Photo of a large country master bedroom in Dallas with brown walls, medium hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Mid-sized modern master bedroom in Denver with concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Design ideas for a large transitional master bedroom in Minneapolis with purple walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Arrow Timber Framing 9726 NE 302nd St, Battle Ground, WA 98604 (360) 687-1868 Web Site: https://www.arrowtimber.com

Connie Anderson Photography
Mid-sized modern master bedroom in Houston with grey walls, carpet and a ribbon fireplace.

Contemporary bedroom in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

The primary bedroom is divided into for distinct areas - sleeping room, ensuite bathroom, walk-in-closet and sitting room. The bedroom and sitting room are separated by 3 Japanese-inspired Soji screens. The windows of the sitting room retract to create an open balcony to enjoy the views and summer breezes.

Blue Coastal Primary Bedroom
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style master bedroom in Orange County with blue walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, beige floor and wallpaper.

Photo of an expansive contemporary master bedroom in Houston with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Kimberly Gavin Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master bedroom in Denver with beige walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Photo of a mid-sized country master bedroom in Other with grey walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Inspiration for a mediterranean bedroom in Orange County with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

New leather clad gas log fireplace in Master Bedroom exudes quiet serenity. Carpets, comfortable seating, new bed-coverings update this nest. Photographer - Eric Taylor

This is an example of a modern bedroom in San Diego with brown walls and a ribbon fireplace.

Patrice Jerome
Design ideas for a modern bedroom in Cincinnati with grey walls and a ribbon fireplace.

With the linear fire setting the scene, the luxurious deep Colefax silk headboard equalled the seriously deep piled carpet.
Inspiration for a large contemporary master bedroom in Surrey with beige walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

This is an example of a contemporary bedroom in Seattle with white walls, carpet and a ribbon fireplace.

Mid-sized eclectic master bedroom in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.