Bedroom Comes Together for a Fan of Hamptons Style
A designer tells us how she brought the beachy vibe to an Australian student’s sleep space
Suzy Falconer, interior designer and director of New Zealand-based Susannah Rose Design, explains her thinking behind a college student’s breezy coastal-style bedroom in Melbourne, Australia.
Goal. This bedroom belongs to the oldest daughter, who is fond of Hamptons style, named for a group of beach towns on the South Fork of Long Island, New York. “She believed that the Hamptons bubble could burst at any moment but didn’t want to miss out on having her dream bedroom,” Falconer says. “So as not to be too on-trend, she decided that she wanted her bedroom to be as luxurious and timeless as possible, with subtle nods to Hamptons style. Ultimately, it’s a fresh and relaxing retreat.”
Starting point. The jumping-off point for this bedroom was the Cloud fabric from Westbury Textiles’ Kyoto Garden collection, shown on the middle set of throw pillows, Falconer says. “This linen fabric features a floral design, doused in duck-egg blue with tasteful hints of lime green. The contemporary femininity of the design and its beautiful colors set me on the right track for curating the rest of the scheme.”
Color palette. The daughter’s color of choice is duck-egg blue. “However, I wasn’t strict about sticking to one shade of this color, as I wanted to create a layered look,” Falconer says. “So there’s a mixture of turquoise and aqua as well as pale blue. All of these variations can be found in that Kyoto Garden fabric, linking the entire space together.”
To avoid too dramatic of a contrast with the rest of the home’s white interior, Falconer chose light neutrals for the base layers (that is, the big-ticket items), including the bedside tables, headboard and desk chair. “It is a fresh and calming palette,” she says.
Dulux’s Lexicon Quarter is on the walls, and Vivid White is on the trim. The desk and cabinetry are finished in Polytec’s Classic White thermo matte finish.
To avoid too dramatic of a contrast with the rest of the home’s white interior, Falconer chose light neutrals for the base layers (that is, the big-ticket items), including the bedside tables, headboard and desk chair. “It is a fresh and calming palette,” she says.
Dulux’s Lexicon Quarter is on the walls, and Vivid White is on the trim. The desk and cabinetry are finished in Polytec’s Classic White thermo matte finish.
Key pieces. The headboard is from One World. The bedside tables are from La Maison, and the table lamps are from MRD Home. The vintage drawers were repainted and fitted with brass handles from Pales In Style. The pink mirror is from Neiman Marcus; the desk chair is from Pottery Barn; and the stool, duvet and pillowcases are by French Country Collections.
The layout
Furniture arrangement. “Three of the four walls were occupied with a door, window or fireplace, leaving only one wall to anchor the bed. The bed can be seen as soon as you open the door, displaying it to its full effect, as per the daughter’s request,” Falconer says. “I had to be careful when selecting the bedside tables so that they wouldn’t be too wide and push the bed right up against the chimney [bump-out], as a walkway was needed to access the walk-in [closet].
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Furniture arrangement. “Three of the four walls were occupied with a door, window or fireplace, leaving only one wall to anchor the bed. The bed can be seen as soon as you open the door, displaying it to its full effect, as per the daughter’s request,” Falconer says. “I had to be careful when selecting the bedside tables so that they wouldn’t be too wide and push the bed right up against the chimney [bump-out], as a walkway was needed to access the walk-in [closet].
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The mood board
Challenge. “The off-center window above the bed was a challenge for the symmetrically minded. Moving it into the middle of the wall would have required an extra building permit, and covering it went against the daughter’s wish to have as much natural light as possible,” Falconer says. “We ultimately decided to leave it, and I’m glad it stayed because it lets in an abundance of eastern light. It is high enough off the ground for people not to notice it straight away. In fact, people are drawn to the elaborate bed and the colored lamps rather than the window.”
Challenge. “The off-center window above the bed was a challenge for the symmetrically minded. Moving it into the middle of the wall would have required an extra building permit, and covering it went against the daughter’s wish to have as much natural light as possible,” Falconer says. “We ultimately decided to leave it, and I’m glad it stayed because it lets in an abundance of eastern light. It is high enough off the ground for people not to notice it straight away. In fact, people are drawn to the elaborate bed and the colored lamps rather than the window.”
Why the room works. “The scale of the furniture matches the dimensions of the room; for example, the winged [headboard is 5¼ feet] high, which perfectly accentuates the high ceilings,” Falconer says. “There’s a commitment to color to offset the white walls, such as the oversized turquoise lamps and the chest of drawers painted in Dulux’s Antarctic Lake Half. The colors are light, the bed is luxurious, and the room easily serves as a peaceful getaway, with a touch of Hamptons.”
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More
12 Variations on Hamptons Style Around the World
Read other stories about bedrooms
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Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four women — a lawyer, an accountant, their two university-student daughters and their tortoiseshell cat, Millie
Location: Williamstown area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Size: 155 square feet (14.4 square meters) plus a walk-in closet