Architect Alexander Gorlin can masterfully design a sprawling glass-and-concrete house, but he also knows how to make a cramped space into just as elegant an oasis. Specifically, the guest bedroom in an apartment within the famed New York Beaux Arts building the Ansonia, which also happens to be our most popular bedroom on Pinterest. Its arched window overlooking Broadway is inarguably fantastic, but the room is an unusual shape that requires some thinking outside the box. Gorlin made it look easy. There's a charming antique carpet underfoot, custom curtains framing that beautiful window, and an upholstered bed that manages to fit perfectly in one of the room's strange corners. Here are five things we learned from how Gorlin transformed the space:
The bed just fits along an angled wall—ah, the joys of an odd-shaped rooms—so rather than try to squeeze in a traditional lamp and bulky nightstand, Gorlin chose a slim floor lamp to act as a reading light.
Especially the ultraslim ones, which somehow slide perfectly into the space you were sure couldn't fit a single extra furnishing. Ta-da, a place for those magazines you've been meaning to flip through!
Bedrooms—especially ones in bustling Manhattan—should feel like escapes from our hectic schedules. Too much color in this small room would be overwhelming. So, simple blue and white, the ultimate in serene color palettes, reign here; the only other hue is a tiny hint of red on the pillowcases.
When you go mostly monochromatic with your bed linens, texture is key. Even though it's also white, this fluffy faux-fur blanket adds instant visual interest. More importantly, it makes you want to jump right in.
These custom drapes, made from a Thai silk by Holland & Sherry, look luxurious, yes, but they will also help block out sound from the street below and let you sleep in past sunrise. That's a win-win if we've ever seen one.
