Transforming Your Bedroom
By: Kathryn Bechen

You’ve just celebrated your wedding day amidst beautiful flowers, delectable cuisine, delightful décor, and you’ve returned from the honeymoon of your dreams. And now, after all the hoopla is over, you’re feeling a little blah, and maybe even a little blue.

The cure? It’s time to transform your master bedroom into your very own haven of “boudoir bliss.” To give you some ideas and tips on how to get started, we interviewed architectural interior designer Matthew Alexander of Matthew Alexander Creations, who has designed and decorated homes for a wide range of clients all over Southern California.

Alexander says the best place for newlyweds to start with their home decorating transformation is with the master bedroom. “It’s the room you share and begin and end your days in, so the environment there needs to be comfortable for both of you. The first and last thing you should see next to your bride lying next to you is a beautiful space,” he says.

Because couples often feel overwhelmed at where to begin the decorating process, Alexander suggests “bridal boudoir packages” as an easy and affordable way to create a romantic master suite. According to his website at Matthew Alexander Creations, packages of varying prices include a wide array of design services to choose from and couples can even purchase contemporary, traditional or transitional furniture as part of some of the packages.

When couples purchase a furniture package, if desired, Alexander can also personalize their master suite with custom touches after doing a thorough interview about their preferred lifestyle and taste preferences. He also notes that bridal boudoir packages make an easy gift-giving option for families where several family members like to chip in on a wedding or engagement gift. “It’s also a unique first gift for a married couple to give each other,” he adds.

Alexander says he always asks each mate, “If you could keep only one thing in this room, what would it be?” As for couples in second marriages, he helps them create a master suite that is reflective of their current marriage and tastes and that often includes organizing, donating, rearranging and making new purchases.

Sometimes couples have opposing design tastes,” says Alexander. “A designer can help when a young groom brings a trunk of old glasses to the new marital home and the bride brings a trunk of dolls,” he smiles. And since today’s decorating styles are not “matchy matchy” as in the past, it’s easier to help a couple bring in decorative elements that blend seamlessly together. “If he likes wood and she likes glass, we can make it creatively work to satisfy both,” he notes. Color is a big decorating factor says Alexander and he asks couples, “What’s your soul color?” By that he means, what color are you most passionate about? If you don’t know, he suggests that your clothes closet will often be your best clue. His best suggestion with color is to start with the color of the carpet in a room and build the rest of the room’s furnishings and patterns around that. If you live in an apartment where the carpet can’t be changed, using an area rug over it is one solution.

In addition to his bridal boudoir packages, Alexander does walk-through consultations for those who want to purchase their own furnishings and décor in retail outlets or who just want a little do-it-yourself nudge. Consultations include a home visit where he evaluates the space, asks questions about the couple’s respective styles, taste and budget, and then immediately gives preliminary sketches and recommends furniture sizes and retail furnishings stores. “I usually know what I think will work best in a room within 15 minutes,” he says. Creating a romantic master bedroom suite is an investment a couple makes that’s two-fold in that it’s both a financial investment in the materials and furnishings that should last at least 8-10 years, says Alexander. “But more importantly it’s an investment in the happiness of the couple as they surround themselves every day with comfort and beauty,” he adds.