beds and bedroom
Trick the eye with mirrors. Creating the illusion of space with mirrors is a classic trick that works every time. Perfect for smaller bedrooms, a mirrored wall will visually double the space. This one does the job in style, its high position keeping the effect subtle and the antiqued surface looking elegant.
3. Mix textures for easy elegance. The more variation in texture, the richer and more luxurious a room looks and feels. Aim to have at least three distinct textures in any space (for example, nubby, fluffy, polished) for maximum effect. In the bedroom shown here, a tweedy chair, an airy coverlet, fuzzy pillows, bamboo blinds, and a hide rug work together to delight the senses — even the artwork has the illusion of texture!
Go with the airflow. Here, the mirrored wall is safely tucked above the closet and subtly adds to the height of the vaulted ceiling. This home is located in Mexico, and the wood used for the doors is local to the Cancun area. "The rooms need to be air-conditioned all year round, and the upper louver section allows for air to circulate inside the closet," says designer Jerry Jacobs. "Another important consideration was the break where I decided to stop the closet and create an arched niche [partially shown] with a mirror and drawers," he adds.
The lamp's attractive shape is allowed to stand out beautifully on the nightstand with no other accessories. The shape of the jacket on the wall has nice strong lines and can be appreciated without a lot of competition for attention. I also like that the jacket is only a shade or two lighter than the wall.
However, a smaller rug can also be very effective placed at the foot of a bed, bringing in just a little layer of interest and pattern. Here the rug width should extend beyond the width of the bed to feel balanced.
Rule 7: Extend the rug 12-18 inches around a bed. For an area rug to look balanced under a bed, it should be large enough to extend beyond the sides of the bed at least 18 inches for a king or queen bed and at least 12 inches for a full or twin bed. Depending upon the size of the room there can be more rug extension around the bed, but not less, which would make the rug look insignificant being covered mostly by the bed.
If bright orange is too much, you can tone it down to a soft shade and blend it with brown and beige for a very warm feeling. At Vanguard.
I couldn't resist showing you another view so you can see how it just goes and goes. This is a unique application of tile, very expressive of an energetic personality. I would love to meet this designer — I bet he or she would have a fun personality and be interesting to know.
With the increasing popularity of minimal or nonexistent storage under the sink in contemporary baths, vertical cabinets continue to grow in popularity. Sometimes their bottoms are lined up with the vanity or integrated sink/counter. Sometimes, as shown here, they're too tall to make that practical. You decide how much storage you need and where it works the best.
A fun bit of color is especially appropriate for a kids' bathroom; little ones appreciate the color from below or even at eye level. "If my memory serves me correctly, the inspiration for the sink came from the client who had seen something similar in a magazine," says Brad Hayes, the principal contractor on this project. "We powder coated the base green to make it more visually pleasing."
4. Consider your colors. An essential part of creating the perfect, airy, open bathroom is the color. But when making it light, white isn't your only option. A cool blue, a warm gray or the palest creamy yellow can be inviting and spalike.
3. Think shimmer. In making a bathroom feel big, big, big, a little shimmer can go a long way. The iridescence of a tile like this is beautiful. Using mirrors to create the illusion of space is always a winning idea too. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book, but there's a reason for that.
Repeating color from the art increases its impact in the room. Here, the green bed pillows pull their color from the art. Without them, the art doesn't feel quite as strong. Try it! Put your finger just over the pillows in the picture. Having that bit of green on the bed to echo the color visually strengthens the art.
Master Bedroom By Heather Hilliard Most homeowners want their bedroom to be calm and serene. Designer Heather Hilliard stuck with this idea when designing this smooth and simple master bedroom. A subtle striped wall adds visual interest with white and off-white stripes, and an upholstered headboard matches perfectly.
Tailor-Made Suites By Brian Dittmar Design Inspired by British menswear, Brian Dittmar designed a chic and sophisticated bedroom suite that felt as put together as a well-dressed Englishman. The sleek steel bed was custom designed by Paul Benson, and the foggy grey lamps are from Avrett.
This custom headboard houses a secret inside: The panels slide open to reveal a cabinet within.
The space under the stairs has plenty of niche potential. Go for built-in shelves or drawers, or create a whole new room like with this tiny home office.
Get creative with the shape of the niche to perfectly fit specific items
A headboard has to work extra hard in a small bedroom, and this one does so with flying colors. Not only does it have sconces on either side, a thin niche in the middle can hold an alarm clock and reading material.
Tip: Take risks in your bathroom furnishings. Don't be afraid to place in your master bathroom a modern light pendant usually found above kitchen islands or a hide slipper chair from an entryway.
Eclectic East London Master Bath This couple, originally from Canada, saved space in their Victorian home by placing their closet in the same place as their bathroom; it made total sense to them to have the dressing room where they started and ended each day.
45 degree angle of tiles edge of bathtub so water drains back into tub
Wow with white. All white is a fail-safe space enhancer, but there are so many ways to do it. Here soft neutrals add just the right amount of warmth, while the minimal wall decorations draw the eye to the window and the view beyond. The neat built-in wall unit keeps clutter tucked out of sight behind slick drawer fronts, creating a serene mood.
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