Michelle and Bryan are sporty, active, on-the-go types. During the day, Michelle works as a golf pro and Bryan (a former NCAA volleyball coach) teaches physical education.
In their spare time, the two attend countless sporting events, including tournaments. Oh, and they are also full-time parents to two young boys who keep them running around — in a different sort of way.
Needless to say, the couple don’t have much time to relax.
They recently moved into a big home in the suburbs that they updated in a contemporary/traditional style. But when it came to designing their master bedroom, they were out in left field.
They wanted a relaxing retreat where they could unwind after a long day, but the bright red room was gigantic, awkward and cold.
So I sent Michelle and Bryan to the sidelines, brought in my own team of pros and got set to turn their dysfunctional space into a restful refuge for two.
Sometimes the bigger the space, the bigger the challenge. But challenges in my line of work are par for the course. My task lay in figuring out how to use the big, unusual space to its best advantage and make it as functional — and stylish — as possible.
The bedroom had a big alcove that the couple used as a sleeping nook. I decided to take the bed out of that recess, put up some walls and turn the area into a huge walk-in closet.
Once I had a more practical layout, I covered the red walls with a beautiful shade of cream and divided the room into two sections: a fireside lounge and a bedroom.
In the fireside lounge, I created a stunning feature wall that I painted a rich shade of butterscotch. Along this wall, I made room for a big-screen TV, a dark-wood media cabinet and — for the real wow factor — a gorgeous gas fireplace.
I clad the fireplace in contemporary glass and natural-stone mosaic tiles in rich amber, caramel and cognac tones, which became a jumping-off point for the colour palette in the space.
In front of the fireplace, I created a comfy lounge area, consisting of a big rust-coloured loveseat with long tweed pillows, two beautiful slipper chairs in a soft amber hue, a coffee table, two wooden end tables and a gorgeous area rug.
I then got to work on the bedroom area, which I situated at the other side of the room in a hexagonal-shaped alcove consisting of five windows.
I ran angled curtain rods around the perimeter of this space, put up neutral linen floor-to-ceiling drapes and added lined Roman blinds for light control and privacy.
I put the couple’s king-sized bed against the biggest of these windows, installed a new plush, caramel-coloured headboard, added a few side tables and then heaped on layers of luxurious linens and plush pillows in a variety of fabrics and textures.
To lighten things up, I put in a series of monopoints, a few table lamps and two gorgeous pendant lights above the two side tables in the lounge.
For the piece de resistance, I put up a rustic ceiling fan/light made of wood with an oil-rubbed, bronze finish.
After some final finishes and accessories — artwork, candles, plants and pillows — this master bedroom was all warmed up and ready to get into the game.
By reconfiguring the space, filling it with rich colours and luxurious fabrics, and strategically arranging furnishings and fixtures, this bedroom went from cold and cavernous to refined and defined.
Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV’s Divine Design.