When Veronica Sullivan and her husband moved into their Manhattan beach home, they had a blank slate to work with—a little too blank. They wanted a space they both loved, that felt like them—so they brought on Havenly designer and VP of creative Shelby Girard to turn their spacious master bedroom into a vibrant, SoCal retreat.
“We wanted a place we could escape to at night,” says Veronica. “And now it truly feels like we are on vacation in our room.” Initially, their divergent styles made it hard to meet in the middle. Shelby brought together Veronica’s bohemian sensibilities with her husband’s preference for midcentury design in a harmonious, personality-rich space defined by a backdrop of bold palm wallpaper they both loved.
A Bedroom Escape
Overlooking the lush Los Angeles hills, Veronica’s bedroom needed an interior to match that sunny vibe with a sophisticated twist. What started as a common design challenge for couples—two different styles—worked to their advantage to bring to life a space that feels just right for two cool Californians, but that hasn’t been done a million times. It’s uniquely them.
The wallpaper, of course, makes the room feel like a classic Beverly Hills Hotel suite, with breezy white curtains and a luxe rug to amplify the glam-getaway spirit of the space.
Making Statements
You might see a swatch of large-scale patterned wallpaper and think the rest of the room should stay subdued to remain calm—but not Shelby. Centered over the bed she placed a bohemian-dreams statement chandelier with pride and chose a jumbo beach print to set the tone. Think easygoing-with-an-edge.
Crisp white built-ins are balanced by long dressers flanking the bed—an unexpected touch that Veronica fell in love with. “I love the idea of dressers instead of nightstands,” she says. Not only do they provide practical additional storage, they play with proportion in a way that works.
Even the bed goes for it in gold-accented lucite—subtle against the colorful wallpaper without disappearing in the least.
Crisp and Colorful
The room’s adventurous spirit shines through in splashes of color from the rich green palms to the soft pink bench and glossy navy dresser—all punctuated by bright whites, turquoise waves in the beach print, and blue skies out the window.
The palette presents a wow factor but is far from busy or oversaturated, making for a just-serene-enough space to make it the perfect place to cozy up after a long day. “It’s clean, bright and cozy,” says Veronica. “It makes us feel happy.”
Looking to escape to a Tropical Bohemian hideaway of your own? Start with our style quiz.