See the Best Bedroom Entries in Our 2017 Interior Design Awards contest
By Ilene Denton November 29, 2017
Winner: 21st Century “Farmhouse” in Laurel Park Stephanie Nolan of Distinctive Interiors, in collaboration with celebrity designer Thom Filicia
A bold cobalt-blue wall sets the theme for this cozy master bedroom in a brand-new farmhouse-style home in downtown Sarasota’s Laurel Park. Designer Stephanie Nolan, in collaboration with Thom Filicia of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (who was brought into the project by home builder David Weekley Homes), cooled down the blue with a tufted white upholstered bed from the Thom Filicia Collection by Vanguard Furniture. The wood-plank floor, white tongue-and-groove ceiling and metal touches complete the farmhouse elements. “I wanted to convey that this is a Sarasota home and brought in a lot of coastal colors,” says Nolan. “Thom's approach is very modern, and that’s evident in the shapes and lines of his furnishings. He is always on the edge, coming up with new ideas that are reflected within his collections.” Our judges said: “That gorgeous blue tempered with white—mmm.”
Photography by Rob Harris
Chelsea Dunbar, Blu Home: Palmetto residence
Chelsea writes: “The client wanted something that felt very clean but modern. This is always a challenge because we don't want to the space to feel cold. We achieved this look through subtle textures and tactile materials rather than a lot of color. The room is a transitional feel, with a lot of warm whites, grays and ivory. The highlight was the view of the water so we kept everything soft on the interior.”
Photography by Jessica Park, Blu Interiors
Chelsea Dunbar, Blu Home: Southside-area residence
Chelsea writes: “Fun pops of color, metallics, layers of white all make this room feel updated and eclectic.”
Photography by Jessica Park/Blu Interiors
Jessica Napoli, Chic on the Cheap: Kanaya
Jessica writes: “Turning this fourth-floor high-rise unit into a 1950s midcentury ranch is what makes this project exceptional. With a large bedroom like this, the typical set-up of a dresser, a couple of night stands, and a king bed would just not do. This is a suite and therefore should function as such. There needed to be a sleeping space, a seating area for TV viewing and a work place. In the sleeping area, the existing bed fit perfectly into the contemporary midcentury look with its clean, simple lines and charcoal finish. Oversized nightstands were used to give a better scale to the room, and as a foundation for great storage, a surface for a table lamp, a place for a drink, and as a space to put the book you didn’t get to finish before going to bed. The work space was fashioned by repurposing a table that had been recently purchased before the design began. Because the top was glass, visually it didn’t take up that much space yet it still provided ample room to work when needed. The white leather sofa at the foot of the bed was the perfect solution for a place to relax and watch late-night TV. Different shades of gray were used to bring in that sense of calm.”
Photography by Luis Tamayo
Angela Rodriguez, Angela Rodriguez Interiors: The Oaks
Angela writes: “Our design concept for this master bedroom was more formal than the home’s other bedrooms, though we kept it feeling light and fresh with a soft, natural color palette. We retained the existing wood floors, white wainscot and trim, and gorgeous mahogany doors. Luxurious silk wall covering was applied to both walls and ceilings. A basic tray ceiling was given new life with new wood detailing, and a bit of the unexpected with plush velvet upholstery and a hand painted dome. The effect is so cocoon-like acoustically soft, you can feel and hear a hushed calm as soon as you enter the room. The window treatment fabrics are of bamboo and silk and the chandelier is artisan blown glass.”
Photography by Angela Rodriguez
Angela Rodriguez, Angela Rodriguez Interiors: The Oaks
Angela writes: “In this guest bedroom we decided on a coastal, collected look with pieces we selected from a variety of sources. The room features handsome wainscoting, natural fiber wall covering for just the right amount of texture, 4-poster queen bed made by a craftsperson requested by the owner, and several items one might traditionally think of as “mismatched” such as the nightstands (one navy, one white) and lamps (one brass, one blue ceramic) or the bedding scheme that mixes cotton, linen, silk, and leather but that was all planned this way for a fresh, collected look that all balances together and feels unique and personal.”
Photography by Angela Rodriguez
Joseph Clark, Chic on the Cheap: Village West, Siesta Key
Joseph writes: “Nothing screams ‘beach’ like a vintage Woody and some surfboards. Since I wanted to keep the look consistent throughout the space (and the surfboard is in the living room already), this classic car was the inspiration. Taking that idea and adding a modern twist, the storage bed in relation to the floor showcases the same color combination that the automobile from this era would have. By continuing the use of wood for warmth, and maintaining the clean lines within the space, the warm modern feel is apparent, with the not so obvious beachy twist.”
Photography by Coastal Home Photography
Scores of design pros submitted their best recent projects—bold condo remodels, bright midcentury updates, grand mansions and more—for our inaugural Interior Design Awards competition.
Today, we take a look at the winner in the Bedroom category, and at other excellent bedroom entries.