When it comes to redesigning spaces in our homes, the reality is most of us can’t change everything at once. We do it in phases. Maybe you start with a room or two with the hopes of tackling future spaces down the road. The first areas that usually get attention are the public spaces - living rooms, dinning rooms and family rooms. That’s what most of your guests will see. Fair enough. But then our busy lives get in the way and that second project – the beautiful master bedroom you’ve always dreamed of – gets put on an indefinite hold.

I say it’s time to “un-pause” that follow-up dream project!

This is exactly what we did for a lovely couple in North Arlington. Our clients had completely decorated the first level of their wonderful home but their second floor really needed some TLC.

Teal blue and taupe master bedroom design by Suzanne Manlove of Arlington Home Interiors.

We wanted to create a relaxing, rejuvenating, retreat for their master suite - a place where they could escape and indulge in a little self-care. Since the bed is the first thing you see when you enter the space, we wanted something impactful. We designed a tall tufted headboard with wings and flanked it with custom gold leaf artwork to balance the wall. The bedroom had wall-to-wall carpeting, which our clients wanted to keep. We overlayed a hand made rug under the bed to add a luxurious focal point and to separate the sleeping area from the sitting room area.

To create a calm feeling with color and layers of texture, we added decorative curtain panels in patterned linen over the plantation shutters, grass-cloth wallpaper in a soft spa blue and metal accents for a little glam throughout the space. The clients’ own armoire was renewed with paint and new hardware (what a difference!). We added a small-scale chair and ottoman to create a sitting area in front of the fireplace and TV.

We reimagined the fireplace area with a new marble hearth and tile, building out the trim to balance the proportions, and spruced up the shelves with new paint and styling.

A large, dramatic mirror tops the new dresser, along with these elegant ceramic lamps.

To complete the second floor transformation, we also redesigned the upstairs hallway and the home office, using a complimentary palette and style to connect all the spaces. Want to see more? Visit our Projects section for more pictures!

A RELAXING, REJUVENATING RETREAT