Designers:Jemy Massie and Emily Ellis of Studio Revolution
Location: Bolinas, California
Size: 176 square feet (16.4 square meters); 11 by 16 feet (3.3 by 4.8 meters)

Homeowners’ request: Update a traditional beach-themed house with more minimalist and subdued interiors in a Scandinavian modern style, including the guest room. “We wanted to create a cozy, light and airy, no-fuss space that would be relaxing to guests,” designer Jemy Massie says.

Special features: Monochromatic color scheme. Warm, rustic wood. Wall sconces in place of nightstand lamps. Blackout drapes on custom pipe bar. Ocean view. Outdoor rug.

Designer secret: “For a guest room, it’s best to keep it simple,” Massie says. “Just provide the basics — comfortable bed and bedding, nightstands, reading lights and a bench or chair for reading, luggage or putting shoes on. It’s best not to overdo it in a guest suite. Keep it simple, uncluttered and relaxing for the guest.”

Also on the team: Lema Construction; Thomas Kuoh (photographer)

Designers: Jamie Hamilton and Greer Nelson of Oliver Simon Design

Location: Vancouver
Size: 150 square feet (13.9 square meters); 10 by 15 feet (3 by 4.5 meters)

Homeowners’ request: For this new-build home, the owners wanted a calm, clean, modern look that would be warm and inviting.

Special features: Geometric wallpaper feature wall; wall sconces that free up nightstand space.

Why the design works: “This bedroom is just the right balance of warm and cozy paired with simple modern elements,” designer Jamie Hamilton says. “A neutral color scheme ensures an easy design that will [stand] the test of time, and custom drapes take any space to the next level.”

Designer secret: “We splurged with custom drapery treatments and a feature wall of geometric paper, but we were able to save money by using simple Ikea nightstands and a well-priced bed from CB2,” Hamilton says. “The trick is to know where to scrimp and where to save.”

Also on the team: Tracey Ayton (photographer)

Designers: Shirry Dolgin and Aja Levi of ASD Interiors
Location: Sherman Oaks, California
Size: 255 square feet (23.7 square meters); 15 by 17 feet (4.5 by 5.1 meters)

Homeowners’ request: A calm and modern space in which to relax at the end of the day. Plus, figure out how to place a bed on the back wall under low windows.

Special features: Custom-made bed, headboard, nightstands, wall treatments and drapery. “We wanted to maximize the potential of the full wall and make it a feature with everything fitting perfectly,” designer Shirry Dolgin says. “We made sure that all the details, such as the length of the drapery and height of the headboard, fit exactly as we envisioned.”

Why the design works: “Texture was the key jumping-off point for this design plan,” Dolgin says. “We wanted to make sure all of the elements combined would have luxurious texture. An important detail of the design was the wallcovering we chose to use behind the headboard. It was important to understand the scale and to make sure that it wasn’t too loud but had a subtle texture to tie in all the materials. It was that wallcovering in combination with the natural wood and fabric selections that created the balance in this space.”

Designer secret: “One of the best takeaways from this unique master bedroom is to have an understanding that when you’re dealing with space-planning challenges, it’s important to invest in custom pieces to really use the space to its fullest potential,” Dolgin says. “As opposed to trying to fit ready-made furniture that doesn’t work well for the space, it’s a better investment to make things that are custom for the space.”

“Uh-oh” moment: “We were really pushing for the pendant lights to hang from the ceiling instead of using nightstand lamps,” Dolgin says. “We do this often in order to keep the nightstands clean and clutter-free. It was a struggle to figure out how to get them installed without damaging the entire ceiling of the bedroom. Once we got over that hurdle and finally had them installed, the client woke up one morning and accidentally hit his head on it and broke one of the fixtures. It was an ‘uh-oh’ moment, but it was just a matter of him getting used to it, and now they’re happy with the outcome.”