The Perfect Bed in 5 Simple Steps: Part 2

Yesterday's post covered the building blocks of what it takes to create the perfect bed which will cradle you thoroughly in a nest of luxury and warmth. Today, I would like to address the design, color, and texture elements of creating the perfect bed.

Step 1. Choose the right bed. Beds have personalities, and there are many choices available for every budget and style. When you choose, consider how the bedding will look on it once dressed: whether you will tuck or drape, and whether or not you will need a bed skirt. Also make sure that it connects with the rest of the decor in the room.

The City Queen Size Bed

Tropical Bedroom by Honolulu Interior Designers & Decorators Philpotts Interiors

Amelie Bed [Available upon request: StylishBeachHome at gmail.com]

Manse Four Poster Queen Bed [Available upon request: StylishBeachHome at gmail.com]

Step 2. Consider Color: Whether you are looking for conformity or contrast, your bed is most likely the central focal point to your bedroom decor. Once you decide which direction your are going, take a cue from your current wall color, or paint with your goal in mind. Varying shades of one color create a monochromatic storm of color. In this case, you can vary your bedding with pattern and texture.

Color Conformity

Easton Interior Designers & Decorators Bountiful

Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Michael Abrams Limited

Other Metro Media & Bloggers Michelle Hinckley

 Color Contrast

Saint George Architects & Designers Fringe Design

Shallotte Home Builders Blue Sky Building Company

Cabin John Design-Build Firms Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc.

Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Buckingham Interiors + Design LLC

Step 3. Alternate patterns. Whether you are going for solids, stripes, florals, geometrics, or some of everything, be sure to limit yourself to a few good ones and always juxtapose one thing against something of a different variety or shade.

Ponte Vedra Beach Interior Designers & Decorators Beach Chic Design

Portland Architects & Designers Alan Mascord Design Associates Inc

Lufkin Architects & Designers Sanders Architecture & Design

Step 3. Introduce Texture. This can be done by using bedding items that actually have texture, something you can feel with your hands. But there is visual texture too, as in these Bamboo Viscose Herringbone Throw. Also consider adding texture with other elements surrounding the immediate space of the bed, such as accessories or rugs.

Bonita Springs Interior Designers & Decorators K2 Design

Charleston Architects & Designers BarberShop Architecture

Step 4. The Head. Draw the eyes of your admirers right to the head of the bed. Whether you are using a bed with a headboard, hanging stunning art, or installing a customized headboard, you will want to give lots of thought and attention to this part of your bed. Your headboard can set the mood, perhaps more than any other element! [Look for a post next week on creative and unique headboards.]

Beach Style Bedroom by Buford Architects & Designers Design Zeal

(We have many unique oars available.)

Traditional Bedroom by Waltham Interior Designers & Decorators LeBlanc Design

(StylishBeachHome.com's "Beachscape" is a handpainted scene on woven raffia canvas mounted on wood panel.)

Step 5. The Foot. Finish off your project with something unique and functional at the foot of the bed. A table, baskets, a bench, chairs, even a loveseat!

Contemporary Bedroom by Philadelphia Architects & Designers Moger Mehrhof Architects

Contemporary Bedroom by Amsterdam Home Stagers HUISSTYLING

Eclectic Bedroom by Mill Valley Home Builders SINGLEPOINT DESIGN BUILD INC.

Traditional Bedroom by Dallas Interior Designers & Decorators S. B. Long Interiors

There is so much more to a beautifully designed bedroom, but if you can get the bed right, you are more than half way there!

~Natalee

Coastal Paint Colors: Land and Sand

Coastal paint colors: we covered the surf, now let's focus on turf. You can't have one without the other. If you tend more toward earth tones and terra firma, vegetation and fauna, these coastal color palettes might appeal you to. Explore everything from moss to sand ;large rocks to distant mountains.

Try these Sherwin Williams colors: Friendly Yellow 6680, August Moon 7687, Gold Vessel 7677,

Basil 6194, Refresh 6751, Tradewind 6218

Coastal living room with sandy earth tones, mellow turquoise walls, and a warm pop of the sunset for an accent color.

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Try these Sherwin Williams paints (top to bottom):

Starry Night 6540, Artichoke 6179, Jargon Jade 6753, Aloe 6464, Cottage Cream 7678

Sandy, earthy, natural fiber tones, made vibrant by the green of floral cushions

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Try these Sherwin Williams Colors (top to bottom): Cloudburst 6487 , Composed 6472, Paper Lantern 7676, Whole Wheat 6121, Offbeat Green 6706

Earth, sand, sky, water ... all the elements of nature are covered in this coastal color palette.

Try these Benjamin Moore paints (L to R): Deep Mulberry 2069-10, Mink Violet 1252, Captivating Teal 649, Antiguan Sky 2040-60, Piano Concerto 1445

Paint your room with colors of the mountains and the waters that they nestle between them.

Modern Home Office by Denver Architects & Designers Entasis Group

Distant mountain shadows mix well with the powdery sand of the beach.

Try these Bemjamin Moore paints (L to R):

Instinct AF-575, Riviera Azure 822, Washington Blue CW-630, Hazy Blue 2040-50, Candle White 2164-70,

Icicle 2142-70

Try these Benjamin Moore paints (L to R):

Palladian Blue HC-144, Marina Bay 2036-50, Kokopelli Teal 648, Alligator Alley 441, Laguna Yellow 291

Marine colors pair with ferns and the fibers of nature.

Inkblot Test: Coastal Ceiling Lights

Ceiling lighting is an interesting thing. Like art, one piece can be interpreted many different ways.

For instance, this light fixture could be classified as modern lighting. And it is a modern ceiling light, often found right at home in contemporary or modern decor.

Intergalactic Ceiling Lamp

But when I see it, I see a moon shell.

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Here is another modern light, that often finds its way into beach homes.

Sapphire Ceiling Lamp

Alone, you might look at it and wonder how the "coastal" connection could be made, but I have a guess:

Sea Urchin

Now you try. Quick!

First thing that pops into your mind:

Proxima Ceiling Lamp

Did you think of an octupus' tentacles?

You're good! Try another one ...

Sea Sponge!

Sea Sponge : : Sea Sponge detail

One more.  This one is pretty easy ...

Vector Ceiling Lamp

Ocean bubbles, obviously.

 Now for some inspiration. Check out the cool ways that modern lighting was incorporated into coastal decor.

Beach Style Dining Room by Boston General Contractors Woodmeister Master Builders

If you like this light fixture, check out the Shooting Stars Ceiling Lamp and the Blast Ceiling Lamp.

Contemporary Dining Room by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Marie Burgos Design

Eclectic Home Office by Abbotsford Interior Designers & Decorators Your Designer

Nebula Ceiling Lamp and the Symmetry Ceiling Lamp would help you get this look.

Eclectic Dining Room by San Francisco Architects & Designers Mark English Architects, AIA

Vector Ceiling Lamp and the Inertia Ceiling Lamp create this "ocean bubbles" effect.

Contemporary Dining Room by San Francisco General Contractors S. A. Baxter, Inc.

For several versions of the "sea urchin" look, take a look at the Physics Ceiling Lamp, Propulsion Ceiling Lamp, Pulsar Ceiling Lamp, Sapphire Ceiling Lamp Small, and Sapphire Ceilign Lamp Large.

So what was the point of this little exercise?  Today we learned 2 things:
1) Don't judge a ceiling light without consulting your imagination.
2) Modern lighting can be used in coastal decor that isn't necessarily modern
Class dismissed!

~Natalee