Paul Miller
Interior Designer Through millwork and masonry, furnishings and finishes, lighting and leaps of faith, MakeNest Interiors transforms spaces with thoughtful decisions based on core design principles. In our ‘Why We Did That’ series, we take you behind our recommendations.
“Yellow. Cozy. Elegance.”
My client started our meeting about their bedroom design with these adjectives in mind. She also prioritized a seating area and making the most of the tray ceiling. It’s fair to say that this design had a lot of goals to inspire me.
It also had a few challenges.
As with many newer homes, the walls were relatively featureless or, looked at another way, they were a blank canvas just waiting for a new image. The room is also a rather narrow rectangle with a diagonal foot traffic pattern from hall entry to bathroom. My focus would be on developing a stylish reinterpretation of the architecture and carving out the desired functions within the space.
I had my trusted craftsman install shadowbox trim with a dog-eared corner detail, a decorative choice that establishes a visual rhythm and elevates the aesthetic. White paint would have made the new moldings distracting, so I specified that they be painted to match the walls. The tray ceiling comes into its own with my selection of a timelessly chic light fixture and Benjamin Moore’s Calypso Blue.
The trim treatment on the walls also affords a measured use of wallpaper, giving me control of exactly how much pattern and texture will show in the design. I selected a paper with a vintage, wicker weave motif evocative of Hollywood Regency, a design aesthetic known for balancing grandeur with comfort.
As with all my design decisions, this selection was made with an eye for what role each element plays in the final outcome. The small scale of the wallpaper pattern, along with the drapery fabric and matelassé comforter, are the corps de ballet of the design, while the printed velvet I selected for the valances, bed pillows and runner is undeniably the prima ballerina.
My client’s antique swan chair needed a glow up and new fabric and was one of my key inspirations for invoking the stylings of an old world luxury hotel. I landed on a velvet stripe with all the colors present in the prima ballerina fabric. My furniture refinishers brought the luster back to the frame, even correcting the tone of the gilded details so as to be more in keeping with the vintage.
As for creating a sitting area, I naturally had to consider the constraints of the room. A custom settee in buttery soft, deep blue boucle provides seating for two without overwhelming the space. The graceful demilune table in antiqued gold leaf and white marble is the perfect accent in style and function. I always think that the best designs are eclectic, so I designed the modern ottoman not only for the comfort it provides for tired feet, but for contrast with the more traditional settee.
I choose my lighting to further define the attitude of a space and this is very much the case with the drum pendant in the closet hall and the glazed lamp on the dresser. Both pieces are made up of layered textures and forms that made me think of flapper fashions, which in my mind are very much tied to the romance of vintage boutique hotels.
This design reflects the magic that can happen when a design expert makes use of a deep well of knowledge to not only create comfortable spaces, but ones that provide the drama and romance that makes life so much more beautiful.
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Boutique Hotel Style FAQs
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Boutique hotel style is defined by elevated comfort and dramatic choices. As an interior design professional with over twenty years of experience, I recommend starting with a strong concept and picking details that support it. Avoid compromises that muddy the look, as luxury hotels usually have a clear point of view.
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All of the details matter when creating a luxury environment, such as elevated lighting and architectural finishes. Not every piece of furniture needs to be new or even very expensive, but it should be well-made and feature a quality finish. Splurge on bed linens and lighting to make your bedroom really special.
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Yes. Luxury design is a combination of comfort, refinement and striking choices. You might not be able to tackle big architectural changes, but color drenching the space will definitely make a statement. Remember that a strong, unified concept looks more polished, so consider using fabric patterns more than once in the space and use fewer but more impactful decorations.
After Photos: Matthew Lofton
Before
A designer’s every choice is intentional, mindful of scale and proportion, rhythm and harmony, contrast and texture. Our ‘Why We Did That’ series is a bite-sized dive into one-off changes, big and small, that are part of our home transformations.
Interested in learning how we can bring change to your nest? Give our studio a call at 540-336-3385 or hit the button below to tell us more about your project.
