A Drowsy Bedroom Gets A Wake-up Call

There's a fine line between a bedroom that ensures sweet dreams and one whose decor is so tame it inspires sleep faster than a herd of sheep. This master bedroom was somewhat Spartan: the bed had no head- or footboard, and there were no mirrors for quick morning outfit checks. The windows had been replaced and were ready to act as the room's focal point, but the awkward placement of a radiator under one of them detracted from their symmetry and presence. The owners loved the mellow woodgrain of the old pine furnishings and didn't want to cover it with paint, but they needed help consolidating these mixed pieces. A soothing neutral palette, layered bed linens and improved lighting now make the room a place in which the owners want to spend time--even while they're awake.

what we did

* A pale buttery-yellow wall colour enhances the natural light better than the previous drab mushroom tone did. The walls in the corner behind the armchair and adjacent to the door were painted a light caramel colour to delineated this cosy reading area.

* The existing pine furniture didn't match, and, set at the foot of the bed, the blanket box obstructed flow. To make the room seem larger and more open, the blanket box was removed. A "low-profile" sleigh bed (without a footboard) was installed. This new headboard gives the bed more prominence and pairs well with the aged-pine tones of the dresser and bedside tables. To unify mismatched bedside tables, we trimmed 1-1/2" off the legs of one table so they sit at the same height.

* To make the windows look symmetrical, we constructed two identical radiator covers, each with different functions. The right-hand one attractively conceals a radiator, but the left-hand one houses a shallow bookshelf.

* The unattractive wall-mounted air conditioner was disguised with a decorative box. Its grille and moulding are identical to those on the radiator covers; the box door flips up so the unit can be cleaned when needed.

* The new bedding colours--yellowy taupe, seafoam blue, vanilla--are softer than the previous ones, but the real key to their rich, handsome look is the layering of fabrics and textures--silk, damask and Ultrasuede. The bed skirt, made from a stripped silk, is attached underneath the frame with Velcro, so it can be removed easily for laundering. For consistency, the same fabric was used to cover two large pillows.

* We revitalized the armchair and ottoman by disguising their tired floral upholstery with new tailored slipcovers in a wool check. A piped, box-edged slipcover on the back cushion makes the chair's sloping silhouette appear more contemporary, and fitted skirt on the ottoman hides the clunky bleached-oak legs. Bed skirt, throw pillows, drapery sewn by We Do Draperies; radiator covers, air conditioning box, Robertson Custom Woodworking; Roma Mouldings mirror, The Framing & Art Centre; StainMaster rug, Soho; Lee Jofa fabrics, Kravet; chair and ottoman slipcovers sewn by Interior Excessories; sheets, pillowcase, duvet, Au Lit Fine Linens; Shermag bed, G.H. Johnson's Trading Company; wall paint, White Rock (CC-160), cove paint Bronzed Beige (2151-50), paint on trim, radiator covers, air conditioning covers, Decorators White (CC-20), all Benjamin Moore; bamboo blinds, W.H. Kilby & Co.; painting (left) by David Blackwood.

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