Tim (my husband) and I both work from home. And while it’s convenient with no commute, sometimes it’s a little TOO cozy with work-stuff overwhelming our home and our lives. Poor Tim had a desk wedged into my sample room and sometimes it was hard to find him amongst all the fabric and wallpaper. With many of my vendors moving their catalogs and libraries online, it was time to start downsizing by moving all the catalogs and fabric into my office. It was going to take some organizing but we finally did it!
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My Sample Room aka Tim's office. His desk was wedged in at the right.
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So now Tim has some extra room in his office. But before he could even start enjoying it, I had new ideas about how we could use the space…..yoga room, reading room, guest room…TV room during football season. Being the amiable guy he is, he was up for re-purposing the space. What we finally decided on was all of the above. A big part of this equation would be a great sofa bed… which I know seems like an oxymoron, but please read on.
I had my reservations about sofa beds. They are okay for a night or two but most people “put up” with them. You know, the bar, the springs, the whole lame deal. But I am sure you will all agree, sleeper sofas are a hefty investment and it would be really great if they were actually comfortable! So I did some research, talked to a couple of designer friends and jumped in! Our choice was the Savannah Sleeper from American Leather. I had ordered a number of leather sofas for clients from this company and their quality is great. They also offer many different fabric choices in addition to leather.
Their Comfort Sleeper Sofa Program is wonderful. The sofa is comfy and generous in size but the way they designed it allows it to fit into tight spaces. The sofa can also be taken apart if you live in an apartment with narrow stairways or doors. The mattress is foam, kinda like a Tempur-pedic mattress (which you can also upgrade to) and it has a stain-resistant Crypton finish which resists moisture, dirt, mold and mildew. Check out a video of how the sleeper works here.
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So the sofa was delivered last week and we stood there and smiled. We hooked up a larger monitor to Tim’s laptop and he’s in heaven watching tons of movies on Netlfix and football games online. Then, I moved my yoga stuff into the room and it all fits nicely into the matching storage ottoman! Now we had a wonderful space and room for our family and friends too.
But the “sleeper” portion did not come into play until last night. My throat was scratchy on Christmas night and when I woke up the next day I had the whole achy, sniffly, cold thing going strong. I knew Tim was never going to get a good night’s sleep with me blowing my nose, so I suggested he give the new sofa a whirl. I kinda held my breath because no one (especially a designer) wants to find out the investment they just made was a bad one. But when I woke up this morning, Tim looked well rested and gave it the thumbs up! I breathed a sigh of relief.
The great thing is that American Leather is sold in many stores around the country so if you are in the market for a sleeper sofa (or any sofa for that matter) you may want to visit and check them out. I’ve already done the homework for you.
At first glance, a well-designed bedroom allows you to just settle into the whole space. The colors, the furniture and the tiny details all work togehter harmoniously. Ahhhh, the cohesive loveliness! But as a designer, my next step is to start breaking it all down… the bed, the pillows, the window treatments and lamp. Why does it all work and how can I learn from this? I want to help you develop the same critical eye because this is the difference between a so-so decorating job and a room that comes alive.
I designed the room above for two teenage girls about 10 years ago. They liked feminine details but were growing up and did not want anything too cute. They loved horses but did not want the whole room to go “horsey”. It’s always a balancing act between “this” and “that.” So these are the steps I took to pull together this great little design without breaking the bank.
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Color – We went with a warm peach because it was feminine, bright and fun. It’s a more complex color than pink or purple which spoke to their sophisticated tastes (yes teenagers now have sophisticated taste!)
Beds – These iron beds are classic and budget-friendly. The choice of many finishes allowed us to select one that tied in our coral, ivory and green palette. (I don’t usually recommend iron beds for master bedrooms but for kids or guest rooms they do the job at a great price.)
Bedding- Custom bed-skirts and shams echo the colors with a designer look but we saved some money by using a matelasse coverlets. These could easily be replace by down comforters and duvets when it gets cold.
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Some Ladder Tape options from Smith + Noble. Simple wood blinds step up the style with this designer touch.
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Windows - Simple 2″ wood blinds. The big slats work with the scale of the large windows. A color-coordinated ladder tape covers the strings that hold the blinds together (the ladder). Now instead of plain old blinds that control light they ARE the window treatment. Plus Ladder Tapes cover route holes so sunlight won’t poke through when blinds are closed.
Chair – We bought this wicker chair new but any old wicker chair can be painted for an instant face-lift. You can also just wrap the fabric around the cushions and safety pin them on the back if you are a not a seamstress.
Lamps – Two simple and affordable lamps that could be found at a local home store.
Artwork – I love to use colorful and interesting artwork in kids rooms and posters are an easy answer. The pieces in this room are prints of famous horse paintings. By going with more modern art, it gives the room a more updated feel and the white frames are simple and fresh.
I hope this helps you see, once again, that good design results is more than the sum of its parts. Consider the look you want and then approach it one step at a time patiently and thoughtfully!
Let me know if I can help you with any design dilemmas by commenting below or contacting me here!
I started My Design Secrets more than a year ago with one goal in mind: Help people who love home decorating by giving them professional advice and easy access to the best online interior decorating sources. After receiving a lot of wonderful feedback and learning that close to 100,000 people visted the database last year, I realized that My Secret Database was the answer to many of your decorating prayers! So, I was determined to continue sharing my interior design advice and resources.
A couple of months ago, I announced that we would be making some upgrades to the website. Now, the time has come! We wanted to make My Design Secrets even more useful, interesting, and fun for all of you decorating enthusiasts. (And for those of you who don’t know, my husband, Tim, is the what turns “me” into “we”.)
So, here is what’s in store…
Improvements to My Secret Database *
The new database is PHENOMENAL.When it comes to home decorating, My Secret Database blows any search engine out of the water. Take that Google! Here’s why:
Search through hundreds of online retailers for the product(s) you need and in the specific style you want.
View a wide assortment of photos of specific products from the vendors in My Secrets Database.
Check out the the handy $-$$-$$$! These icons will help you stay within your home decorating budget.
*While we wanted to keep doing all this for free, a girl has got to make a living! With all these great new features, we are confident that you will recognize what a great value it is. So starting this Wednesday at noon, My Secret Database is going to become a membership only site. We are sure you will agree that the nominal charge of $9.95 per month is a fair price for access to this incredibly valuable, time-saving database.
Hot New Topics and Inside Tips in the Blog (Free)
The blog will continue to be free of charge and will offer my professional design tips as well as introductions to some of the hottest new decorating sources on the web. I have lots of great ideas for new topics and, as always, you are welcome to make suggestions. Feel free to search my existing blog entries covering over 350 decorating topics!
Great New Giveaways
We know you all love a Great Giveaway, so those are definitely going to continue. We have some great ones lined up for high quality paint, gorgeous home furnishings, and fabulous interior decorating/design books. And remember, your paid membership will automatically enter you into the giveaways.
Thank You…Thank You…Thank You
I have appreciated your support over the last year and sincerely hope that you will find these upgrades very helpful as you continue to put your personal decorating stamp on your home.
The simple design of the Audrey Bedroom set works with many color palettes and styles. Plus, a platform bed means you don't need to buy a boxspring!
You have finally decided it’s time for some new bedroom furniture and you deserve it! You are done with the lumpy mattress, sick of the broken drawers, and frankly you are ready to select furniture that suits YOUR style (even though the hand-me-downs were great at the time!). So where do you go? Well, sometimes when you shop at a furniture store that carries everything, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or distracted. This is not the case at BedroomFurniture.com. They specialize in, you guessed it, BEDROOM FURNITURE.
Their site is super simple to navigate and allows you to search by the item or brand. Their finish swatches are large and easy to see, so you know what you are getting. They give you stock information right away PLUS you get free in-home delivery and set up. They carry top brands like Stanley, Tommy Bahama, Lexington and Broyhill; and at great prices. They have everything from luxurious canopy beds to bunk beds (I won’t tell the kids).
I love the hand painted details on the Froggy Book Case. Imagination on the oustide and books on the inside.
The folks at BedroomFurniture.com would really like you to get to know them so stop by the site and have a look around. And becasue they are so generous, they are offering this darling bookshelf to one our lucky readers. A kid can never have too many books, but they can certainly have too many books on the floor.
Check out the hand painted details. The colors would work for a girl or boy.
Would you like to win this bookshelf for a kid you know?
As I was surfing the Internet I came across this video and wanted to share it with you. The folks at HGTV have compiled the top five guest rooms ever seen in an HGTV Dream Home. Do you have a favorite?
This is a great ensemble for the blue lovers out there. Some might be tempted to paint the walls a light blue, but the natural tone shown is classic and really allows the bedding to take center stage.
Your bedroom is a great place to use your favorite colors and to change them up periodically. Because most bedrooms are primarily casegoods (beds, dressers, tables), most times the color is brought in with bedding, window treatments and paint. Since there are so many great ready-made bedding sets, this gives you so many different options!
This room features subtle bedding and a rich wall color that balance each other out. The paint color is Valley Forge Brown, a Benjamin Moore Historical Color. This is my favorite collection of colors.
As a designer, I create interiors that have a pleasing color flow by spending time creating a great color palette and then working from there. Now this doesn’t mean you cannot use bright accents or deep, rich tones in some rooms. I just don’t want to walk in a room and be bowled over by the color (minus kid’s rooms, which get special treatment).
The coral and aqua tones in this bedding are beautiful, but not meant to be on the walls. The buttery walls are the perfect backdrop.
So how do you get the designer look without going too far? It’s pretty easy but you have to make a choice. Are you going to bring in the color with the bedding or the walls? By making this choice early in the process you will help yourself in a number of different ways:
You will have a clear direction when choosing bedding and paint.
You will achieve a look that is much more cohesive and has a polished designer look.
You will make it easier to change just the paint or the bedding down the line for a whole new room.
Even in this modern nursery, the bold green walls pair perfectly with the lighter bedding.
Where are you going to use color?
Walls - If you go with the walls, then go subtle with the bedding. Choose white, ivory or pastel shades. Neutral patterns are great; reserve colorful patterns for smaller areas on pillows or the bed-skirt (no bedspreads please).
Bedding- If you find a colorful bedding collection that just pulls you in, then go for it. Keep the walls subtle with neutral earth tones or whites that have a slight colored hue. Don’t go bright white, the contrast with the bedding will be too harsh.
Take a look at the photos I have included here and you will get the gist. Many times the hallmark of great design is knowing how to pull back a little and not using every decorating idea you ever had in one room.
If you are proud of the design you have created in your own bedroom, please send us a photo (questions@mydesignsecrets.com) so we can all see!
A sleigh bed style in leather usually has a masculine feel but by going with Ivory and some well-placed curves, it has a wonderful balance of yin and yang.
When I was in college at Villanova I lived in a 3-bedroom apartment with 6 other girls. Yes 6, really. It was noisy, messy, and whatever food you purchased was up for grabs. But the thing that really drove me crazy was the decor, and way back then I wasn’t even studying interior design. A Pea green sofa AND a mustard yellow one, a colonial dining set and small scatter rugs that seemed to wander from room to room. To call it a mish-mosh would be an understatement. My bedroom was a slight upgrade. I was lucky enough to have a roommate who shared similar taste and we both kept the room pretty neat, but still, it was basically two mattresses on the floor, a desk, a dresser and some Pier 1 shades.
This iron and brass bed is one of their oldest designs and one of my favorites.
Well, one day I received a catalog in the mail from Charles P. Rogers. There it was, a catalog full of beautiful beds in every style you could imagine. Each one allowed me to dream up yet another bedroom where I would awaken to singing birds and sun streaming through lovely white sheers instead of Van Halen from the guys next door and the fluorescent street light glaring in my window.
My childhood bed was similar to this one so it has a special place in my heart. A classic that you can pass from generation to generation.
Charles P. Rogers has been in business since 1855, so by the time I found them in the early 90′s they were well past the experts stage and I am happy to say that they still around with an endless assortment of styles. Brass beds for Southern Belles, sturdy Wood Beds for Classic tastes and leather beds that range from masculine to modern. They offer finish samples and swatches so you can make an educated purchase. Many decorators and designers purchase from them and they also sell to the public.
One final note. I love that they just do beds. Nothing else to distract them. They carry the most popular models for many years and are always adding fresh designs for those on the cutting edge. You are sure to find a style that will be the perfect centerpiece for your bedroom.
Off the shelf or custom made? When it’s time for a bedroom face-lift, sometimes it hard to figure out where your money is best spent. With lots of options for ready-made bedding and window treatments, it can be tempting to go that route because it’s quicker and cheaper. But is that really going to give you the look you desire? Well, yes and no. Even high-end designers use some items off the shelf. On the other hand, certain items are worth the additional investment of going custom made. Here are my best tips for incorporating both options. These will help you spend your money wisely while achieving the bedroom of your dreams.
Off the Shelf = Less $$$ Out of Your Pocket
Bedspreads, coverlets, comforters and duvets
Any type of bed cover takes a lot of fabric, so this is definitely a chance to save big. The key here is the flexibility to make affordable changes from season to season and items that can be easily laundered.
Newgrange Matelasse from Linen Source is very affordable ($89 for a queen) and machine washable.
Designer Picks
For warm weather months or climates - A matelasse coverlet or light quilt will do. Linen Source seems to always have a great selection of washable matelasse covers on sale.
For cold weather – Down or Hypo-allergenic comforter with a duvet cover is your best bet. The Company Store has a broad offering of weights and duvet covers in many colors.
Decorative Pillows
Another place where custom is totally unnecessary. There are so many great places for designer pillows at half the cost of custom.
These four pillows came from the "Blue-Turquoise-Teal-Lavender" category.
Designer Picks
European Squares (26″x26″) are much more stylish then queen size shams. And King size shams can get super awkward.
Beautiful Pillows and Home offers collection by color so you can find items that are complementary but not to matchy-matchy!
Custom Made = Style Where It Counts
Window Treatments
While having a designer come to your home may be too costly, custom draperies ordered online are more affordable than you may think. And adding custom details and beautiful hardware will make them show-stoppers. Consider choosing a neutral tone drape that will transition nicely when you are ready to make a change. And a good quality blind will work as a seamless partner.
These pinch-pleat draperies from The Shade Store are bone-colored suede fabric with a terracotta edging. Classic and flexible.
Designer Pick
The Shade Store offers great options for blinds and draperies. I would go with a neutral silk for simple elegance. Woven Wood Shades offer great textural contrast.
Bed Skirt
An off-the-shelf bed skirt often fits like old pantyhose. No matter how many times you tug and wiggle, it just doesn’t work. Many people don’t want to spend the money because it’s far from the main attraction but I am telling you….IT IS WORTH IT. I will repeat my mantra ad nauseum: Good Design is in the Details!
Smith + Noble Bedskirt - Inverted Pleat in Linen/Natural (1622)
Designer Pick
Smith + Noble makes great custom bed skirts with lots of options and they help you measure so you get it right. Go with tailored or pleated if your style is simple, ruffled if you like a softer look. There are over 800 different fabrics to choose from! Again, go with a neutral tone for longer-lasting style. These will blow an un-lined, off-the-shelf bed skirt out of the water.
I hope these tips make it much easier for you to plan where to devote your decorating dollars in your brand new bedroom. Enjoy your investment pieces for years to come and don’t hesitate to change it up with new pillows or artwork. You will be amazed at the difference!
Organic sheets may be the key to a more restful sleep.
There are many people who suffer from allergies that range from a slight sniffle to life-interrupting symptoms. We spend approximately 90% of our time indoors (at work or at home) and about a third of our life sleeping. This means we really need to assess everything we bring into our homes and furnishings (especially those in the bedroom) are a substantial player.
Allergists know that the bedroom environment is a key factor, so for years allergists have touted the benefits of keeping areas dust and mite-free by washing sheets in hot water, using mattress and pillow barriers and minimizing the use of fabrics and carpets in the home. Many find great relief from these tactics but now we have come to find out that many people (mostly children) who are suffering with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s) experience improvement in symptoms when they reduce their exposure to certain chemicals that are already in the bedding, even when it’s new.
When I read an article today about a 12-year old child with autism who experienced substantial relief when his parents replaced all his bedding with new organic alternatives, I wanted to share some tips and product suggestions with you. By choosing organic items for your home you are reducing your exposure to certain chemicals, heavy metals and pesticides that can have serious implications on you and your family’s health.
Start the babes off right with a safe crib made of non-toxic materials.
There are many long-term advantages of creating green habits, but these are wonderful short-term choices that may benefit someone you love. So please share the information and consider starting your own green movement in your bedroom.
To learn more about green home furnishings options be sure to visit my friend, Jennae at www.greenyourdecor.com.
At the end of the day, there is nothing more inviting than a beautiful, luxurious bed. Think soft satin sheets and a comfy mattress sitting atop a regal bed with the perfect amount of pillows and blankets enveloping your body in comfort. What? That’s not your bed? Well, then I am going to give you a crash-course in boosting the sleep-appeal of your roost!
While a new bed frame, mattress and sheets would be grand, they can be a substantial investment. I am happy to say that there are great economical alternatives to give your bed a facelift. By considering the different features of your bed from the floor up, you can quickly transform it into an ethereal escape.
Great Legs - We reviewed some Unusual Headboard Options last month (and another great one shown above) but how many times have you banged your toe on that horrible metal bed-frame? Yep, it’s that sturdy, yet ugly frame that came with the mattress. There is a way to upgrade the legs of your bed with Bed Boots. They are small decorative, hardwood boxes that are designed to cover the legs of most metal frames. They come in five different finishes. This eliminates the need for a bed-skirt or at least the need for one that reaches the floor.
Lift me Up - Do you like the regal feel of being a bit higher off the ground? There is a kid-like joy to jumping into a high bed. Many bed and bath stores, including Linens and Things, carry adjustable bed risers that increase the height of your bed; as well as the storage space beneath.
Cover Me - If you decide to forgo the bed-skirt, then you want to make sure you cover that naked box-spring. Just buy an additional fitted sheet and I promise that you will love the tailored look.
Mattress Revival – Hour for hour, you mattress is the hardest working furnishing in the house. It may not be as comfy as the day you met, but that’s no reason to kick it to the curb. An affordable visco foam mattress topper will surely put a spring in your step.
And now that you don’t have to buy a new bed and saved all that money, spoil yourself with opulent bedding in My Secret Database. Sweet Dreams!
