Comments on Things That Inspire: The bed wall decision

Holly, I know this was an old post, but I just wan...

2010-08-06T21:46:41.955-04:00

Holly, I know this was an old post, but I just wanted to say what a beautiful bedroom you have! It is as good as any bedroom decorated by an interior designer!

Holly, we covered the DC Design House with the Kel...

2010-02-15T15:15:32.829-05:00

Holly, we covered the DC Design House with the Kelley Proxmire room you included in this post. One of the coolest things she did was hide a small TV behind the curtains on the left side of the picture, so when you are in bed, you just pull it out. Click on the photo gallery of this link to see the TV: http://www.washingtonspaces.com/2008/4/articles/design-dc-style

and btw, I'm SO jealous you are using Suzanne as your designer! I've met her a couple times at High Point and she is a delight. -- Jennifer

Gorgeous images... I love light-filled rooms, so t...

2010-02-14T17:42:31.031-05:00

Gorgeous images... I love light-filled rooms, so the rooms you've featured with windows on the wall of the bed (and the other wall) are my favorite. I've never had one that one, but if our closet weren't behind the "bed wall" you can bet I'd consider breaking a hole in the wall to add a window. :-)

It seems you definitely know what you want and nee...

2010-02-12T09:07:18.721-05:00

It seems you definitely know what you want and need to be surrounded with :) The windows on either side will be worth what ever little hassle that you "might" have to put up with. Thanks for sharing so many beautiful images, including your own lovely current master bedroom. xo

Great post. Definitely stick with the two windows...

2010-02-11T10:48:40.722-05:00

Great post. Definitely stick with the two windows. Can't wait to see the completed room. Suzanne is a genious at bedroom design.

These are heavenly choices and I agree the bed bet...

2010-02-10T04:08:21.133-05:00

These are heavenly choices and I agree the bed between a pair of windows is lovely positioning. I don't have that choice but my bed and side tables are between two doorways so that feeling of floating in the room still exists. xv

TTI, IMHO: I think high ceilings can work, yours b...

2010-02-09T20:15:55.248-05:00

TTI, IMHO: I think high ceilings can work, yours being an example. Your bed, your pillows in particular are under the lower, cozier part of ceiling. The second picture with the window, not so cozy. Not so much in the Jim Howard room either except he has a canopy bed (without a canopy) which makes the difference, I think. Beautiful, not maximum cozy but what a window. I hope the window doesn't face east.

PLease let in your wonderful southern exposure! T...

2010-02-09T18:33:24.705-05:00

PLease let in your wonderful southern exposure! The light will more than make up for any inconvenience caused by having window treatments behind bedside tables. Our architect chose not to include windows alongside our bed wall, a decision I have come to regret greatly, since this is wonderful western light (which I prize even more highly than southern light). We made this decision because the view is of a neighbor's house across a shared driveway, so landscaping this view is not possible. But now, I would rather have the light: even over closing blinds, even with the wear and tear from sunlight on furnishings, even with the "loss of privacy"--come on, you can always close your window treatments!, and even with a less-than -admirable view (sheers work wonders). We have a wall of windows on a southern wall, so the room does feel like it gets good light. Our architect said that more windows would let in "too much light". Again, I say: there is no such thing. If you like light, get as much as you can. If I could do it all over again.....! Another thing to consider re: window placement--I'm a big fan of open windows when the weather permits, and love a good cross-ventilation. Our wall of windows does nothing to help ventilate this bedroom, and again, I wish we had more windows, even small ones, on more walls in the room.

Tamara

lLease let in your wonderful southern exposure! T...

2010-02-09T18:29:22.044-05:00

lLease let in your wonderful southern exposure! The light will more than make up for any inconvenience caused by having window treatments behind bedside tables. Our architect chose not to include windows alongside our bed wall, a decision I have come to regret greatly, since this is wonderful western light (which I prize even more highly than southern light). We made this decision because the view is of a neighbor's house across a shared driveway, so landscaping this view is not possible. But now, I would rather have the light: even over closing blinds, even with the wear and tear from sunlight on furnishings, even with the "loss of privacy"--come on, you can always close your window treatments!, and even with a less-than -admirable view (sheers work wonders). We have a wall of windows on a southern wall, so the room does feel like it gets good light. Our architect said that more windows would let in "too much light". Again, I say: there is no such thing. If you like light, get as much as you can. If I could do it all over again.....! Another thing to consider re: window placement--I'm a big fan of open windows when the weather permits, and love a good cross-ventilation. Our wall of windows does nothing to help ventilate this bedroom, and again, I wish we had more windows, even small ones, on more walls in the room.

Tamara

Your bedroom now is exquisite- can't wait to s...

2010-02-09T14:59:21.795-05:00

Your bedroom now is exquisite- can't wait to see what you and Suzanne have cooked up for your new house! I love lots of light in a bedroom, but not when the windows are positioned so it gets in my eyes when I'm laying in bed. Wide spaced windows on either side seem to be the perfect solution to letting in light but also not obstructing side tables and hanging drapes.

Good luck with the house! Maybe we'll be lucky enough for a tour once it's finished. :)

I am surprised that no mention was made of the win...

2010-02-09T12:21:08.175-05:00

I am surprised that no mention was made of the window alignment on the exterior of the house. I would have thought that the placement of windows is key to the look of the house--its symmetry and overall design. Anyway, as many of the other posters said, you are in extremely capable hands with Suzanne Kasler.

You actually took the pictures of Lori Tippins bat...

2010-02-09T07:46:29.735-05:00

You actually took the pictures of Lori Tippins bathroom? Gosh you are lucky to have seen it in person. I would love to see the rest of that bathroom.

On the bedroom wall issue, my favorite layout of all the pictures is the one in your bedroom. I am weak for the layered look of the window with bedside table in front.

Our bedroom has one small window high above the bed and two tall ones on the side. Our neighbors have a tall garden lamp right outside our bed wall window, but neither my hubby nor me are bothered with it.

If I could choose, I would go with the windows on either side of the bed like you have now. BTW your bedroom is absolutely beautiful!

Such beautiful, inspiring bedrooms!! I love the br...

2010-02-09T01:15:47.742-05:00

Such beautiful, inspiring bedrooms!! I love the bright airy feeling in each of the rooms you've shared. My room is dark (hubby works a lot of night shifts so dark is important), but I'm inspired to find a way to create an airy feel in my space.

We're hosting a Valentine's Day giveaway over at DesignTies - why not drop by and enter?!

Victoria

I would go with the option that offers more window...

2010-02-08T22:39:12.810-05:00

I would go with the option that offers more windows. Why don't you install electric shades since you are building a new home they can be concealed? Remember the movie the holiday when Kate Winslet flicks the switch after recovering from jet lag and the room goes completely dark.

I am really enjoying reading all of the comments! ...

2010-02-08T22:09:21.245-05:00

I am really enjoying reading all of the comments! Writing this post was very thought provoking - while describing the rooms, I realized how much I truly like having a bed flanked by curtains, as well as by windows. I am going to talk about this with my architect this week....

We just remodeled the side of our house with all o...

2010-02-08T22:01:57.154-05:00

We just remodeled the side of our house with all of the bedrooms. Our master got pushed out a few feet and became smaller due to adding a bathroom. The wall on the side is all sliding glass doors that the previous owners added, one day we would like to switch them to french doors. I chose to put four square windows above our bed, it's high enough that it does not interfere with anything and we have been very pleased with the result. The style of our home is very coastal/cottage so it works well.

If it was my house (which I WISH it was!!) I would...

2010-02-08T19:57:30.105-05:00

If it was my house (which I WISH it was!!) I would go for windows on either side of the bed. Only because during that time of day when the best light is streaming in through every window on the south side of the house it would drive me crazy having a wall there. With windows you have both options- you can choose to close them and block out the light... or you can open them up when you're craving that perfect light.
I cannot wait to feast my eyes on the new bedroom you and Suzanne come up with!!
xoRH
p.s. I see the tritter feefer chest! :)
xoRH

It's so exciting to go through this design pro...

2010-02-08T18:43:56.087-05:00

It's so exciting to go through this design process with you - I can't wait to see how it all turns out! I love that second Jim Howard bedroom.

really interesting and super pretty pictures! it&#...

2010-02-08T18:12:34.448-05:00

really interesting and super pretty pictures! it's funny how closely you pay attention when you've got your own projects in the works!

The MBR in our new "old" home has two sk...

2010-02-08T17:52:40.791-05:00

The MBR in our new "old" home has two skinny, but tall windows on the bed wall. The room has a cathedral ceiling, with the peak parallel to the bed. A pair of french doors allow us to go onto the back veranda. I have lined linen panels on the windows, with rod hanging higher than window top. My bedside table is my grandmother's pie crust table. DH has a low three drawer chest. Neither of us have problems closing the panels.

The thing I like most about having windows next to the bed is the view out the window on my side when walking into the room, or even from other parts of of the house when walking/looking that way. The MBR windows echo two windows in the main level guest room, so you can actually stand in one spot and see "through" the house in both directions. It brings the outdoors in, and we live on a lake and have acreage so that was a main focus during our designing stage.

I think I've mentioned McAlpine Tankersley to you before - love everything they do. Your new home is going to be lovely and I look forward to watching the process.

regards,
Allison

These are all beautiful bedrooms. The room via Ba...

2010-02-08T17:17:45.272-05:00

These are all beautiful bedrooms. The room via Bayou Contessa with the Jonathan Adler headboard is my favorite!

I love your master bedroom, and yes, this always s...

2010-02-08T16:19:23.752-05:00

I love your master bedroom, and yes, this always such a problem. How to get enough light in the day (read: a lot) without being blinded in the morning?

I wish I had something really smart to say... Wha...

2010-02-08T14:06:02.380-05:00

I wish I had something really smart to say... What a fun decision. The bedroom of the "house that recently sold in Atlanta" ... I remember feeling really dark when I went in the room. It was obviously well lit from the huge doors, but still felt dark. For some reason, I just love streaming light in a bedroom. I actually just love light in general. it is hard for me to wake up in the morning if there are not tons of windows. I don't even close the shades, that's how much i love morning light.

On a different note, when the interior designer was at my house, she was very interested in fung shui, and which way the bed should face. Have you thought about that at all, before you design a room abound the bed facing a certain direction? I am not sure I put a lot of stock in it, but if I had the ability to 100% design my house, I might look into it. Great post :)

Hello! I'm not sure if someone already sugges...

2010-02-08T12:25:51.882-05:00

Hello! I'm not sure if someone already suggested it, but here's an idea. You could have windows on either side of the bed, and build the wall slightly out into the room to keep the curtain issue at bay. That way, the side tables would be pulled forward anyway to match the bed, leaving room for the curtains to fall easily behind the tables. This way, the bed wall REALLY becomes the focus of the room, too!

Absolutely gorgeous rooms! Your inspiration has re...

2010-02-08T11:47:24.936-05:00

Absolutely gorgeous rooms! Your inspiration has really given me some wonderful ideas. Thank you for sharing your inspirations!

xoxoxo

Valerie