Eras, patterns and materials mix it up in this one-of-a-kind bedroom suite, curated by designer Cara Fox in her daughter’s first grown-up retreat
Photos by Shelby Bourne
A girl’s first private bedroom is truly a rite of passage. To surprise her daughter Lottie with a long-awaited solo bedroom, The Fox Group’s Cara Fox was determined to get the design just right.
This bedroom, created by Cara Fox for her daughter, is a masterpiece of balance. The blossoming floral motifs of the walls and furnishings are balanced by solid blue stripes on drapery. Antique art and chateau doors are offset by playful lighting selections. And tying it all together is the calming, cozy blue of Benjamin Moore’s Boothbay Gray.
“I have all my kids sleep in the same nursery until they’re 12, then they get their own rooms,” Cara explains. “Lottie has three little brothers, so it was fun to get to do something extra frilly just for her.”
A nature-lover, home-relaxer and consummate ‘girl’s girl,’ Lottie worked with her parents Tom and Cara Fox to select a design theme that captures her unique personality. The design took flight from a butterfly-embroidered silk by Pierre Frey—the starting thread that wove its way onto Roman shades and throw pillows.
Lottie Fox, daughter of Tom and Cara Fox, sits on her cherished, custom-designed canopy bed. “My bed feels just like a hug,” she shares. Each fabric panel was hand-crafted by a seamstress to meet Cara’s exact specifications.
Below a large art print, a chest painted Boothbay Gray features drawers adorned with butterfly hardware for added whimsy. A chair from the archives of SLC’s historic Grand America Hotel sports a new print: Pierre Frey’s ‘Miss Li’ fabric.
From there, Cara fully wrapped the bedroom and adjoining bathroom—gabled ceilings and all—in a soft-blue floral wallpaper from The Fox Shop, transforming the space into a modern garden getaway.
“The florals in my room are so calming, and the butterflies we chose make me smile every time I see them,” Lottie says.
Integrating vintage pieces has long been part of The Fox Group’s design strategy. Boasting gabled ceilings, a custom canopy bed inspired by European manors and original door panels sourced from a 16th-century French chateau, this space is a true celebration of all things antique.
“We have an amazing seamstress that custom-upholstered the bedding and ottoman for us,” Cara shares. “It was fun to work with this Schumacher fabric, integrating it into all of the frills and the grand millennial feel of this room.”
Ever the master of the mix, Cara sprinkled in unexpected modern touches—just the right dash of youthful flair to keep things fresh and fun. For example: above the canopy bed, a bauble-laden contemporary light fixture injects a touch of the modern. In the bedroom’s corners, sleek acrylic accents meld effortlessly with antique furniture pieces to blend all eras of femininity through the design.
“We didn’t want the space to feel too much like a grandma’s room, because it’s meant for a teenager,” says Cara. “Including touches like the modern contemporary light fixtures and the sleek acrylic desk were ways of freshening the whole field of the room.”
In the adjoining bathroom, thoughtful echoes of the bedroom’s design were seamlessly woven into every corner. For example, checkered replica tile and the vintage tub were custom-colored in Benjamin Moore’s Boothbay Gray to match the bedroom’s mantel and wardrobe. Cara also selected a contemporary starburst chandelier to mirror the modern lighting above the bed.
Throughout both spaces, floral and butterfly motif art pieces deliver whimsy in heaps. Original antique paintings were mingled with modern novelty hardware to ensure every last detail matched Lottie’s garden theme.
“One of my favorite things when you walk in the room are the antique brass butterflies,” Cara says. “We hung them from the ceiling with fishing wire, so it looks like they are suspended in midair.”
All of these magic design moments come together to create a haven of personality and calm that any teen would dream of. “My room feels like a reflection of everything I love—nature, color and coziness,” Lottie says. “It’s my little slice of happiness, my own secret garden and I’m so grateful for it.”
Pattern Play
1) Florals: Norwall Floral Bird Wallpaper, available via The Fox Shop 2) Checks: Custom Tile from Arto 3) Prints: Miss Li in Rose Mauve by Pierre Frey 4) Stripes: Wickham Satin Stripe by Schumacher
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