All the Best Bedroom Contest Results

Congratulations to Robert Passal (First); Scot Meacham Wood (Second); Brooke and Steve Giannetti (Third); Sara Story (Honorable Mention); Anna Beth Chao (Honorable Mention and Readers' Choice Award); Christopher Prain (Honorable Mention)

A huge thank you to the judges and to everyone who entered the SFERRA/All the Best Bedroom Contest. Each finalists submitted written details of their work. I thought that you might enjoy reading more about each room and have shared each persons own words below.

First Place
Robert Passal New York, New York

The bedroom is in an Upper East Side townhouse and was designed for a young (newlywed) couple. We worked within a budget and put together a high/low look. For instance the white lacquered writing table is from West Elm and the wonderful brass lantern is from Soane London.

The tufted French chairs were found at a vintage shop then covered in a Lilieve fabric from Old World Weavers. The wall shelving was purchased at Ikea then wrapped in grass cloth. Thus, you see how we approached the look while working within a budget.

The request was to have an approachable masculine/ feminine master bedroom. We did that by juxtaposing the bedside table, lamps & accessories. The overall look is sexy, relaxed & collected as opposed to over decorated.

Second Place
Scot Meacham Wood San Francisco, California

This is my own bedroom in a San Francisco flat. Because it's my own space, it represents everything I love about my home. Dark, warm colours and my ever-growing collection of artwork.

I love wool and silk textiles and the exuberance of my Chinese needlepoint floor covering. And, of course, there are a few hints of tartan.

Just outside my window I can hear the sounds of the garden. Honestly, it's the place where I dream. Who could ask for more?

Third Place
Brooke and Steve Giannetti Los Angeles, California

The bedroom is in a home that Steve designed in Pacific Palisades. Our clients wanted it to have a relaxed coastal feeling without looking like Tommy Bahama.

The color scheme was derived from the Galbraith and Paul pillows on the bed. We decided to cover all of the large pieces in white linen and add small dashes of color.

The custom colored Overleaf rug from The Rug Company pulled the room together. The overall feel is relaxed, calming, subtle and sophisticated.

Honorable Mentions

Sara Story
New York, New York

I selected the vibrant deep orange and red velvet for the custom headboard to accentuate the painting which is so rich and enticing. The bedside tables are from the 1940s made of a gun metal base with a black stone top. The lamps on each bedside table are black leather with a brass base from designer Jacque Adnet. The bed linens are a custom design black Greek key. I wanted a graphic, strong design and hue that would really pop off the crisp white linens.

The upholstered chair and ottoman are covered in a Muriel Brandolini fabric. I love mixing the new with the old. The bedroom room has a mixture of graphic patterns and colors with the warmth of cozy textured fabrics and materials.

The two dressers are vintage George Nelson from the 1950s—which I mixed with an old Tibetan orange rug and lamp I found at a flea market in Paris. The overall look is chic while being comfortable and inviting.

Readers' Choice Award Winner
Anna Beth Chao
Monroe, Louisiana

My husband and I have lived in our home for 6 years, and in that time our bedroom was never repainted or decorated. Recently I keep running across many of the great rooms Abigail Ahern had painted in "Down Pipe" by Farrow & Ball, I knew that was the color I wanted to use.

I actually surprised myself by committing to such a dark color, since my first instinct is to paint everything white, white, white. I decided to paint the trim color the same as the walls for a more dramatic, unified look.

Everything in the room is something I already owned, except for the roller shades (Lowe's), throw pillows (I made the yellow one and bought the others from Nate Berkus at HSN), and deer antler mount (eBay). I think this is my favorite room I've ever done in my house.

Christopher Prain
London England

The bedroom design was part of a complete project that we undertook for a young, male client in Kensington, London, England. The lateral flat was on the 1st floor of a 19th century Victorian villa that had been modernised very poorly, approximately 15 years ago.

The brief was to create a traditional looking flat to suit a modern English gentleman. The bedroom to be was to be romantic, comfortable but with strong details. All the architectural details had been removed so the basis of the scheme was literally to design the cornice, skirting architrave, window frame and wainscot paneling.


Double doors were less intrusive and softer than conventional single ones, and as illustrated in the photo, gave a balanced feel to the wall. The room like all the best things, is a mixture of old and new, shade and light, hard and soft.