Art-Loving Couple Create the Master Suite of Their Dreams
See how locally made pieces come together in a California bedroom and bathroom
Master Bedroom
Design process. The couple were heavily involved in the design decisions for their master bedroom.
“We were very in sync on aesthetics,” Ellis says. “It was a great collaborative process.”
Custom furniture. The couple wanted a canopy-style bed that could highlight the art on the wall. They decided on a bed frame made of steel and walnut, which has a light feeling and doesn’t distract from the artwork, Ellis says.
She and the couple worked with local artist Marc Foster to design and create the bed and nightstands.
“I love that it uses more of the walnut,” Ellis says. “It feels slightly more casual than a typical canopy bed.”
Design process. The couple were heavily involved in the design decisions for their master bedroom.
“We were very in sync on aesthetics,” Ellis says. “It was a great collaborative process.”
Custom furniture. The couple wanted a canopy-style bed that could highlight the art on the wall. They decided on a bed frame made of steel and walnut, which has a light feeling and doesn’t distract from the artwork, Ellis says.
She and the couple worked with local artist Marc Foster to design and create the bed and nightstands.
“I love that it uses more of the walnut,” Ellis says. “It feels slightly more casual than a typical canopy bed.”
The floating nightstands give the room a lightness and free up more of the walnut floor, which makes the space feel larger.
Wall paint: Dover White, Sherwin-Williams; artwork: Micah Crandall-Bear; light fixtures: Rejuvenation; bedding: Pottery Barn; nightstand: custom, Marc Foster; browse nightstands
Wall paint: Dover White, Sherwin-Williams; artwork: Micah Crandall-Bear; light fixtures: Rejuvenation; bedding: Pottery Barn; nightstand: custom, Marc Foster; browse nightstands
Staying local. Working with local artists was important to the art-collecting clients. The painting above the bed was created by well-known area artist Micah Crandall-Bear. The handmade Moroccan rug from a Sacramento artisan pulls in some of the warm tones found in the artwork.
“I think the room highlights some of the best parts of Sacramento in design,” Ellis says.
Rug: Kechmara
“I think the room highlights some of the best parts of Sacramento in design,” Ellis says.
Rug: Kechmara
Master Bathroom
Layout. The clients wanted both a walk-in shower and a freestanding tub in the master bath, but that presented a challenge in the rectangular, 120-square-foot space.
“The space was limited, but it’s hard to tell now,” Ellis says.
By using glass only part of the way across the shower, Ellis was able to comfortably fit the tub in along the wall between the shower and vanity.
Layout. The clients wanted both a walk-in shower and a freestanding tub in the master bath, but that presented a challenge in the rectangular, 120-square-foot space.
“The space was limited, but it’s hard to tell now,” Ellis says.
By using glass only part of the way across the shower, Ellis was able to comfortably fit the tub in along the wall between the shower and vanity.
Shower. “I was nervous about having such a small glass partition,” Ellis says. “I wondered if it would feel cold, but now I love how open and luxurious it feels.” The homeowners agree. They’ve had no issues with warmth in the bathroom, and the water flows easily down into the drain along the wall.
The shower’s long niche helps define the space and makes it feel larger. It also provides lots of storage space in the shower.
Shower fixtures: Hansgrohe; tile: Abk
The shower’s long niche helps define the space and makes it feel larger. It also provides lots of storage space in the shower.
Shower fixtures: Hansgrohe; tile: Abk
Vanity. The vanity floats along the wall across from the shower. The custom design includes plenty of cabinet and drawer storage and adds warmth to the room.
The couple decided on an oversize sink with two faucets, which gives each of them their own space in a small area.
The room is especially stunning in the evening, Ellis says, when the floating mirror is illuminated from behind and by the sconces on either side.
Sink: Scarabeo Collection, Nameeks; sconces: Lumens
The couple decided on an oversize sink with two faucets, which gives each of them their own space in a small area.
The room is especially stunning in the evening, Ellis says, when the floating mirror is illuminated from behind and by the sconces on either side.
Sink: Scarabeo Collection, Nameeks; sconces: Lumens
Balancing act. It can be tricky when a home’s history clashes with your personal design preferences.
Ellis, who says this project was a careful balancing act, advises staying true to the home’s architecture. In this case, she showcased contemporary elements throughout the two rooms with details such as artwork, lighting, fixtures and fabrics, but she kept the home’s historic style in mind with each design choice.
“It’s important to honor the history,” Ellis says. “I made sure everything from the wood tones to the hardware gave a nod to the era when the home was built.”
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Ellis, who says this project was a careful balancing act, advises staying true to the home’s architecture. In this case, she showcased contemporary elements throughout the two rooms with details such as artwork, lighting, fixtures and fabrics, but she kept the home’s historic style in mind with each design choice.
“It’s important to honor the history,” Ellis says. “I made sure everything from the wood tones to the hardware gave a nod to the era when the home was built.”
More
Read more room stories and guides
Shop for bathroom products
Master Suite at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple who collect art and love interior design
Location: Sacramento, California
Size: 370 square feet (34.4 square meters)
Designer: Kerry Ellis, owner of Kerry Ellis Design
Backstory. After five years in their 1930s single-story home in Sacramento’s historic East Sacramento neighborhood, these homeowners wanted to add on a second-story master suite.
Goals. The clients asked designer Kerry Ellis to ensure that the addition blended in with the home’s architecture and honored its historic roots. Inside, they wanted a more contemporary style.