RSSDon't Equate Scandinavian Design with Midcentury Minimalism
By Rita St. Clair
Cozy-corner bed-and-cabinet combination
When I tell people I'm partial to Scandinavian design, many of them ask what's so attractive about teak or leather chairs and those cabinets (some assembly required) that look like dormitory furniture.
They're mistaking the Danish Modern look, common in this country in the 1970s, with lesser-known and wider-ranging Scandinavian styles that have long inspired designers around the world.
Amid all the fads that make up today's design scene, I'm regularly struck by the enduring beauty of this Nordic aesthetic.
It's always a pleasure to come upon a simple, casual, charming room designed in accordance with the principles of this intelligent style.
QUESTION:
Our daughter has left home for college, but she often visits us with a friend or two.
Her guests stay in a spare room that we've furnished with twin beds and an assortment of hand-me-downs. I should actually say "twin mattresses" because the beds I've seen in furniture stores look like they belong in a kid's room.
Given the paucity of what seems to be available commercially, is my only alternative to commission a cabinetmaker? Are headboards essential? And do you have general advice for making the room more comfortable and decorative?
ANSWER:
A cabinetmaker isn't your only alternative, but it's certainly one worth considering.
Perhaps you'll decide to have someone build a unit similar to what's shown in the photo.
It comes from a wonderful book of ideas called "Influential Country Styles," written by Judith Miller and published by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House. Designs from many countries are featured, including this cozy-corner bed-and-cabinet combination.
The design is derived from the himmelseng, or heaven bed, that's long been popular in Scandinavian homes.
As the photo suggests, it's usually a small-scale piece intended to keep the sleeper warm and secure. This version of a himmelseng would also be a good practical choice in your circumstances because it gives a guest a convenient place to store belongings.
A bed of this sort will also help determine the atmosphere of a room, taking it in the welcoming, decorative direction you desire. A heaven bed might ideally be placed beside a window with a verdant view.
Assuming you adopt this solution or something similar to it, I recommend that you paint all the woodwork in the guest room a single color.
White's the obvious choice, but others would be appropriate, too. And if the room is fairly large, the walls can be in a color that contrasts with whatever is used on the moldings, doors and cabinetry.
The color choices are really a matter of personal preference.
In this case you'll notice that the bed is covered with a decorative blanket and pillows that introduce some variety in an otherwise all-white setting. The shade further enlivens the look. You'll see too that no headboard is in place here but that the space behind the pillows has been painted in an accent color.
HOME DECORATING, INTERIOR DESIGN, HOME RENOVATION & HOME IMPROVEMENT
- Good Home Design Is About More Than Good Looks
- Make Over a Room With a Small Budget, Use Color to Your Advantage
- Tired of Small, Bland Room? Use Simplicity to Your Advantage
- There's a Window Covering Out There for Every Taste
- Don't Equate Scandinavian Design with Midcentury Minimalism
- Making Country Kitchens Contemporary
- Create an Inviting Outdoor Space, Follow these Principles
- Gardening for the Birds
- Installing Kitchen Cabinets a Tall Order for Do-It-Yourselfer
- Limestone Kitchen Countertops Stand Test of Time
- Window Seats Make Great Addition to a Room & Not That Difficult to Build
- Replacing Old Windows Doesn't Always Save You Money
(Readers with general interior design questions for Rita St. Clair can e-mail her at rsca(at)ritastclair.com.)
(c) 2009 DESIGN LINE DISTRIBUTED BY Tribune Media Services, Inc.