Bedded Bliss

Today, our bedrooms are being widely being heralded as essential sanctuaries of calm in an ever more hectic world. Rich fabrics, textures and details that were once preserved for the public living areas of the home are now being explored in our own private oases. One person’s serene dream is another’s frou-frou nightmare so it’s definitely not a case of one pattern suiting all. We take a look at a few different styles.   Sumptuous materials and intricate details are no longer the preserve of the public areas of our homes. Bedrooms are now getting as much decorating attention as the living room and that’s paying dividends in rest and well-being.

Bold Statements
Le Forge, importers of French-inspired furniture, say that unashamedly
big-noting luxurious accessories such as chandeliers, candelabras and detailed cushions are popular ways of creating atmosphere in bedrooms.
Bold wallpapers by Osborne & Little and Florence Broadhurst are perfect for feature walls and backdrops behind beds, according to Thread Design. The company also creates luxurious and striking cushions, for example in
velvet fabric with a peacock image applied in silver foil.
Though most of us continue to be sensible and purchase bed linen in timeless neutrals, HouseHold Linens say that the fashion end of the market is full of rich jewel and spice tones.
If you’re not ready to commit to vermilion sheets but still crave warm spicy hues, then cushions and throws are the perfect solution.
Texture is important for the look of layered luxury. Warwick Fabrics have printed linens, silks, velvets and flocks in shades of duck egg, garnet, mocha, persimmon and sable.
For feature walls Resene has bold 1960s and 70s-inspired wallpapers in muted earthy tones on a metallic foundation. Resene paints for children’s rooms include ‘Pink Panther’, ‘Princess’ and ‘Crash’.

Au Natural
A new emphasis on the contribution natural fibres can make to a good night’s sleep is driving the development of new Fairydown products such as their cotton-cover, cotton-fill, summer-weight duvet. Fairydown are also launching a pillow made from memory foam that moulds to the shape of the sleeper’s head and creates a comfortable temperature based on the sleeper’s  body heat.
Two designs in Peri Homeworks’ new collection are made from a 60/40 blend of bamboo and cotton. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly crop that requires very little water and no pesticides. Its fibres allow for superior moisture absorption and ventilation, making it a good choice for healthy bedding. The company is also using a slub weave pure cotton that gives the look of linen but is easy to care for.
Similarly, Baksana’s new 1000 percale cotton sateen sheets are manufactured with a no-iron finish – good for the environment and the busy consumer.
Dreamwool have handmade New Zealand wool mattresses and Silk Sensation have extended their range to include silk pillows and silk-filled
mattress underlays.
Silk is apparently good for allergy sufferers as the fibres don’t contain enough moisture to be attractive to dust mites.

Modern & Sleek
We may want bedrooms to be unstructured havens of relaxation but we also need them to be functional. Usually we want to include some kind of media equipment, such as a television, computer or stereo, and we’re looking for beautiful yet practical furniture to house them.
Rising real estate costs and compact apartment living mean that, increasingly, people will have a computer and printer in the bedroom. Michael Draper Design is currently developing a bedroom desk that folds into a third of its own surface space and, when folded, shows no evidence of its high-tech contents.
Functionality and flexibility are equally important whatever the age of the occupant. Kids’ trundle beds that pull out for sleepovers and roll-away toy boxes that fit under the bed are just two of the products that meet this demand. Freedom has a bed design that incorporates two large drawers at its foot. In one of their storage systems, a full-length mirror shares space with a clothes rail.
Design Mobel have noticed a move away from traditional bedroom suites and a rising demand for built-in bedroom storage and singular pieces of furniture such as chairs and ottomans.
Bedroom furniture also needs to accommodate items such as televisions and MP3 players. Design Mobel’s mix and match Player range includes bedside trays and magazine racks that can be attached to the bed frame. Removable upholstery for headboards also allows you to change the look without changing the bed.
For those who favour the tonal path to rest and relaxation, Resene has a suggestion. Natural white finishes are being used on bedroom suites so that the bed base and bedside tables appear as one unit, reducing clutter and enhancing calm.

Classic Styles
At Freedom Furniture they’re seeing a great demand for classic designs, “handcrafted” touches and comforting items such as upholstered bedheads.
Corso De’ Fiori report a demand for family heirloom pieces that lend
individuality to the bedroom. Those who haven’t inherited interesting
furniture but want this look are
favouring Chinese antiques such as a wedding cabinet that conceals the television or provides extra storage for clothes and will work in another room when it’s time for a change.
Seneca have noticed a growth in demand for traditional-style bedspreads, bed covers and comforters that offer a smooth, structured look.
Children’s bedroom furniture is tending towards the classic rather than the garish, notes the Junior Room Company. This allows kids – and their parents – to have fun personalising their rooms with easy-to-replace items such as accessories while they evolve
a personal sense of style.

Stockists
Atelier  (09) 373 3866
Bashford Antiques  (09) 361 5142
Bo Concept  (09) 630 0557
Corso De’ Fiori  (09) 307 9166
Debandada  (09) 522 1050
DeDeCe  (09) 376 3732
Design Mobel  (07) 543 3660
Freedom Furniture  0800 373 336
HouseHold Linens  (09) 378 9310
Icon Textiles  (09) 302 1652
Indice  (09) 376 9167
James Dunlop  (09) 638 6005
Lagonda  (09) 520 0400
Madder and Rouge (09) 522 1062
Nina & Co  (09) 376 5812
Republic  (09) 361 1137
Resene  0800 RESENE
Sarsfield  (09) 377 1502
Seneca Textiles  (09) 309 6411
Small Acorns  (09) 361 6594
Tessuti  (09) 378 8490
Xia  (09) 368 1075

Story: Alice Leonard Issue: October 2006 Photographs: Wendy Fenwick Stylist: Victoria Bell