A tiny peek into our areas of Zen

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For the last couple of years we have designed an eclectic mix of bedrooms from a coral accented fashionista retreat, a neutral based master bedroom to showcase a model apartment unit, to a room that play up the earth tones for a one our favorite bachelors.....just to name a few. 

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So when I recently found this bedding company, Parachute Home while sourcing online items for a client, I realized that along the way we have inadvertently included some our personal preferences to our bedroom designs. Nicole's starting point for each bedroom design has always been that it must be a place that provides our clients with their own view on what they feel provides elements of calm, no matter how the remainder of the house was designed. That philosophy might stem from Nicole's own bedroom which shows her daring side, featuring a black wall and mirrored nightstands.That might also explain why she can't sleep in an unmade bed even if she has to make it up right before taking a nap with her adorable son or finally hitting the sack after long day.

On the other hand I'm the total opposite, it's an unmade bed for me all the way. But I might change my mind after lusting after this duvet set from Parachute Home. For me, my bedroom is where I binge on David Baldacci novels, old episodes of Games of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy and The Golden Girls. I think a television was banned from Nikki's bedroom....I didn't believe either until I saw it for myself....LOL. But that all changed when she got married and they realized a shared love for Reality TV.   In contrast, Nicole actually designed my current master bedroom years ago in a soothing sage color. That's after she blew me away with the design she did for my home office that had been empty for about 4 years aside from a lone storage unit I bought from Crate and Barrel. We have been partners in crime ever since. 

However, despite polar opposite views on our personal bedroom designs we equally agree that each space must provide us with moments of Zen where we can refocus and plot our world domination just like Pinky and The Brain. 

We would love to hear how your bedroom reflects your personal style and preferences.

Inspired to recreate these bedrooms?:

Coral Fashionista: Similar beds here or here; Mirrored chest from City Furniture no longer available similar here, here or here; Chandelier here  or here; Lamps similar here or here

Bachelor's Room: Bed, Similar beds here; Night Stands here, similar here or here; Lamps here, here or here  ; Rug: Overstock, similar here  

Rental Apartment Model: Similar beds here, here or here; Nightstands here or here ; Desk Lamps here, here or here ; Area Rug here, here or here

* This post was inspired by Parachute Home

Bachelor Pad - Stepping Outdoors

This outdoor space is now the space Mr. Bachelor gets to enjoy on these very balmy Miami nights; a space where he sips a bottle of beer and soaks in views of the city he loves so much. It once looked like this:

 

 

A space to step outside and enjoy a stunning view of the city but nothing more. When I first saw the condo, I knew immediately we needed to embrace the patio as an extension of the home, which is always a critical thing to do when you have a small space. Every square foot counts. 

 

 

 
We scored the chairs on our shopping trip to Modani. Once we had those anchor pieces everything else fell into place. We sourced the Ottoman and ceramic stools which double as end tables, at Overstock. The rug was a steal from the clearance rack at Pier One, while the throw pillows and planters are from Target and low maintenance plants from Home Depot. He's hardly home so we needed plants he could water once a week at the most. 

I wanted low planters to block the not so sexy views of neighborhood rooftops, without losing the more pleasant views of the Miami skyline. We also chose green accent to emphasize the outdoors, a color we also pulled into the living room with the use of green throw pillows on the sofa.

The two spaces are now connected and he can now entertain at least five people seated outdoors, and even more standing. 
Whether you rent, own a small condo or home, remember to always factor in the outdoor space in your design plans, especially in warmer parts of the country where you can sit outdoors all year. I guarantee you'll enjoy spending some time outside, breathing in some much needed fresh air.
This is the last reveal until we finish the master bedroom in a few weeks. The bed has been delayed for a few weeks (aaarghhh) but I promise it'll be worth the wait. Thanks for all the love you've shown our bachelor - and his pad. It's been a blast. What's been your favorite area of the transformation so far?
P.S. I'm over on Houzz this week sharing tips on how clients and designers can best work together.