Living With What You Love Part 4: The Bedroom
When Attica home furnishings asked me to be the speaker at their 15th anniversary “Lunch and Learn” I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about. Living with what you love.
Surrounding yourself with things that mean something to you or you believe to be beautiful is a gift you give yourself and your family. It’s a way of opening up and sharing something special about yourself.
A home should be a cocoon, a place you come to for refuge from the crazy world outside. When you look around you you should see things that give you pleasure or evoke happy memories and comfortable feelings.
What better place to cocoon than your bedroom.
Over the last week and a half I’ve been sharing mini story boards of rooms that I created and gave to the guests at Attica.These boards were to help illustrate how to live with various collections and loved items of their own, mixing them with new treasures. This weeks room is the 4th and final. The bedroom.
For this story board my imaginary clients were professional urbanites with a very clean aesthetic. These clients also had a quick wit and a sense of whimsy. They also had a stunning pair of Italian chests that would set the tone of the room and were to be the focus of this high rise bedroom.
These gorgeous chests are simple in design, their clean lines and exquisite proportion do not need decoration to grab your attention. It was important not to try and match their style but to complement it with contemporary pieces that wouldn’t compete. An entire room of the same style of furniture could become overwhelming. The bed these two would flank would have to be simple yet strong enough to hold it’s own.
The Bed is simple in form. It’s clean lines are strong and soft all at once. More of a transitional style it leaves the chests as the focus and it’s upholstery does not try to “match” wood tones but provides a backdrop.
I love the skirted version of the bed for this space, the chests have such elegant legs why try to compete?
The Expedition Mirrors flank the bed over each chest. I chose to use a lot of symmetry in this space enforcing the idea of pairs and formality the chests were commanding. The mirrors round shape adds softness and echo the curve of the bed. The gold knob they hang from adds warmth while the leather strap adds texture.
The Marley lamp is not just beautiful, it’s practical with its directional heads. Perfect for reading in bed. It’s x shape relates to the leather strap the mirrors hang from and it’s simple strong stature is equal to the chests.
The 18k Chaise has legs that relate back to the chests while its slightly rumpled back cushion keeps the room from feeling too perfect. Upholstered in leather it makes another strong statement standing on its own. While contemporary it’s lines are that of the antique chests.
The Forest Park Floor Lamp adds a sense of whimsy and elegance all at once. It is decidedly busy and detailed against all of these clean simple pieces. Once again the idea of positive tension in a space keeps it interesting. the lamp’s antique gold finish highlights the gold knobs on the mirrors and the keyholes of the chests.
The Black Walnut Table is placed next to the chaise. Similar in lines to the bed it adds softness with its shape while remaining strong by virtue of it’s material. I did not try to match the wood of the chests but complement them with a darker piece to contrast.
The Light Brindle Cowhide Rug is a contemporary twist. Rather than an expected traditional rug the cowhide creates more positive tension while still being subtle.
The Sheep Sculpture is completely the opposite of what you’d expect to find in what could be a very austere space. The clients sense of humour is reflected and a smile brought to your face. Decorating and design should be fun, this piece adds a human side to the space. Every room should have a little piece of whimsy, life is way to serious and what better place for sheep when you are having trouble sleeping - just start counting.
Living With What You Love Series
All items are available through ATTICA with the exception of the chests.
