Rethinking the Look of Things No. 71 - Enhancing the Headboard

 

Bedroom furnishings seem to be the purchase that lasts a lifetime, rarely changed. Ironic since the bedroom is the room we spend the most time getting ready to start our day or to end our day in rest for the next day. So, it would seem we would want to give more attention to what this room is offering us in sanctuary. 

The first design tip I often give to someone seeking to make changes to their bedroom starts with breaking up the bedroom set look. Exchanging the matchy-matchy elements with functional pieces that add interest to the space. Like changing out the matching bed for an upholstered bed or headboard. Eliminating the mirror over the dresser that matches every other piece in the room and hanging a television over the dresser instead or hanging a decorative mirror over the dresser instead. Adding an upholstered bench to the foot of the bed. Changing out the top of bed and window treatments. These are quick ways to start making a difference in the feel of a bedroom with matching furniture. 

But let's take that further with another design element that will enhance the bed wall. An enhancement that draws you into a good night's dream. We often designate murals to a dining room, as rule breakers we need to realize that there are very few limitations to where you can add a mural to your home. The only rule I'd say exists is to limit your home to only one special mural. In this post we are exploring the idea of enhancing the bed wall by adding a mural or other wallpaper with mouldings. 

No matter what media or style your bed is, enhancing it with a mural or wallpaper and mouldings is definitely an option to make the bed wall have impact. This design element is many steps above just painting the bed wall an accent color. Be brave and take the leap! 

You may find that your bedroom is already architecturally set up for enhancement. Mouldings may already exist. An inset on the bed wall may have already been part of the construction. If these elements don't already exist don't fret - they can always be added. The important step is to make sure that the bed placement in your room is at its best advantage, but don't force it. There is generally only one, maybe two perfect places for the bed in a room. 

Murals can be panels printed as wallpaper or handpainted by a local artist. Either way make sure the scale and proportion of the finished product is conducive to your space. Most importantly it needs start near or at the bottom of the crown moulding and drop behind the headboard to end at the very least to the tops of the nightstands or to the top of the baseboard. The mural background color should blend with the wall color in the rest of the bedroom and for continuous continuity even the mouldings. If the background is dark and you don't want to go that dark on the rest of the walls - select a color from the mural that will be the color of the rest of the walls and mouldings.

The shape of the moulding that is framing the mural does not have to mimic the shape of the headboard. As a matter of fact, I feel that it is better if it doesn't. Just don't get too out there with the moulding application. This element is an enhancement, a backdrop - not the main event.

Keep in mind when selecting your mural palette that your top of bed treatment will coordinate with this and carry throughout the rest of the room in area rug, upholstery, window treatment, and other design elements. The mural is only one layer of design in the space and needs to partner well with all other selections in your design plan. However, don't settle on a mural and feel stuck because it's the only one that seems to work with your other selections - every element of your design plan needs to be something you love so you may need to play around with the selections until they all work well together beautifully.

Whether updating your bedroom design plan or starting fresh, be inspired to enhance your headboard! And then don't forget every other detail, especially lighting elements. 

Sources (in no particular order): Instagram, Pinterest, Behance Design, Home and Gardens Magazine, Melanie Jade Design

Interior Design Reference No. 4 - Repetitive Design When is it Right?

As a designer, I relate to what it would be like living in a candy store because that is what it feels like being around design resources. Fabrics, trims, wallcoverings, drapery hardware, area rugs, paint colors, accessories, and furnishings for example. And new arrivals feel like Christmas day. How does it all get narrowed down to all the right elements for a design plan? It happens by building a relationship with a client, asking the right questions, listening, visiting the home, looking at their dream boards, and the thing I find most important is silently observing. 

I want to create a plan that responds to the client. I want to design a room that allows the client to learn that it is okay to live in a home that can be beyond their wildest dream. Limitations caused by trend, copycatting, taking it safe, thinking about resell can be dangerous.  The design journey I go on with my clients is about discovery. Discovering them, period. Helping them write their design biography and then picking up the brushes and painting the picture in real life. That's how we learn together how bold or subtle their sanctuary is. Now let the designing begin.

Repetitive Design, when is it right?

So how do you know when repetitive design is right? I would have to say that you'll know just like you'll know when any other design plan is right. Frustrating, right? When I was expecting my first child and was taking birthing classes the one question, all the expectant mothers had, including me was, how do we know when we are in labor? The instructor's response was that you'll just know. As a new mother I was frustrated. That didn't really prepare me at all, why was I taking these classes? But after going through childbirth twice and experiencing just how different each was, I realize the instructor was absolutely correct - I just knew. This is no different in the design process. 

If you build the relationship, ask the right questions, listen, and observe. You will discover when your design plan is right. Repetitive design can be a bold statement, yet I have successfully planned it for some of my less than bold clients. 

A design plan does not just fall into place, it is a thoughtful process. Remember there are thousands upon thousands of design resources, and they all sift down to the perfect few. I have found with repetitive design that it can happen when you find that perfect fabric that you are head-over-heels with that maybe just using it on the upholstery doesn't feed the appetite enough. And you leap when you find there is a matching wallcovering that fills your plate with the serving of goodness you needed for your space. However, repetitive design can be accomplished without a matching wallcovering by upholstering the walls in the fabric pattern so don't fret if the fabric you love for the space doesn't have a match.

In repetitive design the principles of contrast and harmony are still important design elements, and it takes skilled control. Just how far do you take the matching fabric and wallcovering. Is it just some upholstery and the window treatments?  Are these used on the upholstered bed, walls, and window treatments? Is it just a small bench upholstery and walls? Go back to the process with your client, you will know when to say when.

Another part of the repetitive design process is to identify the interrupters. What is going to tell the eyes they are not trapped inside a box with no exit? These interrupters are not rude in nature - they are the supporting case to the repetitive flow. Some interrupters are the architectural ones like windows (if window treatments are not part of the repetitive fabric) or doorways already part of the space. Maybe the window and door frames will be painted a dark color which can provide a subtle interruption. 

The design plan checklist needs to include any addition of architectural mouldings that will be installed to interrupt, but harmoniously blend with the flow of the repetitive pattern or texture - such as picture moulding.  There are small detail interrupters to consider as well like nail head trim, passementerie, wood finish on upholstered pieces. All the case pieces, artwork and accessories that are put into the design plan are also interrupters. These well-planned pieces provide balance and rhythm, two more design principles, important to a repetitive design foundation. 

Both the vertical and horizontal applications of the matching wallcovering and fabric give the pattern or texture dimension and geometry to repetitive design. Keep in mind what the backdrop will look like will the wallcovering just go one accent wall or on all the walls; will it continue onto the ceiling. How will matching fabric drape at the window or bed treatment? What shape is the upholstered piece and how will that play into the space (remember comfort first, we do have to sit on these pieces)? All these situations need to be considered.

Repetitive design is not the easy matchy, matchy plan it may seem. It will take a skillfully thought process but keep the fun in it. Just make sure it doesn't turn out to be a "Where is Waldo?" game. Every piece must have its place in plain sight and for good reason. And repetitive design doesn't always mean print on print - beautiful repetitive design is just as stunning in neutral textures.

Be inspired! 

Sources: Atlanta Home Magazine, Decor Pad, Thibaut, Nicholas Haslam, Instagram, Things that Inspire, Eye for Design, Ltd., Round Top, Pinterest