Color is out there, in abundance Trend is toward variety, fresh color combinations; Sloping bed wall offers design challenge Dressing the head of bed might solve problem Q: We are remodeling the second floor of our house to create a master suite combining a bedroom, sitting room and dressing area. It's to be furnished in a traditional style. The main challenge is that the existing rooms have sloping walls and a few deeply set, dormer-type windows. As a result, we have always had trouble with the placement of mirrors and other wall-hung objects. Right now, we're most concerned about the bed wall that begins sloping five feet above the floor and continues to the ceiling at a rather steep angle. What sort of headboard would be best in this situation? A: Instead of installing an actual piece of furniture, you might consider dressing the head of the bed. The Pasadena-based interior design firm of Stephen Paul Associates took that approach in the setting shown in the photo. Here, too, the bedroom has a low-sloping wall and is furnished with traditional pieces. Although it looks quite elaborate, this romantic treatment is simple to achieve. All that's involved is the gathering, ballooning and stretching of fabric on small rods behind the bed. The ballooning should start at the ceiling level. It would then extend to the point where the wall becomes straight, thus producing a canopy-like effect. In this instance, the designers framed their creation by introducing a version of a swag and jabot in a decorative and contrasting floral fabric. While this addition serves to emphasize the bed wall, the treatment would also look perfectly fine without it. So if your own taste is for a somewhat simpler arrangement, you can certainly forgo the framing device. With such a soft and romantic look, I think the linens and bed covering should complement the color of the gathered fabric directly behind and above the bed. Another variation on this theme is to attach an upholstered panel to the bed frame in order to provide a firm headrest. This addition should be no more than 12 inches high, and it should be covered with the same fabric used for the dressing behind and above the bed. Although there are other solutions to the problem of placing a headboard against a sloping wall, I do recommend this one in your case. It's a relatively simple option and that's an important advantage, since you'll be in the midst of a large-scale rebuilding project. Also, it goes very well with traditional furniture even though it's not a conservative treatment.

From:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Date:

February 4, 1996

Author:

RITA ST. CLAIR

| Copyright information Copyright 1996 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC.