Master Bedroom Decor That Can Move From the Suburbs to the City
Transitional style, subdued color and modern lines give this inviting San Francisco-area room versatility
Becky Harris
December 12, 2017
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Photos by Dean J. Birinyi Photography
Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: San Carlos, California
Size: 187 square feet (17.4 square meters)
Designer: Sabrina Alfin
This high-powered couple will soon have their home to themselves: Their oldest child is away at college and the other is a high school senior. The home is in the suburbs, but they recently purchased a condo in a modern building in San Francisco with plans to live there full time in a few years.
“They wanted the furnishings to be more clean and contemporary, knowing that in the not-too-distant future they would be moving to the city full time,” interior designer Sabrina Alfin says. “If they were going to invest in design, they wanted it to move with them.” They also knew a fresh design would be a good investment to make the master bedroom more appealing when they sell the house.
Architecture: The house is a hillside split-level California ranch. The main living space is at ground level, and the family room and guest rooms are downstairs.
Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: San Carlos, California
Size: 187 square feet (17.4 square meters)
Designer: Sabrina Alfin
This high-powered couple will soon have their home to themselves: Their oldest child is away at college and the other is a high school senior. The home is in the suburbs, but they recently purchased a condo in a modern building in San Francisco with plans to live there full time in a few years.
“They wanted the furnishings to be more clean and contemporary, knowing that in the not-too-distant future they would be moving to the city full time,” interior designer Sabrina Alfin says. “If they were going to invest in design, they wanted it to move with them.” They also knew a fresh design would be a good investment to make the master bedroom more appealing when they sell the house.
Architecture: The house is a hillside split-level California ranch. The main living space is at ground level, and the family room and guest rooms are downstairs.
Before. The room was dark and cave-like.
Goal. The clients wanted their bedroom to be open, airy and calming. “The goal here was to make the master bedroom a light- filled sanctuary, a relief from this couple’s very hectic life,” Alfin says.
Goal. The clients wanted their bedroom to be open, airy and calming. “The goal here was to make the master bedroom a light- filled sanctuary, a relief from this couple’s very hectic life,” Alfin says.
Solutions. When coming up with the design, Alfin envisioned a sophisticated transitional Manhattan apartment that was Nancy Meyers movie-ready. She describes her vision as “understated and elegant but not stuffy.” She brought in watery blues and grays, creams, dark wood, reflective surfaces and warm metal finishes.
Style. “The clients really wanted a look that was subdued but not monotone and boring,” Alfin says. Her design is sophisticated and tailored, in soft and muted colors. She knew this look would work well for the couple now in the suburbs and transition with ease to their modern city home in a few years.
Pattern. Alfin used geometric shapes and patterns to bring in the tailored feel. However, while she wanted clean lines, she didn’t want everything to be hard-edged, nor was she looking to go midcentury modern. The octagonal mirrors, pyramidal lamps, diamond-patterned rug and rectangular hardware on the dressers keep the room crisp but don’t overwhelm it with sharpness.
Color scheme. “The pops of watery gray-blues and bronzes with brass and mirrored accents really help make the design come to life, and the dark walnut finishes of the furnishings give the space a lot of warm elegance,” Alfin says. She brought in subtle pattern and textures without making things feel busy.
Wall paint: Feather Gray 2127-60, Benjamin Moore; trim and ceiling paint: Cloud Cover 885, Benjamin Moore; octagonal mirrors: Bungalow 5; sheepskin stools: CB2; area rug: Surya; artwork: Target
Style. “The clients really wanted a look that was subdued but not monotone and boring,” Alfin says. Her design is sophisticated and tailored, in soft and muted colors. She knew this look would work well for the couple now in the suburbs and transition with ease to their modern city home in a few years.
Pattern. Alfin used geometric shapes and patterns to bring in the tailored feel. However, while she wanted clean lines, she didn’t want everything to be hard-edged, nor was she looking to go midcentury modern. The octagonal mirrors, pyramidal lamps, diamond-patterned rug and rectangular hardware on the dressers keep the room crisp but don’t overwhelm it with sharpness.
Color scheme. “The pops of watery gray-blues and bronzes with brass and mirrored accents really help make the design come to life, and the dark walnut finishes of the furnishings give the space a lot of warm elegance,” Alfin says. She brought in subtle pattern and textures without making things feel busy.
Wall paint: Feather Gray 2127-60, Benjamin Moore; trim and ceiling paint: Cloud Cover 885, Benjamin Moore; octagonal mirrors: Bungalow 5; sheepskin stools: CB2; area rug: Surya; artwork: Target
Bed. The bed is a custom design. The headboard is upholstered in a textured chenille with a dot pattern. The frame is walnut.
Bedding. The bedding choices play a big role in the room’s style. The watercolor-like pattern on the bolsters and duvet cover create a relaxing bedscape. Alfin added a bronze accent pillow textured with a hexagonal beehive weave for added interest.
Tip for a relaxing bedscape: “I’d advise staying in a tone-on-tone color zone with some deeper accents for punch,” Alfin says.
Find a designer to help you makeover your room
Bedding. The bedding choices play a big role in the room’s style. The watercolor-like pattern on the bolsters and duvet cover create a relaxing bedscape. Alfin added a bronze accent pillow textured with a hexagonal beehive weave for added interest.
Tip for a relaxing bedscape: “I’d advise staying in a tone-on-tone color zone with some deeper accents for punch,” Alfin says.
Find a designer to help you makeover your room
Closet doors. Because the room isn’t that large and doesn’t get much natural light, Alfin incorporated reflective surfaces like the lamps, octagonal mirrors and the large mirrored closet doors. “Having mirrors to give both the illusion of more space as well as additional reflected light was important,” she says.
Upholstered bed and bed fabric: Kravet; bolster fabric: Pollack; lumbar pillow fabric: Casamance; duvet cover and sham fabric: Robert Allen, with satin trim by Larsen; Roman shade fabric: Kravet; blackout roller shades: The Shade Store
Upholstered bed and bed fabric: Kravet; bolster fabric: Pollack; lumbar pillow fabric: Casamance; duvet cover and sham fabric: Robert Allen, with satin trim by Larsen; Roman shade fabric: Kravet; blackout roller shades: The Shade Store
Details. “I like master bedrooms to have almost a hospitality feel to them that’s clean, luxe and comfortable, like you’re staying in a nice hotel for a weekend getaway,” Alfin says. “The goal is to strive for relaxation with simple patterns and textures that aren’t too bold and lots of little personal touches, like the bedside tray and flowers.”
Lighting. Lamps were an opportunity to bring in subtle pattern and shine, and they were placed for reading. Alfin added the mirrors with brass frames above both lamps to add more light and shine.
Nightstands. The nightstands, along with the dressers and headboard frame, bring in deep walnut wood tones, providing contrast to the room’s lighter colors. The ring pull on the nightstand drawers is a jewelry-like accent. Having a drawer and an extra shelf makes it easy to keep a book, water, phone and clock nearby while also providing space to hide any clutter.
Nightstands: Vanguard Furniture; bedside lamps: Arteriors
Nightstands. The nightstands, along with the dressers and headboard frame, bring in deep walnut wood tones, providing contrast to the room’s lighter colors. The ring pull on the nightstand drawers is a jewelry-like accent. Having a drawer and an extra shelf makes it easy to keep a book, water, phone and clock nearby while also providing space to hide any clutter.
Nightstands: Vanguard Furniture; bedside lamps: Arteriors
Tip: It’s nice to have a light, such as this one, by the bedroom door. Since you’ll often be entering the room at night, you can easily flip on the switch instead of having to fumble around for a table lamp in the dark.
Sconce: Currey & Co.
Sconce: Currey & Co.
Must-have: The couple wanted lots of drawer storage. Alfin used two different dressers from the same collection on opposite sides of the room. This tall one cozies into the wall while a longer, wider version is nestled in below the window.
Now her clients have a luxe, calm space where they can relax after their busy days, and they can take it all with them when they move.
Dressers: Jet Set Collection, Bernhardt
More: Browse bedroom stories
Now her clients have a luxe, calm space where they can relax after their busy days, and they can take it all with them when they move.
Dressers: Jet Set Collection, Bernhardt
More: Browse bedroom stories
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Hi Millette,
You're correct in noting the owners did not place a priority on feng shui; to them and to me the addition of reflected light was paramount, given the location of this bedroom in the home. It gets very little natural light and the room is relatively small for a master bedroom. These are all preference issues I cover with my clients in the discovery phase of the project prior to going to the drawing board.
I particularly liked the unstructured roman blind - floor to ceiling curtains would have been the obvious choice, but in a smaller room it might be important to accommodate a dresser. The blind softens the lines while allowing for furniture below the window.
With regard to the mirrored closets, I have them in 3 smaller-size bedrooms and, although they could do with an update, I'm very reluctant to give up the space-enhancing value of the mirrors and the reflected light, as well as reflected garden views.
They so deserved a bedroom makeover - the before pic was awful - can you even buy uplighters anymore?