Blog by Beebe Cline, PREC*

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A Bedroom Lets Go to Gain Elegance and Serenity

Jane L. has noticed an alarming trend: When it comes to decorating, her clients are paying the least attention to their bedrooms, even though they spend a good portion of their time at home in them. "At the end of a long day, it's easy to close your eyes and leave the mess and chaos to be sorted on another day," she says. For this project, Lockhart helped her client purge excess furniture, including inherited pieces, and a hodgepodge of styles. Although the designer stayed well within budget, one major splurge set the tone for a cool, calm and elegant sanctuary: a new custom bed.

Who sleeps here: An empty nester who's also a working professional
Location: Ontario, Canada
Size: 176 square feet
Design challenge: Helping the client downsize her furniture and decor
As with any bedroom, the most important piece of furniture in this client's room is the bed. Lockhart replaced the springy 10-year-old mattress with a firm pillow-top model with hypoallergenic and ergonomic features.

Lockhart made a custom platform bed frame and reupholstered the headboard in charcoal gray faux suede fabric by Robert Allen Design; the custom touches add a sophisticated and tailored touch to the bedroom. The gray hue sets the cool and neutral color palette for the space.

Tip: Lockhart highly recommends adding molding to interiors. Molding is a simple architectural detail but adds so much style and elegance to a room. Here, Canamould's lightweight foam molding made for a simple cut-and-caulk installation.

Wall paint: Pure White, Martha Stewart Living; molding paint: Winter Snow, Benjamin Moore; window shades: Hunter Douglas; draperies: Drapes & More; lamps: Ikea

Related: How to shop for a greener mattress
BEFORE: This photo shows some pieces the client sold or donated.

"We kept pieces that had lots of sentimental value and design purpose," Lockhart says. "Eventually we got to a place that was empty enough for me to begin sourcing new pieces and to integrate existing favorite antiques and personal stuff."
AFTER: This bedside corner image showcases the room's new palette of warm white, soft gray and touches of pink. Lockhart warmed up the room, which faces Lake Ontario, with luxurious fabrics, soft throws and satin pima cotton sheets and bedding.

Tip: Small cabinets and antique or vintage occasional tables make pretty and practical night tables. Lockhart spruced up this antique find with a new drawer pull and a darker stain.
Large windows allow plenty of natural light into the room — as well as the soothing sound of waves crashing at night. Here, sexy silk drapes layered on top of light-diffusing blinds and a wool rug are warm and touchable in a room that endures long Canadian winters.

Tip: The designer layered the lighting in the room by mixing natural light with LED bulbs in floor and table lamps. "I used a few bulbs on dimmers, which adds a romantic glow to the space," she says.

Chair: Jane by Jane Lockhart in Robert Allen Design fabric; framed prints: Windergarden
A dresser from HomeSense made of reclaimed pine with antique brass hardware offers storage space. It's also flexible enough to be changed out to the living room or dining area.

Tip: "Mirrors are generally inexpensive and come in all sorts of different styles," says Lockhart. "You can use them beyond their practical purpose as ever-changing works of art — and they'll reflect light and all the gorgeous things you've added to your room."

Clock radio: Tivoli
Lockhart's client personalized this vanity tray by lining its removable Plexiglas bottom with scrap fabric left over from the custom cushions.

Tray: FHE Group
Tip: Keep trays handy to encourage breakfast in bed and never underestimate the design power of cushions and throw pillows.

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