Bedrooms
This Dark & Dramatic Master Bedroom Is A Relaxing Respite
Updated on November 28, 2023
Designer Danielle Nicholas Bryk tell us why this is her and her husband Greg’s favorite room.
“Greg and I have moved around so many times — this is the sixth house we’ve owned. We’d always given the principal bedroom to our boys, Dempsey, 21, and Billy, 18, because they shared it, so it wasn’t until we moved here that we could claim it for ourselves. It feels like the ultimate luxury.
When the moody wall color trend started, I used it in a couple of clients’ homes and absolutely loved it. I thought I would experiment with it in our bedroom. Farrow & Ball’s Railings, a slightly off-black, is moody but neutral as well. It’s a great backdrop for boho elements and is very cocoon-like. I think this bedroom really does symbolize the ultimate escape for us.”
Danielle has appeared on Home to Win and starred in renovation shows like A Bryk at a Time, while Greg is a busy actor with roles on TV dramas such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Mary Kills People.
Hugo, the family’s French bulldog, is ready for his closeup. Greg and his son Dempsey, an actor in Heartland, often film audition tapes near the window: the dark wall color and natural light make a perfect backdrop.
“We’re drawn to artwork that’s raw and evocative,” says Danielle of the large photograph by Alexandre Mavrellis Oktan.
Danielle refinished the circa-1912 original floors but added deeper baseboards to complement the Edwardian home’s heritage vibe. She says the painting by Aboudia reminds her of their three children, Dempsey, Billy and Ella, who’s 15.
While a custom walnut wardrobe conceals Greg’s clothing, Danielle’s curated closet is simply hung from industrial pipe. “If I can’t see it, I won’t wear it,” she says.
Danielle broke through the existing bedroom closet into the adjoining bedroom and turned it into an ensuite bath. “When we were first starting out, we couldn’t afford to hire someone so I learned how to do these things myself,” she says. “When something needs to change, I want it done yesterday, so I often take matters into my own hands.”
Want to see more of this stunning space? Watch the full tour on H&H TV.
Alex Lukey
House & Home November 2018
Danielle Nicholas Bryk