Touch of PEACE

In the past, romance was synonymous with over embellishments but today it is defined by a more pared-down sensuality that has little to do with frothy frills and more to do with curvy lines, glamorous touches, and the adventurous combination of the vintage with the modern and the plain with the elaborate

You can let your imagination run free when furnishing a romantic interior. Don't shy away from theatrical or dramatic pieces and seek out furniture that tells a story.

This week we are discussing a white bedroom. The owner ofthe bedroom is from Spain and she has been working in Bangladesh for the last ten years.

Her style of living is very simple, inclined towards Scandinavian preferences.  I used light beige twenty four inch tiles on the floor with a six inch deep beige border and skirting tiles at the end of the floor.

The bedroom is the only room in your home where you need a personal sanctuary. It is not only a space for fulfilling your fantasies, decorating or otherwise, it is also the ultimate retreat from the mayhem of everyday life, a peaceful place where you can dream and of course, rest and relax..

White is the absence of all colour. An all-white scheme can provide a private place in which to relax. White doesn't have to be cold; it can be warmed up with touches of texture, colour and pattern. With texture, mix and match fabrics and materials that might not sit together.

As a general rule, walls that are light and soothing will be conducive to rest and relaxation. Here we used soft, muted shades such as ivory, pearl, or oyster to keep the look understated. Ultimately, a bedroom is a place to sleep, so a comfortable bed should be your priority. The centre piece of the room, the style of bed you choose will set the tone, whether you go for a sleek, modern steel frame or an original Victorian cast iron bedstead.

In this room, we used a classic white frame four post bed with two beautiful bedside tables on either side. Simple table lamps were also placed on the bedside table and bed linen with small floral prints was used.

A bedroom has to be practical, too. It's a place to house your clothes, shoes and books, not to mention prized possessions such as jewellery, collectable trinkets, and family heirlooms, so storage is essential.

An organised closet or large cupboard, whether built in or free standing is a boon.  Here she placed a pair of white cupboard for regular stuff. These small units are really quite useful. A simple glass table and a white fabricated chair are unique for home decor.

Modern decor is not solely about strictness, but about the fusion of softness with severity, natural with manmade, and sharp corners with round curves. It does not have to exclude links with the past either. In fact, antiques take on a new splendor and sense of purpose in an unadorned, pure white space. A rusty metal chair, a beautiful lit bateau bed, or an old couch stands out all the more in a modern living space.

A bedroom should be a private, intimate place, shielded from the harsh glare of the real world. When creating a relaxing sanctuary or an elegant entertaining zone the backdrop is most important for décor.

Curtains and blinds can bring a measure of pattern into an interior in a contained way. Transparent fabrics, such as fine linen, organza, and voile make perfect curtains, with wood.

A blue day curtain with white cotton sheers creates a long vertical impression that is very soothing and a little bit of greenery can also enhance the window.

Probably the easiest way to dabble with pattern in your home is with scatter cushions, throws and accessories. Bright coloured or checked bed throws, towels, hand- embroidered vintage pillowcases, geometric patterned bed linen or a cool flower motif painting can all look at home within a white interior.

Nazneen Haque Mimi
Interior Consultant
Journeyman
E-mail: journeyman.interiors@gmail.com
Photo credit: Tamim Sujat
Special thanks to Nuria Lopaz Labrador