In most cases, a large bedroom isn’t a problem.

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But for one Florida couple, extra square footage coupled with a low ceiling posed a design challenge—how could it ever feel cozy and proportionate? Fortunately, they had hired Jennifer Bunsa of Bunsa Studio, who knew exactly how to make the most of the oversized floor plan and undersized height: 360-degree wood paneling. “We decided to line the entire room in cypress,” she explains. “This room was meant to be a sanctuary away from the rest of the house.”

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The most striking feature of the office is the custom Adam Pogue drapery in the adjacent study, which serves as a piece of functional art and is visible from the bedroom. A luxurious bathroom, with pearly Zellige tile, Calacatta marble, and a floating plain-sawn walnut vanity, completes the tranquil primary suite.

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The project: An elevated New England-style beach house

The location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The room: A primary suite

The client: An outdoorsy family of five

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The biggest problem to solve

The bedroom itself was challenging because it's a really large space. We decided to clad it in cypress to help make it feel like a jewel box and draw the attention away from the oppressively low ceiling (the adjacent study is paneled in a slightly moodier pecky cypress). We also wanted to create zones within the room so that it felt a little bit more broken up, scale-wise. We have a seating area off to the left when you walk in, with two Guillerme et Chambron chairs, a Swedish floor lamp, and a stump side table.

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The item that started it all

The custom Adam Pogue curtain is what we based everything around. It's a tapestry, really. It’s all vintage textiles that he sources, cuts, and repurposes. He sent us different swatches and we gave him some direction, told him the colors we liked, and he ran with it. It's my favorite thing that I've ever collaborated with an artist on. It's so beautiful.

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Something vintage

In the study, we have a vintage Castiglioni ceiling light and a Roger Capron tile coffee table. The tiles have different textures. The darker ones are smoother and the lighter brown ones are a little rougher. We also have an Afra & Tobia Scarpa dining chair that we sourced in Italy. In the bedroom, we have the Guillerme et Chambron chairs sourced from Morentz Gallery and the curly cue Swedish floor lamp. The sconces by the bedside tables are vintage Poulsen. The glass is matte. In the new production, they are more shiny, so it makes a big difference.

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The splurge and steal in the room

The biggest splurge was the BDDW credenza. It's a beautiful piece that was the perfect size for the space. The top and the wrapper are bronze and the front drawer faces and doors are leather. It adds a lot of warmth and patina to the space.

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The biggest steal is the Florida Highwaymen painting that's hanging above the bed. They were a group of African American men in the 1950s. They were artists who were not allowed to show in galleries at the time because they were black, but they were so talented. They would paint and sell their works on the side of the road. I bought this one at an auction.

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The design risk with the biggest payoff

Anytime you work with an artist and you commission a piece, it's a bit of a risk. You don't know what they're going to come back with. We trusted that the Adam Pogue drapery was going to be beautiful no matter what, but we did take a risk with that big wall. It definitely paid off.

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The little detail with a big impact

In the bathroom, the marble backsplash is flush with the tile, but the door frame comes out a bit. It took a little bit of extra work with the fabricator to achieve, but that extra shadow line is a nice detail.

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I really had to sell my clients on

The ceiling pendant in the study. The husband was on board, but the wife at first was hesitant. She wasn't really sure about it, but I think it grew on her after a while.

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Why this space works so well

Each room has its own individual character, but they flow together because they have a similar palette.

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The final vibe

Warm, collected, and eclectic.

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Want personalized design advice from Bunsa Studio? Book a consultation.

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The Goods