Post by Laura Cheng.

Thinking of my first home, the one image that I can’t get out of my head is the horrid wood paneling that encompassed all the rooms. Not one room was spared. Actually, maybe the smallest bedroom, but its walls were also a product of the 70s with repeating silver seashell print wallpaper on a mauve pink background. Painting over the wood paneling was top on the move in to do list. It added architecture and guests would never know we were covering up 1972. Since then, I have come to appreciate wood and its uses in bedroom design.

This country home is located on the Jutland peninsula. It is built upon only three materials – concrete, wood and polycarbonate. Taking a peek inside the bedroom is no joke. The bedroom walls are fully lined in wood. No artwork is needed as the beautiful anatomy of the wood is already a showcase of natural art. In fact, a headboard is not needed either.  With large slabs of modern and minimalistic paneling like this one, I can’t imagine anyone every daring to paint it, even 40 years later.

Source: http://lorilangille.blogspot.com/2011/12/loft-retreat.html

If I could have found a way to transform the paneling from the walls to the ceiling, my bedroom would have been golden. I love the industrial, yet cozy feel of this bedroom. This residence was designed by WA Design Inc and is located in Tahoe Donner, California. The bedroom’s ceiling repurposes elements of the local Tahoe area and region can be seen not only in the ceiling but also in the fireplace.

With such a dramatic vaulted ceiling, other elements of the bedroom can be kept simple and functional. Although I would opt for an oversized piece of artwork to make a colorful wall statement, I do like the graphic and bold print of the pillows. Color, as shown here, can add softness and warmth to any bedroom. The pale lavender walls do a great job of working with the pillows to do just that.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/7jbbhe7

Wood paneling has come a long way and it can be used to create a modern bedroom that won’t have the seventies calling for their wood back.

Tags: bed, bedroom, Bedroom Design, Charles P. Rogers, Wood Paneling

Post by Laura Cheng.

I am a sucker for anything headlined with “million dollar”. Probably because I hope at some point my salary will fall into that range.  Until then, there’s HGTV’s newly launched show, Million Dollar Rooms, which offers a glimpse inside some of the most extravagant, high-end rooms across the globe. One of the most recent episodes featured a million dollar boat house and another featured a two million dollar pool in the middle of a living room.

One home has not been featured on the show (yet) but deserved a blog for its million dollar price tag. In fact, it is currently the world’s most expensive 1 bedroom apartment listed at $21.8 million (1.8 billion yen) with Japan Sotheby’s International Realty. The apartment is located in Minami-Azabu, one of Tokyo’s most affluent and wealthy neighborhoods. The spectacular price is supported by its spectacular square footage for a 1 bedroom apartment. At 4,434 square foot, it is larger than the average single family home in the US.

Source: http://theultralinx.com/2012/04/worlds-expensive-1-bedroom-apartment-218-million.html

As expected, Japanese style abounds in the “Ryotei” style dining room where the chef can serve the guests directly from the gourmet kitchen.  There is original, hand painted artwork by Japanese artist Hiroshi Senju located all around the apartment.

However, the home is also an international design showcase.  All the furniture in the apartment was custom designed by modern Italian company, Cecotti Collezioni. The walls, flooring and doors are also made from the highest quality Italian stone and wood. A custom designed kitchen is outfitted with top of the line French La Cornue appliances. The Parisian-style terrace off the casual dining room overlooks the peaceful Arisugawa Park.  Just as couples of different races generally produce attractive offspring, this is no exception.

The bedroom hosts a 60 inch television and what appears in the picture to be a high tech lighting/sound/window/temperature control system. The bed arrangement looks a bit odd – like two queen sized beds put head to head. Perhaps this home was purchased for the 2 dogs pictured and this is their master suite?

The bedroom also has a generous walk-in closet but my favorite feature is the entrance down the closet dedicated completely to shoes. The walls in the hallway open up as a massive shoe storage unit that shelves up to 200 pairs of shoes. This pricey apartment has surely inspired me to save up for this sole reason.

Source: http://theultralinx.com/2012/04/worlds-expensive-1-bedroom-apartment-218-million.html

Tags: bed, bedroom, Charles P. Rogers, Design, Million Dollar Room

Post By Kyle St. Romain.

With our most recent feature in Westchester’s spring edition of its Home magazine, it’s hard not to notice Charles P Rogers products; they’re popping up everywhere. However, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Charles P Rogers is, after all, the oldest American bed manufacturer.

If you happen to pick up a copy of Home, pay special attention to page 16, where you’ll find a handsome, white leather, Poole headboard sitting above a simple, but sophisticated bedroom arrangement. If you like what you see, you may be glad to know that, our Poole headboard comes in a number of options: plush ultrasuede or a classic leather finish in either cream or dark chocolate, or white or vintage brown, respectively.

Having one of our headboards featured in Home magazine is a nice introduction to one of my upcoming posts on nothing other than headboards. First used as a form of primitive insulation, headboards have come a long way. Today, headboards are more about great design than necessity, and they provide an easy way to add a big splash of style to your bedroom.

Be sure to keep an eye out for more great products from Charles P Rogers popping up. You never know where you’ll find them.

Tags: bed, bedroom, Charles P. Rogers, Design, Headboards, poole headboard, Westchester Home

Post by Laura Cheng.

As if choosing the right pillow weren’t hard enough, travel to Japan and I now have 2 additional options: plant or plastic.

Buckwheat is not just for Japanese noodles. They are also for pillows. Sobakawa pillows. The Japanese and other parts of Asia use buckwheat hulls as an ergonomic filling for pillows. Buckwheat hulls are locally grown and harvested, then cleaned to remove dust, buckwheat flour, and debris. Zippered pillow cases are then stuffed with the exact of amount of hulls to reach a sleeper’s desired comfort level. To clean when necessary, the hulls are dumped out of the case. While the case can be placed in the washing machine just like any other linen, the buckwheat hulls are placed in the sun to kill any bacteria before refilling.

Source: en.item.ratuken.com

I got to try the buckwheat pillow at a traditional Japanese ryoken (a type of Japanese inn similar to a bed-and-breakfast), Hotel Kaneyamaen. It was nice and firm. It was an exact contrast to the cushiony, foamy pillow I had used in flight, but I liked how it was densely packed to provide a good amount of support.

Corma Bead pillows were developed with the Sobakawa pillow in mind. Corma beads are plastic (polyethylene) beads that range in firmness, from a firm, almost milk carton like consistency to a very soft Silpat texture.

Source: http://www.cormabeads.com/filling-line-up/

Zippered pillow cases can be filled with different sizes or combinations of beads to accommodate each person’s unique sleeping style. The smaller the bead, the more it will contour to the body. The beads are naturally odorless but you can even get beads that are infused with green tea essence!
Corma Bead pillows claim to be the best for allergy sufferers as they don’t trap dust as easily as traditional foam or feather pillows. As for cleaning, the beads are machine washable. The entire pillow can be tossed into the washer.

I had the opportunity to try a pillow filled with the basic bead at a local Japanese department store. Odd at first, but it was remarkably comfortable. There was a “rustling” noise that one would have to get used to if you tossed and turned a lot. It was kinda like laying on a luxury bean bag but with more resiliency. It was great!

Although these types of pillows claim to last much longer than regular foam, cotton, or feather pillows, they won’t be for everyone. However, they’re worth trying as they aim to provide support for the back and neck. Both make for a great summer pillow by allowing heat to dissipate through the space between the hulls and through the hollows of the beads. But even better, the pillows will bring a little Japanese culture into the bedroom.

Tags: bedroom, beds, Buckwheat Pillow, Charles P. Rogers, Corma Bead Pillow, Design

Post by Laura Cheng.

I don’t know anyone that does not love the gathering of a picnic.  Friends and family; bubbles, Frisbees and little kids; Food and conversations; all are hard to resist. Inspired by my disposition towards picnics, here are a few exciting bedroom picnic décor ideas.

The classic gingham pattern lining of a picnic basket can be incorporated in various ways in the bedroom. A roll of gingham wallpaper can used to create an accent wall. Or apply it to the ceiling for a unique and stunning effect.

Source: http://www.atticmag.com/2012/03/red-gingham-ceiling-kitchen/

If Dorothy Gale (aka Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz) had a bedroom in Emerald City, this is probably what it would look like. A storybook bedroom fit for an animated and admirable character such as herself. The canopy bed is enveloped in a bright, playful gingham pattern. The deer painted on the headboard could very well be a character from the book. And as if the vintage red checkered canopy was not reminiscent enough of an actual picnic basket, the bedroom floor is covered in wall-to-wall sea grass carpet.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/75ph9fc

Gingham pattern is so versatile, it can be used as window coverings, pillow cases, bed spreads, quilts, etc. Red is such an emotionally intense color it will be sure to stimulate cheerfulness in any bedroom.

Source: http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/red-decorating-ideas-decor-0311#slide-1

The popular outdoor dining activity can also be integrated in the bedroom through lighting. If you want to add ambient light to your bedroom room, look no further than a great basket weave lamp. It will be sure to remind you that it’s time to fill up your basket and head to the nearest park. For those that live by an Ikea, their Boja series of table lamps and ceiling lamps will be sure to fit the bill.

Tags: bed, bedroom, Charles P. Rogers, Design, Picnic Design