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The Francis Files

My Restful Retreat Bedroom Design for Small/Cool NYC 2023

October 24, 2023 - Written by Kevin O'Gara

Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring Clare Cloud Watching blue paint, bust statue, striped bed, and bookcase by bed on The Francis Files design blog

It was such an honor to be included in the group of talented designers that Apartment Therapy brought together for their annual Small/Cool NYC event in Brooklyn. I had the opportunity to design a "Restful Retreat" with Serta, and put some of my very favorite small space decorating tricks to use in this small but mighty bedroom. My room was inspired by the color of the sky at dusk and the feeling of watching clouds pass overhead. Discover all of my home decor tips and all of the design details for this space below, and if you're local to New York you can view the space Thursday-Sunday through the end of the month.

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Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring Clare Cloud Watching blue paint, bust statue, striped bed, and bookcase by bed on The Francis Files design blog
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The beautiful color I chose for this bedroom is Clare's Cloud Watching blue paint. This medium blue leans more purple than green, which really emphasized the dusky blue palette I wanted to use for this room. This cozier blue adds a more subdued sensibility to the room which I love paired with the classic ticking stripes and quilting on the bed.

Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring small space hacks like artwork hanging in wallpaper paneling on The Francis Files design blog

(Languedoc Ikat wallpaper, Sorenson mirror, SUNSERIES artwork, mohair blanket)

My first small space decorating tip, which is specific to bedrooms in particular, is to implement symmetry as much as possible. Symmetry is one of those innate design elements that immediately brings a sense of order as it lets your eyes make sense of the space quickly and easily. This is perfect for small rooms where you want to emphasize visual coherence as much as possible, so I used symmetry on all sides of this room.

Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring small space hacks like artwork hanging in wallpaper paneling on The Francis Files design blog

My new SUNSERIES framed studies made their debut in this space, hanging in framed wallpaper panels. I love this wallpaper hack because it adds architectural detailing to a plain wall without overwhelming the room with pattern.

SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor
SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper by Kevin Francis Design | Atlanta Interior Designer | Luxury Home Decor

SUNSERIES No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Framed Studies on Paper

$1,200.00

Vivid color palettes and a melange of textured media define the SUNSERIES works on paper, with layers of washed color, gestural marks, and a burning sun on each piece. As a self-proclaimed heliophile, the sun represents more than just the intense summer days of Georgia heat, but also the oscillating relationship between the weather and my emotional state. I've always felt this intrinsic connection with the sun, and this series showcases that relationship through electric colors and innate compositions.

These first four studies from this new series are sold as a set of four, as seen in the Apartment Therapy SMALL/COOL NYC installation in Industry City, Brooklyn. 

11x15 acrylic, charcoal, and spray paint on watercolor paper in white lacquer frame

MMXXIII

View Details
Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring Clare Cloud Watching blue paint, bust statue, striped bed, and bookcase by bed on The Francis Files design blog

(Baywood quilt & shams, white lantern, Languedoc Ikat curtains, Oscar wall sconce, velvet lumbars)

The second small space decorating trick I used was sticking to a monochrome color palette. This, again, is a tool to create visual order in a space and emphasize cohesiveness and calm in the room. The wall color for this room is Clare's Cloud Watching (the name is so perfect for a bedroom). Blues and greens are ideal for bedrooms since they are psychologically tied to calm and peace (and can even help lower your blood pressure in some cases). I paired light wood bookshelves on either side of the bed to bring lots of vertical storage to the small floorplan.

Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring Clare Cloud Watching blue paint, bust statue, striped bed, and bookcase by bed on The Francis Files design blog
Blue monochrome New Traditional style blue bedroom design by Kevin Francis O'Gara for Small/Cool NYC 2023, featuring the Serta Perfect Sleeper innerspring mattress on The Francis Files design blog

I always emphasize bedding and textiles in bedrooms because this is their primary function, so it's key to invest wisely starting with a great mattress. This room was brought together with the Serta Perfect Sleeper, with layers of quilting, memory foam, and inner springs. I tend to opt for this hybrid construction to stay cooler at night!

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