Mera’s House: The New Master Bedroom

It’s been a long time coming, but our new master bedroom is done!  If you recall, the room is tiny, full of sloped ceilings, tricky angles, and little eaves.  If you want to revisit the plans and progress for this room you’ll find them here, here, herehere and here, but suffice it to say this has been a slog.  Seeing these before and after shots gives me a proud sense of achievement.  Let’s get into it!

Looking from the doorway into the room, before:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

and after:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Before:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

And after:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Looking back toward the doorway and closet, before:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

and after:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

And finally the closet eave, before:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

And the closet eave, after:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Ahhhhh, so fresh and clean and, best of all, functional!  The closet easily houses both of our wardrobes, and a few of the drawers are even still empty (once this baby makes his debut (in approx. 47 days, not that I’m counting) bring on the fall fashion!).

One of the best things about the closet is the simple brass hardware on the sliding closet doors and drawers.

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Red House West || Master Bedroom RevealHere’s the view from the closet looking back toward the bed:

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Those of you who’ve followed these chronicles might remember that I had my heart set on an indigo upholstered bed from Serena and Lily.  I ordered it, and then I waited, and waited, and waited.  Seven months later, the bed still hadn’t arrived, and I started looking for alternatives.  This bed from CB2 appealed to me because of its small size and simple shape.  I posted a plea for input, and that very day I got an email from Serena and Lily saying that the bed was in production and would ship a few days later!  But after getting great feedback from you, dear readers, and after several calls to Katie in which she design and life-coached me, I cancelled the order for the Serena and Lily bed.  The CB2 bed got the rose, and like Trista and Ryan Sutter, I’ve never looked back.

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

I’m so glad I went this route.  The Serena and Lily bed is beautiful, but the reality of this room is that with the angled ceiling, the paneling, and all of the nooks and mullioned windows, there is a lot going on in here before you even begin to talk about color.  As it is now, the subtle palette of mostly white and off-white, with touches of peach, indigo, and deep teal green gives it a quiet, restful, and slightly unstudied look that I love.

In its naked form, the CB2 bed was a little too masculine for me so I layered my antique piano shawl over the headboard.  I love the way the inverted triangle mirrors the triangle shaped ceiling above, and that it adds a quiet dash of romance.

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Once during this long process I googled “feng shui bedroom” and learned that a bed (1) should never be under a window, (2) should never face a door, and (3) should never be under a sloped ceiling. Check, check, and check.  Despite breaking all the feng shui rules, I find this set up restful and comfortable.  My side of the bed is under the sloped ceiling, and I was worried about hitting my head or having to stoop uncomfortably every time I crawl into bed, but so far, even with pregnancy-induced limited mobility, it hasn’t been a problem at all.

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

The bed faces this over-sized mirror and bench.  The mirror isn’t so low that we stare at ourselves from bed, but it’s the perfect height to reflect the view out the window behind our heads.  It gives us the feeling of gazing at the trees and sky, and also functions well as a close-to full-length mirror.

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

In the other eave I made a nursing command station.  Eventually I think we’ll build a hinged window seat with storage below for linens, but for the foreseeable future me and my boobs will be right here.

Red House West || Master Bedroom Reveal

So there you have it!  I’ll be sharing more details in upcoming posts, but for now here are sources:

CLOSET AREA
|| sliding door hardware || drawer hardware || ceiling light || rug ||  necklace holder || small triangle mirror ||

BED AREA

|| roman shades || bed || linen sheets (a gift from my mother in law!) || peach linen pillowcases || Catherine of Aragon portrait (a present from Katie!) || peach sky print || bench || round mirror (no longer available in gold) || face planter || peach planter || table lamps (no longer available) || pendant lamp (similar) || wall hooks ||

ROCKING CHAIR AREA

|| chair || pillow ||

29 responses on “Mera’s House: The New Master Bedroom

  1. Nina

    Oh, Mera, this turned out so beautifully! I am sooooo glad you listened to me about the bed. 😉

    The piano shawl … genius!

    I love the bench/mirror. I am impressed that you have answered the age-old conundrum “but where will my boobs go?”

    Kidding aside, you did a fabulous job and have created a peaceful, functional, lovely retreat. I can’t wait to dig deeper into the deets in future posts.

  2. Margaret Campion

    Oh my gosh, Mera! Brava! What a great job; amazing transformation, really. I love all of it and ADORE the closet area: it looks SO snappy! So well organized. And the fact that you still have an empty drawer or two! Wow! I’m glad you pointed out the echoing triangle of the shawl (and thanks for the close-up shot of that, too) with the eave. I “saw” it, but was glad to be made consciously aware of it. Lovely, lovely. And good luck with the last 45-ish days! Our first grandchild is to arrive in September, too! A little boy — close to the latter part of the month than yours. Good luck! May his/her entrance be smooth and easy and may Olive welcome graciously. Will be thinking of you.

    1. Mera Post author

      Thanks Margie, and congratulations on your grand baby! My due date is Sept. 5, so with any luck I’ll be laboring on labor day. 🙂

  3. Emily

    This is beautiful! We’re going through a bedroom renovation so it’s very inspiring to see what you’ve done with the space you have.

  4. Katie

    I’m so crazy about this room! I love how it’s a perfect balance of traditional and modern, and how it’s serene but not even a tiny bit boring. I can’t wait to visit!

    1. Mera Post author

      We’re talking to each other in the comments now? I’m not sure I’m ready to take our relationship to this next level.
      But actually I am, because I’m crazy about YOU, and if you would please come visit and stay forever I would be happy to cede this bedroom to you and I’ll put a bedroll in the basement next to the cat potties and live happily ever after.

      1. Katie

        If it weren’t for the risk of toxoplasmosis to you and your unborn babe, I’d take you up on this immediately. For serious.
        p.s. – I’m simultaneously leaving you this comment and sending you an unrelated text. #communicationwizard

  5. Robyn

    Love this! Such a good blend of styles. Where is the blue blanket from? Seeing pom pom blankets everywhere but loving that shade of blue.

  6. Jen

    Oh Mera, this is SO good! I am already a sucker for eaves, odd angles, weird nooks, etc., and you’ve maximized and decorated the space beautifully! And congratulations on your pregnancy (since it doesn’t seem to be a secret I’m assuming you announced it and I somehow missed it). I hope you have an uneventful 45-ish days before your new little one makes his arrival.

    1. Mera Post author

      Thanks so much, Jen! I love eaves and nooks too, they’re like built-in coziness. But when it comes to the practicalities of life, those same cozy angles and tucked in spaces can definitely pose a challenge! Thanks for your kind pregnancy wishes–this one has been a doozy, so I’m doubly eager for our baby’s arrival. 🙂

  7. Carol Bryner

    It looks great, Mera. Very light and calming. I wouldn’t worry about the feng shui. I have a friend whose husband always referred to it as “Shang Phooey.” I love the piano shawl at the head of the bed. And, of course, Cromwell at the foot.

  8. Michelle

    Yes, Cromwell looks quite handsome in his newly renovated digs. Wow, wow, wow, Mera! It’s such a lovely and tranquil looking transformation—I’m eager to see more of the details. Sweet dreams to you all!

    1. Mera Post author

      Cromwell has been complaining lately that his overwhelming good looks make it so that I don’t take him seriously. He’s right, there’s a lot of substance there, but all I can think when he meows is “good G-D you’re handsome.” 😉

  9. Susan Glassow

    Mera, this is a wonderful recreation. Makes me consider painting even more of the paneling in our home! You’re choices are perfect — love the piano shawl triangle and the floral rug. Just enough design and color to warm your soft creams and whites. The closet area is enviable and the nursing nook looks so welcoming and comfortable. The mirror that is a magical reflection of the outdoors, changing with a breeze or a sudden shaft of light. All good! Congratulations.

  10. Marlene

    What a lovely calm space. Our bed in Seattle is also under a window and a sloped ceiling ,and yes, we have bumped our heads occasionally, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And you know I love the closet door hardware! Miss you.

  11. Gillianne

    Pretty and serene, even without the “a” and Lily. ;D You made the most of the space available, and, by working with the quirks, you amplified the charm, imo. Congratulations! Such a good feeling, claiming “done” for a long project.

  12. Alison G

    The power of paint! It looks wonderful. Did you rebuild the closet? It looks bigger. I like all the angles in the room, really nice job.

    1. Alison G

      Sorry, if I had been a better reader I would have known you had the closet and dresser custom built. It really is a smart space.

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