Refining a big bedroom

Reorganized space, new finishes make an elegant retreat

Candice Olson, Scripps Howard News Service

Published July 21, 2007 at midnight

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Laura lives in an enormous house with her husband, three children, four cats, two dogs, two rats, two hermit crabs, one snake and one snail. To say that the place is something of a zoo is no exaggeration. The house is lively and chaotic, leaving stay-at- home mom Laura exhausted at the end of each day.

Her husband is a busy surgeon, so Laura finds herself dealing with most of the bedlam by herself. But with her kids starting to spend partial days at school, she decided it was time to start thinking about herself again.

Her dream was to overhaul her massive 1980s-style master bedroom and create a traditionally inspired oasis where she could escape for a little "Laura" time and reconnect with her hard-working hubby each evening. So I called in my crew and geared up to create a luxury master bedroom that is kid-, animal- and chaos-free.

My first task was to get rid of all the dated finishes, including the gaudy green carpeting and pink faux-finished walls. I decided on a traditional and calming color palette of cream, fawn, wheat and tan. I used these neutrals on the walls and ceiling and in the new carpet; they have the same tonal quality but work as quiet contrasts.

The fabrics are what create the colors in this space. I used a subtle floral pattern for drapes and upholstery, which complements the glacier blues and bolder geometrics used for throw pillows and accents.

Next it was time to organize the space. This 500-square-foot bedroom - almost the size of the couple's first apartment - was big, but bigger doesn't always mean better. The cavernous room was vastly underutilized, so I divided it into two more manageable zones: a bed/ lounge area and a sitting area.

In the bed and lounge zone, I put in a cozy bed with a stunning beige headboard. On the bed I used sumptuous linens, textured throws and a heap of pillows. I also set up little end tables, a relaxing chaise and a mirrored desk/vanity by the window.

In the sitting area, I installed a camel-colored sofa in a durable microfiber, two chairs upholstered in the floral pattern, a cream-colored ottoman and a giant wall-leaning mirror.

Between the two areas I created a focal point with the fireplace. The existing plaster fireplace was dwarfed in the big room, so I built a mantel, painted it a neutral color and flanked it with traditional cabinetry. I also added a swiveling plasma- screen TV above the fireplace.

To lighten up the gigantic space, I relied on a variety of mirrors and, of course, lighting. I added trim, architectural detail and a beautiful pendant fixture to the room's gorgeous vaulted ceiling. I put up a big, traditional fixture that anchors the seating area and a few wall sconces that flank the windows and the fireplace.

After adding some final details - a composition of decorative mirrored blocks on one wall, a colorful area rug on the floor and all manner of elegant knickknacks - this room was complete.

With neutral colors, traditional furnishings and graceful lighting, I turned this empty, cavernous space into an elegant, high-end retreat where Laura can get away from it all.

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's "Divine Design." For more ideas, information and show times visit HGTV.com or divinedesign.tv.

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