Margaret Russell's Bedroom

Have you ever been curious, like I have, about the home of Margaret Russell? As editor of Elle Décor magazine, and judge on Bravo TV's Top Design, her own home can only be fabulous, right? Why has it never been published? (Or did I miss it?)

I decided to take matters into my own hands when Material Girls (design bloggers extraordinaire) & Swank Lighting recently held a contest. The mission: design a room for any TV personality, and include a lamp from Swank Lighting in the scheme.

I chose to design a bedroom for Margaret Russell, and somehow, was lucky enough to receive the third place award – a pair of exquisite handblown glass lamps! Swank Lighting was extremely generous, offering a different pair of lamps to all three contest winners. Please pop over to their site and take a look at the treasure trove of handblown vintage Murano lamps (and their new contemporary American handblown lines from Joe Cariati and Burchetta) – and be inspired, just like I was. Check out all the winning entries (first place was very creative) over at Material Girls, and I'm sure you'll get lost in perusing their other fun and interesting posts.

Thanks, Material Girls and Swank Lighting. And congrats to all the lucky winners. I know I can't wait to receive the lamps!


The design board details:
I chose a color scheme of lavender, cream, and bronze, with shots of black for depth. This should flatter MRs skin tones, and her wardrobe as well, since she often wears black. I’ve designed a room that combines a mix of modern and classic, with good art and luxurious materials. I think she would like a serene, calming room, but not a boring room. The intent was to make the space as glamorous and elegant as MR herself.

1. The room starts with the wall behind the bed – with a floor-to-ceiling panel of antiqued mirrored squares.
2. The headboard would be custom made by Indulge, and covered with cream-colored linen. We all know that MR must read in bed, and would demand a comfortable headboard.
3. The tufted bench at the foot of the bed, from Nobilis, is covered in two fabrics: the same cream linen as the headboard and a cream silk mohair.
4. Matching bedside tables are fully slipcovered with that same cream linen, and the skirt is banded with a thick stripe of lavender silk. These slipcovered tables would be quite functional as they are large in size and there is hidden storage space beneath.
5. A pair of lavendar Seguso Swirl vintage Murano lamps (with lucite bases and finials) from Swank Lighting sit on the bedside tables.
6. A solid lavender silk bolster pillow, edged with bronze silk is placed below the bed shams, and the bedcover is cream linen and drops to the floor with simple corner pleats. There is no footboard to interrupt the drop of the bedcover. The sheets are embroidered with Margaret’s initials in bronze.
7. Drapes are floor-to-ceiling bronze-colored silk, just breaking on the floor.
8. Across the room, an acrylic desk is topped with
9. a Modernist adjustable brass table lamp (both from 1stdibs.com)
10. A 19th century gilt Italian chair covered with Black Mu ikat fabric, from Madeliene Weinrib.
11. The rug is from NyingZemo through Rugmark.
12. A Line Vautrin mirror is from 1stdibs.com
13. An Elliott Puckette painting
14. An arrangement of lavender roses
15. A small modern original painting in black and cream with a gold/bronze frame.

So, tell me, Margaret, what do you think?
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