apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That bed is dreamy. I love anything that smacks of Old Hollywood, and that definitely does!

If it was my bedroom, I'd add three things; a funky black and white rug, some big dramatic framed black and white photographs, and with that grey bedding I'd go ahead and have a velvety grey cat (a Korat, a Russian Blue, a Persian). I'd probably put the photographs in black frames to pick up on the black/white framing of the bed. Then I'd lounge around in a white satin robe and purr "Darrrrling" a lot.

Where did you find the dressers?

is it just me or does anyone else think the room is horrible? looks so sterile and uncomfortable.

Wow. This is a rental? It's gorgeous. Okay, I just got done blogging about how I really don't like headboards, but yours is beautiful. You have a very keen sense of what you like. But with that very classic bed and end tables your bedding and the way you make your bed need to be more crisp. I am not an expert on bedding, and probably other readers will have better suggestions than me. It's just that it really struck me with that beautiful bed, tables and lamps.

Your bathroom is amazing. I actually really love the cutouts. And love the idea of lucite beads.

But you are right about that TV. Absolutely obscene. Get rid of it. Your aesthetic is way too fine to cow tow to the testosterone in your life. You can sell it and have plenty of money left over for a smaller version and for your lucite beads. P.S. The dresser the TV is on is lovely. Buy a TV that fits on it. You really don't need so much TV.

Where did that bed come from???? I WANT IT!!! ahhh

This is especially interesting to me, because I'm in the process right now of black-and-whiting my own bedroom. I have two suggestions:

(1) for diy artwork, b/w paper or wallpaper would be neat -- the current issue of domino actually has a great example of a piece of beautiful b/w wallpaper framed (it's in a dining room spread), and papermojo.com (or anyplace else that sells quality paper) also has lots of cool paper that would be good in a similar treatment.

(2) b/w is pretty stark, which is awesome in a crisp, sophisticated way, but for a bedroom my opinion is that it's too stark if there's no color anywhere. In my case, I'm painting the walls a dusky gray/lavender (which every feng shui website in the world tells me means I'll never have sex again, because lavender is the color of chastity, but screw it). I think you mentioned you can't paint, but maybe you could come up with some other way to add some color so that the b/w has something to play against.

That bed is incredible. Incredible.

It's just you, mike.

While not my style, I agree that the bed is gorgeous. The problem for me is that the grand scale of this piece isn't matched by the other decor. You lose a lot of height in the room by having the drapes directly covering the windows. If you added an additional panel in the middle (covering the empty wall space) and had them all start higher, it would feel a lot more dramatic. (I can't tell if you have additional yardage at the bottom or not) Have a rod that goes all the way across, and start the outside panels wider than the window dimensions.

Have you considered a cool lucite or glass chandelier over the bed? I say even more Hollywood glam is the way to go.

Thanks for the comments! Ouch, mike. Kidding, I have different styles for different rooms, I had an antique laded bedroom for the last ten years so I wanted to go dramatically different. The rest of my things are more modern and my bedroom was the last room to be updated.

Especially since the bathroom area and fireplace are so retro 80's black and white, plus white carpet everywhere I just went with it, and tried to have some fun with a glamour theme and make what I couldn't change work. But it looks colder in the photos. I would die to paint the wall, when I bought the bed I knew that would be what it would eventually look like. Perhaps I can add a stick on large wallpaper type photo or something that will come off without damaging the paint.

I agree with you peggy, I hate how lumpy my inside comforter is. I need to get a solution to that, it's new but it is the hypo allergenic down. I want it to look crisper. I know the tv is enormous and I need to move it, I thought I would enjoy it for a while.

The dressers are from www.rapportusa.com

I would love to add a rug and the artwork behind the bed and have been looking for something with color. A chair is on it's way that will also add some color.

I love Randi's suggestion, I took down the curtains that were here and the rods are connected to the window frame. I extended my lease last fall, so I never invested in a dramatic curtain solution since I kept thinking I was moving soon. Your right about losing the scale, also love your chandelier idea.

I knew i would get help/suggestions on here...
Now if anyone knows where to find a lucite beaded curtain or one that would work please let me know.

stacey

Oh my God. That space is big enough for one hell of a pajama party. I swoon over your bed.

For the curtain: I suggest holding a bedroom warming party and have everyone bring a bag of lucite craft beads. You supply the fishing line or monofilament or whatever and announce that you're having a contest to see who can make the prettiest rope to tie someone up. After the party, you hang up the results.

Yeah, I'm full of weird ideas...

Stacey, you lucky dog! What a terrific bed-bath suite. Everything about it is diametrically opposite of what I think is my taste, but I love it.

I agree with Randi about the curtains--if you're going to have large, dark rectangles against light walls, they should be doing something visual to earn their keep, and if they extended ceiling to floor, wow. Also, I love the giant TV in that room! (Albeit not on that piece of furniture.) The big, pale-framed, dark (when off) rectangle riffs off the general 80s style in a fun way. If that makes sense to anyone but me. And forgive me my ignorance, but what is that piece sandwiched in the middle between the screen and the dresser? It looks vaguely like a microwave.)

Your paper-over-the-windows solution is nothing short of brilliant. I would have boringly cut it to fit, but the lines of light around the edges virtually turns it into art.

From what you write, it sounds as if you're having lots of fun going with a look that's all new to you. Brings out aspects of creativity you didn't know were there? I'd really enjoy seen how this room evolves, since you've renewed your lease.

Love your bed. Would love to see roman shades in the bedroom of either white edged with black grosgrain (if you used a black and white comforter with maybe some colored accent pillows) or something like black and white toile. Kelly Wearstler has done a lot of black and white with yellow accents lately, and it looks great.

I'm sorry, but this is just absolutely hideous.

i'm with mike and claire. while the bed is nice, there is something off about the entire composition in the room. too much blank space on the floors, walls, and overall height. definitely agree it looks very sterile and needs more to warm it up.

look at all the angles in the pictures - all stark and black or sharp-relief'ed in hard tiles, hard edges, etc. the only soft things i see in these pics are the bedspread, curtains and that orchid in the bathroom (bless its poor soul), and bedding/curtains are so dark in color/temperature they really aren't doing anything to lighten up the starkness.

stark and neutral is how i would sum up this room (which may be exactly the effect stacey is going for, i don't know.) you need an accent color. personally, i suggest bringing in some rich gold tones or dusty baby blues, and curvy armchairs if you want to go with hollywood glam. art on the walls will help too but i just foresee more bold, black frames, so i'm not sure how good a fix that would be.

my two cents.

Well, it's seems I'm with mike and Clair here. Sorry but don't like it at all. It's like shabby chic done in black and white.

Well, it's seems I'm with mike and Clair on this. Sorry but don't like it at all! It's like shabby chic done in black and white.

you have GREAT pieces but need something to pull them all together.

It needs a pop of color, some texture or pattern for contrast (maybe black and white paisley or stripes on the bed), some art and a couple more pillows.

but your first step should be to lose the clutter on your nightstands!!!

It's nice, but basic.

The window curtains really bother me. There needs to be some dramatic bar holding them, or something. They just sway out too much.

The walls are kind of "sterile" looking, namely because of those green curtains. And, those green sheets are off, too. There's just something that doesn't "go" here. I'd alter the curtains, sheets, and bedding, at minimum. It's a nice start. :)

Its good. Good and terrible. Its trying to be old Hollywood but it just looks old. Unlike others, I HATE the bed. It looks cheap and the beigge carpeting is awful. The artwork above the fireplace is the nicest thing about the place but I feel sorry for it that it has to be in that room.

Edina,

If you bothered to read my comments you would see I am renting. I didn't put in the beige carpeting, I hate it as well. I would never put it all through the bathroom or design and black and white tub/shower area.

It's not a good picture of the bed you can find a better one on the digs website, the bed is gorgeous and to be blunt, expensive.

I find out this month if I can extend or have to move, if i move, I will paint the wall behind the bed and those curtains will go. I am still waiting on my custom shades that go better with the lamps.

As for Clair and Mike, you are certainly welcome to your opinions, but being mean is not helpful or productive or what this site is about. You're not judges on top design, why bother posting just to be so negative? I see photos of rooms I don't care for, but I would never post just to say it's hideous. How is that helpful? Go to another site and let us have this one full of posters who give ideas and suggestions.

I appreciate all the other comments that were helpful and look forward to incorporating them.
I am still trying to find a solution for crisper looking bedding.

stacey

Huge Wildlife in Winter photographic posters add a touch of color to the home without compromising the black and white elegance of the design.