19 December 2018

Brooklyn Heights Brownstone: Master Bedroom and Bath

Decorating a Master Bedroom Suite with the English country side in mind.

Decorating at its best starts with a clean slate, and a vision for what rooms might be. In the case of this Brooklyn Heights brownstone, the clients had shared with us a Pinterest board loaded with photos from the pages of British House & Garden and World of Interiors. Executing the pattern play of a typical English country house was certainly in our wheelhouse and we loved the challenge of getting the mix just right. Like many brownstones, the bedrooms are often on the small side, and this one was no exception. To make the space feel more expansive, the client thoughtfully built out the back of the house, adding a bonus terrace on to the master bedroom with a door leading out for easy access. But back to the decorating! This room was our chance to use one of the classic english floral prints our client has such an affinity for. We wasted no time bringing them to the charming Bennison showroom in midtown to see the prints in person and ended up selecting one that features both flowers and birds (our client loves birds!) in a palette of mossy green, pale blue, and a rusty, reddish pink that speaks to the color story that persists throughout the house.

The tight space on either side of the bed left little room for side tables. A many months long search for the perfect pair ensued. We finally found these Sheraton tables on a hot summer day in Brimfield. Swing arm lamps are always a space saver!

One of our clients very first requests was that they did not want a headboard or bedskirt or any kind of bed upholstered in fabric due to serious dust allergies. While we love a good headboard as much as the next, their request presented us with the opportunity to explore a wood bed. We ended up modifying a classic American Empire style mahogany bed nodding to the period of the house.

The bird prints, above and below, were a last minute find that really helped finish the room. We hung them in a playful way and high enough above the headboard so as to not hit your head. A bolster made from an antique Turkish textile is thrown on the bed for a shot of color and texture.

The draperies are functional, as they usually are in the U.K. The lining and interlining eliminates drafts and blocks out the sun while they're closed.

With the master bathroom being in close proximity to the bedroom, it was crucial that the materials flowed cohesively and seamlessly. We wanted to carry the complexity of subtle pattern play into the bathroom, so we designed a custom stone floor in a diamond pattern mixing carrara and grey stone together. You can see the stone floor from the bedroom but even with a strong stripe carpet on the bedroom floor, the rooms flow into one another easily. We added shiplap to the one long wall opposite the vanity to vary the materials used further. Practical but beautiful hooks were hung to hang bath towels and robes.

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The polished nickel fittings and sconces give the bathroom a clean and elegant feeling, while the warm white ceramic tile behind the vanity has a touch of pink that makes the room glow.

Thanks for reading a little bit about how these rooms came to be and click here to see more of this project!

— Lauren & Suzanne

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