How to create a peaceful bedroom retreat
Sarah Richardson bedroom
Add warmth with touches of dark wood
Steal some ideas from the chicest hotels to cozy up your room. Think plenty of chairs for reading, ample hidden storage, a super-comfy bed, lots of rich patterns and pillows and a well-planned desk area. Two-tone walls (smoky on top, lighter down below) make the space feel inviting day or night. Complete the look with touches of mahogany and walnut.
Get this look: Vanessa headboard, Sarah Richardson Design. Duvet cover, West Elm. Bedside tables, Jamie Alexander. Bedside lamps, Patina Antiques, 416-862-8880.
Sarah's designer trick
"Introduce a subtle hint of colour on the ceiling to unify the palette. Pale blue is far more inspiring to wake up to than plain old white." Ceiling paint, Peaks & Valleys, Para.
Tuck a desk into a nook for a mini home office
Why work at the kitchen table when you can create a peaceful retreat in your bedroom, far away from all the household buzz? Simply place a desk in an alcove (bonus if it comes with a window!), add some task lighting and a comfortable chair—and let the ideas flow.
Get this look: Kitty chairs, Sarah Richardson Design. Drapery hardware, Gallery Metalworks. Antique console, Chair Table Lamp. Writing desk, Decorum, 416-966-6829. Desk chair, All Most Antiques, 416-466-9724. Brass desk lamp, machineagemodern.
Turn a TV console into a pretty dressing table
Floor-to-ceiling shelves are perfect for all of your favourite stuff. If you're short on books, experiment with ways to make the most of the space. This wall was originally built with a deep centre cabinet to hold a TV, but along came flat screens, so the area was reimagined as a built-in vanity. The bookcases on either side were adjusted to make room for antique etchings, books and a sleek new TV.
Sarah's colour trick: "For a dramatic effect, paint the back wall of the bookshelves a darker colour and the frames and shelves the same shade as the trim." Paint, Trendsetting Style, Para.
Get this look: Area rug, Necklace tray, Elte. Mirror, Arcadia Antiques. Architectural prints, D& E Lake. Bookcase sconces, Royal Lighting. Blue paperweights, Morba.
Use matching wood flooring in the ensuite
Connect the ensuite to the rest of the bedroom by using the same flooring throughout and a lighter version of the main colour palette. Choose a vanity that ties in with the traditional sentiment of the space. Add the illusion of height with vertical stripes on the walls.
Get the look: Striped wallpaper, Farrow-ball.com. Faucet, Rubinet.com. Vanity sconces, Decorum, 416-966-6829. Vanity hardware, Leevalley.com.
Opt for matte black fixtures
For a truly sophisticated look, choose antique-inspired faucets, light fixtures and hardware for doors and drawers. Try matte black, oil-rubbed bronze or patina-worn brass to complement the serene colour palette and formal styling. Steer clear of modern finishes, like shiny nickel, since they tend to reflect light and feel cold.
