Laude News | Bonus Room
How do you turn a shoebox into a jewel box? That was the conundrum that interior designer Suzanne Tullock, Allied ASID, of Suzanne Tullock Interiors, faced when coming up with a design plan for the small bonus room. Located on the second floor at the back of a long hall, the bonus room offers a commanding view of the pool and grounds, and also provides direct access to a balcony-style porch.
The challenge was the room’s small size, especially compared to other rooms in the home. Moreover, it had been recently renovated with new drywall, windows and doors that lacked the character of the substantial and impressive millwork found elsewhere in the home. “The bonus room was basically a small square, and I wanted it to feel comfortable and larger than it is,” Tullock says.
Her solution was two-fold: She added new picture-frame moulding to create architectural interest and then infused the room with various textures, patterns and colors. “You can definitely add the wow factor with color,” Tullock says. “That was the beginning of my design concept – to take this shoebox of a room and turn it into a jewel box with bold color, pattern and tailored design.”
Tullock painted the walls and new picture frame moulding with Sherwin-Williams’ Mink, a rich neutral gray. She framed the windows with crisply tailored cream-colored drapes trimmed with orange wool banding, adding a dose of color and refined style. Seating includes a charcoal-colored sofa accessorized with pillows in bright colors such as flamingo, tangerine and pumpkin, as well as orange stools trimmed with brass nail-heads. Deep-blue table lamps and a striking abstract painting by St. Louis artist Ted Collier balance the orange and “help cool things down a bit,” Tullock says. A brass pendant light and two matching brass shelving units, which she accessorized with books with whimsical orange, blue and cream covers, “are definitely the jewelry of the room.”
The net result is the creation of a sophisticated setting for reading, relaxing or enjoying a cocktail while watching a brilliant autumn sunset.