Mastering Our Curbly House Bedroom Design with Emily Henderson

 

The air at the Curbly House is charged with excitement! Just a couple of weeks ago, we unveiled the thrilling news: the incomparable design expert Emily Henderson is collaborating with us to transform our home. The mere thought of working alongside Emily on our master bedroom renovation feels absolutely dreamlike, making us truly the most fortunate homeowners in the neighborhood. The design vision she brings is far beyond anything we could have envisioned ourselves, and we are bursting with anticipation to share the remarkable plans for our most personal retreat. Prepare to be inspired as we delve into the stunning metamorphosis of our master bedroom!

 

Unlocking the Potential: Our Journey to a Dream Home

Our entire home renovation journey has been a testament to passion and perseverance. Years ago, Bruno and I would often walk through our charming neighborhood, admiring beautifully renovated homes and wistfully pointing out the neglected ones that we longed to restore. We’ve always had a soft spot for houses that needed a little love, jokingly referring to ourselves as the “crazy cat ladies” of homes. Our fantasy? To win the lottery, buy a dozen overlooked properties, meticulously fix them up, and then entrust them to owners who would cherish them for generations.

 

So, when we discovered our own undernourished, neglected gem of a house two years ago, it felt like fate. It was the perfect canvas for our restoration dreams. We dedicated ourselves wholeheartedly to the project, investing countless hours of our own labor. This hands-on approach, tackling a significant portion of the work ourselves, has been incredibly gratifying. It allowed us to realize the vision of our dream home much earlier in life than we ever thought possible, transforming a house with untapped potential into a cherished living space that truly reflects our hearts and dedication.

Strategic Planning: From Kitchen Renovation to Master Bedroom Expansion

Our initial plans for this year’s major home addition focused primarily on expanding the kitchen, aiming to create a more functional and inviting hub for our family. However, during insightful discussions with our contractor, a compelling idea emerged: adding an entire new level to the house. This suggestion quickly gained momentum, not only for the significant increase in usable square footage but also due to the economic efficiency of such an undertaking – the marginal cost for the added space proved surprisingly reasonable.

One carefully drawn blueprint led to another, and what began as a simple kitchen expansion gracefully evolved into the creation of a magnificent master bedroom suite. This luxurious space was something we had never truly envisioned ourselves having, yet it seamlessly became an integral part of our dream home. The design process was meticulous, ensuring every detail contributed to a harmonious and practical layout.

 

 

 

Now, having officially moved into this breathtaking new master bedroom, we are constantly in awe of its soaring vaulted ceilings and expansive feel. It truly evokes the feeling of being on a luxurious vacation, a daily escape within our own home. However, the sheer grandeur of the space – considerably larger than any bedroom we’ve ever occupied – introduced a unique set of design challenges. Navigating furniture placement, scale, and overall decor became a daunting task for Bruno and me. Fortunately, this is precisely where Emily Henderson’s unparalleled expertise comes into play, guiding us through the complexities of designing a grand yet inviting master retreat.

Choosing the Perfect Palette: The Art of Neutral Paint

One element was crystal clear from the very beginning: we envisioned a neutral backdrop for our master bedroom walls. My personal design philosophy strongly favors using neutral tones as a serene foundation, then infusing the room with character, warmth, and vibrancy through thoughtfully chosen furniture, decor, and artwork. Emily wholeheartedly embraced this concept, confirming our instincts and providing a solid starting point for the room’s aesthetic direction.

Our search for the ideal neutral began by revisiting a beloved color, Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt, which had previously created a tranquil and inviting atmosphere in our sunroom. Utilizing the highly intuitive Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer tool, I explored its palette of coordinating colors. This exploration led me directly to Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice (SW 7647), a shade that immediately captivated my attention with its subtle sophistication and appealing undertones. It promised a sophisticated neutral that was far from ordinary.

 

 

To deepen my understanding of Crushed Ice’s potential, I embarked on a delightful “Pinterest bender,” immersing myself in endless inspiration. My goal was to discover complementary “color families” and real-world examples of this intriguing hue in various settings. It was during this extensive search that I serendipitously found a captivating paint palette curated by Vim & Vintage, which perfectly echoed the elegant and understated direction we were aiming for.

 

Armed with these inspiring visuals, I headed to our local Sherwin-Williams store and gathered swatches for three promising contenders: White Heron, Crushed Ice, and Pure White. We were adamant about avoiding any neutral that leaned too heavily into beige, seeking a fresh, crisp, and clean feel. Back home, the true test began as the paint swatches were meticulously applied to the walls. Under the natural light of our bedroom, Crushed Ice unequivocally stood out as the clear winner, possessing the perfect balance of inviting warmth and refreshing coolness, creating an atmosphere that felt both sophisticated and incredibly serene.

Curating Comfort and Style: Thoughtful Furniture Selection

With the ideal wall color selected, Emily and her exceptionally talented team truly began to infuse the room with their magical design vision. They artfully described a space filled with luxurious, deep blues, accentuated by elegant touches of gold, and subtly infused with vintage charm. This sophisticated aesthetic immediately resonated with our personal style. Our excitement escalated as we started receiving weekly Craigslist alert emails from Emily and her assistants, signaling the thrilling hunt for unique, pre-loved pieces that would add authentic character and a sense of history to our master bedroom.

Among the fantastic discoveries were a pair of campaign dressers, expertly sourced from Craigslist, destined for a stylish repurposing as our bedside tables. These charming pieces are scheduled to be painted in a bold, unexpected color – a shade I would have never considered on my own, which speaks volumes about Emily’s adventurous and discerning eye. We are absolutely buzzing with anticipation for you to witness their complete transformation during the final room reveal!

Illuminating the Space: Thoughtful Lighting Choices

Next, Emily masterfully guided us through the captivating world of lighting design, underscoring its pivotal role in establishing mood and enhancing the overall aesthetics of a room. We were thrilled to collaborate with the wonderful team at Lamps Plus, whose extensive and stunning collection allowed us to explore an array of exquisite lighting elements. Their expertise was invaluable in helping us select fixtures that perfectly harmonized with Emily’s sophisticated design vision.

While the final selections remain a delightful secret until the grand reveal, we are excited to offer a sneak peek at some of the truly stunning options we carefully considered. Each piece brought its own unique blend of functionality, artistry, and potential to elevate the room’s ambiance, promising to cast a warm and inviting glow across our newly designed sanctuary. The interplay of various light sources is key to creating a layered and comfortable atmosphere.

 

Grounding the Design: Plush Floor Coverings

Due to pressing construction deadlines, we encountered a unique challenge: the necessity of choosing the bedroom carpet independently, without Emily’s direct guidance. Our initial inclination gravitated towards the natural elegance of sisal, envisioning its distinctive texture providing a grounding, organic feel to the space. However, a swift reality check courtesy of the price tags quickly shifted our perspective – high-quality sisal, as it turns out, commands a significant investment.

Consequently, we opted for a more budget-friendly yet equally appealing alternative: a plush carpet style aptly named ‘Artistic Sensibility’ in a soothing hue called ‘Washed Silk’. While the names might evoke a whimsical charm, the actual aesthetic is anything but. This choice delivers a beautiful balance of luxurious comfort, robust durability, and a subtle, sophisticated sheen that perfectly complements our evolving color palette. It provides a soft, inviting foundation, ready for the sophisticated layering we planned to introduce.

 

 

To further enhance the floor design and introduce another layer of visual interest, we are absolutely thrilled to be collaborating with Loloi Rugs on this project. Renowned for crafting some of the world’s most exquisite rugs, Loloi is providing a stunning piece that will be artfully layered over our newly installed carpet. This strategic layering isn’t merely about adding softness; it’s a deliberate design choice to infuse the room with additional color, rich texture, and an inviting sense of depth, seamlessly tying all the diverse elements together. For those eager to explore their magnificent collections, you can browse their latest catalog here.

Framing the Views: Elegant Window Coverings

Our expansive, light-filled master bedroom, while inherently beautiful, presented a clear and critical need for effective and stylish window coverings. At Emily’s insightful suggestion, we began exploring the sophisticated charm of Roman shades. These elegant treatments offer a perfect blend of excellent light control, enhanced privacy, and a refined aesthetic that elevates any room. Our thorough search eventually led us to Blinds.com, a trusted and highly recommended source for high-quality window solutions.

After careful consideration, we unanimously fell in love with the Laura Ashley Soft Fold Roman shades in a truly enchanting color named Cameo Apple Blossom. This delicate yet distinct hue promised to introduce a touch of understated elegance and subtle pattern to our walls. To visualize how this selection would integrate with our chosen paint color, Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice (SW 7647), I utilized the ingenious Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer. By digitally placing the sample image of the shades into the tool, I created a realistic mock-up:

 

 

For a closer and more detailed examination of this harmonious pairing, here’s a larger version of the visualization:

 

This quick, ten-minute exercise with the visualizer proved incredibly valuable, allowing us to confidently confirm that the selected wall color and window treatments would indeed create a cohesive and beautifully balanced aesthetic. It significantly streamlined our decision-making process for such a prominent and functional element of the room’s design.

Anticipating the Grand Reveal of Our Master Bedroom Oasis

As of this very moment, our master bedroom is steadily progressing towards its breathtaking final form. The walls are now exquisitely adorned in the subtle elegance of Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice, a plush, luxurious carpet has been expertly laid, and the magnificent statement chandelier now hangs gracefully, casting its ambient glow. Even with only these foundational elements in place, the room’s incredible potential is already vividly apparent, hinting at the magnificent sanctuary it is destined to become.

 

Here’s just a tantalizing taste of the exquisite design elements and thoughtful details that are currently “cooking” in our master bedroom. Can you truly believe the extraordinary transformation that’s unfolding? We are beyond thrilled with every single choice, each meticulously guided by Emily Henderson’s impeccable taste and visionary design prowess. Stay tuned for the complete room reveal – it promises to be nothing short of spectacular, an inspiring culmination of our shared design dream!