• Home
  • About White Webb
  • Portfolio
    • Private Residences
    • Public Spaces
    • Current Projects
  • Books
    • Italy of My Dreams
    • Books by Others
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

White Webb

Canopy Beds for Sanctuary

Design Log

4 Jan

modern canopyCanopy beds have a long, not necessarily luxurious, history. In Medieval Europe, princes and peasants alike used them for protection: the cover at the top kept insects from dropping upon the sleeper through the thatched roofs above. Not exactly what one would call the stuff of pleasant dreams! The curtains held in warmth while providing privacy from attendants or family who often slept in the same room. In ancient China, canopy beds provided the same protection, but in summer months they were draped with gauze netting to keep bugs out while allowing cooling breezes in. As with most things, necessity proved to be the mother of invention, but design creativity led the transformation of these must-haves into expressions of sumptuous beauty.

Today, there is no real practical need for canopy beds, so the main question is: Are they a good design choice? We think they can be, and have designed many such beds for our projects ranging from modern to traditional and everything in between.

Starburst Canopy

Above is a bed we designed for a client in Manhattan. The room has little architectural interest, so we created some with this very clean version of a half tester bed, which we covered in a very tailored wool. To the left is a bed where we extended the crown moulding around a modified canopy. A starburst silk insert in the ceiling and a full-height headboard unite the design. Because of the window curtains flanking the bed, no bed hangings were needed or wanted.

At the bottom is a bed we found for a California project in an early 20th century Spanish-revival house. Here there is no canopy, but the bed hangings, suspended from an iron bed frame, suit the feel of the house. This luxurious fabric gives the room an understated masculinity.

Spanish Style Bed

There is no essential purpose for canopy beds these days, unless you live under a leaky thatch roof or in a drafty castle. But they do provide a warm “room within a room” feeling that provides the perfect place to slumber and dream.

Previous Post: « The Country Table
Next Post: WoW Factor by White Webb: The Fireplace »
Time has stopped - we are hypnotized by this piece Time has stopped - we are hypnotized by this piece from László Lukácsi, 'Twisted Time'.  'Twisted Time': @lukacsiglass  #whitewebbinteriors #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
A quiet listening room with a resounding palette f A quiet listening room with a resounding palette for our clients in the Catskills.  Photo by @readmckendree  #whitewebbinteriors #livingroomdesign #livingroomdecoration #livingroominspiration #luxurylivingroom #livingroomgoals #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
A breathtaking visual for Mahsa Amini, created by A breathtaking visual for Mahsa Amini, created by @hamidebrahimnia.  Video: @hamidebrahimnia  #whitewebbinteriors #exteriordesign #outdoorfurniture #outdoordesign #gardendesign #outdoorliving #outdoorfurnituredesign #landscapedesign #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
A work of AI-generated art that changes our perspe A work of AI-generated art that changes our perspective and challenges our eyes.. Stunning representation of Catalan Modernism by @gaudism.ai.  Via: @kellybehunstudio  #whitewebbinteriors #architecturaldesign #modernarchitecture #architecture #architect #homearchitecture #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
For this cozy home office in Massachusetts, we cap For this cozy home office in Massachusetts, we capped off the design with a stunning wood veneer wallpaper from @cmoparis on the room’s ceiling. The subtle reflectivity of the paper’s wooden diamonds and the metallic gold accents between them creates some beautiful light play and a sense of movement.  Photo by @michaeljleephotography.  #whitewebbinteriors #livingroomdesign #livingroomdecoration #livingroominspiration #luxurylivingroom #livingroomgoals #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
Nothing short of phenomenal here. The combination Nothing short of phenomenal here. The combination of this patinated metal screen and vanity counter by @n_schoenfelder and @michaelsshome for Mancini Enterprises elevates this bathroom entirely.  Photo: @n_schoenfelder  #whitewebbinteriors #bathroomdesign #modernbathroomdesign #bathroomgoals #bathroomdecoration #bathroominspo #bathroomdecor #modernbath #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
Architectural mastery of Linderhof Palace nestled Architectural mastery of Linderhof Palace nestled in the hills of Bavaria, Germany - a spectacle every passing season.  Photography: @aidennyc  #whitewebbinteriors #architecturaldesign #timelessarchitecture #architecture #architect #homearchitecture #hudsonvalley #dutchesscounty #capitaldistrict #westernnewyork #hudsonvalleydesign #hudsonvalleydesigner #newyorkinteriors #newyorkdesign #newyorkliving #moderninteriors #designerlife #moderndesign #homedecor #classicdesign #traditionaldecor #luxuryliving #luxuryinteriors #homedecoration #traditionaldesign
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 White Webb · About · Contact