While it would’ve been understandable if the couple simply unpacked and settled in, there were two details to consider: They wanted it to reflect both their styles, and since Tolbert is the creative director for Queer Eye designer Bobby Berk, it was inevitable that every inch would serve as a canvas. “The bedroom was a blank slate, and its materials would stay the same,” he says. “So for now, I could bring in new furnishings and decor.” The bedroom only had one wall where a bed could sit, and it was also the shortest of the bunch. The various wood tones in the space also posed a challenge, and they didn’t want to paint until they figured out a strategy for the rest of the home. “The floors were more orange, the walls were more red, and the ceiling was dark brown, so I needed to bring in elements that somehow tied them together until we could make some actual changes,” Tolbert continues. With so much to consider on large and small scales, Tolbert concluded that the best step forward would be to make it as serene as possible. “I imagined a place for us to unplug at the end of the day,” he says. “A lot of the house still feels like it’s in flux, so I thought we should pull together the bedroom to create a sense of calm amongst all the chaos of daily life and navigating our first home together.” He worked with the orange shade of the floors by selecting a similar hue in a leather headboard, which was just big enough to fit comfortably behind the bed. Light-colored nightstands with curved edges contrast the dark ceilings for much-needed airiness, and a pair of footstools tie in hints of red with intention, too. “The room required that I use the tones in different areas throughout to make something that felt cohesive,” he says. “I kept everything neutral, with black accents, so that it visually didn’t overwhelm the narrow footprint.” By sticking to a minimal approach that embraced existing features, Tolbert was able to build a thoughtful and relaxing retreat—for as long as the couple needed it to be. “Less is more in the bedroom, but with that being said, I was able to bring in a lot of texture for an inviting atmosphere without having to actually add a lot of pieces,” he says.
