Q: My bedroom is shaped strangely with a sloped ceiling and a small, awkward window. I’m hoping that I can do something to make it more pretty. I like to collect early-American pieces and would like to work them into the room as well. Pat Moore Arlington, Virginia A: Sometimes when you have a problem space, it is better to boldly attack it rather than tiptoe around the problem. If the only wall that will take the bed is the one with the window, devise a charming window treatment. Or, if the window has some integrity, leave its character intact and boldly plunk the bed in front. In the alcove created by the oddly placed walls, you could place either the bed or a low chest/secretary. Place a trunk at the base of the bed, along with an antique tatted bedspread to infuse the space with personality. I would keep the floors plain and either whitewash or glaze them. You can add a braided rug as well. Q: I would like to create a guest room out of a small spare room. I want to create a space that has a distinctive character, a room where my guests would be comfortable spending some time instead of just a place for them to sleep. When I look at bedroom pictures in magazines, they all seem boring. Help! Nancy Zanetta Madison, Wisconsin A: Look at our photo (left) for some great ideas. The wallpaper is light, airy and slightly formal, and there is a matching border to anchor it. This type of paper is quite calming, perfect for a room in which you want to encourage your guests to spend some time. An old sleigh bed gains new life when painted white. Add a small bedside table (easily picked up for pennies). Adorn it with a tole lamp to add pizzazz. Keep the window treatments simple and add some nice artwork, like botanical prints, that reflects your personality. Q: My daughter is just out of college, and I want to update her room from a child’s space into an area where she will feel comfortable when she comes to visit, but also a place where I can relax and read or do my paper work from time to time. Do you have any simple suggestions? Mary Klipper Mount Vernon, New York A: One dramatic change you can make for a relatively small cost is putting up new wallpaper. Here, the unusual pattern of off-green and black lends a sophisticated note right off the bat. Since the colors and patterns are elegant and not trendy, you will not tire of them overnight. To reinforce the color scheme, mat prints in a coordinating tone. Botanical prints need not be expensive to look good, and a colored mat lends just the right custom look. The traditional tabbed white curtains on an iron rod add to the classic feel, as does the bench at the foot of the bed. Who says that a small bureau cannot be an end table? Here it works very well. A small freestanding desk is the perfect place for you to catch up on that paper work without making the room look too much like an office. A thin quilted spread and a throw blanket complete the room. Photos: (Top left) brad simmons; (Top right) courtesy gramercy; (Bottom) courtesy waverly Editor’s Note: Margot Gunther, ASID, is a designer who has worked on residential interiors, country inns and restaurants. home • advertise • links