TayRose Design interior design Master Bedroom Archives

New Home, new furnishings Part 2 Master Suite

Master Suite in neutrals

So many of us are so busy that we rarely have time to enjoy and retreat to our Master Oasis’s until the family has been fed; dishes done; lunches made for the next morning; kids bathed; stories read; kids tucked in; laundry folded; and bills paid…..so, collapsing into the bed that may or may not have been made that morning, and falling immediately into an unconscious slumber is how our Master bedroom meets our need. And yet, trends reveal when it comes to designing, or building a house, clients want the master suite, and “en-suite” to be spacious with sitting areas, even exercise machines with adjoining steam showers, double vanities and tv sets as their “must haves.” Who has time to enjoy all of this blessedness? But hey, who wouldn’t want a restful, spacious area to retreat to at the end of a hectic day? We all deserve a space that beckons when the day is done, and the door can be closed to put the world on a time out.

Master suite sitting area in neutrals

This Master bedroom space was one of those spaces where I wanted to create a soothing break from the demands that every young parent lovingly accepts. The client had sent me several photos of colors and styles they liked for the room which were very helpful to draw inspiration from and recreate for them. Neutrals were chosen, in creams and taupe with a bit of gray. Lots of texture from the nubby linen and metal nail heads of the casual chairs; the cool metal from the glass side table; to the painted metal art on the wall over the bed; and the soft cream of the carpet underfoot. The warm woods of the bed, nightstands and dresser give a nice contrast to all of the neutral colors surrounding the room.

Seating grouping in master

The comforter was a great find at Burlington’s and was the light neutral color that the client was looking for. It’s hard to see, but there are fine light gray lines creating a subtle pattern on the fabric. I was able to find matching shams, a throw, and all of the accent pillows at several different stores while shopping for accessories. We found long curtain panels that had beautiful texture and just the perfect colors of gray and taupe to frame the windows and carry the color to the walls. We hung the panels higher over the window to draw your eye up and helps the room feel larger.

Cream lamp and curtain panel by bedside

I found the lamps and shades, in a simple shape, creamy like the trim color and a few photo frames to be filled with kiddo pictures in black and white to keep with the neutral scheme. The design rule of grouping in 3’s and 5’s really does work in most cases, and helps surface areas from getting too cluttered. Choosing groups that have different heights and shapes gives the items more definition and interest. A small seating area was created on the back wall with a couple of nubby chairs, a small glass top table and then adding the accent mirror centered over the grouping instead of centering the mirror on the wall. The standing dressing mirror fit perfectly just outside the entrance to the master bath plus doubles as a jewelry cabinet- I love when products can be double duty…so functional!!

Since the bed should really be the focal point of the room, I wanted something light and airy for the space over the large bed. While in the Home Store, I found a large grey metal floral leaf art piece that was pointing up and leaning against the wall. I picked it up and immediately turned it upside down. Perfect! I just needed to take some cream colored chalk paint and lightly distress the metal a bit to soften the color and bring it more to a neutral but still have that hint of gray coming through….just like the comforter….get where I am going with this? Why upside down? Well, I think it looked better upside down, and I liked how the bottom which is now the top was narrower than the top which is now the bottom, and it seemed to “hug” the bed. Did I lose anyone? It’s fun to change up something whether it’s turning it upside down, or sideways, or adding a piece to it, or changing the color…..it’s all part of the design process.

Floral metal wall art painted and distressed

You will notice that there is a lot of wall space in this room, and we do have future plans for that. To the right of the bed, the wall leading to the master closet will be a grouping of black and white wedding photos framed and hung, one which will be enlarged to go behind an old pane window.

It’s important to carve out a space where you can escape…..even if just for a little while to rejuvenate….not only will you benefit from the results it can bring, but your family will appreciate it as well. Even something so simple as making the bed and finding homes for the clothes that made their way to the floor, can do wonders when you drag yourself at the end of the day to a space that is welcoming you back.

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Ribboned sheers for Master Bedroom

Ah, window treatments….just thinking about designing something fresh and new can be daunting for the Parade of Homes or for a client, and they can be inspired by bedding, a rug, pillow, a painting…which makes it such a relief when the answer presents itself. While working on the Master bedroom design for the Parade of Homes, the budget for window treatments ran thin, so when it came to the Master, I knew that I would end up doing something myself.

I found online some beautiful rods that actually swing out when you want to let more light and air come in through the window, then swing the rod back to close the curtain over the window. I ended up using 2 swing rods for each of the 2 larger windows, and opted for white sheers for a lighter feel for the room. For the other 2 smaller windows, I split of pair of sheers for a draped swag and had trimmed the ends with black ribbon. If I had had more funds I would have done cornices and shades for all the windows.

The color scheme for the room, was black, cream, white, and gold. The bedding was a white background with cream and gold and a black squiggle shaped design. I knew I wanted to do something to the sheers, for I don’t do “solid” or plain very well…I love to layer, add texture, pattern etc most of the time. for to me, it’s more interesting and draws me in to a wonderful world! I happened to be at the Dollar Store one day…I find myself there when looking for off beat items, and found rolls and rolls of narrow black ribbon. I’m talking huge rolls…industrial rolls. What a steal of a deal! I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with all this mile of ribbon, but for a dollar, it was coming home with me!

While I was laying out one of the sheer curtain panels across the table, I glanced over at the bedding. My eyes kept going to the squiggle pattern, and then I looked at the black ribbon I just bought spewing out of the bag. This was risky for I hadn’t tried this before, and the thought of hand sewing ribbon onto 4 panels of sheers…the little voice in the back of my head was saying, “are you crazy?” So, with needle and thread and black ribbon in hand, I decided to tackle it and tack the ribbon free hand- patterning along the way, squiggling as I went up from the hem to about midway up the curtain. I stood back to look, and I loved it…just enough pattern to balance the pattern from the bedding, but not too much design to take away from the light streaming through the sheers. The Fabric Mill, who had been making the window treatments for me in the other rooms, graciously offered to add a black fabric edge at the bottom of the panels as a finishing custom touch, so sweet of them! The panels were light and breezy, just what I was going for.

I may not hand sew on every curtain project I design, but it does feel, that I usually do something to tweak them a bit….just to be a little bit more interesting!
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Changing up a dated dresser set

Seven years after I got married, and while my husband was out of State on a golfing trip, I thought it was time to give his bedroom set from before we were married, an updated look. I didn’t want to paint it, for I couldn’t make up my mind on the color, and I didn’t want to shock my husband too much upon his return.

Light Oak colonial look before sanding.

So, I opted to stain the drawer fronts and change the hardware. I think the hardest part was getting the drawers out…they were tough little buggers!

During stages of sanding and staining dresser fronts

After sanding off the poly on the drawer fronts and wiping off the sawdust, I used some stain that I had on hand, and with a rag, rubbed on the darker color.

It was love at first sight! I loved the 2 tones and with the new hardware, it transformed the whole look. I let the first coat dry for several hours and applied the 2nd coat, then brushed on a matte poly.

Dresser after drawer fronts stained with new hardware

Since the previous pulls were a size that was difficult to find, I chose to use 2 small round knobs in place of a pull, and really liked the look.

After tackling the dresser, I did the high boy chest, and the 2 night stands. I still have to figure out what to do with the bed headboard and footboard, but that will be another day. I’m just glad my husband liked the results of the dressers when he returned. 🙂 To receive posts via email click HERE Subscribe in a reader or sign up in subscription box in sidebar.

Bath-2011 Master Bath Parade of Homes by TayRose Design

What an honor to be chosen by a builder to design his model home for the Parade of Homes! I had assisted a fellow designer the year prior with a different builder, and when 2 builders asked, we each took on the major design project.

Each designer/builder working relationship is different, and with the builder I was working with, he referred to me on most every detail from the exterior colors to the bathroom tile, flooring and hardware. Having the option of deciding these details myself is daunting to say the least, especially, when the builder only has a certain amount of time to build the structure and have it ready for thousands of patrons to walk through. I’ve worked on a Parade House where the poly on the floors was still wet 2 days before opening and we had to work all night to stage the house to open…..I’m so grateful that the builder I worked with tries very hard to be finished in plenty of time to allow me to set up furniture and decorate.

So this particular Parade House was special to me for it was the first Parade House that I designed myself. I had lots of help from the builders wife, Lisa, who was a joy and a very good worker! Even their children pitched in by carrying in endless boxes filled with accessories to the different rooms.

I’m featuring in this article the Master bathroom from the 2011 Parade of Homes built by Jack Scalice for Pigliavento Builders in North Syracuse, NY.

Parade of Homes 2011 Pigliavento Builder, TayRose Designer

Parade of Homes 2011 TayRose Designs, Pigliavento Builder North Syracuse, NY

In this house plan, the Master bedroom was on the first floor off of the open great room. The entrance to the Master was through double doors that had a transom window over the top of entry. (the doors were removed for the Parade)I had commissioned a local artist to paint a canvas of a pair of holding hands as the focal piece upon opening the doors. The Master bath was to the left and the bedroom suite on the right.

Cambria Quartz master vanity in Buckingham 2011 Parade of Homes TayRose Designs

Buckingham Cambria Quartz countertop Master bath TayRose Design

I decided to use the same Cambria Quartz counter top in Buckingham, from Busch Products, and cabinetry that I used in the kitchen, for it was so beautiful and pulled the same colors through the first floor. The cabinetry was a warm smoked cherry glaze that had a grey/brown color to it for the double vanity with upper cabinets hung on a full width wall to wall mirror. I brought an idea that we had installed at home and that was to wire the electrical outlets for the vanity area up under the upper cabinets keeping wall areas free and clear.

exterior lantern from Lowes for master bath vanity

Exterior carriage lantern from Lowes installed on master vanity mirror for Parade of Homes 2011

When I was looking for lighting for over the vanity area, I wanted something that had a carriage house feel to it, like a lantern. Of course, the look I wanted and where I found it was in the Exterior lantern section of the store. Exterior lighting is fine for indoors, and when hung on top of the mirror, they were perfect. I also liked how they were a bit masculine while the glass mini chandelier over the tub was more feminine. The beveled glass shade inserts on the lanterns reflected in the mirror and lit up the room beautifully.

Custom design master bath for model home by TayRose and Pigliavento Builder

For the flooring and shower interior tile, I found Travertine porcelain tile with the same warm chocolate colors, and cut in small 2×2 sections of mosaic tile spaced out on the floor. The same mosaic was inlaid around the tub and on the shower wall as well as in the shower niche recess. A bench seat was built in the shower covered in the same Travertine tile. Clear glass shower surround with oil rubbed bronze framing picked up the bronze in the lighting.

Custom designed Roman shade with taffeta swag hung over the tub area along with a oil rubbed bronze iron towel rod/shelf on wall for easy reach from tub, completed the spa feel of the room.

A nice chocolate colored sheepskin rug was placed in front of the tub, sumptuous towels were hung, and an ice bucket with champagne were all staged for this reveal.

A side note: A couple who had come to the Parade of Homes to get ideas for their 1/2 bath at home, ended up buying this house after they first walked in!! Love it when that happens!

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