Sept. 25, 2006 — Ted lives in a house that is overflowing with women. And while life with wife Jackie and their three young daughters is full of fun and frivolity, Ted had nowhere to go for a little respite from the abundance of feminine energy. He wanted to turn the home's outdated master bedroom into a space he could relax in "guy style." Jackie was all for it, but she didn't want the room to look too masculine.So I gathered up my crew of manly men to take on this female-run household and help conquer the battle of the sexes. My challenge here was to create a place that would satisfy the masculine and feminine design aesthetics of the couple without tipping the scales in anyone's favor. Both Ted and Jackie had to feel right at home in the bedroom.
I kicked off the redesign by getting rid of everything in the dim, faded room — from the tired flowered linens to the outdated furniture — and started from scratch.
I painted the walls in a calming shade of steely blue to establish the masculine tone for the room. I then balanced the blue with a feminine damask fabric in blue and cream for the drapes and the bed's new upholstered headboard and bedskirt. I also chose several masculine accent fabrics in a variety of stripes and plaids.
The room was sorely lacking in storage. In fact, how Jackie and Ted have stayed married for 13 years with only one little bedroom closet is a mystery! To help remedy the situation, I installed a whole roomful of custom-made cabinetry for all of their clothing and storage needs.
I created a fantastic feature wall that consists of two floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets in traditional antique white with blue detailing that flank the room's window. Beneath the window I created a little seating nook that consists of a bench (with storage below) for nestling and reading, added a heap of colored pillows for pizzazz and surrounded the area in the damask drapes.
I also installed a large dresser and big mirror in a masculine wood tone in the room and set up two cameo chairs on either side.
When it came to lighting, I was after a little of bit of refined decadence — gender-neutral refined decadence, that is. I blended the practical with the whimsical and installed a pair of crystal-drop wall sconces that sit over the new dresser, some conventional bedside wall lamps, a glittery fixture near the seating area and a traditional chandelier over the bed that is modern, but softened with a crystal bead outline.
After a few final accents — a chocolate-brown area rug, lots of framed photos of the children and some other odds and ends — the room was ready for Ted and Jackie.
By blending "his and hers" colors, fabrics and finishes, the couple now has a room full of style and substance that is a perfect blend of yin and yang. Ted finally has a retreat from all of the females in his life, but something tells me the gals will all love the room so much he'll soon have a bit of company! How divine!
(Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of Home & Garden Television's Divine Design. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
