My design for the small bedroom suite is a perfect Hampton’s guest retreat; relaxed, elegant and inviting…a great spot for reading a book after the beach or a great night’s sleep after a fabulous dinner party.   I’ve used tones of gray and cream with black accents and combined textures like suede, linen and silk to establish a luxurious yet easy look.   My ideas have come from thinking about creating a room that I, myself, would be thrilled to be a guest in, with no detail overlooked and comfort at the top of the list!  It’s rethinking traditional but definitely still at home in the Hamptons.  That being said, this same look can easily translate to a small bedroom anywhere and you don’t have to pay top dollar to recreate the look.  Here are a few tips on how you can achieve the elegant and inviting design without breaking the bank!!!! 

Libby’s Design Details:

    What Libby Did

The walls are painted a rich smoky gray (Paint by Sherwin Williams “Dovetail”)- all trim remains white –

Libby’s Budget Tip – The fastest and least expensive way to completely transform the look of your room is with paint, it’s about 30 bucks a gallon and worth every penny.   Even if you have a small space go for a bold, rich color and if you’re worried about it looking to small just paint the rich color on the wall that you bed is on and paint the other three walls a soft tan. Think of turning your room into a cozy little haven, color makes it a place you want to sink into!

 What Libby Did 

I designed a 70” high custom headboard out of cream diamond pin-tuck microsuede

Libby’s Budget Tip – A big tall headboard can make a small bed seem much more luxurious but if you can’t spend a fortune you can achieve the same result in a few different ways.  Paint an old door and hang it behind your bed horizontally (or two vertically side by side) or you could use an old big piece of wrought iron gate behind the bed.   You can also use a folding screen; by separating the panels and hanging them side by side on the wall behind the bed…the basic idea is a tall headboard creates the illusion of height and makes your room feel larger and more elegant!

What Libby Did 

The rug is from Stark / 10’ x 14’ Ivory wool and silk – it’s a one of a kind rug

Libby’s Budget Tip- This rug was one of a kind and perfect for the room but if you’re on a budget there are other options.  Go to a large rug/ carpet warehouse and look in their remnant department (the large leftover pieces from big jobs), have them cut a creamy/ berber remnant so it will fit perfectly in your room, then have them bind it and you have a custom rug at a really cheap price! (and since it’s not expensive you don’t need to afraid about using a light color rug…if it’s dirty in 5 years you just get a new one!!!)  Just be sure to have the rug cut so it will cover your entire floor (allowing for floor vents if you have them)…a small rug in a small room can look like a postage stamp where as a large rug in a small room will open it up!

 What Libby Did

The Bedding is from Anichini/ Cream and Ivory damask there will be 2- 30” oversized Euros/ 4 standard shams/ 1 coverlet/ cream sheets/ 1 boudoir

Libby’s Budget Tip – This bedding worked so well because it was in soft shades of cream and rather than prints it’s really all about texture – so ditch the bed in a bag, or the over stuffed comforter you’ve had since college and buy some creamy bedding in all different textures.   It’s also important to use shams in different heights; Euro shams, standard shams, boudoir shams, they don’t need to be expensive but when you use a lot of them it creates a sumptuous bed you can’t wait to jump into!

What Libby Did -

The black and cream Zebra suede occasional chair and ottoman is custom from Braxton Culler

Libby’s Budget Tip – rather than buy a whole new zebra chair just use a black or cream chair add a hint of Zebra with throw pillows

What Libby Did

The ebony  and wicker Étagère’s and Dresser are from Bungalow 5

Libby’s Budget Tip – If you can’t go out and buy new furntire just re-tool what you already have by spray-painting it in a black satin finish!   Krylon makes a super duper spray paint that doesn’t require sanding and dries to the touch in 15 minutes.   I don’t recommend painting your grandmothers antiques, but if you’re tired of what you have you’ll be surprised the new life you can get out of old furniture with a quick coat of spray paint!  

What Libby Did 

Mercury Glass bedside Table Lamps with cream cylinder shades are from Murray Feiss

Libby’s Budget tip – Target has great mercury glass lamps, just make sure you get two tall lamps…no wimpy, short lamps!

What Libby Did 

Large Mirrors for Dressing area and Bedroom – Uttermost

Libby’s Budget Tip – Mirrors are an important element for most rooms I design, and placed correctly in a small room, they can really open up your space.   My main rule for mirrors is Bigger is definitely better, a small mirror can look awkward hung on the wall by itself but you can find great big, inexpensive mirrors at places like Homegoods/ TJ Maxx and Marshalls.   They also have a lot of cheap, big mirrors at Home Depot and Lowes.   When hanging a mirror, position it on a wall directly opposite a window, the natural light will reflect in the mirror and visually make your space feel look times larger!!!

What Libby Did 

Tall Green Plant – I got it at Ikea – it’s a cool, modern spiky palm that doesn’t take up a lot of space

Libby’s Budget Tip – Green plants are so important in a space to make it feel comfortable and inviting…and this was cheap!   I got it at IKEA!

What Libby Did 

Artwork – black and white custom photo prints with wide pewter frames -

Libby’s Budget Tip – If you can’t afford custom artwork buy some readymade frames, Target and Ikea have great pewter/ stainless steel frames, again, THINK BIG). Then find a big coffee table book of Black and white photography of pictures on a subject that interests you; sports, the ocean, landscapes – you can find these a lot of the time in the bargain section at Barnes and Noble or Borders Bookstore.  Rip out the pages of the images you like and frame them, hang them in groupings together for a modern, gallery style look. Then close up the book and stack it under other books on your nightstand.