Design crew
Sat, 12 Feb 2011
Got a problem? Need some help? Just stand there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers .... get to it! I have a Saturday to enjoy.
"I have a bit of an issue. I've just found the perfect apartment, except for one detail. My new bedroom features only one wall for my bed to go. And not only does that wall have an off centered window, but that window is very low. About a foot off the ground. I'm really hesitant to but my bed up against it when my mattress will cover part of the glass. Is there a rule about this? How can I make design sense of an off center window cut off at the bottom by a centered bed?" - Kayla
Behold the bits of Kayla's new apartment she is not having problems with ....
And now the horror that is Kayla's bedroom ....the listing photo ....
And the truth ....
"Here are the new pictures of the room. I apologize for the blurriness. Also, the window is weird. It opens on a hinge, and its close to the ground. I put the mattresses in there just for size illustration purposes." - Kayla
Come on readers. Let's help Kayla out. We know you are a super talented and opinionated bunch. Don't prove me wrong! (If you have a problem contact me with a link to your photos here.)
Reader Comments (20)
Hey Jo - I love these dilemma posts. Congrats on your new really cute apartment Kayla. You'll need to get creative with fabrics in your bedroom. The easiest thing to do is hang curtains along the whole wall, then place the head of the bed in the middle of the wall. Good luck and be sure to post an after picture!
Hi Kayla, what about getting a bed that is big enough to fill the whole wall - either custom made, or a 2x2 - a bit like this - http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qfOOnsu0SlA/TUm9ObeRIeI/AAAAAAAAA6o/LXqm08IT1sQ/s1600/16042010124906.jpg - then cover it in a nice colourfull bedspread and lots of pillows and you have a cosy daybed for daytimes. Keep the bed low so it doesn´t block of the window. It will take up more of the room with a larger bed, but the bedroom is for sleeping, not dancing on the floor! ;)
Yes, i agree with Peggy, you could try hanging curtains along the whole wall, giving the illuson of having a full wall window. However, i would suggest turning the bed around and pushing it against the wall on the right side. If possible, remove the lower mattress and having a low built-in bedhead-cum-side table ( 8" depth for the bedhead and 20" depth ( ? ) for the side table may make it look nicer too. Plus, could you repaint the wall ? White maybe ?
I completely disagree with the curtain idea!, it will make the room look frumpy and smaller than it is. Id use the window! How nice to wake up and be able to peep outside to see what the weather is before getting out. But keep the bed low, so that the window can still open! Even when you think you'll never use it.
I would make a bed that fits from wall to wall. And paint it a lighter colour. Good luck!
A murphy bed would be perfect in this room right where you have your bed now.
The murphy bed cabinet would go on the wall to the right of the window, be sure to have a mirror on the front of the murphy bed cabinet.
There would also be room for a nice chair/table in front of the window on the left wall.
It might be nice to have a chair with wheels so you can move it bring down the murphy bed if necessary
That brass sconce needs to either go or be spruced up.
You could spruce that light up with a cage over the sconce with Japanese paper to filter the light Apartment Therapy has a lot of projects you could get ideas from for that sconce.
Stay away from too much fabric it will create the feeling of living in a box of Valentine's chocolates you know the the satin lined boxes I'm talking about?
If there is a ceiling light keep it very close to the ceiling to make the room feel taller.
I would paint the entire room to freshen it up and have the wall on the left be an accent color to open up the space.
Keep the window coverings simple and maybe add a valance to make the window appear taller.
Rugs probably wouldn't be a good idea in this room it's too small to visually break up the floor.
Hi Kayla,
Unless you need a formal dining room (which I assume is the green room with the fireplace) you could consider turning it into your bedroom. If you give the bed a tailored look and keep the colour and decor consistent with the living room it will have a nice flow as a second sitting area. You could store your clothes in the small room and add a single bed for guests or a small desk. I lived in a very similar apartment for many years and this arrangement worked out very well.
Here is a great murphy bed for under $275.00
"Build a new murphy bed for under $275, total! That’s the cheapest murphy bed available, not to mention its modern elegance. And the best part is that it is so easy to build, all you will need is a power drill. That means no power saws, no sanding, no saw dust, no smelly stain, NO MESS!"
Link: http://www.moddidaypeople.com/murphy_bed_wall_bed/murphy_bed.html
Link to pics of the bed being made: http://blog.apt528.com/2008/10/moddi-pictures.html
Looking at the photos my first instinct was to have the bed against the wall on the left. That would put it's head under the window that opens. You could put blinds (nice ones!) above the head of the bed and on the second window. Then, to the right side of the head of the bed/to the right of the window you could put up a nice big piece of artwork to balance out the window, almost as if that whole wall was a feature wall consisting of the art and the window. Then, underneath the art goes a lovely bedside table and a pretty lamp. Hope that helps a little!
Please do send us pictures of the room when it's finished so that we can see! Good luck with it.
Hi Kayla: My first instinct is shared with Lin---Make the dining area your bedroom and use the tiny room with the casement window for dressing room/guest room/office/. One of my favorite apartment bedrooms I had in San Francisco was actually the dining room, complete with lovely chandelier hanging over my bed. Otherwise, if you are intent on using the tiny room as your bedroom, I would keep the bed (which I can't quite tell the size of---queen, full?) far enough away from the window wall to make it easier to make up the bed in the morning and to approach and open the window at least a little bit if you desire. If you choose to place the bed head against the left wall or the right wall, put a tiny side table next to the window wall for a small lamp, book and cup of tea. Keep three sides of the bed clear by at least a foot if possible. You will enjoy looking out the window every time you pick up your cup of tea. It's not even the end of the world to have a head board partially covering the window, especially for a bit of privacy when curtains or blinds are open, but still allowing natural light to enter the space. This is an apartment (not your final dream home) and some quirky things can turn out to be quite charming.
Because you have another nice window in that room for light, I would do this:
- install a curtain rod all the way at the top of the wall
- pick out a nice, heavy, opaque fabric
- have pinch pleat curtains made to fit the exact dimensions of the full wall
- keep them tailored, about half an inch off the ground, and neat
- center the bed with the head against the curtain wall so that the wall of curtains is like a headboard of sorts
You could still crack the curtains a bit near the middle of the wall and since you're disguising the true boundaries and proportions of the window, it would read as a centered window. I think this would make the curtain wall look like a nice soft feature wall behind the bed.
either get a bed to fit the length of the wall, or make the window a footboard - just spin the bed so you are in line with the window - i think it's great and charming! don't cover the wall, it'll be depressing!
or yes, have your bed in another room :)
i actually really like the window!
LOVE the new place! I actually don't think the listing photo does that bedroom justice. It has great light, beautiful wood floors, and a soft warm color. The windows I think are fabulous!
I would actually arrange it similar to how it is now (as shown with the mattress) -- only instead of the mattress' head being on the right, put it on the left. Also, pull it away from the window, and put a side table in the corner with the window. That way, it's not against the glass, the window will have some space to open when needed, and you'll have access to both sides of the bed. There isn't a lot of room to walk "around" to the other side, but when you think about it, it's not really necessary anyways. Hopefully, the room isn't too shallow for this to be done :)
Good luck, and I'd love to see what the results end up being !
- Ashley
This is so fun, I really enjoy reading all the suggestions. Great idea to do this one on a Saturday Jo, cheers Katherine
Courtney sent us a link to this photo and it looks soooooo comfy.
The window in the bedroom ist really a problem. But what about shutters INSIDE the room?
Claire
I was going to say try pulling the bed away from directly under the window too, with the small space that creates under the window maybe think about putting in a board that is level with the bed so you can pile your books on top, lean a nice big piece of your favorite framed art against the wall (think that would look great next to a big window) and a nice lamp (so it kind of looks like a day bed) since it would be hidden by the bed you could use whatever you want to prop the board up (i.e. cinder blocks or crates) and could use the area under that for more storage of things you don't use often.
I know, I know. I actually did say cinder blocks and crates but really, what people can't see won't hurt them. Just thinking about budgeting...
The photo that Courtney sent in is also a gorgeous set up (someone in an apartment therapy post did the same thing and loves it). If you're worried about the height of the bed, a low bed (or a platform bed) might be a solution. Or I'd rotate the bed; I totally don't see a problem with the window!
And this AT post discusses disguising off-center windows with the full wall curtain idea like some people are suggesting here.
Embrace your sweet little bedroom with the swinging window, don't try and hide it. It has personality. A possibility- keep the colours very simple although keep in mind horizontal stripes can widen a space. Make the bed into a bit of a daybed with cushions on the side where the window doesn't open. Make it even more cosy by adding a mini shelf for a couple of books. Your window could be treated to a glass frosting that you can get at hardware stores or put a curtain on the actual window so it still opens. You could add a ceiling detail so your eyes go up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22876714@N03/4698139120/
http://nestegg.typepad.com/.a/6a01156e5d7bde970c0120a8c0c6c9970b-450wi
http://indigohome.typepad.com/.a/6a010535dd5ea7970c0120a538985b970c-pi