Branch Out With A Designer Bed

Aug 17 2008 Justin And Colin

Get The Look

Three storage units are always better than one - and what better way to keep all your toiletries in order than with these stylish bathroom caddies?

SCRIMP

Bamboo three tier caddy

£19.99 from Argos, www.argos.co.uk

This clever trio comes in water-resistant bamboo and has a clean, Scandinavian look thanks to its blonde appearance and simple butcher's block-style construction.

Stylish enough for any bathroom, the boxes provide plenty of storage for all those lotions and potions girls just can't seem to live without.

SPEND

Three-tier storage unit in dark wood finish

£45 from Next, www.next.co.uk

This self assembly unit comes in a warmer wood tone, giving it a slightly more traditional feel.

Again it's a fairly simple design but with plenty of storage in the three generous tiers which are graduated to take smaller and larger items.

SPLURGE

Dark bamboo bathroom caddy

£85 from John Lewis. www.johnlewis.com

Rich dark brown, this caddy is made from sustainable bamboo and has a water-resistant lacquered finish.

Three tiers provide plenty of storage, while a handle makes it easy to carry around.

It's a bit more pricey but you get what you pay for as this is beautifully finished and has a substantial, solid construction.

RED ALERT

We painted junk store bedside tables in a vivid gloss red which successfully highlighted the intricate carving on each piece.

Gloss finishes should only be used if you are sure that your chosen makeover piece has no imperfections.

Sand areas of concern before you paint as gloss will highlight great features and bad. We used Red Carpet in gloss finish from Crown, www.crownpaint.co.uk

COLOURING IN

You can also add colour with rugs, throws and cushions but make sure you leave breathing space around each for contrast.

Here, the timber floor frames the rug and the white bedding frames the cushions and the throw. We also used red candle glasses and a modern red light fitting.

Try red silk cushions, £15; and the Circa vase, £25, both from John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com

TREESY DOES IT

The bed is the focal point of any bedroom so we took this thinking on to the next level by commissioning a metal worker to create this leafy wonder.

Find your local metal worker through the British Artist Blacksmiths Association - www.baba.org.uk - or get the look with a modern bed such as the Squigilina from And So To Bed, from £519 in stores or by clicking on www.andsotobed.co.uk

JOIN THE DOTS

It didn't take a lot of effort to transform a dated dresser into a modernist pop art fantasy.

Taking a less-is-more approach to reworking hand-me-down furnishings works well so don't over-do your new design.

A lick of paint and some simple craft store dots transform the dresser, while new upholstery and red paint takes an old chair on a new journey.

ALL WHITE NOW

If you decide on a bold choice of accent colour - like our vibrant red - try injecting a bit of white to provide a contrast.

Here the white bed, linens and woodwork are a welcome relief from the blue and red and serve to make this a colour scheme that has personality - and one that's as clean as crisp new linen.

KEEPING COOL

We chose the wall colour to provide a cool mood - perfect for a bedroom - but balanced perceived temperature with hot red to create a more livable mix.

The blue by itself might have been a bit too low key but the red provides that magic missing ingredient which makes our design "pop".

We used Dulux Holiday Blues 4, www.dulux.co.uk