Home: Dream Space

space dream

By Brooke Reynolds + Photos by Chris Whonsetler + Ashlee Kindred

Wondering how to transform your ho-hum bedroom? We talked to three Indianapolis-based interior designers who know the importance of a soothing bedroom space. Here’s a peek inside bedrooms these designers created, as well as tips to help you turn your own bedroom into a sanctuary — and your favorite room in the house.

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TIFFANY'S BEDROOM FAVORITES

ACCESSORY I love using pillows to add texture, color and pattern. They make a bedroom feel warm and inviting, and they’re easy to swap out or add to. Accent pillows in different shapes (square and lumbar, for example) finish a bedroom better than anything else. COLOR Blue and gray are calming and soft, but not boring, and often invoke a feeling of peace. We retreat to our bedrooms to unwind after long days or relax on lazy weekend mornings, and I feel most comfortable surrounded by light, cool colors. MUST-HAVE Dimmable lighting creates a soft ambiance. Dim light offers enough light to read in the evening and slowly wake up in the morning. Whether it’s through lamps or a lovely chandelier, dimmable statement lighting can pull an entire bedroom together. SKIMP Modern and fresh bedroom appeal doesn’t always mean buying new. Refresh existing pieces that add character to the space. For example, placing a modern lamp on an antique nightstand creates a wonderful juxtaposition of old and new. SPLURGE Decorative lighting, bedding, pillows and art.

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balance timeless

TIFFANY SKILLING, INTERIOR DESIGNER, TIFFANY SKILLING INTERIORS

Tiffanyskillinginteriors.com, @tiffanyskillinginteriors

Avid antiquer and former fashion-industry stylist Tiffany Skilling turned her love of interior design into a business in 2015. Soon after, Tiffany renovated her own historic fixer-upper in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood, opened it up for a neighborhood association home tour and shamelessly handed out business cards as she answered questions. Soon, word spread about Tiffany’s unique skill set of managing projects and bringing her clients’ ideas to life.

Tiffany’s professional background in textile and fashion design, and her love of travel and antiquing, guide her work in distinctive ways. She’s inspired to both transform homes and reveal their owners’ stories.

Tiffany subscribes to the belief that modern and new doesn’t always achieve the look. “You can refresh existing foundation pieces that add character to a space,” she said. “In a bedroom, the bed is a key grounding element,” Tiffany said. “Dress it up with layers of cozy bedding and decorative pillows. The patterns and colors of the bed linens add to the room’s overall design.” Scale matters, too. “Keep things in proportion,” Tiffany said. To create interesting juxtapositions, try wall coverings. “Layering a subtle, traditional wall covering behind a contemporary dresser provides balance — and impact.”

1 Collections like this assortment of floral still life paintings add richness to a bedroom. 2 The homeowner found the medallions to the right of the bed at a vintage market — a special time and place. Framed and painted, they tell a story that adds to the room’s design. 3 Blue and gray hues evoke a feeling of peace, and dimmable lighting creates a soft ambiance.

order natural

ANISSA ZAJAC, CEO AND LEAD DESIGNER, HOUSE SEVEN DESIGN + BUILD; CO-OWNER, THE HOUSE SEVEN SHOPPE

housesevendesign.com, shoppehouseseven.com, @housesevendesign

Designer Anissa Zajac and her husband, Brian, a carpenter, have built their lives around making things beautiful. Their business began with a DIY blog and Instagram account that quickly grew to 337,000 followers. Now Anissa combines her creative designs with Brian’s skills at House Seven Design + Build, which offers design and renovation services, as well as a decor store, The House Seven Shoppe.

“Your bedroom should be the place you can't wait to get to at the end of a long day or when you return home from a trip,” Anissa said. "There should be a feeling of happiness, comfort and security in your space. I often tell clients to think back to their best night's sleep and what they remember most. Those thoughts help guide them to choose the right elements for their space. Your bedroom is the one place in your home that's meant just for you, and it should feel like it.”

Anissa likes to pair natural, organic materials such as linen, wood and metal, with colors found in nature to create a soothing and relaxing mood. When styling bedrooms, Anissa takes an organic approach. Sometimes she’ll start with a piece of funky driftwood or a fresh bouquet of wildflowers. That natural inspiration leads to a look that’s minimalist yet relaxing and warm.

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1 Throw blankets add texture. This Indian wool throw is available at the House Seven Shoppe. 2 Save by finding vintage or second-hand nightstands, then repainting them and replacing 3 the hardware to suit your style. 3 Refresh your room often by changing out throw pillows. 4 Mix in vintage materials on throw pillows or upholstery.

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ANISSA’S BEDROOM FAVORITES

ACCESSORY A down mattress and a linen comforter. COLOR Natural hues and shades of white. I’m inspired by nature. MUST-HAVE Photos from your childhood and vacations make a bedroom feel like home. SKIMP Buy a headboard (the eye-catching part!), not the entire bed. You can also skimp on lights, curtains and rugs. SPLURGE The bed is where you’ll spend the most time in this room, so invest in quality foundation pieces — your mattress, topper and sheets. I always use linen and sateen sheets with a high thread count.

energy eclectic

STACY MOLANDER, OWNER, FLORIST AND LEAD DESIGNER, RUSTED WINDOW

rustedwindow.com, @rustedwindow

Since bedrooms are often shared spaces, they can create challenges when it’s time for partners to make collective choices. Designer Stacy Molander resolves such issues by sending items home with her clients so they can live with the design updates for a few days — a practical option for commitment-phobes "Bedrooms may be the last room people finish decorating, yet they may be the most important because of how they make us feel," Stacy said. “They’re the place we begin and end each day.” To achieve a calming bedroom space, Stacy gravitates toward monochromatic color schemes, choosing to focus on just one color for the entire bedroom. “You can change and update a neutral foundation with the seasons or as you feel inspired,” she said. Stacy’s preference? White. “Layers of white linens and pillows with touches of wood and stone are very calming to me,” she said. “We all need a calm place.” Stacy would love an all-white bedroom, but sharing the space makes that tricky. “I love my husband and our 78-pound lap dog, but they’re a little messy to go all white,” she said.

1 A pop of floral can make a shared room feel feminine, but don’t go overboard unless you’re open to your partner’s sports posters. 2 Add subtle pops of color to perk up a monochromatic room. Try eclectic throw pillows you can change out with seasons or trends. 3 Stacy prefers to choose accessories and bedding before painting big furniture pieces and walls. “It’s harder to find matching accessories to go with your paint than to find paint to go with your accessories.”

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STACY'S BEDROOM FAVORITES

ACCESSORY Live plants in the bedroom are a must. They provide warmth and air-purifying benefits. The shades of green on their leaves provide stressand anxiety-relieving benefits, too, which could help lull you to sleep. COLOR All white with wood textures create a calm and clean look.

MUST-HAVE Add a bit of history in your decor so your bedroom has meaning for you. Holding onto an heirloom trunk, perhaps? Or a blackand-white photo of your grandparents? The bedroom is a great place to display items that make you smile. SKIMP Instead of spending a lot on artwork and accessories, get creative and try a DIY project! SPLURGE Focus on foundation pieces. I love a good nightstand to hold and hide books, glasses and other clutter.