Soothing Whites and Grays Create a Refreshing Master Bedroom
Strategic changes help a California master bedroom go from dark and heavy to light and bright
Gerry and Susan Clifford have lived for 34 years in their ranch-style home in Encino, California. Once their children had moved away, they were ready to renovate their home. They tackled the project one room at a time, starting with their existing dark and heavy master bedroom that featured beige walls with a painted mural of branches and leaves.
Working with designer Amy Elbaum, the couple created a soft and serene modern bedroom featuring white walls with a light purple undertone and soothing gray furnishings.
Working with designer Amy Elbaum, the couple created a soft and serene modern bedroom featuring white walls with a light purple undertone and soothing gray furnishings.
After: Elbaum eliminated the mural and had the walls painted a cool white with a light purple undertone (American White by Benjamin Moore) to brighten things up and create a serene, spa-like feel. The ceiling was painted a soft white (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) for subtle contrast.
A modern open canopy bed made of American white oak with a finish that highlights the rich grain and warmth of the wood replaced the traditional four-poster. “I wanted to update that and give them a more contemporary version,” Elbaum says.
A durable contemporary-style ivory-and-gray area rug made of soft microfiber polyester adds warmth and a touch of pattern to the existing oak floor.
Area rug: Discover collection in ivory and light gray, Loloi Rugs
A modern open canopy bed made of American white oak with a finish that highlights the rich grain and warmth of the wood replaced the traditional four-poster. “I wanted to update that and give them a more contemporary version,” Elbaum says.
A durable contemporary-style ivory-and-gray area rug made of soft microfiber polyester adds warmth and a touch of pattern to the existing oak floor.
Area rug: Discover collection in ivory and light gray, Loloi Rugs
An upholstered charcoal-gray Art Deco-style petite sofa with curved arms and walnut cone legs now sits at the foot of the bed, giving the couple a spot where they can talk on the phone or put on shoes. “The shape, color and comfort of that sofa are very inviting,” Susan says.
A single-tier light fixture with a sleek anodized black finish replaced the ceiling fan. It includes two hand-spun aluminum shades with brass articulating swivels and LED bulbs.
The sliding glass doors in this photo lead to the backyard and patio. Placing the fiddleleaf fig tree in the corner of the bedroom was a way to bring something from the garden inside.
Sofa: Art Deco petite sofa, Modshop
A single-tier light fixture with a sleek anodized black finish replaced the ceiling fan. It includes two hand-spun aluminum shades with brass articulating swivels and LED bulbs.
The sliding glass doors in this photo lead to the backyard and patio. Placing the fiddleleaf fig tree in the corner of the bedroom was a way to bring something from the garden inside.
Sofa: Art Deco petite sofa, Modshop
Before: The couple parted with their 200-year-old American Empire dresser that was made in Philadelphia (seen here under a round wall mirror), giving the antique to friends. “It was massive,” Susan says. “It would be a sore spot in a bright and airy bedroom.”
The dark wood French doors with mirror inserts seen here open to the master bedroom’s walk-in closet.
The dark wood French doors with mirror inserts seen here open to the master bedroom’s walk-in closet.
After: Two midcentury-style tall étagères with smooth oak-finish shelves and black metal frames offer open storage for books, collectibles and other decorative items. “They needed a place for books, but since you first see it when you walk into the room, I wanted something open so the space doesn’t feel closed off,” Elbaum says.
The existing dark wood closet doors were painted white to coordinate with the room’s updated color scheme. “A coat of fresh white paint can really transform a space.” Elbaum says.
The existing dark wood closet doors were painted white to coordinate with the room’s updated color scheme. “A coat of fresh white paint can really transform a space.” Elbaum says.
The modern-style side tables, one on each side of the bed, have a cerused oak finish, white lacquer drawers and acrylic-and-nickel hardware. Acting as nightstands, they were chosen for their clean lines and wide design, providing handy open and closed storage space by the bed.
Nightstands: Shane side table, Worlds Away
Nightstands: Shane side table, Worlds Away
Elbaum incorporated into the new design table lamps that the couple already owned, with gilded ring bases and rectangular natural paper shades.
This photo also highlights the subtle white-and-gray wallcovering with a bit of sheen used for an accent wall behind the bed. “It’s such a big room; it needed a break from solid paint,” Elbaum says. “This also adds a bit of texture there.”
Table lamp: E.F. Chapman Ring Form small table lamp, Visual Comfort
This photo also highlights the subtle white-and-gray wallcovering with a bit of sheen used for an accent wall behind the bed. “It’s such a big room; it needed a break from solid paint,” Elbaum says. “This also adds a bit of texture there.”
Table lamp: E.F. Chapman Ring Form small table lamp, Visual Comfort
After: The intercom and light switch were moved, and the TV was eliminated. “We never watched TV in the bedroom, and it looks much nicer without it,” Susan says. “We just didn’t need it in there.”
A large round mirror with an acrylic frame with brass accents now sits in that spot, above a new dresser with a light gray oak stain and six spacious drawers; the dresser adds another wood element.
The Cliffords kept the leaded-glass door but had the frame painted white to match the new wall color.
A large round mirror with an acrylic frame with brass accents now sits in that spot, above a new dresser with a light gray oak stain and six spacious drawers; the dresser adds another wood element.
The Cliffords kept the leaded-glass door but had the frame painted white to match the new wall color.
Elbaum created this seating area in a corner of the bedroom that was once home to a tall cabinet. A midcentury-style chair with plush cushions and tapered wood legs, a coordinating ottoman, a small round side table with an amethyst geode top and a sleek black-and-brass floor lamp give Gerry and Susan a cozy spot for reading. The photograph on the wall, taken by the homeowners from a canoe during a trip to the Amazon, was cropped, enlarged and framed to add a nice personal touch to the space.
The couple now enjoy the brighter and more soothing feel of the room. “It’s contemporary but still warm,” Susan says. “It makes me happy every time I walk in the door. It makes me smile.”
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The couple now enjoy the brighter and more soothing feel of the room. “It’s contemporary but still warm,” Susan says. “It makes me happy every time I walk in the door. It makes me smile.”
More on Houzz
Key Measurements for a Dream Bedroom
See more Before and Afters
Get more bedroom design ideas
Find a general contractor
Shop for your bedroom
Master Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Gerry and Susan Clifford
Location: Encino, California
Size: 342 square feet (32 square meters)
Designer: Amy Elbaum of ae design
Before: The existing master bedroom had dark wood trim, a traditional four-poster wood bed, a painted wall mural and a ceiling fan that loomed above the bed. “It’s a big space, and we spend a lot of our time in there, and it felt dated,” Susan says. “We wanted to make it brighter and have more indoor-outdoor flow.”
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