Zen Principal Bedroom and Ensuite Project Reveal

The Importance of Texture in a Neutral Room

The Principal bedroom is often one of the last rooms in the home that clients decorate. Why? There are lots of reasons I have heard over time: because it isn’t seen, because I want to focus more on the main floor, because we ran out of money, because it isn’t a big deal...and the list goes on.  These homeowners we no exception and because of other home issues that kept occurring, this room makeover and renovation kept getting further and further down the list. That all changed after finding some leaking in the Ensuite, and we began the process of updating these spaces to create the Zen Principal Bedroom and Ensuite that it is now.

The Before

This #RusticModern Home had been built in the 80’s and you could really see that in the Ensuite. A huge corner whirlpool tub took up most of the space, and the tiny shower wasn’t installed properly and kept causing problems. The single-sink vanity was small and didn’t provide enough storage or counter space for this couple. In the bedroom, there was an “interesting” floor design combining two tones of hardwood and carpet. Angled ceilings and windows were beautiful but weren’t really showcased to their best advantage. Because storage was an issue, many things didn’t really have a proper home and the bedroom kind of held the “leftovers” shall we say.

As we considered the overall design, we knew we wanted to keep things inline with the renovation we had completed on the main floor. Neutral tones and texture would be the jumping off point for the Zen Principal Bedroom and Ensuite, and we wanted to make sure that all of the great features of these two spaces were highlighted in a way that was classic, timeless & elegant yet comfortable, affordable, and met all their needs for function.

Here are the before shots of the two spaces:

The Design Plan

For the Master bedroom, we wanted to keep that end of the project more budget friendly as we knew that the bathroom needed the most updates and we wanted to utilize the budget primarily for that space.  Here is the short list of what we wanted to work on in each space:

Principal Bedroom

• Change out the flooring so it was cohesive throughout the space
• Take advantage of the angled ceilings and gorgeous view out of the windows
• Keep the existing King Size bed, dresser & nightstands
• Update the closet to include better storage options
• Change out the lamps and accessories to modernize the space

Ensuite:

• Enlarge the vanity with two sinks and lots of storage drawers for daily use products
• Enlarge the shower considerably, moving its location
• Replace the tub with a smaller footprint
• Increase storage options within the space
• Bring in additional lighting sources
• Create contrast through the finishes (they didn’t want it all to be one color)
• Add in heated flooring and towel racks
• Fix the leaking issues and replace the angled window
  

  Adding texture to the Principal Bedroom

  In coming up with a design plan to create a Zen Master Bedroom the first thing we did was to create a focal point. We kept all the furniture exactly where it was but took advantage of the peaked ceilings by using a grass-cloth style wallpaper from a big box store. The rest of the space was painted in Glacial Till AF-390 which provided contrast with the wood tones in the furniture and the wallpaper.

  When it came to flooring choices, we debated back and forth on whether to use hardwood floors or to install carpeting. There were pros and cons to each option, but in the end, we selected a luxurious textured carpet. Carpet absorbs sound, is warm on your feet, and enhanced the tactile feeling of the whole room. It subliminally created a warm, cozy blanket effect that the homeowners now love!

  Just by changing out these few things it is amazing how much of a difference it made to the overall atmosphere of the room. Through the accessorizing, we channelled a subtle Asian vibe and brought in a rustic wood lantern, gorgeous onyx style bedside lamps, and added a visually appealing mirror over the dresser.

  The Zen feeling was enhanced by our layered bedding materials. We didn’t want to overdo things with too many cushions, so we kept it simple by making sure that what we DID add had texture which really made the small details pop. The angled stitching in the pillow reflected the angled windows and roofline; the faux fur throw was not only touchable but warm and enveloping. The duvet and shams were neutral and didn’t fight with any other finishes or fabrics. We placed the focus exactly where we wanted it and these textures in a neutral room all work together to create that Zen Principal Bedroom that everyone would love to live in!

  Zen Principal Bedroom Reveal

Zen Principal Ensuite Reveal--A fine balance in Texture

When choosing the finishes for the Principal Ensuite we had to find the balance between the modern look that the husband wanted and the more rustic features the wife loved. All the finishes were strategically selected so they both were happy with the overall design. The bones of this room were gorgeous with the triangular windows and the rustic wood beam over the vanity, so marrying the two looks had to work together visually and be and cohesive.

 Adjusting the layout in this Ensuite was a game-changer for the space. The shower was much larger and also a lot more visible and we wanted to tie in the finishes between the shower and the tub, so they didn’t appear as two separate entities but with a consistent flow between them. We also relocated the toilet to another discreet corner of the space.

A large-scale tile from the same line had both a smooth finish and a matte rustic version as well. The contrast between the two surfaces created the texture in this space and added coordinated sophistication to the overall design. We used the textured tile as a feature on the back wall of the shower as well as on the face of the tub surround. The smoother tile was placed on the opposite wall as well as in the niche. Tiny grout lines were used so that the overall effect wasn’t too grid-like and looked very clean.