Expert Talk: Dreaming of a Daybed
Whatever color, pattern or style flits through your fancy, today's daybeds let you have it — and practicality too
Houzz Contributor. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I found myself utterly unprepared for the real world and at a loss as to what I should do next. Luckily, one day I stumbled through the doors of Architectural Digest and was taken under the wing of legendary editor Paige Rense. She had the vision to look past my uninspiring sociology degree and my general lack of experience—an unlikely journalism career was born. After AD, with my magazine karma still intact, I was hired by yet another publishing legend, the food critic and writer Ruth Reichl. I currently ply my trade as a freelance writer and editor and live in stylish Mid-Century-Modern comfort with my dog, Mike.
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If you thought that daybeds were just pieces of furniture you stuck into rooms where a standard bed might not fit, this is your wake-up call. The ones shown here are real statement pieces and were inspired by a fantastic view, teenagers with a keen sense of design and even a hip senior.
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| Take in the view. The inspiration for this room was its incredible views. Dawn Hearn envisioned her clients having cocktails and watching the sunset from this lounge seating area. "I didn't want to obstruct the view, so I kept the furnishings low," she says. "I incorporated an eclectic mix of clean, modern items, including some vintage Asian pieces and some luxurious, traditional fabrics and trims." The daybed is from West Elm, and Hearn had a custom-fitted cover made for the twin mattress to give it more of a sofa look. |
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| Create a big-city vibe. This teenager wanted a New York City–style loft bedroom in a black, white and lipstick red color scheme, and designer Michael Fullen was happy to oblige. "We turned the bed sideways, making it a daybed, which left plenty of room to move around — and the bold patterns keep the room young and fresh," he says. The wall behind the bed is white Thassos stone. |
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by Judith Balis
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| Make it practical and affordable. Judith Balis of Nest Interiors created this room for her teenage daughter. It's located in a small basement room to give her privacy away from her younger sibling. "The use of a daybed allows for optimal floor space while still providing a comfortable place for her to hang out and have sleepovers with friends," Balis says. "There's a trundle bed tucked secretly behind the bed skirt that rolls out when needed." She adds, "The bed itself was a thrift store find for $100, and we spray painted it in this yummy turquoise to give it a special little punch against all the black and white." |
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| Be young at heart. Claudia Juestel of Adeeni Design Group designed this bedroom for "a hip senior," she says. "Since she entertains a lot she wanted to make use of all the rooms," says Juestel. "Here we mixed existing pieces with new ones for an eclectic look. The goal was to create a comfortable and inviting home for someone who was not ready to give up on living in style." Daybed: Ballard Designs |
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| Relax and retreat. This daybed was designed for a retreat on the third floor of a house in Southampton, New York, with a terrace and a view of the Atlantic Ocean. "Many of the accessories in the room are circa 1910 American Arts and Crafts, and the daybed has it roots in that period's honest and straightforward approach to design," says designer Glenn Gissler. Floor paint: Donald Kaufman; textiles: Schumacher; foreground "table": stacked parchment boxes, Far Eastern Antiques |
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Dare to be different. Because this girl's bedroom is on the small side, designer Deborah Houston was asked to create a dual-function couch/bed setting. Her young client has a mother who is a design junkie, and she wanted to be cutting edge as well.
"She loved the Trina Turk outdoor fabric, and we were inspired by the pattern and shapes, so we just followed them when designing the headboard, which we then mounted to the wall," says Houston.
Daybed: West Elm
"She loved the Trina Turk outdoor fabric, and we were inspired by the pattern and shapes, so we just followed them when designing the headboard, which we then mounted to the wall," says Houston.
Daybed: West Elm
| Try three rooms in one. This glamorous yet functional office for two was converted from an extra bedroom. "An old closet was reconfigured into a reading/sleeping nook and was sized to hold a twin-size Tempur-Pedic mattress," says Peg Berens. "There's even a television installed on the right wall of the nook on a swing arm, so that it can easily be viewed from the desk area as well as the nook. It's a perfect office for work, rest and relaxation." |
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| Think pink. Here's a room designed for a toddler who was moving into her first big-girl room as she transitioned from a crib to a bed. "Daybeds are great for younger kids, as they feel more secure being against a wall on one side," says designer Kathleen Walsh. "The key to choosing the right bed is to pick one where the 'head' and 'foot' boards are low enough to not feel like you're in a cave, but high enough to support the pillow heights and the ability for someone to sit up against it." She adds, "This little girl was in a very sweet stage and liked pink very much. So we decided to go all out and make the room all pink, ivory and beige, but in a very edited, tasteful way." |
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Play with space. This daybed was a custom design that Christy Dillard Kratzer of Dillard Pierce Design Associates (formerly Dillard Design Group) created for a teenage boy's room at a show house. The space was long and narrow, but Dillard Kratzer wanted to show that you could get a queen-size bed into a space like this if it was thought out and well planned.
"I found inspiration in a small metal daybed but wanted it to be upholstered on both ends to add comfort. It was meant to be a bed where you could curl up and read a book or play guitar, as well as sleep," she says.
"I found inspiration in a small metal daybed but wanted it to be upholstered on both ends to add comfort. It was meant to be a bed where you could curl up and read a book or play guitar, as well as sleep," she says.
| Pick a pattern. This daybed was selected for its patterned motif and cozy enclosure. "The room's saturated turquoise-blue color is a surprisingly relaxing backdrop for a space designed for lounging, listening to music, visiting with friends, reading or just taking a nap," says designer Mercedes Corbell. Daybed: West Elm |
Ideabook updated on July 26, 2012.
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