and airiness is always evident in these interiors. Photo Courtesy of Miles Talbott's Shabby Chic® Collection.

Traditional


Furnishings are usually 18th-century English, 19th-century neoclassic, French country and British Colonial revival. Use of classic styling and symmetry to create a calm, orderly decor. Color palette is usually in the mid-tones and fabrics are muted, usually simple florals, solids, stripes or plaids. Design by Tracy Morris.

Transitional


The transitional look bridges contemporary and traditional design. Offering a deep rooted sense of history in some pieces, while furniture often gets an update with cleaner lines. Leather ottomans used as coffee tables is very popular in this decor. Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn could be considered transitional looks. Design by Tracy Morris.

Tropical


A look inspired by beaches of Hawaii, French Polynesia or other tropical destinations. Thatched furniture, heavy prints of palm leaves and bright colored flowers find their way onto upholstery. Muted colored rugs or sisal and seagrass carpets cover the floor. Design by Linda Woodrum. Soooo fabulous and fresh!!!! Great job Linda.

Western


Raw, rough hewn woods, inviting fabrics or cozy plaids play up the Western look. Worn leathers mixed with stone hearths or walls and other natural elements. Furniture is usually large scaled and wooden. Design by Shelly Riehl David.

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Design Styles/Part 1 of 3

Every thing you always wanted to know about design styles, but were afraid to ask.

Art Deco


Streamlined, geometric style of home furnishings popular in the '20s and '30s featuring rounded fronts, mirrored accents, sleek lines and wood furniture with chrome hardware and glasstops. Design by Erinn Valencich.

Arts and Crafts


Arts and Crafts style furnishings became popular in the United States between 1910 and 1925. The focus was simple in form, without extraneous decoration, often showing the way pieces and materials were put together. Architecturally speaking, Arts and Crafts covers Craftsman style, work by Frank Lloyd-Wright as well as the bungalow style popularized by Greene and Greene. "Truth in Materials" was very important to Arts and Crafts designers, who often used local materials. Design by Thomas A. Conway.
 

Asian

Inspired by the design elements from Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. This look fuses natural fiber elements, bamboo and colors taken from nature to create a serene, calm environment. Furnishings may be lacquered or handpainted with ornamental designs, punctuated with brightly-colored accessories or statues of animals or mythical creatures. Design by Erinn Valencich.

Coastal

This look is inspired by the ocean. It evokes a light and breezy feel by way of airy fabrics for window treatments, and the emphasis on nautical or beach-themed accessories such as lighthouses and seashells. The classic Ralph Lauren-inspired palette of navy and white with gold accents is a striking look for any home. Design by Layla Palmer.

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Embedded Alarm

The Melted Clock in bed sheet alarm clock by Florian Schaerfer offers a new and innovative way to wake up on time. Etched into the fabric of the bed sheet, the touch-sensitive alarm clock allows you to set or shut off the alarm without ever opening your eyes. Built-in speakers project the sound of music from the embedded radio so you can wake up to the news report or your favorite music station. Three control icons are embroidered on the sheet, enabling you to use each function as desired. The whole idea is to move your hand across the sheet’s surface to adjust the functions or feel the time. The clock components are made of silicone and impressed onto the sheet through a slat of EPS (electroactive polymer), which is activated by electricity. Once activated, the slat stretches and raises the silicone component, providing the imprinted numbers that can be felt on the clock. Now you can feel the time and decide whether or not to sleep longer. And, the silicone segment can be removed when you need to wash the sheets. Designer: Florian Schaerfer. via Yanko Design

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All Modern

Felt everyone would enjoy viewing the All Modern site. I found the accessories fun and classic.

Although, I showed you a few accessories they also inventory furniture, lighting, rugs, and much more. Also check out their upcoming giveaway, for a chance to win something fun and unique for your home!

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