Susan Herbert of SH Interior Design, LLC designed this "Purple Passion" bedroom for a recent decorators' show house. Photo courtesy Alan Gilbert Photography
An oasis from everyday stress, the master bedroom frequently mirrors the inner serenity that we all long for. It is a part of the home that is usually kept private, yet it reveals so much about our lives and how we define comfort, peace, and even romance.
One of the most important elements in designing the master bedroom is, of course, the master bed. Mona Hajj, owner of Mona Hajj Interiors in Baltimore, has been crafting elegant and comfortable interiors for over 20 years. “We spend a third of our lives in the bedroom, so it needs to be very comfortable, serene, romantic, and calming—all at the same time,” says Hajj.
Hajj prefers custom-made design when it comes to the master bed and headboard. “I like to design beds and headboards according to my client’s needs and specifications, but sometimes I do use other manufactured pieces from Louis J. Solomon, Rose Tarlow, and Nancy Corzine designs,” says Hajj.
Steve Weisbrot, owner of Louis J. Solomon in New York, says his company currently has 24 different styles of custom-made beds with the newest style being about 12 years old and the oldest being 80. “These styles are not experimental, they are tried and true quality. We deal mostly with French-style reproductions and our Louis XV- and Louis XVI-style beds are very popular right now. We have also added transitional styles for people who want a more casual look.” Louis J. Solomon beds are handcrafted in Europe then assembled, finished, and upholstered to designer specifications.
“The master bed basically gives the bedroom a quality focal point. The lines of the bed will dictate the spirit of the room. Once you set the lines of the bed in the room, you can add to the ambiance with accessories like tables, desks, and dressers,” says Weisbrot. He adds, “The finish we put on the custom beds will be matched with the colors the designer chose for the interior walls.”
Custom-made items, like a bed, a desk, a headboard, or a dresser, tend to personalize the intimate spaces of the home. Mike Salguero, CEO and co-founder of custommade.com, has built over 4,000 relationships with custom-made designers in every category in the U.S. and Canada. There are over 150 custom makers in the Chesapeake Bay region that create custom-made pieces for every room in the home. “Right now, we are seeing reclaimed and live-edge wood in bedroom design. High post and sleigh beds are also popular,” says Salguero.
The headboard to the master bed is an element of the ambiance and comfort of the design that cannot be underestimated. Interior designer Susan Herbert of SH Interior Design, LLC in Owings Mills, Maryland, has upholsterers who help her create custom headboards designed from her sketches. She recently designed the “Purple Passion” bedroom for the 35th Annual Symphony Decorators’ Show House. “The headboard is a very important part of the room and the bed,” she says. “It is the first thing you see when you enter the bedroom.”
The headboard in the “Purple Passion” bedroom designed by Herbert and fabricated by Amy Adler is made with vinyl because it was less expensive, but still feels and looks like leather. “It has a bit of a sheen to it and some tattered pattern with texture.” The bed cover and bed skirt were also designed by Herbert and give the room a very comfortable, yet luxurious feel. “What makes the bed so inviting is the way it is layered with down, linens, a cover, and custom pillows. It appears plush, plump, and comfy,” says Herbert.
Mona Hajj of Mona Hajj Interiors in Baltimore crafted this elegantly designed master suite with a custom bed and headboard as well as fine accessories to create a harmonious and soothing space.
Hajj creates these serene spaces with not only a custom bed, but with the linens to match, including some of her favorites: Ann Gish designs and Mastro Raphael Exclusive Italian linens. “Bedding needs to be lush and comfortable. I buy a lot of linens from England and Italy and some custom linens from Beirut,” explains Hajj.
The master bed may be the focal point of a luxurious master bedroom suite, but there are other accent pieces and design elements that play a supporting role that are arguably just as important. “We try to create an ambiance with soft background walls and a combination of soft and accent lighting,” says Hajj. But for some, the bedroom is not only a place to relax, “it is a place to work and sometimes watch television. People want to multitask in the bedroom,” says Hajj.
One of Herbert’s favorite accessories in the master bedroom is a candle. “I think candlesticks, glass vases, and bottles of varying shapes and sizes are wonderful in the master bedroom and bath. On a dresser, I like using a long low box to offset the height of the candlesticks as well as flower arrangements, fresh or silk.”
“I truly feel that less is more and try to eliminate noise in the bedroom. An accessory to the room would be a beautiful painting or lamps that are not too colorful, but calming,” says Hajj. She adds, “I try not to have a phone in the bedroom to keep it calm. And when clients ask for a television, we often enclose it in a cabinet or behind a tapestry.”
The master bedroom is a place that begins with the master bed and ends in a soothing retreat marked by personalized accessories that fill and shape the frame of the room. It is your signature in the home design.
Jennifer K. Dansicker is the Special Projects Editor for Chesapeake Home + Living.
Contacts
custommade.com: custommade.com or 800-501-3121
Fitzsimmons Design Associates, Inc.: fitzsimmonsdesign.com or 410-269-1965
Louis J. Solomon: louisjsolomon.com or 631-232-5300
Mona Hajj Interiors: monahajj.com or 410-234-0091
SH Interior Design, LLC: shinterordesign.com or 410-356-7274
Resources:
Ann Gish: anngish.com or 212-727-2122
Annie Selke Home: annieselke.com
Nancy Corzine: nancycorzine.com
Rose Tarlow: rosetarlow.com or 323-651-2202
Rustic Designs: rusticdesigns.com or 413-221-6173
