Pitched roofs, in attic bedrooms, provide an illusion of space upstairs.
As our name implies, we find attics cozy whether they are used for storing old family possessions or for more inspired purposes Allison detailed in her recent Creative Attic Spaces post. We are especially fond of converting them to practical spaces like attic bedrooms. Even when sloped areas or oddly placed windows are present, the A-line of a angled ceiling yields a wonderful sense of spaciousness.
One of the greatest attic bedrooms I’ve seen ran the length of an old stone house and was completely paneled with beadboard. It also had an antique wide-board pine floor and ample windows. One wall consisted of multiple storage cupboards and drawers while the opposite wall was covered by mirror, with a ballet barre. Sigh. It could have been converted into an amazing bedroom.
A contemporary Scandinavian design [top] whitewashes (of course) an attic room and lets minimal furniture – both the platform bed and the armchair — float. A long window seat serves as a setting down place and the floor-hugging furniture helps emphasize ceiling height. While a modern aesthetic prevails, when you look closely, the two long walls hold a ton of concealed storage. Meanwhile, the sense of space could not be greater.
This loft bedroom, in a house by California designer Erin Martin, looks like the first one reversed – but it’s only because they both share a black and white scheme. A ribbed, whitewashed beam ceiling appears to be pushed even higher by the java-colored paneled wall and the high placement of the window – in contrast to lower windows in the previous room . A light floor helps ground the white bedspread, which almost looks ghostly.
With the bed pushed up against the wall, it’s easy to judge the window height in this attic bedroom where the ceiling feels relatively low. The renovated space is likely a loft with a low A-line entryway – at least judging from the modern cable stairway. While the furniture is nothing more than basic here, it’s lightly scaled and the black and white Marimekko-style bedspread draws the eye right to the center of the spare room.
Narrow and even more basic and unadorned, this bedroom has a newlywed feel, doesn’t it? I also adore the way a blackout curtain can be stretched across the window and hooked up. A room this casual and elemental is really refreshing.
Va voom paneling, a glitzy chandelier and smart furniture choices make this a memorable paneled attic in a Portland, Oregon foursquare designed by Jessica Helgerson. The idea of an important chandelier really calls attention to the planes of the ceiling, which I love. But this attic is a bit of a shocker for another reason: it looks like nothing else in the house – in fact it looks like it belongs in a completely different house. See it for yourself.
(Source: nordicthink, erinmartindesign, evencleveland, jessicahelgerson)
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I had an attic bedroom in Soho and loved it, high wooden panelling, a skylight and bare brick walls – even tall glazed Victorian bookcases. Attics are special.
I have a converted attic in this old house. It is 1300 sq feet with 2 bedrooms and a great room , bath and storage area . When I went to the link above I had an “ah-ha” moment. DH and I went upstairs and immediately swapped the beds and placed the heads at the end where the windows/window seats are located ! we love the look and never thought to do it till we saw it linked here. Great idea . Now I need to figure out how to measure and complete the black out curtain that is draped to the side. Thank you for the inspiration .c
That’s great! I like the look of the black out curtain draped to the side.
I didn’t know you had an attic. How exciting! The blackout curtain would be fairly easy to make, I think. All you needs is double-thick material with reinforced grommets in the top hem and sturdy cup hooks in the window casing that correspond to the spacing of the grommets. It goes up and down easily, and hangs off to one side. I’m sure you could make it easily.
Well you know I am NOT a seamstress 🙂 So I will have to think on this and do some measuring . When we bought this house in 2002 it was a one story with only 2 bedrooms in 2700 sqft. We had our neighbor do all the GC work as he had converted his own attic as well as several neighbor’s attics , to living space. Each one is very different, based on needs. We had children that wanted to visit their Grandmother, my Mom, so we added the space. They promptly moved in !! Stayed 4 1/2 months that first time. It became the 2nd home for each of them over the years. Now DH and I use it in the Winter as it is warmer up there. Jane here is a link to part of the area. The sofa and chair are gone now and we have 2 antique Morris chairs, each different , that I have restored. c
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/41455/Attic%20renovation%202002/
That’s a super space Caroline. I can see why they stayed. I’m thinking you might find someone to sew that blackout curtain for you. It wouldn’t be difficult and shouldn’t be expensive.
Thank you Jane. I am definitely going to take some measurements and go looking for some fabric. I have promised I would do this since the space was completed 10 yrs ago ! I am not a fast decorator:)