I crammed my notebook page with blissful scribbles.

- Tailored yet Zen – Latte and cream – Delish fixtures

Photographs by Margot Hartford. (Click on the photos for more detail.)

As I toured Hershon Hartley Design’s Master Suite at this year’s Marin Designers Showcase, I kept whispering to myself, “Wow.”

The spaces were calming and captivating at the same time. It was a retreat in the true sense of the word, tucked into the garden at one end of the grand Georgian Colonial.

Walls had come down, to make more functional the expansive master bedroom, adjoining sunroom and bath spaces.

“The entry way into the suite was dark and cramped,” said designer Jo Ann Hartley, who—along with her partner-designer Jennifer Hershon—orchestrated the transformation.

“The master bath was actually two small warrens that were on opposite sides of the bedroom. There were three very small closets, the fireplace was too small for the room, the bed was situated in the middle of the room, cutting it in half and there was a sunken bathtub in the sunroom!”

The bedroom included a large sitting area with fireplace and a writing desk. The designers masterfully mingled textures in the space.

“We chose very textural textiles for the custom headboard and frame,” said Hartley. “The wing chairs are upholstered in burlap; we did the long bench in mohair and the stool at the foot of the bed is cast bronze. We added nail heads to a number of pieces to add a bit of shine.”

“The bedding and window treatments had a more refined hand with a subtle diamond motif and tonal floral designs. The Odegard rug was knotted wool with silk.”

And the team added polished CaesarStone to the mix, with their re-designed, custom ‘stepped’ fireplace surround.

The adjoining sunroom was like an Ivy Leaguer’s cottage, if the owner had a contemporary flair, and the ability to edit.

This multi-functional room included a casual dining space, TV viewing and a bar.

I adored the floor-to-ceiling linen drapes, monogrammed toss pillows, and slipcovered dining-chair backs–a simple change that helped to create an uncluttered view.

The light fixtures really were confections.

“We choose coordinating fixtures made with capiz shells from Currey and Company,” said Hartley. “They cast a soft glow to the rooms and look like jewelry. The lamps at the bedside are handmade with applied crystals.”

And more Elegance? Aaah, the suite’s bathroom design that began with an innovative and beautiful material. Ladies, you’ll want to move right in. I’ll cover that in part two of the story on Monday.

Until then, create a beautiful weekend!

Northern California design duo Jennifer Hershon and Jo Ann Hartley create high-end spaces that embrace the human factor. The team can be reached through their web site at Hershon Hartley Design, Inc.

 

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