A french bedroom to re-do

by Sharon Santoni
What do you think about this room?  The photo is from Art et Decoration,  the bedroom of a Paris flat.  I think it makes an interesting exercise in interior design.
A difficult space to furnish as the room is fairly long and narrow with all the light at one end.
I like the mouldings on the ceilings and the walls,  and the old writing desk with the pink inside, and I’m sort of intrigued by the black upholstered wall ….   but I’m not convinced by the overall effect.

I would change the drapes, and alter the colour of the floor and …….. and ……

but first of all you tell me –
 if you were given this room as a clean palette, what you would you do with it?

  ~ oOo ~

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53 comments

Mystica November 16, 2012 - 12:34 pm

I'd like to move the table closer to the window as you could then look out as well! I'd definitely get rid of the upholstered wall. It looks too dark in my opinion.

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ParisGrrl November 16, 2012 - 12:36 pm

hmm, I think I'd work with the existing floor and black wall…update to a coordinating bedding/drapery scheme, add an arty array of white twinkle led lights against the dark wall, close the desk, add another little chair and an easily moveable table (and perhaps a small rug) to create a sitting area under the ceiling light. I'd also add more touches of black and gold throughout the room, including the ceiling lamp, to pull these accent colors together. None of that would be difficult or terribly expensive, and could make this little chamber sing. (With thanks to my mother, from whom I got my "You know what this needs…." gene. 🙂

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Kris Vogelsang November 16, 2012 - 12:42 pm

I'd move the desk to the other side of the fireplace closer to the window, then I'd place a comfy chaise in the other window corner facing the fireplace with a petite sidetable to hold a cup of tea. What a great place it would be to curl up on and read a book! I'd probably change the black headboard to a grey. Otherwise-love the room!!

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Down Raspberry Lane November 16, 2012 - 2:13 pm

The dark wall is beautiful in and of itself, but not in this room. It makes the room feel even narrower than it is. I love Kris's chaise idea! It would be pretty to have some color on the ceiling, keeping the mouldings white, and rug would be good. I like the light original floors myself. Also would use something less heavy over the fireplace. That mirror is the wrong scale for the fireplace. I love the desk!

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Brenda Murphy November 16, 2012 - 2:14 pm

LOVE, and you highlighted one of my favourite magazines!

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Dandy November 16, 2012 - 2:39 pm

I couldn't deal with the black behind the bed.I would use another big patterned insert or a painting, wither very large or very small. But I like the furniture arrangement, and the scale of the pieces.

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david terry November 16, 2012 - 3:14 pm

I agree with Dandy…..the black-behind-the-bed would have to go…..it makes me think of an overpriced, trying-2-hard-2-b-"fashionable" hotel of the sort you can readily find in Berlin. they always end up looking like something designed by the same folks who did all the videos for "Wham!" Trust me, I know whereof I speak.

Dandy's instincts are good (of course I would say so…..her and mine seem to be the same). My first thought would be that I needed to find some light, 'pretty', Indian or Oriental piece of fabric (nothing "french")…one that didn't particularly "say" anything…have that framed or installed in moulding….or buy a very large Helen Frankenthaler painting, should I just happen to have several million dollars to spend on a bedroom.

Advisedly yours as ever,

david Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com

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michele November 16, 2012 - 3:43 pm

i couldn't live with the dark tufting behind the bed, and i think i would create a comfortable living area in the fireplace area with seating and a small coffee table.

smiles to you.

michele

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PURA VIDA November 16, 2012 - 3:43 pm

The first thing I would do is put a great big fern in front of that window. I actually like the curtains, but perhaps just the soft color of them. I showed my hubs the tufted wall and he went hmmmm…in a good way…we really might consider for our master…but not black. I would take out the desk and pull a very chubby cozy chair up to that fireplace..fun to consider!

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Liz November 16, 2012 - 5:10 pm

I would have a difficult job topping this. It's gorgeous!

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Virginia November 16, 2012 - 5:29 pm

I'm struck by the sparse furnishings. I'm so over the overdone gargantuan master suites in the US. I watch too much HGTV I suppose. I love the little desk with the pink interior. I don't like the bed furnishings. Too miss matched for me I think. The dark headboard , no. You're right, the moulding and the fireplace are wonderful. Curtains are skimpy somehow. Thanks for asking! : )
BTW, I'd kill for this Paris apt.
V

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Maggie C November 16, 2012 - 5:55 pm

If I were "given this room as a clean palette" I would sit down in the center of it and cry huge tears of joy!

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Ido November 16, 2012 - 6:16 pm

I would remove the dark wall definitely. I would put a very Parisian sitting area by the window and change the channdelier to a more blingy one, also change the bedding to white, that will give more light to that side of the room.

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Kristie Franklin November 16, 2012 - 6:56 pm

This is definitely a challenging room to decorate! I would remove the dark wall, and add a chandelier with more presence, and use a different finish on the floor. I struggle with the amount of wall space left with to work with.

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Christel von Country Charme November 16, 2012 - 11:02 pm

It´s a most lovely room and I would of course keep all the ravissante period features like the mouldings. The point of the colour scheme in that room seems to be that the grey marble of the fireplace is supposed to be echoed by the different shades of grey of the desk and the blanket on the bed. Maybe not to take grey again, this was darkened to black on the wall behind the bed. Though this seems logical, for me the black wall is not really in touch with the rest of the room. So if this black ´bedhead´ is to be kept I might give the floor a somewhat distressed painting of a generously dimensioned black and white checkboard pattern with a classical border along the walls. This should work to much better integrate the black wall.
But what I personally really would love is to replace the rather dark and sinister wall with a sensuous 18th century subtle shade of mauve or rich plum. Velvet would be great. And to replace the drapes with heavy silk in a slightly different shade of mauve. I would also paint the walls in a much lighter greyish kind of mauve. Stucco technique on the walls would be even better to add another touch of lavish luxury. All these mauves should bring out the greys of the furniture nicely. Of course the curtains should have at least floor length and some of the cushions on the bed would need different colours and patterns. A mixture of toile de Jouy in dark grey, purple velvet and the silk of the curtains might make a nice performance. If you do not like purple or mauve at all: grey also goes very good with different shades of mint or lichen, too. – I do not think that as a bedroom the room has to be made ´lighter´at any cost, but I absolutely agree with the ones who have voted for a more showy chandelier to add a feature of elegance! Christel

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:04 am

or maybe a second chair near the window?

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:05 am

love the ideas but it seems a shame to close that little desk and hide the pink!

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:06 am

love the idea of a tea table, but remember the fireplace is probably never used

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:06 am

I think you are right that the black makes the room narrower

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:07 am

🙂

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Lorrie Orr November 17, 2012 - 12:33 am

Instead of black tufting behind the bed, I would think about a soft silk in a shimmery light grey colour, and carry the pink of the desk and the draperies into bedding and accents. A cozy chair beside the window to look out over Paris and dream would be de rigueur pour moi! A sparkly chandelier would bright the light further into the room, and if there were another lamp beside the bed, I'd make it crystal as well.
It's fun to dream!

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:42 am

So you've been to hotels like that too have you David?!

If you want to go halves on a Frankenthaler just give me a shout
xx

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:42 am

the black is rather oppressive in such a small room, I agree

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:43 am

thanks michelle, I think some comfortable seating is an excellent idea

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:43 am

We all need husbands that go hmmmm … so much better than tuttut!
xx

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:44 am

I'm sure the designer would be pleased to hear that Liz
x

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:44 am

less is always more Virginia 🙂

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:45 am

You are very sweet Maggie

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sharon santoni at my french country home November 17, 2012 - 12:45 am

glad you picked up on the chandelier Ido, I'd also prefer an alternative

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Anonymous November 17, 2012 - 1:53 am

I would get rid of the black tufted headboard and the gold mirror. I would do a wall design using different size venetian mirrors over the bed; a lovely pastel painting over the fireplace and a knock out crystal chandelier. I would do the colors in a soft peachy pink and taupe and white. Soft velvety throw in peach pink laid across the bed.

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the designers muse November 17, 2012 - 2:46 am

I love the plaster crown mouldings! And I like the pink drapes. The black tufted head board adds a little modern spark to an otherwise traditional space. I like the juxtaposition.
Jennifer

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La Dolfina November 17, 2012 - 3:07 am

I love it!!

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Vicki November 17, 2012 - 3:51 am

It's a bit of a mish-mash to me. I definitely do not like the black wall although I suppose it might have been done to create a separateness/intimacy for the bed. I'm no designer but I like things opened up; let the light and air flood the room…so I'd probably paint all the walls white and maybe contrast with a dark floor or dark furniture.

I can almost gasp (in rapture) at the memory of a beautiful room I once called my own for three days in Nice. It was a vintage hotel (one of those whitewashed ones) just off the "promenade." Although this was a lifetime ago, I clearly recall the gorgeous light Nice is known for pouring into the sun-drenched space…the blue, blue sea (like only the Cote d'Azur can be); clear sky with white, puffy clouds…as seen through the room's open French doors onto a black wrought-iron balcony, billowing white batiste/lace curtains in the sea breeze; white walls, white duvet and feather bed with pressed, crisp-but-soft sheets and pillowslips. White, white, white. I don't remember the floor but I do remember the high ceilings with medallions and large, heavy, dark/burnished wood (antique) armoire (beautifully made…seasoned with time) and similarly-toned petite writing desk with elegant chair; such a well-appointed, unbelievably-comfortable room. Luxury to which I was not accustomed (but which spoiled me forever!). The image in your post reminds me of it very much (the length and, as you say, light at one end) and it's how I'd choose to make over this other room because I was sold on French design/decor after the privilege of briefly living in such lovely surroundings, wishing it could be for an entire summer, and then never leave!

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david terry November 17, 2012 - 4:00 am

P.S. (and trust me on this…)

No heterosexual guy is going to want to sleep(at least not for one than one or two nights) in that bed with that tufted, Carrie-Bradshaw, vaudeville-backdrop, black-velvet (or whatever the stuff is…however expensive it is, it still LOOKS cheap and rather obviously easy-to-do).

do you really want to wake up next to a guy who confirms your taste by declaring "this headboard is FABU-lous!!!!"?

I'd be worried, if I were you in that situation….

that said?…

I'm well-aware that the majority of women these days are not intent on (as we used to say) building a better mantrap.

Still, the black headboard calls too much attention to itself…..like a lot of everything Cecil Beaton did in his latter years. Why would a woman, single or coupled or aspiring-to-be-so, or perfectly content, have a bedroom that looked as though it belonged to a 60 year old gay man with financial-means? (actually, I know why…so don't bother to answer that completely rhetorical question).

I probably should also admit that I couldn't ever even begin to live in that room. I got myself too many white-haired, west-highland terriers sleeping with me every night (Herve has to find his own spot, somewhere amidst the tangle of various bodies), and that whole, black-backed bed (let's not get into the desk with the fleshy-pink interior, shall we not?) would look like merry hell in about two hours after arriving here.

So, in the end…my "opinion" doesn't count for much. As usual, I'm being completely self-serving and self-referential.

Not to be more than usually crude, but?….

I was once told (by a very sophisticated, if not exactly what my mother would refer to as a "virtuous" woman) that she'd made a point (and, yes…she'd been married for a long/several whiles to 2 husbands who had affairs of their own) of never keeping very-white or very dark sheets (and, presumably, this would apply to black-velvet, tufted headboards) on the bed. Otherwise, one's husband was likely to notice that something wan't HIS hair….and it wasn't YOUR hair….and all sorts of easily avoidable hell would break loose….

All of which is to say that I give big "NIX" on the black, tufted-velvet headboard, for all sorts of sound and sensible reasons.
Advisedly yours as ever,

Uncle David
http://www.davidterryart.com

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Mary Anne Komar November 17, 2012 - 9:55 am

The black tufted wall has to go! It gets way to much attention in such a small space, too much in your face! It just doesn't jive. Something to soft and keeping with the style, and maybe unexpected like the pink in the desk but a paler shade?

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Anonymous November 17, 2012 - 11:59 am

replace black wall paper with a floor to ceiling wall to wall mirrored wall that would bring light into room and make room bigger….replace oval mirror on fireplace with a beautiful picture,large picture some think French.
change curtains to heavy rich cream drapes possibly with a cream duvet.keep Gray blanket but just have it draped over end of bed…
large rug with soft pale greys pale cream ….leave all other furniture in room

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frenchimmersion November 17, 2012 - 12:01 pm

I would ditch the black wall – However, having spent my life trying to lean against my antique french metal bed head while reading, a padded headboard appeals greatly. I would find a huge antique gilt or distressed grey mirror frame, remove the glass and replace with a slightly padded stretch of beautiful fabric (not necessarily toile, but in pale dusty pinks and greys perhaps and perhaps floral, perhaps plain) This would become my headboard. I would get rid, immediately of those horrible lamps above the bed and have side tables with beautiful lamps. The fireplace is beautiful so I would compliment all the colours in tones of very soft pink and grey/pink, with a pale tone of warm grey on the walls. The curtains need to be slighly heavier in a slightly stronger grey/pink and a beautiful chaise and cusions and a throw on it and the bed. Frankly, I would like to see that fire burning on a winters night, but I would have to employ a 'maid' to clean and relay it in the morning!!!

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Mary Pellerito November 17, 2012 - 12:44 pm

I don't like the black upholstered wall. I think the room has enough architectural interest. Maybe copying the wall treatment that is above the desk over the bed would work.

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Anonymous November 17, 2012 - 2:05 pm

I must be quite contrary, but whenever I read comments where almost everyone agrees that something has to go, it makes me want to play devil's advocate and look harder at the issues.

For me this room has a lightness of touch. A nice mix of delicates and drama. Not sure what a gay man's bedroom would look like so I can't comment on that. But to me this looks like a bedroom for a woman who plans to have a man sleeping over sometimes. I like the fact that it's not over-decorated or too matchy matchy or too much furniture which would make it even smaller. Yes it's a very narrow room, like many Paris apartments, but the black buttoned wall (which I would never have thought of doing myself) gives it depth and solidity to play off against the lighter more girly and flirtatious elements. Yes, can see that hairs could be a problem. Not necessarily super practical – but a light touch with a vacuum cleaner brush attachment should remove them. I wouldn't want to live in this room permanently but I'd be very happy to rent a holiday apartment with this bedroom style. Best wishes, Pamela

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Kassandra November 17, 2012 - 4:43 pm

Ha…since you asked!!! Love the fabric wall, but might change the color. I could live in this room…and under the windows a very plush lounging/seating area, maybe a chaise and super comfy chair and reading light and side tables, maybe no desk at all. Just a great bedroom hangout…only have a desk if there was no other place in the rest of the home for it. I think I would put a dressing table/vanity there….something simple.

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Anonymous November 17, 2012 - 5:37 pm

I agree with Kris that I would add a chaise in the corner and change the headboard to a soft gray. I probably would change the curtains to a white or light gray fabic on a white wooden rod. The bed sheets are beautiful and look soft. I would fold the gray blanket across the bottom of the bed, remove the toss pillows and add two pillow shams with light gray piping and a small pillow of a pink color to match the inside of the desk. Love, love, love the room!

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SALLY November 17, 2012 - 5:56 pm

HATE the black "headboard." Overwhelms the room. I'd darken the floors and use a traditional grey tufted headboard instead. The grey would pull out the grey marble fireplace surround.

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Ann X November 18, 2012 - 1:08 am

If it would be mine I would make it to fit my lifestyle first which means – moving bed where the little desk is now and the little desk where the black wall is. Currently the bed is facing the door… I prefer at least some privacy for my sleep. Also it seems silly for me to enter the door, squeeze past the bed each time when I want to do something at my desk. Secondly, I'm interested to look outside the window in the morning, waking up, so bed close to window would fit me better. At night I read alot or do some knitting where the good, pointed lamp is far better than changing outside light plus having my desk in front of door would let me keep an eye on family better while I'm doing something. The black wall goes – definitely. I would probably play with some different shades of white – a plain, bright white matt paint near window, and some glossy ivory for my electrical light area. Floor I like, natural wood looks pleasing to my eye while marble fireplace looks so much "designed"and thus – wrong. Again – I would like to get in different shades of ivory. The current wall behind the desk is ok for me, the bed covers would be arranged in gray-ivory shades to match it, just two colours, nothing fancy.
I also hate the mirror on the fireplace – never liked mirros in such places so it would go on the wall opposite window. Instead of mirror I prefer some painting.
I would probably use the gray/ivory/beige carpet in my reading area, something which visually would break the rythm of floorboards which currently make the room look too narrow and too prolonged towards window (but it also could be just lense used for the picture). The shape of the bedlamp also would go – such bedlamps are no no for me.

Current colour of curtains also would be changed to ivory/beige shades to match the rest. I always have a lot of bric-a-brac around me so less colours permanently in my room the better it looks.

Bed itself seems ok for me; desk is not practical enough for me but I would keep it as well. The chair is not good at all except hanging clothes for the night – I need a good, sturdy armchair (maybe something in Empire style) for comfortable sitting so that would be added.

All in all this room looks like a picture for most of design magazines – good camera, a lot of playing with light, fancy mixture of colours, but nothing to do with reality we must face on our daily paths. I agree, that putting bed near the window in picture would kill all the beautiful light on the floorboards and all that, of course, but if I would need to LIVE in such a room, that would be my way.

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Anonymous November 18, 2012 - 7:13 am

If you look at the desk closely you'll see it's probably being used already as a kind of dressing table, sans miroir. There appear to be small boxes and bottles, more likely for perfume, toiletries or jewellery, than serious stationery items. Quirky but rather cute.

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Debbie November 19, 2012 - 9:34 am

I would keep all the beautiful mouldings, get rid of the black headboard, replace it in a soft grey, put crisp white sheets on the bed and a gorgeous bed covering of some kind in grey, navy, white, put a chaise lounge near the window in a light grey and a small side table for a glass of wine. I'd paint the walls white and keep the mirror but the pink on the desk would have to go along with the curtains. I'd hang full length curtains in white with navy on the bottom made from Thai silk.

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Elin November 20, 2012 - 11:46 am

Go ahead and paint the floors white! I did it in my old bedroom, mostly to cover up a really ugly floor, and it worked beautifully. In order to make it more scratchresistant, I propose that you finish it off by a layer or two of transparent varnish.

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Lis Steeden November 27, 2012 - 10:00 am

….could I sleep in that room, yes, I guess I could….however, that massive 'dark padded head board' takes over the entire room! The mirror is beautiful, but it should have been hung in another room, not here. A silver, grey or whitish frame to pick up the colours of the main feuture in the room, the mantel/marble place, which cannot just be moved! The golden lamps on the padded head board are awful, again the colour does not go! It's interesting to see the throw on the bed is grey, it matches the desk and picking up the colours in the mantel/fire place, perfect! You should nearly always have to go for the main feature, in this case the mantel/fire place, in a room and then work your way around it, why not have followed this through? The white and grey colours are beautiful, maybe thrown in with a mixture of a few darker grey, sharp green and/or shocking pink cushions or maybe not? Why not a small nice bed side table on each side of the bed and a couple of identical nice lamps (Maisons du Monde comes to mind), also that way you'll have nice side light as supposed to sharp above your head light (which I hate) – it's a bedroom, so it should be soft and warm! The curtains do not go either, why not cream/white even light grey would have been pertect! Finally I would have painted the floor boards white, as that would have been the finishing touch to this bedroom! This room could so quickly be a delight to the eye, not sure that it is as presented, either the decorator might be just slightly colour blind or not know how to put things together or both, as it looks to me – to get 'that special touch'…. Lis 🙂

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