Room of the Day: A Coastal Bedroom to Relax or Work In
A couple of empty nesters add a home office to their master bedroom to make working from home a little easier
Two busy professionals have worked hard to build their small business and design a beautiful home on the coast of Maine. After working on the common rooms, it was time to finally tackle the master bedroom. That’s where Lisa Hincher of The Good Home — Interiors & Design came in. Her job? Incorporate a home office in the master bedroom without making the room feel like an actual office.
AFTER: Hincher used a subtle coastal design for the redesigned master bedroom, a nod to the beach that is just minutes from the couple’s from door. Soft grays, navy, ivory and coral helped achieve this look, along with the custom-built shiplap headboard.
“My design tip is to not be afraid to mix patterns and textures in whatever space you are designing, and don’t try to match everything perfectly,” Hincher says. “That is what gives the space a curated look and makes it personal and interesting.”
Because this is first and foremost a bedroom, she added multiple storage components for clothing and bedding.
Shiplap headboard: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by contractor Ernest Timmons; duvet cover: Valerie Floral Matelasse in ivory, Pottery Barn; Euro pillow shams: Company C; throw blanket: Pine Cone Hill; throw pillows: Pine Cone Hill and custom-made with Tilton Fenwick fabric; bed skirt: Pottery Barn; tall dresser: Colin chest in Shark Fin finish, Ethan Allen; round bedside table: Warren in Shark Fin finish, Ethan Allen
“My design tip is to not be afraid to mix patterns and textures in whatever space you are designing, and don’t try to match everything perfectly,” Hincher says. “That is what gives the space a curated look and makes it personal and interesting.”
Because this is first and foremost a bedroom, she added multiple storage components for clothing and bedding.
Shiplap headboard: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by contractor Ernest Timmons; duvet cover: Valerie Floral Matelasse in ivory, Pottery Barn; Euro pillow shams: Company C; throw blanket: Pine Cone Hill; throw pillows: Pine Cone Hill and custom-made with Tilton Fenwick fabric; bed skirt: Pottery Barn; tall dresser: Colin chest in Shark Fin finish, Ethan Allen; round bedside table: Warren in Shark Fin finish, Ethan Allen
BEFORE: When the homeowners moved in, they avoided adding a home office. They own a human resources and payroll business, and wanted to leave the stress of work at work. However, after three years they realized that the job followed them home anyway. And because they had no dedicated workspace in the home, all of their work ended up on the dining room table.
AFTER: The master bedroom was large enough to incorporate a home office, but it was important to the couple that the room would not feel like an office. Hincher’s goal was to have the office component be secondary to the master bedroom, and it was vital that the couple felt at ease in every part of the room.
“Because their jobs are so demanding and high-intensity, I felt like one of the most important changes to the space needed to be to the overall mood evoked,” she says. “I wanted to give them a room that felt like a quiet, calm, inviting space they could retreat to and look forward to coming home to at the end of their long days.”
The designer came up with a plan that included a simple desk across from the bed, and a cabinet behind for both bedroom and office storage.
Throughout the project, one of the homeowners kept having second thoughts about a few design elements. “Clients often get nervous or apprehensive during the process and start to second-guess what is happening, especially when they are living in the home during the process,” Hincher says.
This cabinet was one of those elements. Hincher initially designed the custom-built wall unit to replace the dresser that was previously in the room. The new cabinet would house clothes, blankets, a printer, a power unit and office supplies. During the project, Hincher used painter’s tape to demonstrate the new unit’s height, width and depth. Although it was the same width as the old dresser, one of the homeowners thought the entire piece was too large for the space. Together, they used the tape to find a size that worked for everyone.
“Although the modifications were minimal, it made her feel comfortable, and in the end that is what it is all about — making a space that the client loves,” Hincher says.
Desk: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by The Tim Hill Design Co.; storage cabinet: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by Ernest Timmons; desk chair: nailhead upholstered, Normandy; paint by Benjamin Moore: Sterling (walls) and White Dove (trim); mirror: homeowners’ own
“Because their jobs are so demanding and high-intensity, I felt like one of the most important changes to the space needed to be to the overall mood evoked,” she says. “I wanted to give them a room that felt like a quiet, calm, inviting space they could retreat to and look forward to coming home to at the end of their long days.”
The designer came up with a plan that included a simple desk across from the bed, and a cabinet behind for both bedroom and office storage.
Throughout the project, one of the homeowners kept having second thoughts about a few design elements. “Clients often get nervous or apprehensive during the process and start to second-guess what is happening, especially when they are living in the home during the process,” Hincher says.
This cabinet was one of those elements. Hincher initially designed the custom-built wall unit to replace the dresser that was previously in the room. The new cabinet would house clothes, blankets, a printer, a power unit and office supplies. During the project, Hincher used painter’s tape to demonstrate the new unit’s height, width and depth. Although it was the same width as the old dresser, one of the homeowners thought the entire piece was too large for the space. Together, they used the tape to find a size that worked for everyone.
“Although the modifications were minimal, it made her feel comfortable, and in the end that is what it is all about — making a space that the client loves,” Hincher says.
Desk: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by The Tim Hill Design Co.; storage cabinet: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by Ernest Timmons; desk chair: nailhead upholstered, Normandy; paint by Benjamin Moore: Sterling (walls) and White Dove (trim); mirror: homeowners’ own
Another element that gave the same homeowner pause was the shiplap headboard. The headboard is a focal point in the new space, but the homeowner questioned its size. This happened days before its installation, which made the designer a little nervous. Luckily Hincher had a great relationship with the couple, and they worked through it, even joking about it afterward.
“I knew it was just last-minute jitters, so I told her if she didn’t stop worrying, I was going to ban her from her own bedroom until the project was done,” Hincher says. “The next day she told me that when we got off the phone, she told her husband what I said about banning her, and her husband said to thank me because he was about to do the same!”
Storage baskets: Go Home; wall sconces: homeowners’ own
“I knew it was just last-minute jitters, so I told her if she didn’t stop worrying, I was going to ban her from her own bedroom until the project was done,” Hincher says. “The next day she told me that when we got off the phone, she told her husband what I said about banning her, and her husband said to thank me because he was about to do the same!”
Storage baskets: Go Home; wall sconces: homeowners’ own
The designer also offered the couple a surprise seating option: a cozy little window seat. The bench has storage underneath, and it is situated between the sleeping and office areas. “I think the window seat really helped to bridge the two spaces,” Hincher says.
Another element that pulls the spaces together is the large area rug. “Don’t be afraid to use a bold rug,” Hincher says. “I love bringing in something a little unexpected, and this rug was it.”
While the overall look of the room is soft and calm, the rug creates visual interest and adds the punch of personality the homeowners wanted.
Area rug: Chandelier Ink, Dash & Albert; window seat: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by Ernest Timmons; bench cushion: custom; striped pillows: custom-made with Tilton Fenwick fabric; herringbone pillows: custom-made with indoor-outdoor fabric; drapes and drapery hardware: Pottery Barn
Contractor: Ernest Timmons
Furniture maker: The Tim Hill Design Co.
Your turn: When remodeling your home, did you ever second-guess a decision or have last-minute jitters? Tell us about it in the Comments.
More
8 Home Desk Areas That Work and Stay Tidy Too
Read more Room of the Day stories
See more bedroom photos
Shop bedroom products on Houzz
Another element that pulls the spaces together is the large area rug. “Don’t be afraid to use a bold rug,” Hincher says. “I love bringing in something a little unexpected, and this rug was it.”
While the overall look of the room is soft and calm, the rug creates visual interest and adds the punch of personality the homeowners wanted.
Area rug: Chandelier Ink, Dash & Albert; window seat: designed by Lisa Hincher and built by Ernest Timmons; bench cushion: custom; striped pillows: custom-made with Tilton Fenwick fabric; herringbone pillows: custom-made with indoor-outdoor fabric; drapes and drapery hardware: Pottery Barn
Contractor: Ernest Timmons
Furniture maker: The Tim Hill Design Co.
Your turn: When remodeling your home, did you ever second-guess a decision or have last-minute jitters? Tell us about it in the Comments.
More
8 Home Desk Areas That Work and Stay Tidy Too
Read more Room of the Day stories
See more bedroom photos
Shop bedroom products on Houzz
Master Bedroom-Office Suite at a Glance
Who lives here: Two busy empty nesters
Location: Scarborough, Maine
Size: 336 square feet (31.2 square meters)
Designer: Lisa Hincher of The Good Home — Interiors & Design
BEFORE: When the couple bought their home three years ago, they worked with a build team to get their kitchen, dining room and living room just the way they wanted them. They left the master bedroom alone because, frankly, they were not sure how they wanted to use the space. Eventually they were finally ready to give the space some personality and more purpose.