Design Anatomy
Welcome to Design Anatomy, where we examine the world of interiors and design. With a shared passion for joyful, colour-filled, and lived-in spaces, Bree Banfield and Lauren Li are excited to share their insights and inspiration with you.
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Design Anatomy
Beautiful Bedrooms: Designing Your Personal Sanctuary
What's the first room visitors see when they enter your home? And what's the last room you typically focus on when decorating? For most of us, the bedroom falls into that second category, becoming an afterthought rather than a priority. Yet this is where we begin and end every day—the most personal space in our homes deserves more attention.
In this episode, Lauren and Bree challenge the notion that bedrooms should be plain, white boxes with little personality. They explore how thoughtful colour choices can dramatically transform the mood of your bedroom, whether you're seeking a calm, restful retreat or a joyful, energizing space. From the psychology behind blue and green tones that scientifically lower your heart rate to the warmth of biscuit and caramel neutrals that feel intentional without being overwhelming, they offer practical guidance for moving beyond the "default white" that plagues so many bedrooms.
The conversation delves into the functional aspects that make bedrooms truly work—from the often-overlooked importance of bedside table storage (do you really need those three drawers?) to the transformative power of proper lighting. Bree shares her experience with custom bedhead lighting installations, while Lauren reveals her secret weapon: an IKEA lamp with the perfect dimmable function that outperforms more expensive options. They also discuss the wellbeing benefits of incorporating natural materials like timber, stone, and quality textiles that create a connection to nature and reduce stress.
Whether you're working with a spacious primary suite that needs zoning or a compact bedroom that requires clever storage solutions, this episode offers insights to help you create a bedroom that's not just beautiful but deeply personal—a true sanctuary where you can restore and recharge. Ready to prioritize your most personal space? Listen now and transform your bedroom from forgotten afterthought to favorite retreat.
Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment.
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Join Lauren online to discuss Trade Day a critical step in a project before getting too far in & having to pare it all back.
Or break down the design steps to run your project & business a little smoother with the Design Process MasterClass
Welcome to Design Anatomy, the interior design podcast hosted by friends and fellow designers me, Lauren, Lee and me, brie Bantfield, and some amazing guest appearances along the way. We're here to break down everything from current trends to timeless style.
Speaker 2:With a shared passion for joyful, colour-filled and lived-in spaces. We're excited to share our insights and inspiration with you, and today, lauren and I are diving into one of the most personal spaces in the home the bedroom.
Speaker 1:It's the room that kind of often gets left last, and I think it really should be a priority, because it is where we begin and end our day.
Speaker 2:It's so true. I feel like in this episode, we're going to share all of our tips for creating the best bedroom, one that's not only beautiful but also restful, practical and what I think they should be full of personality.
Speaker 1:From setting the right mood with color and texture to clever storage and lighting, we're going to break down what really makes a bedroom work.
Speaker 2:Indeed, and I feel like it's like you said. It is such an important place and I want people to like listen to this and then go into their rooms and make a few changes so that actually is like their little sanctuary.
Speaker 1:Agree, and I think it's often left last because we are so focused on the living and dining rooms. You know if we have friends over and entertaining. You want those spaces to look great. I get it, but what about your special room?
Speaker 2:it should be really a priority as well, I feel like I do often say to people who want to experiment with color or pattern or something a bit out there, to do it in a bedroom, because they can practice in there a little bit in terms of and I mean with colour, in terms of, like, choosing something a bit out there that maybe they're not sure they want to have in their living room, and they've got the opportunity to just kind of do whatever they want, and maybe they're the only ones that actually see it unless they really want to show it off, right? True?
Speaker 1:Before we get started, tell us what is going on with you, Brie.
Speaker 2:I am finally going to launch my newsletter, which I feel like I've been talking about for a while now. We've had some small glitches on website. I'm still updating the website, so I can't wait for that anymore. We're going to launch the newsletter. It'll go out tomorrow actually.
Speaker 2:So, if you're keen for some news from me. We're going to be talking about trends, colour design, tips, projects, all sorts of things, even just, you know, like fashion bit of travel, just things that you might see from me If you follow me on Instagram. I guess it's a it's kind of a expanded version of those things that I talk about. So, yes, there is a link in the profile or you can jump onto my website and you will be able to find the sign up for the newsletter there or via my Instagram, and I would encourage you to do that. Hopefully's um, something fun. It sounds like a really fun read. It will be, I think so, you know. You know I'm gonna make it fun. That's kind of what I like to do oh, that's so fun, yeah, fun and what about you?
Speaker 1:information um, what's going on? Well, next month I am doing these one day kind of workshops about the design process, and I've done these before and it's so fun, I think it's also you know, I love talking about interior design. Obviously, here we are blabbing on, but when you get into a room with other interior designers, it's just really. It's quite a rare kind of thing and we can all sort of share our own experiences and our own knowledge on this and it's just like a really good vibe. So we're doing one in Sydney at the Ace Hotel and it's just the most divine venue we all obviously appreciate the interiors by Flax Studio.
Speaker 1:And then we're doing one in Melbourne as well, and that's at one of the commons. You know, it's like a co-working space. It's in Cremorne, it's called the forum, so downstairs is a Baker Blue, so that might be the reason I decided on that venue. But, um, yeah, so we, we just go through each step of the design process. You know, ask as many questions like put me on the spot, like whatever. It's something that I really enjoy sharing, and um, yeah, so we're doing that. So I guess I guess I should put a link or whatever, or just message me on Instagram if you want to get some information on that.
Speaker 2:So let's talk about bedrooms today yeah, I think probably the first thing and I don't know whether it's the most important, but I guess everything contributes to it is the mood or the atmosphere that you want to create in that space, and I think it's slightly different for everyone. I think probably one of the biggest things people want in their bedroom is to relax and be calm. I think that's probably I don't know one of the most popular moods to choose. But I also think that bedrooms like for me I want that, but I actually really want it to be quite joyful and I want to feel kind of uplifted in my bedroom. So those two things I guess can kind of go together. But yeah, what are the things I guess that we would use to create mood? I think color's probably the first one. What else can you think of?
Speaker 1:Lauren. Well, I mean, I'm all about how do you want the space to feel, and I agree, and, yeah, calm and restful. But I think I'm with you. I still want it to feel joyful. So, you know, calm and restful. It can sometimes lead to a bit of a dull kind of space, if you just think just make everything white and very neutral, whereas, like I mean, I've got my head hits the pillow yeah I don't need like so for me, I've leaned into the joyful.
Speaker 1:So yeah, with color palettes, I suppose the first thing is to think about is yeah, what do you want so? Calm, restful, joyful? Um, I guess some people want their room to feel really exciting and really energizing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, that's definitely something that could be required in the bedroom, but you're right with I guess you know. I think color often is the first thing that sets the mood and if it is as per the default of so many rooms in houses, it could be white, and I think that you know the bedroom is the first great opportunity to not have a white room.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, I agree.
Speaker 2:And then I don't, and I personally don't find that restful, because white to me is, unless you've purposefully gone. I want an all white, neutral, quiet, luxury space, and even then it's got to still be designed to work. You can't just have a white box and put your room in there and then put some neutral linen on it and think that that's going to do it. But unless it's been purposefully done, I feel like you need to lean into kind of having some color on your walls to actually create the space that you want and the mood that you want, because otherwise it can. I don't think it's very calming at all. It's just kind of a bit nothing which is different to calming.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, you just nailed that so well. I think that white is just the default color. It's like it doesn't feel special, it doesn't feel intentional. I mean, as I've sort of said before, I think the only person, one of the only people I love who does white is Leanne Ford, who is an American interior designer, and she will really ramp up the texture and the cool artwork. But if it's your everyday house, a white bedroom is not going to give you any kind of feeling at all.
Speaker 2:And I think if you love that calming feel and you think that that's what it is, that it's a white but you want it to feel, I guess, not default and not kind of generic, you can still go into those beautiful softer tones, even if it's a neutral that has warmth like, think, biscuit or caramel, or even, you know, like a really soft yellow or something like that.
Speaker 2:It doesn't have to be crazy, it doesn't have to be super moody, but just choosing something that you have some kind of connection to or some sort of feeling about it is going to make so much of a difference compared to just having a white.
Speaker 1:I literally had a consultation today with the family. I'm bringing out my paints, watches here. There is a color called Fika by Tint, and it's a warm light beige. So if you want a room that doesn't feel like a color, a hundred percent what you said, a biscuit or a caramel or something like that, and then your white bed linen it actually feels, it does feel more intentional, I guess, against a slight tinted background, I would say yeah, no, most definitely, and there's so many great beautiful neutral tones out there, I feel like and it's quite a popular way to go at the moment if you go into that sort of biscuit and caramel and tan and keep it quite soft and keep it quite neutral, but just adding that warmth is probably going to feel, I think, a lot more calming because you'll have some kind of connection to it.
Speaker 2:I also think it connects back to nature so much more than a white space if it has some you know tone and definition to it. I'm trying to think of one of my favorites, even in the whites, you know, instead of doing, I actually natural white's great default, if you want to default. But even doing things like you know, like a whisper white which has like a little bit of a undertone to it and a little bit of warmth and a little bit of character, is a better choice than just doing like a, you know, a vivid white or some sort of stark color.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's a color called Take Me Home by Tint and it is. It's exactly what you said. It's a biscuit color and it feels like if your, if your home. Let's face it, most of our homes are painted white, but then when you go into your bedroom it's different, it has a different feel. It's your own room. I think that's really nice.
Speaker 2:And, I think, just making it cozy. So I feel like you do that by taking the white away and creating, I guess, some sort of tone, and I do really love. I guess on the flip side of that and I know, yes, I think if you're sort of going calming, people can think, oh, really washed out is the way to go. But I think if you want a space that's more cocooning, so I guess it's still calming, but it's calming because it feels sort of safe and cozy and you're kind of like, you know, wrapped up and you know, let's say, color drenching in a space.
Speaker 2:I feel like those deeper hues really work well for that. So that can create like such a beautiful mood, particularly in, you know, a space that's completely enclosed. So in living areas it can be harder to if it's open plants, harder to pull off that sort of darker, moodier tones. But in a bedroom it's kind of the perfect opportunity to do that and it is very restful because it's a bit darker. Particularly if you like a darkened room to sleep in, that's kind of the way to go. You know big, heavy drapes and you know beautiful luxe fabrics and deep color palette. I think that's kind of a nice cocooning space.
Speaker 2:And layering, you know, I guess textures, I think, are super important to create that mood as well.
Speaker 1:Because I think you know bedrooms, if they feel open and expansive, it's not. It doesn't feel safe, it doesn't feel restful in a way, like I think you do want to have a sense of enclosure when you are sleeping. So, like a dark blue or something like that, or even a dark green, is beautiful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I think I think leaning into in the bedroom, leaning into what you're drawn to, is really important because otherwise, if you go into that space and you've had a color chosen for you that you don't connect with, you'll never really you won't have that nice personal connection with the bedroom space. So I think, just sort of finding the direction you want to go, having a connection in your room because it is quite personal, I think is really important as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I did a consultation with a really lovely couple and we did a color. I think it's a porter's color called potter's clay, and it's a beautiful warm brownish terracotta. And oh, it was so exciting, exciting. They're just drenching the whole room with the ceiling and all of the cornicing and everything as well perfect for a bedroom, I think, and it's not.
Speaker 2:It's not too pretty, yes, still warm.
Speaker 1:It's not a pink it's still a color a great option, and it's still a color yes, well, and I guess that brings, I think, sorry, I was going to say I did paint our bedroom pink. I mean, phil didn't really get much of a say, but he didn't say no, he did have warning.
Speaker 2:I feel like pink's so much more accepted now. Those brown undertone pinks work very well, almost like a neutral butter colour color, like I think you can make that work very well.
Speaker 1:It does. It's very. You know different bed linens and everything, and I think it was that sense of joy that I sort of wanted to have in the room.
Speaker 2:So it gives you that Definitely I'm thinking about. So I've moved now and now I have a white bedroom again and I haven't had one for a little while and I used to love I had my beautiful sort of greeny blue tones in the bedroom before, and it's so different, going back to why it just feels again kind of like a nothing room, like it's got some of my things in there.
Speaker 2:But I'm thinking now, okay, do I paint again? I might do that. I'll have to think about what color, though, because I probably wouldn't do the same, I'll probably do something different. This is the question. Stay tuned, I know, right, let's see Vote now.
Speaker 1:So what did they say?
Speaker 2:But I guess that's the other thing, right? Yeah, sorry, go through the colors. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh no, I was just going to say, you know, if you did want that, more greens, because those kind of cooler colors I guess on that cool part of the color wheel, uh, show, just lower the heart rate and support rest so you know that's a good guide. If you're just like what, where do I even start?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, oh, absolutely blues and greens, and that's why you tend to see them in those spaces, and they do, I think. I think it's because there's this connection to nature that we get from those colours. And you know, it's been proven, any kind of connection to even natural materials like timber and things like that in the space can help you feel a lot more calm because we connect them back to, you know, biophilia and nature and it actually just psychologically calms us down.
Speaker 1:And the brighter colours, you know the pinks and the oranges and the yellows, I guess, are probably more exciting a little bit, I guess, that joyful kind of sense that you get.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it can bring a bit more energy, a bit more maybe refreshing as well.
Speaker 1:Refreshing because you might need that in the morning, Like yeah, the darker colors sound great at night.
Speaker 2:I definitely need that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I wish we could just change. Why can't we have, when we wake up oh, I'm sure that's going to, I'm sure that is the future at some point, color changing?
Speaker 2:paints. Oh my God, that would just be amazing. There was a bit of talk about that at one stage I won't go into it too far because we'll dig digress too much but about using lighting that way in spaces. So it wouldn't surprise me if it sort of ends up being something that happens where you can basically change the lighting to change the mood in terms of colour, not just you know bright light, you know warm, cool.
Speaker 1:Well, there are some, you know, mid colours that really can feel quite bright and exciting when the daylight's on them. But every curtains closed, moody lighting. It does obviously change the color and the atmosphere. So I guess the other thing would be is to add a sense of your own personality and put that into your room. Some people want to feel like they're able to express themselves, or some people I've also had clients say they don't want their room to feel like a hotel, especially a lot of clients that travel a lot.
Speaker 2:They don't want that. It's funny, isn't it? Because then you get the flip side, where I've definitely had clients come to me and say I travel a lot and I went to this hotel and I want my bedroom to look like this, or maybe not to look like it. I think that the key to getting the hotel look right is that it feels like a hotel but it doesn't look like a hotel. Does that make sense? So you get the feeling of being in sort of a luxurious hotel room, but it still feels like you. So that's where that personalization comes into it right, whereas I think we could easily just go like cut and paste and copy something from a hotel room into a bedroom, but there would be a starkness about it and there'd be a connection missing. So that's where that personalization, I guess, comes into it right.
Speaker 1:I also think that people stay at a hotel and a hotel room has been designed. There is a wall color, there is a wall covering, there is purposeful joinery, there is lovely bed linen, whereas at home, you know, it's an effort to pull off a space that feels designed. So maybe that's what people are wanting. But it's interesting because I went to a hotel, stayed at a hotel a couple of months ago and the walls were white and it actually felt really underwhelming.
Speaker 1:Everything looked nice but it just felt very ordinary and domestic in a way. That was just, I think it cheapens the hotel room.
Speaker 2:I feel like cheaper places have a wash. I feel like when you go, if I go into somewhere and it's you know, and I've paid a good amount of money to stay there, and it has white walls, I kind of go, it's not the same, it was a brand new hotel.
Speaker 1:It was a brand new hotel and they sort of leaned into that minimalist, almost coastal, and they had some really nice artwork, but it was minimal, but it did not for me, it didn't pull it off, because it was just a white painted plasterboard wall which we see as a bog standard, the baseline.
Speaker 2:It's like, yeah, it's the default.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I think when people say they want a hotel, feel it's a space that feels intentional, it feels designed.
Speaker 2:Yes, and curated.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Yes, I mean mentioning the Ace Hotel before.
Speaker 2:Like those rooms are just a joy, Like there are beautiful textures of the carpets, the textures for me in there, I mean the colors are beautiful too because they're so warm and it does have a distinct kind of mood to it. But the textures in there, even to the throw you know the wool throat, which I actually hate because I'm allergic to wool, so I always go like it kind of gives me like a creepy feeling, but I get it from a visual that it has this kind of homely.
Speaker 2:Look to it, the wool throw right and the texture of it you know, it's the first thing that I fold up and and move off the bed when I go and should have an option, a non-wool option they should but it's quality. Wool is quality. It drives me crazy, actually. And they're made in Australia. They're like Waverley or St Albans.
Speaker 1:They're beautiful. Yeah, St Albans, yeah, I know. So I think it's. Yeah, adding those personal touches. So what could that mean? Could it be artworks, you know, either over the bed, above the bed or either side of the bedsides or even opposite the bed? So that's something. If you ever had the chance to have a leisurely lay in bed, you can kind of look at your artwork. Is it family photos on shelves? I don't know. To be honest with you, I find it really naff if there's like wedding photos and stuff in people's bedrooms. That's just not me.
Speaker 2:We're probably going to insult a lot of people. I don't have family photos up anywhere and I sometimes go. Is there something wrong with me that I just don't? And I've thought about maybe there's. I think there's a. I think there's good and bad ways to do it. It's not really me either to frame and put them on the wall unless there's just something quite cool about the photo in itself, Like like it's a candid shot, anything kind of posed or in studio or, yeah, like wedding photo-ish 't. I just don't. I don't know it doesn't resonate with me, but I do have some photos of my kids that I used to have on a shelf kind of in in the wardrobe, which sounds a bit funny, but I look at that every day every day when I'm getting ready, um, and I've just put them on because I haven't finished organizing my room.
Speaker 2:I've just put them on like a table at the moment and I'm like, do I like them here? Do I want them out, like I just I know I haven't found the right spot for them, because I like seeing them but they're just not something I would put on the walls, I think they're kind of coming back and a bit more accepted.
Speaker 1:Now to have friends. I think it's got to be done well. Well, I mean I've got some photos Anyway, some photos, anyway, we're digressing, but in the bedroom, I don't know about that um, or maybe I don't know.
Speaker 2:Please convince us. It is a hard one, I get it. I think that the other thing about wedding photos is you pay a lot of money for those things and then half the time they sit in an album that probably sits in a cupboard. So you're kind of going well, surely we should have some of these framed and I don't know, out there. And I guess if you really love it and you really love your partner, you want to see that every day and go oh, like, and it gives you joy. Then amazing, do it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, true, otherwise it feels a bit yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, I think it is. It's that styling balance how to create that personalized home that still feels like elevated in a styling way, because you know the printed onto canvas things like they are, just put it in the bin. Sorry, those things are just horrible. There is a way to do it and it's getting that right, as you say, you know. But I suppose the think about what the focal point is like obviously the bed is the biggest item of furniture is the focal point, you know, as you say, a woolen blanket at the end of the bed, is it an artwork? Is it some in cool lighting, like what is the thing that you want to make?
Speaker 2:it needs something. Otherwise it's just a bed in a room, sconces and a beautiful bed hair to see. For me, I feel like I mean, I, I guess there's always that focal point of the bed, but that's where I think some bedrooms go wrong. You need to balance that out, otherwise it is just this big kind of square lump in your room and that's all it is You've just got. And even if you style that bed beautifully, if nothing else is going on in the room, it's a bed in a box, true. So you've got to work out how to kind of balance the rest of the room. So the bed, it's still obviously the focal point because it's a bedroom. But how do you kind of like, make it feel like it belongs there and connects to the rest of the space? That's always the challenge, I think.
Speaker 1:What are your thoughts on bed linen? Are you patterned? Are you plain? I always the challenge, I think.
Speaker 2:What are your thoughts on bed linen? Are you patterned? Are you plain? I like a mix of things I like for me myself. I'm quite into sort of geometric or plain, but I think that adding a pattern can help break up a bed as well. So it could be that you know you do have like a throw or texture. So for me it's like texture and pattern in the right amounts to get the balance in a room. I kind of don't love a whole pick one feature quilt cover with florals and then that's the thing in the room and then you've got like a couple of little accent cushions.
Speaker 1:I think it needs to be more layered than that to work well, yeah, yeah, yeah, we did a little Instagram collaboration with a mattress brand called doodoo mattresses and, uh, I borrowed some bed linen from sage and claire. Oh my god, that is divine, that bed linen. I think it would. I think it was gonna cost about eight hundred dollars for all of it, which I was like, should I, should I could just keep this. It was so to cost about $800 for all of it, which I was like, should I, should I just keep this? It was so gorgeous.
Speaker 1:And it makes all the difference, doesn't it? It was you'd like this color Bree. It was like a really zingy green stripe sheet with a floral magenta really saturated color quilt cover Amazing cushions. But you know, even kip and co. My kids have got all these gorgeous kip and co bed linen, and it's such a beautiful quality.
Speaker 1:Well, the bed linen, some of the sheets haven't been as great. The quilt covers are amazing, though. Beautiful quality, beautiful designs, fun colors. But isn't it weird how we go? Oh, we're adult, we can't have that Like who said if you God, not me.
Speaker 2:I'd definitely go for that.
Speaker 1:I know, I know, but isn't it weird? It's like for the kids. You know, the kids are allowed to have all the colors.
Speaker 2:I think that's why this has happened to me before, I think with Kip and Co, or it might've been, I can't remember one of those. So for me, yes, if you want pattern and color, keep and coat, sage and claire they're probably the top two that you think of. But I've often gone. I want that and then it's only been in like a single bed or something and I've gone because, I do love cycle pot and cuddle pie might have been.
Speaker 2:They do such great collaborations they're beautiful, but then I guess for the plain and the texture, aura is great, yeah, and cultivar is great, yeah. Linen house for like just the overall basics, they're like my general go-to for sure they kind of cover all of the different styles and they do have some really great, I guess, good price point. So if you're kind of like, you know, not wanting to spend too much, the quality's pretty good, but if you want to go full on beautiful linen, you've kind of got to spend the money.
Speaker 1:Well, yes and no, like I have some Aura bed linen because I used to work at Holy Sheet. I don't know if you remember that store. Yes, I used to work at Adair's. I used to get. We were so naughty, though, because we used to hide the stuff in the back and wait for it to go on sale, so I've got some really great bargains. Of course you did. I've got some Aura sheets that I still have. I haven't worked there for.
Speaker 1:God, 15, 20 years, Such good quality like a cotton sateen, some of the linen stuff I've bought and I've invested a bit in there. It hasn't been as great wearing as what I thought it would, but anyway it's actually worn thin like torn. I know I was like is this what I thought? This was supposed to last for generations?
Speaker 2:I have had that happen with some I honestly can't remember the brand now but where I've just turned around in the bed or something and then my foot's gone through and I'm going what, oh no. It's not like it was 20 years old or anything.
Speaker 1:No right, yes, yeah. So I think Linen House and Aura I think they're in the same thing, so I would stand by that. I think they do good stuff and it's not really overly expensive. They're all good brands to go to yeah.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, where are we at? I guess the other thing is function right. Function in a room storage, function what do you use it for? I love talking about bedside tables because, as a stylist, as a photographic stylist, we hate bedside tables. They don't photograph well. Generally, we love a stool, yeah, we love a side table that you can just put something beautiful on, or you know, a little stool or something like that. It just shoots better. I think it's just the blocky kind of shape of a bedside table, particularly if it's rectangular or square, is just a bit like. Yeah, it's not special. I always love a round bedside table with drawers in it, but they're quite tricky to come across. There are a few I think Fennuli do a really good one but I feel like bedside tables are one of these things. Bedside tables and stools are quite expensive and hard to get the right one. That's my theory on both of those things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, true, but bedside tables in particular, and so what I was getting at is one of my first questions is do you need drawers? Do you need drawers in your bedside table? Do you get a keeps off in it, and I guess a lot of people do. And then it's like can you just do one drawer so that we can have it open underneath, because I still think that also can work better sometimes than like a big block of drawers. Yeah, that's always interesting, the storage, because I also I would challenge a lot of people with their bedside tables. My theory is the top drawer might have some use, like for some things that you want to keep out of sight. We might go into what those are, but I reckon the rest of the drawers are just full of crap.
Speaker 1:Well, you know what comes to mind. You know what comes to my mind Miranda's top drawer and the housekeeper and the statue of Madonna, or whatever it was.
Speaker 2:If you know, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you know you do get personal with your clients and you do have to ask do you need to draw? Do you read books? What kind of lighting do you want? Like you need to know so you can find the right thing that's personalized to them. I love what Just Adele does. Do you know that brand? Just?
Speaker 2:Adele, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Of course you do, but she does great bedside tables with gorgeous stone tops and we've done some of those for clients and she customizes it so we change the top of the stone to suit this client's needs and and yeah, so it is it's storage. Some people have thousands of books, some people need no storage?
Speaker 2:yeah, so it's. Do you need a lamp? Do you have wall lights? Like all of that stuff plays into it, yeah, but yeah, I don't know what, like I just I've never used my bedside tables for like clothes or anything like that. It's always been kind of the stuff this will reveal a little bit about probably too much about me, but the stuff that's like the junk drawer. You know, like there's always a junk drawer where you just like I don't know where to put this, and so it goes in the bedside table.
Speaker 1:Yeah, shove it in there, and you never need it.
Speaker 2:And then I clean it out. Maybe you know when I move I've just done it and now I literally have that my bedside tables are basically empty.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because it was just full of crap. Well, it depends. When we lived in a small apartment that was much needed storage. So yeah, you know your undistraught actually was yes, you've never used it for that.
Speaker 1:I know that people do right, but yeah well, when you're limited in storage, you just take everything you can get. But I think that's the you know the questions you need to ask yourself. You don't want to go out and buy a chic little side table and you're like, oh my god, now I can't store anything in this space here you need to buy it.
Speaker 2:As much as I am all about the aesthetics, that has to function, because if you do have to keep stuff in it and you end up buying something that has no storage, it'll just drive you crazy. I don't like to keep a lot of stuff on the top, so I do like at least one drawer. Even a lip balm or whatever it is that you have sitting there, I'd prefer it to be in the drawer than sitting on the top. I want the top to look pretty and have nice things on that.
Speaker 1:You know, yeah, I actually have a cute little string shelf, you know those little baby string shelves you can get, I love those. Yeah, I've got that above my bedside table as a way to put books and stuff on it.
Speaker 2:It's also just a nice way to like fill out the room too, because sometimes you go like bed, bedsides, okay, artwork, question mark on that wall, and so those little string shelves are like the perfect way to kind of like add something to that wall that's interesting and three-dimensional and gives you an opportunity, let's say, potentially to put a family photo I don't know, but you've got somewhere to put things that you love yeah, I love that and I, you know, take off my earrings and I put it on my little shelf.
Speaker 1:It's just not going to get flicked off my bedside table, whatever. So I suppose the next thing to talk about is, yeah, as you said, lighting, you know? Do you need a lab?
Speaker 2:for reading.
Speaker 1:Do you need a lab for ambience and just mood? Or these are the questions. Sometimes people need both. One partner reads in bed. They want a really direct light, one person doesn't. You know. There's so many ways you can do it. Um, have you ever done like a, a light that's installed within the bed head?
Speaker 2:not in the actual bed head, oh no, I have like as in like to the front of it. Yeah, yes, I have. God, I was complicated at the time.
Speaker 1:that's what I'm always afraid to do, that I'm like that sounds really complicated, but it looks great.
Speaker 2:Well, I think it's more about the installation. So when we had that installed, we obviously had to have power in the wall that had to come through the bedhead. So when the bedhead went on, the electrician sort of had to be there at the same time to make sure that that all fed through properly and we were happy with it all. And then I was paranoid about okay, we've got power running through upholstery. I don't want that to catch fire and burn my you know clients to a crisp, but that's what goes.
Speaker 2:I always think about the worst case scenario things. So, even just the way that we installed the light to the front of the bedhead, I ended up putting like a timber block in there that you can't really see once the light's on it, just so there was something solid A for it to be, for the power to be in, for the light to attach to all of that stuff. So, yes, I have, but yes, you do have to really think about all the little elements of how it works and you need to make sure that whoever's making the bed head is well and truly across the needs of what has to happen. Otherwise, one little thing's off, you might not be able to install the lights, and then you're just going to have a bit of drama, which I know people have had that problem before, where they've planned to put lights into the bedhead or onto the front of the bedhead and then it just hasn't worked out because they didn't plan enough for it.
Speaker 1:A lot of planning, coordination, collaboration, everybody putting their heads together, figuring it out to achieve that. But such a nice, such a nice thing, I think it's worth it.
Speaker 2:I do, I did love that, but it's in my poolside project in the bedroom, the main bedroom there, and it did look great it was a really nice result.
Speaker 1:And actually you make a really good point, because when I think about my bedside table, well, it's my phone, it needs to be charged, so you know, that's something to think about. Do you charge your phone next to your bed? Do we have a bedside table with the PowerPoint inside the drawer that the phone can?
Speaker 2:go inside and that's the best case scenario, I think, but that doesn't happen by accident.
Speaker 1:It's actually quite a bit of planning to make that happen yes.
Speaker 2:So I think, if you can work with a designer to achieve those things, I think it's a possibility that you don't even think about, but we can suggest those things, which is kind of nice too, and I think with lighting for me in a bedroom, that's where you can really make sure you've got multiple lighting sources. So, yes, you might have either a lamp next to the bed, or you've got a reading light, or you've got ambient light via a sconce or a wall light, or you've got pendants either side or above the bed, whatever it is. I think you also need lighting elsewhere. So it could be, if you've got a chair, that you have a lamp there as well, just so you've got kind of like little lighting points that create that mood in the room.
Speaker 2:If you just have overhead light in a bedroom, you just miss. That's a huge missed opportunity. I rarely use my overhead lights in the bedroom. I'll use them if I have to like look for something or I've got to have lots of light, because they're just down lights, but I will walk in in the dark and refuse to turn them on and feel around for my lamp because I just don't want to turn them on.
Speaker 1:Can I admit something really silly? Of course I have one of those huge big linen sphere pendant lights, but it's not actually wired in.
Speaker 2:It's just there for decoration oh, I think I'm gonna do that with um. I've got one of those, so I had that in the. The last house had like literally those old style batten lights so I could just attach that straight to it. But, um, now that one's just sitting in the bedroom like, oh, I'm gonna hang that somewhere, just because they look cool they do do look cool.
Speaker 1:Well, I've got this quite tall ceiling so it's like the most ginormous one you can get. Anyway, it looks cool. I guess also the thing with bedside lighting. I actually use an IKEA bedside lamp because it has such a nice dimmable function, and I have got some other really gorgeous lamps that I just I've tried to use it in my bedroom, but I don't like the lighting effect, so I think it's important to think about how gorgeous that lamp looks, but actually, if it doesn't give you that really nice light that you need, it's trying to get both.
Speaker 1:And I don't know if you remember Ikea did a collaboration with Hay a few years ago. Yes, so it's a cool. It is is quite cool, but I probably wouldn't choose it if I, if it wasn't such a perfect warm light that you can dim. Anyway, some of those great lights.
Speaker 2:So I've got a couple in um that I use in the living room. One of them's the hay I can't think of the name of it it's the little kind of mushroom one. Oh yeah, um, where you know, you just tap the bottom and it's got like three different levels of lighting so you can have it quite bright and then you can dim it down.
Speaker 1:So I love those rechargeable ones, and then I can put it on the coffee table. Oh, that's beautiful. I love that. So what about zoning Like? I mean, it depends on the size of your bedroom. But you know what, if you've got a huge, big bedroom, what can you do?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, so well. I literally came from I know I keep talking about the old bedroom. It was huge. I had a living room in my bedroom because otherwise it was just this weird empty dance floor, which is also potentially handy, potentially.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you've got a kind of, I think, a. I guess. Are you going to use it like a reading nook or a chair that you sit and read in? I have one at the moment. I do sit there sometimes, but in the old house it was more just like I can't. This needs to be furnished because otherwise it's like you said before, these kind of expansive spaces that just no mood is created when they're just empty. So I guess it does come down to the space you have. But, yeah, like I guess function. Some people need an area where they even just get dressed in the morning, like you know, a chair that you put clothes across, or maybe you set your clothes out the night before, or I always forget the name of the. I always go call them a butler or something you know like where you hang your clothes and put your shoe and stuff.
Speaker 1:What are those called? I don't know the name of it. It's a chair with the coat hanging on A valet, a valet, that's what it's called. Is that what it is? I always think butler. Yeah so it's like a valet that has rocker tie.
Speaker 2:I know I love my ties and your shoes, so it's all just kind of there, that's nice, but it's a nice neat way to do it, so you can kind of have that little dressing zone, couldn't you?
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, and I mean to be honest as well. Sometimes I love my family, but I want to sit and just watch my show, read my book in my room. I mean we have watched K-pop Demon Hunters about 550 times. Now I could watch it again.
Speaker 2:I hear it's good. I might have to watch it.
Speaker 1:So good Bree, the music is so amazing, you'll love it, but come over, it's on all the time here.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, Maybe I will.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but it is. It is sometimes nice to have a little bit of a reading nook, just somewhere you can go and just have a minute hopefully yeah. So what about wellbeing? I think that ties.
Speaker 2:I was going to say that do people still have like desks and stuff in their bedroom? Like I find that really I know my kids do, but I would hate to have to work out of my bedroom. I think if you did, you would have to really create a very separate space so that you could switch off from it somehow. And I know some people just might not have the option and they might have to have that desk in there, right I?
Speaker 1:mean I wouldn't recommend it. I mean kids obviously have a desk in their bedrooms. Often you see that designed into the joinery. But personally I want my kids to be doing their homework on the table so I can see what they'd be doing. But I actually have a client who runs a really successful business from a little desk in her bedroom and she is so excited to have her own study.
Speaker 1:It's just due to a necessity kind of thing. But yeah, I agree, you don't want to bring that energy into your bedroom. It should be a place where you can kind of rest and put close the door on all that stuff, yeah, but I think that comes to the next point, which is well-being.
Speaker 1:So it should be a point, a place where you can restore, and how are some ways that we can do that? We've talked about color, we've talked about lighting, but I suppose another point which was sort of you touched on before is natural fibers, not wool for brie, but no, not wool for me, could we? Could we lean into thinking about introducing, you know, is it wooden furniture, wooden yes timber, bedside table, natural stone. Obviously cotton, linens, bamboos um those fibers can add to that yeah sense of wellbeing.
Speaker 2:I think so for sure. And even ceramics can feel like you know, clay, ceramic, that's still kind of a natural material that you can bring in as well, because we get beautiful ceramic light fittings, stools. You could have those sort of tiles, you know, like a bit of a matte feel if you've got an en suite or something like that, so that kind of feeds into the natural vibe. But yeah, all of those things, as I said earlier, they have been proven to actually calm us down. That connection to a natural finish and all of those natural fibers make such a difference. Yeah, even visually I think you can tell, I agree, not just from the feel, I think you can sort of see it as well.
Speaker 1:It's just yeah, what about alpaca or mohair? Do you have an allergy to that?
Speaker 2:Yes. So I've tried mohair. Mostly it's fashion, that's the issue. I wouldn't ever have a wool throw directly touching my skin and it's fine, wool, wool carpet and that sort of thing is fine Like. Even if I've got bare feet, it doesn't seem to really bother me, probably because I'm not rubbing my feet on the carpet too much. But I have tried to wear mohair clothes and they do. They're a bit less, the cashmere is a little bit less but I can wear it. But by the end of the day I've got a little red rash.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I've done it because I've got a couple of things I just liked. Before I realized I was allergic, that I purchased them and then went. Why does this give me? Why does this happen.
Speaker 1:Well, I just remember.
Speaker 2:So yeah, mohair is nice.
Speaker 1:Years ago, before kids and everything, I bought this exquisite. I think it's alpaca blend blanket from Ben Bocca. Do you know that brand?
Speaker 2:I think it's a New Zealand brand.
Speaker 1:And something like that is such a kind of lifelong investment, I mean I was just they had a sale and I got so carried away, but it was a really expensive blanket and it is something I absolutely love. So I think you know that natural fiber, that softness, that it adds. It's just something. It's in a quite a neutral color, you keep you have it for you forever.
Speaker 2:Well, I think that's what you sort of bring up. A good point, too, is that all of those natural fibers tend to last so much longer. They're such hard wearing materials that you do kind of have like, yes, they can be more expensive, but if you buy the right ones you do sort of have them forever, like you kind of. You know handing them down to your kids when they leave home here. Take this blanket that's been here for 20 years.
Speaker 1:It still looks good. No, you're not taking my blanket, not that one, yeah. So I guess, when it comes to the bedroom, think about it as more than just a place to sleep. It should be your sanctuary.
Speaker 2:Yes, oh gosh, I think that's the perfect word for it. And I know sanctuary can be overused, but you know your bedroom should provide solace, right it should. You should be able to walk in there and whether that's that beautiful, uplifting, joyful feeling or that super calming or very safe feeling, all of those things, you've just got to decide how you want your bedroom to feel for you and then match that up with all of those other things to kind of create that personal connection to it.
Speaker 1:And then you have the best bedroom, definitely so. I think we've talked about color, lighting, well-being and natural materials functionality as well. Yes, I think that sort of covers it, yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean we could keep going on and on. I'm sure we could, but I think those are the biggest points. Those are the things to really focus on, I think.
Speaker 1:So good, okay, thanks for that, brie Love chatting, no problem. Thanks for listening in and actually I might ask you if you are still listening. Thank you so much If you wouldn't mind leaving us a little review that would be so awesome Because we've seen you legends leave reviews and we love that and I thought, well, we haven't kind of asked for a little while. So if you wouldn't mind, just a little tap of five-star review, you would be amazing.
Speaker 2:Yes, please do.
Speaker 1:It just helps other people find us obviously.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know, we want to share the love. We want everybody to hear the wonderful advice we're giving out.
Speaker 1:Thanks, Free Talk next week, no worries. Bye. We've got the utmost respect for the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. They're the OG custodians of this unceded land and its waters, where we set up shop, create and call home and come to you. From this podcast today, a big shout out to all of the amazing elders who have walked before us, those leading the way in the present and the emerging leaders who will carry the torch into the future. We're just lucky to be on this journey together.