i+D - July/August 2018 - 54

Living
byin northern
Handcrafted
Greece, COCO-MAT
Design
mattresses combine
Outdoor
cotton, wool, and horse
hair with soothing
Spaces
lavender to promote

Living by
Design
Bedrooms

relaxation and eucalyptus
to aid in breathing.
(Image: Vassilis Skopelitis)

Life Cycles
And, where high beds had their shining moment for some time,
Gluckstein notes a movement away from height and oversize mattresses,
as they can pose challenges. "We're looking at beds that are around
26 inches high now-not too low, but not overly high either," he says.
"For a while, the trend was pillow top and oversize, but, as you age, it's
harder to get in and out of that kind of bed." Instead, he likes to create
a sitting area or some other alternative seating to the bed elsewhere in
the room. "It's a nice area to unwind at the end of the day, with reading
or quiet conversation, and transition to bedtime," he says.
Gluckstein adds that various sources of lighting in the bedroom are
important for creating ambience. "I use lamps on the bedside tables and
in the sitting area, and I'll put dimmers on the overhead lighting. You want
to create soft pools of light in the bedroom." And, thanks to advanced
technologies, window treatments have come a long way in doing
their part when it comes to the natural lighting of a room. "Opposing
requirements-enjoying the view, but maintaining privacy; letting in the
light, but cutting glare; heavy black-out for sleeping, yet maintaining a light
and fresh look-are possible in one treatment without having to choose
one over the other," according to George.

Likewise, COCO-MAT, whose very tagline is to sleep on nature,
handcrafts mattresses in northern Greece also using cotton, wool, and
horse hair-but with a few extra materials thrown in for good measure.
Coconut fiber to insulate, fragrant lavender to soothe and promote
relaxation, and essential oil distilled from eucalyptus leaves to aid with
breathing are a stark contrast to the metals, glue, chemicals, and toxins
found in many mainstream mattresses.

Regardless of age, abilities, and how one is using the bedroom, it's
arguably among the most important spaces in a home-the most
personal, the most restorative, the most centered on wellness. "The
bedroom is the place where we begin and end our day," Eshun says. "It's
a space where we rest our bodies, our souls, and our minds in order to
take on the day and, therefore, it should not only be restful, but it should
also express our personal style with items that make us comfortable."

And, when an individual is in that bed, light matters. Natural light,
artificial light, electronics, and ambient lighting, all affect a person's eyes,
sleep patterns, and circadian rhythms. According to the National Sleep
Foundation, exposure to light right before bedtime affects the nerves,
which, in turn, affects the brain, which controls all the functions of the
body that might keep a person awake or help them fall asleep. Through
its PowerView Motorization system, Hunter Douglas allows an individual
to not only automatically raise and lower the shades, but also schedule
ahead of time when they should be raised or lowered through an app or
voice commands when used in conjunction with virtual assistants.
(That's a plus when it comes to child safety since there are no cords to
play with.) And, their window treatments provide a range of privacy
and light levels. "Today, there are innovative furnishings and fixtures to
promote better sleep, such as light and noise-blocking solutions. All of our
window treatments, for instance, provide a measure of light control but
some products offer more room darkening benefits than others," says
Sue Rainville, director of marketing for Hunter Douglas Canada. "A key
consideration in coverings is the fabric or material type and color. Sheer
fabrics typically soften and filter sunlight, while semi-opaque and opaque
versions almost completely block it out." The company's Vignette Duolite
roman shade allows the user to select dual opacities at the same time.
Manufacturers like these are invested in providing products that foster
a good night's sleep and that will serve as a great investment in a
homeowners' wellbeing as well. *

54

When designing for
Katie's House, Designer
Holly George addressed
her client's unique needs,
including fall risk and
future wheelchair use,
via a strategic furniture
layout, easy-to-operate
lights and shades, and
oversize knobs and pulls.
(Image: Holly George)

JESSE BRAT TER
is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist based in South Florida.
She contributes to Modern Luxury, 1stdibs, and Meredith
publications, including Beautiful Kitchens & Baths,
Mediterranean Homes & Lifestyles, and Country French.
Formerly, she was an editor for Luxe Interiors + Design and
Florida Design Magazine.

i+D - July/August 2018
i+D - July/August 2018

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