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Room Tour: A Large Bedroom Suite Gains Storage and Distinct Zones
Muted shades, natural materials, varied textures and discreet storage have cosied up this bedroom in a midcentury house
There was plenty of space to play with in this en suite bedroom and dressing room in a 1950s home. “They liked things quite minimalist, but still wanted the room to feel cosy, homely and warm,” designer Heather Kealey says of the owners, a young couple with busy jobs.
Heather employed a number of design ideas to create a different feel in different parts of the open-plan room, painting a wall behind the bed a dark and restful shade and softening up the scheme further with furniture made from reclaimed wood.
She also wanted her layout to capitalise on the natural light that streams through glazed doors at either end of the space, and the owners were keen to have lots of storage. See how Heather brought the couple’s brief to life beautifully.
Heather employed a number of design ideas to create a different feel in different parts of the open-plan room, painting a wall behind the bed a dark and restful shade and softening up the scheme further with furniture made from reclaimed wood.
She also wanted her layout to capitalise on the natural light that streams through glazed doors at either end of the space, and the owners were keen to have lots of storage. See how Heather brought the couple’s brief to life beautifully.
The bed comes into its own as daylight fades. “Because it’s a big room, the idea was to make this area feel cosy, so you’re not in the centre of a large space when you get into bed,” Heather says.
The stone-coloured upholstery sets the neutrals theme and Heather has added lots of textures to create warmth.
The couple were keen for low maintenance and Heather chose bedding that doesn’t need ironing.
She also specified layered lighting, and discreet dimmable ceiling spots and bedside pendants can all be controlled by switches next to the bed. “It gives it that hotel feel,” she says.
Jacquard bedding, Marks & Spencer. Throw; large cushions, all The White Company. Lights, Cox & Cox.
The stone-coloured upholstery sets the neutrals theme and Heather has added lots of textures to create warmth.
The couple were keen for low maintenance and Heather chose bedding that doesn’t need ironing.
She also specified layered lighting, and discreet dimmable ceiling spots and bedside pendants can all be controlled by switches next to the bed. “It gives it that hotel feel,” she says.
Jacquard bedding, Marks & Spencer. Throw; large cushions, all The White Company. Lights, Cox & Cox.
The door into the room is on the left here and opens into this walk space, which connects the dressing and sleeping areas (ahead, right and left respectively) with a shower room (to the left of where the photographer is standing).
Heather made use of the space with full-height bespoke storage that includes a built-in dressing table.
Find an interior designer on Houzz today.
Heather made use of the space with full-height bespoke storage that includes a built-in dressing table.
Find an interior designer on Houzz today.
The room features two sets of French windows with Juliet balconies. This one floods the dressing area with light. It also provides a view of the garden from the bed.
The chest of drawers is made from reclaimed wood and the lamp base is recycled glass. “I try to make sustainable choices, using local furniture suppliers and reclaimed materials where possible,” Heather says.
Black detailing – in the curtain pole (see next photo), chest of drawers legs and pewter handles, as well as in the monochrome prints – helps to pull the design together. The sockets and switches are also pewter.
Lamp, Nkuku. Find Your Luck print by Coco Lapine.
The chest of drawers is made from reclaimed wood and the lamp base is recycled glass. “I try to make sustainable choices, using local furniture suppliers and reclaimed materials where possible,” Heather says.
Black detailing – in the curtain pole (see next photo), chest of drawers legs and pewter handles, as well as in the monochrome prints – helps to pull the design together. The sockets and switches are also pewter.
Lamp, Nkuku. Find Your Luck print by Coco Lapine.
Looking back from this part of the room shows how bright the space is; you can see the daylight thrown across the floor from the second set of glazed doors at the far end.
In between the two tall units on the left, Heather designed in a bridging drawer topped by a full-height mirror. “It’s opposite the door,” Heather says, “so if that’s open as you come up the stairs, which are just outside, it’s a nice impact. The hallway is quite dark, so it gives a sense of more light.”
Chair, Homesense. Cushion, owners’ own (originally from Marks & Spencer). Upholstered dressing table stool, Oka.
In between the two tall units on the left, Heather designed in a bridging drawer topped by a full-height mirror. “It’s opposite the door,” Heather says, “so if that’s open as you come up the stairs, which are just outside, it’s a nice impact. The hallway is quite dark, so it gives a sense of more light.”
Chair, Homesense. Cushion, owners’ own (originally from Marks & Spencer). Upholstered dressing table stool, Oka.
Heather built in even more storage at the far end of the space, just beyond the pocket door into the bathroom.
The pencil pleat curtains are linen and Heather put down a sisal rug to add texture and also to protect the woven carpet from wet feet. “I tried to keep materials as natural as possible,” she says.
The colours give the whole space a calm feel. “I wanted to go with something that would be timeless and classic, which is why we went for these muted shades,” Heather says.
The large artwork is a black-and-white Matisse print called The Plain Tree 1951.
Joinery painted in Portland Stone; walls painted in Portland Stone - Light, both Little Greene. Rug, H&M Home.
The pencil pleat curtains are linen and Heather put down a sisal rug to add texture and also to protect the woven carpet from wet feet. “I tried to keep materials as natural as possible,” she says.
The colours give the whole space a calm feel. “I wanted to go with something that would be timeless and classic, which is why we went for these muted shades,” Heather says.
The large artwork is a black-and-white Matisse print called The Plain Tree 1951.
Joinery painted in Portland Stone; walls painted in Portland Stone - Light, both Little Greene. Rug, H&M Home.
Low maintenance was a key request for the shower room. “Large tiles are much easier to clean,” Heather says, “so we went for these and kept everything else quite simple.
The niche in the shower is really handy,” she continues. “The owners have really big shampoo and conditioner bottles, so we measured these to ensure everything would fit.”
The controls and a handheld hose are just out of shot, at the entrance to the space. “It means the owners can clean the shower easily and can also turn it on without having to get in first,” Heather says.
A wall-hung vanity unit with a marble top sits into a slightly recessed area. “Here, it was about maximising storage, but also making it feel nice,” she says.
The metals are a dark-coloured stainless steel in a satin brushed finish. “It’s not as shiny as chrome, it’s easier to keep clean, and it also softens the look and feels more contemporary and considered,” Heather says.
A wall-hung loo, out of shot, is to the left of the basins and has a niche above it for hand towels, to mirror the one in the shower
Sanitaryware, Rak Ceramics. Lights, Garden Trading.
The niche in the shower is really handy,” she continues. “The owners have really big shampoo and conditioner bottles, so we measured these to ensure everything would fit.”
The controls and a handheld hose are just out of shot, at the entrance to the space. “It means the owners can clean the shower easily and can also turn it on without having to get in first,” Heather says.
A wall-hung vanity unit with a marble top sits into a slightly recessed area. “Here, it was about maximising storage, but also making it feel nice,” she says.
The metals are a dark-coloured stainless steel in a satin brushed finish. “It’s not as shiny as chrome, it’s easier to keep clean, and it also softens the look and feels more contemporary and considered,” Heather says.
A wall-hung loo, out of shot, is to the left of the basins and has a niche above it for hand towels, to mirror the one in the shower
Sanitaryware, Rak Ceramics. Lights, Garden Trading.
Heather’s clients are delighted with the result. “They didn’t describe themselves as creative types,” Heather says. “It’s to their taste, but they probably wouldn’t have got there on their own to get this overall look.
“They’re a really busy working couple and they said it was a lot more stress-free than if they’d tackled it themselves,” she adds. “It was a really smooth project.”
Heather says she uses Houzz Pro software for all her projects, particularly the new room planner, the mood boards and the clipper tool, as well as using it to create proposals and invoices.
“The clipper tool means clients can have a look at all the products and prices,” she says. “I usually give them a couple of options and they can go through and pick what they want.”
The couple were clearly pleased with the process and results – they’ve asked Heather to design their kitchen, too.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite detail in this bedroom suite? Let us know in the Comments.
“They’re a really busy working couple and they said it was a lot more stress-free than if they’d tackled it themselves,” she adds. “It was a really smooth project.”
Heather says she uses Houzz Pro software for all her projects, particularly the new room planner, the mood boards and the clipper tool, as well as using it to create proposals and invoices.
“The clipper tool means clients can have a look at all the products and prices,” she says. “I usually give them a couple of options and they can go through and pick what they want.”
The couple were clearly pleased with the process and results – they’ve asked Heather to design their kitchen, too.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite detail in this bedroom suite? Let us know in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A young couple
Location Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Property A 1950s house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Room dimensions Approximately 5m x 8m
Designer Heather Kealey of Heather Kealey Interiors
Project year 2022
Photos by Thomas Orme
The redesigned bedroom was part of a whole-house project that included a double-height rear extension. The new en suite space – a bedroom, a dressing room, a passage filled with storage and a shower room – are all within the new section of the building. As such, Heather had a fairly blank canvas to play with.
The bed is tucked away in this little nook, separated by a half wall from the dressing area.
Dark wall painted in Pompeian Ash, Little Greene.