He Said, She Said Musicians Rich Ruttenberg and Susan Marder are out of tune in their attempts to redecorate their guest bedroom. Susan feels a major overhaul is in order; Rich thinks a minor redo will suffice. Both Susan and Rich want the room to function as a guest bedroom and a home office that fits both their needs: a proper desk for Susan and a rehearsal space large enough to comfortably accommodate Rich's piano. Susan wants to add color to the walls, but Rich's fear of color is standing in her way.
Shopping for Solutions
Designer Michael Payne takes Rich and Susan shopping for a Murphy bed in the hopes of finding a bed and cabinet they both agree on. Susan prefers a style that is not too contemporary or too traditional. Rich, on the other hand, doesn't care much for the formality of traditional-styled furniture but likes dark-stained wood. Unfortunately, Rich and Susan are unable to find a style that meets both their needs and desires, so Rich asks Michael to design a Murphy bed and corresponding cabinet with both their needs in mind.
Payne's plans for the bed and cabinet include plenty of storage space surrounding a full-size bed. But the first design element that requires a decision is wall color. Payne suggests a color in the yellow family. After a brief discussion, Rich and Susan settle on a warm golden-yellow color. The next element is an area rug. Susan wants to introduce more color into the room with an area rug. Rich prefers to take a more subdued approach. They ultimately decide on a rug with blues, reds, warm yellows and greens. The colors are warm, but not too bright.
A Happy Ending
The once-cramped room comfortably accommodates Rich's piano, Susan's new desk and a full size guest bed in the form of a Murphy bed. The cabinet that houses the Murphy bed provides an abundance of storage and display space. Although Rich was hesitant about introducing color, the wall color they chose is both relaxing and inviting. This is a room that will get a lot of use for years to come.
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