The Primary Bedroom
At Home with the Hastys - The Primary Bedroom
The Backstory
New to Hasty Book List? Read about the fire that prompted this home renovation, here.
The Inspiration
I like to describe my style as mid-century modern meets scandinavian simplicity, with a sprinkling of art deco.
Where is your favorite place to read a book? In bed, propped up with about a dozen pillows.
- Mary Kay Andrews, author of Hello Summer
The Goal
At our rental, the place we stayed while our condo was rebuilt, the primary bedroom also served as my office. There were days when I felt like I never left that one room. It was important to us that the primary bedroom be a room of rest and relaxation - no work was to be done in here. The bedroom is also a deeply personal space, so it was the ideal room for the rug we purchased in Morocco. Due to water damage, it was no longer suitable for the living room, but we just couldn’t let go of it. In the bedroom, the two of us can appreciate the story without having to explain its “weathered” appearance. Scroll down for the rest of the details on this room.
At Home with the Hastys - The Primary Bedroom
We also want our bedroom to be for sleeping and relaxation only. In our apartment, the master bedroom doubles as my office. There are days, especially during this pandemic, that it feels like I never leave the bedroom. I like being able to have separate spaces for different activities. So there will be no desk in the bedroom and no television. The focus of this room is on rest and relaxation.
Where is your favorite place to read a book? In bed! My prime reading time is at night, curled up with my cat Francie (who usually tries to sit directly on or in front of my book).
- Kit Frick, author of I Killed Zoe Spanos
The Products
Boom Bed
This is the perfect bed for maximizing space in a smaller room. By combining the headboard with the nightstands, you reduce the overall amount of space the set takes up on the wall. We opted to add the optional drawers beneath the bed so that we could do away with the dresser. Why have four pieces of furniture when one will do?
A bad mattress can wreak havoc on the body, we know because we’ve been sleeping on a bad mattress ever since the fire. The furniture rental company did not put an emphasis on long-term comfort and health. My husband and I have both experienced back pain and sleep issues since switching to this mattress, so we wanted to invest in a good mattress that would be firm enough to support our backs but not so hard that there is no give for comfort.
Favorite place to read a book? My bed, under blankets with some crime show on TV.
- Naima Simone, author of Back in the Texan's Bed, TCC: Heir Apparent, Book 1
Queen Mattress
The first thing that stuck out to me about the Nectar Mattress was the cooling cover that was designed to draw heat away from the body and always feel cool to the touch. Since I am a hot sleeper, this is essential. Otherwise, I’ll crank the air conditioning up and my husband will freeze to death at night….and I’d rather he stick around awhile longer.
As I read more about the mattress, I realized that it wasn’t just the cooling cover that was designed to keep you cool at night. There is a second layer of gel-coated memory foam that is also a cooling layer, as it is designed to regulate body temperature while providing support for pressure relief. Our hips and backs will be so thankful to have a good mattress again!
And the best bit? Nectar offers a 365-night home trial. Yep, you read that right, a whole year sleeping on the bed and if you still aren’t satisfied you can return it! But I think you’re going to have the best sleep of your life...you have nothing to lose, go ahead and give it a try.
Where is your favorite place to read a book? In bed before I go to sleep. I find it physically impossible to sleep without reading first.
- Holly Bourne, author of Pretending
Paramount Table Lamp
The last thing I want to do when I wake up in the morning (or right before I fall asleep after staying up late into the night reading) is prop myself up and stretch to reach the lamp. I love that this lamp has a touch on/off base so that as soon as I find out who the murderer was in my thriller or whether the protagonist will finally kiss the love of her life in my romance novel, I can easily reach over and tap the lamp off.
Favorite place to read a book? In bed with as few lights on as my eyes can handle. I may be blind by age 50 but at least I had some extremely atmospheric reading sessions.
- Leslie Cohen, author of My Ride or Die
Linen Sheets
Another way to stay cool at night is with linen sheets. Most people think the higher the thread count the better the sheets...but that isn’t accurate. The higher the thread count the HOTTER the sheets because air can’t get through. Linen sheets have a looser weave, so they breathe better and keep you cooler at night. Plus, they get softer the more you wash them!
Favorite place to read a book? In bed on a cold night with the covers pulled up to my chin, with just one arm sticking out to hold up the book and turn pages.
- Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Better Luck Next Time
Waffle Blanket
Left to my own devices, I would have layered white on white on white. But Eric suggested we go with the graphite color for this Hive Waffle Weave blanket from CB2. It does ground the room a bit, since the walls are also white.
Favorite place to read a book? In my fluffy, white bed.
- Jaclyn Goldis, author of When We Were Young
Triangle Coverlet
I get VERY hot at night, so thick down comforters are out for me. Instead, we opted for this thinly batted white quilted coverlet layered with a waffle weave blanket pictured above. My husband gets cold at night, so he usually ends up with both layers while I end up throwing off the top layer and just sleeping with the waffle weave blanket.
Where is your favorite place to read? In bed late at night.
- Lilianne Milgrom, author of L'Origine: The secret life of the world's most erotic masterpiece
Silk Pillowcase
Silk pillowcases are said to reduce wrinkles, the frequency of split ends, and frizzy hair. They are also said to help keep skin hydrated. The only downside I could find is that silk isn’t the coolest fabric, but it is temperature regulating so at least it won’t make me hotter. Beauty editors everywhere swear by them...and I’m finally on board. I opted for the black (yeah, I was surprised, too!) But I think it looks beautiful against the white bedding and compliments the graphite waffle weave blanket.
Favorite place to read a book? In bed, snuggled under the downy comforter with several mashed-up king-size pillows supporting me.
- Julie Ryan McGue, author of Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging
Cellular Shades
The top-down, bottom-up cellular shades are the way to go. We get intense sunlight in the evening and these filter that light without making the room dark. This is especially important in the morning, when we don’t get a lot of sun. During the day we keep the bottom half closed so that Huxley can’t see anything outside (because if he does, he’ll bark.)
Favorite place to read a book? Next to the window in my bedroom.
- Anita Abriel, author of Lana’s War
Tapestry
I purchased this piece in 2012, on a trip to Ecuador, at the Otavalo Market. My colleague and I took a small group of students to Ecuador to learn about fair trade and to meet some of the artisans. My favorite part about that trip was our time in Otavalo and Quito (I am a city girl, through and through...) The market is about two hours outside of Quito and home to the Otavaleño people who are known for their woven textiles, but the market features all kinds of artisan souvenirs. The frame for this tapestry is new, purchased from Quilt Hanger Frames. We love how simple and clean it looks hanging above our bed.
Favorite place to read a book? Mostly in bed with my morning coffee.
- Rob Swigart, author of Mixed Harvest: Stories from the Human Past
Dog Bed
Huxley loves a fort. He likes to sleep under the bed, but now that our bed goes all the way to the floor, we needed to find him a new fort. He had a dog teepee prior to the fire, but…well, you know. So my parents got him this new teepee for Christmas and he absolutely adores it. He sleeps there most nights, unless it is cold, then he sleeps in the bed with us. Do I purposefully make it cold at night? Maybe…
Favorite place to read a book? at night in bed when everyone else is sleeping
- Kaira Rouda, author of The Next Wife
Bedside Water Carafe
Because I’m always thirsty at night, and a bedside water carafe is one of those little luxuries I adore. I think I saw it for the first time in a bed and breakfast and I thought it was so charming.
5 Panel Bi-Fold Doors
Another space-saving trick was to replace the four full-sized closet doors with bi-fold doors.
