How Style at Home editor-in-chief Erin McLaughlin turned her master bedroom into a sweet and sophisticated oasis.

When Erin McLaughlin and her husband bought their west-end Toronto home four years ago, the master bedroom was a nightmare. So when the time finally came to revamp the space and its adjoining dressing room, Erin wanted it to be something dreams are made of. That meant it had to feel peaceful, boast lots of storage and, of course, reflect her and her husband, with places for favourite keepsakes and most-cherished items. The result is a sweet, sophisticated retreat that beckons for R & R both day and night. Here’s how it came together.

Although the bedroom originally boasted a jarring colour scheme, Erin saw lots of potential in the space. “I knew the room could be amazing, but I also wanted to be brought out of my design comfort zone and incorporate elements I usually wouldn’t choose for myself,” she says. So she called in Style at Home contributing design editor Christine Hanlon, who would be able to dream up the kind of soft and layered feminine aesthetic Erin was envisioning. Christine enveloped the room in rich textures but kept the palette neutral and light. The result is calming and captivating.

Pretty wallpaper

With its muted purple hue and oversized gold pattern, the pretty wallpaper in the dressing area makes a stylish backdrop for Erin’s favourite things.

A dramatic print

A dramatic Roberto Dutesco print of Sable Island wild horses was one of homeowner and Style at Home editor-in-chief Erin McLaughlin’s splurges in the serene space. Erin, who has always dreamed of visiting Sable Island, knew the piece would be worth every penny.

Vintage outdoor sconces

Erin chose the four-poster bed for its height, which draws the eye upward and brings attention to the grand vaulted ceiling. The lanterns that flank the bed are vintage outdoor sconces that Erin had wired into the wall.

Ethereal side tables

The ethereal Donghia side tables were something Erin bought before the room was finished. “After I bought them I worried that I’d made the wrong choice, but now I can’t imagine the space without them!” she says.