Room of the Day: A Walk Through the Redwoods

Anyone who has ever been hiking along the California coast on a foggy day knows that not all forests are the same color. The redwoods near the Pacific Ocean can be shrouded in mist, rendering their needles more muted gray than kelly green. It’s that look that homeowners asked interior designer Kari McIntosh to bring to their San Francisco master bedroom.

The overriding objective was to make the space a calm retreat, but the owners also asked McIntosh to bring in the feeling of a forest. After they rejected some wallpapers she showed them, she realized they had a specific tree species in mind: the majestic California redwood.


With direction so specific, there was only one option: hire a decorative painter to create the look.

“Because they were really specific about the species, painting it was the only way to go,” McIntosh says. “I found some inspiration shots online and then gave them to decorative artist Caroline Lizarraga to interpret. It took her team three days, and during that time we were able to give feedback, asking them to add more branches and more light here and there.”


Although the mural wasn’t part of the original plan, McIntosh is glad it was added. “The depth and quality of light is incredible,” she says. “I think the entire wall is a work of art. It’s richer than any wallpaper.”

Wall paint: Dusty Miller, Benjamin Moore; bedding: Restoration Hardware


At the end of the room is a small room. The couple plans to use it as a place for reading and relaxing someday, but for now it serves as a nursery for their newborn.

The blackout curtains are perfect for mom (who, as an ob-gyn, has an erratic sleep schedule) and baby (who, as an infant, requires multiple naps during the day).

Crib, changing table: Target


The modern chandelier was chosen with an eye toward the time when the room will be a sitting room for the adults, but given that many babies love looking at light fixtures, it suits all ages. “Since it is on the small side, we wanted a statement piece for this room,” McIntosh says.


The house, located in San Francisco’s Mission District, may be miles away from the nearest redwood grove, but its color, motif and calm spirit put it deep in the heart of the forest.

More:
Room of the Day: Going Moody in the Master Bedroom

Rethinking the Master Bedroom

URL: Room of the Day: A Walk Through the Redwoods http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-24501.html