Playing with textures, choosing dark color palettes and incorporating technology are some ideas that come to mind when we think of designing the quintessential bachelor pad. Here are 10 examples that will make you want to redecorate.
Bold Breakfast Nook
“For a single man, there’s rarely a need to over-accessorize and fill every niche with a vase and every wall with art,” says Jeff Andrews of this Beverly Hills space. “I love lighting and furniture that double as sculpture, such as the Eero Saarinen dining table, Charles and Ray Eames chairs and the Buena Notte vase by Fornasetti. I find bachelor clients to be the best creative opportunity to let the ‘less is more’ ethos really sing.”
Relaxed Reading Loft
“The rich mahogany floors, exposed beams and glass railings set the foundation to create a modern yet warm space in Sagaponack, New York,” says Allison Babcock, founding partner of Babcock Peffer Design. “The low-slung mid-century sofa is in perfect scale to the pitched ceiling and keeps a sense of openness. The Moroccan rug is very textural and cozy, and we love the juxtaposition of the sharp lines of the brass lamps playing off of that. Ultimately, all of the materials used create a balance and a counterbalance, which is what we were after.”
Minimalist Kitchen
“We wanted the space to feel rich and elegant yet relaxed and approachable,” says Jessica Schuster of this New York City pied-à-terre of a Bahamian jet-setter. “A bachelor pad can be luxurious without using leather and other stereotypical materials,” she adds. “You can achieve a masculine look with rich colors, a myriad of textures, tone on tone elements, and throwing something unexpected in the mix.”
Industrial Living Room
“We were inspired by the industrial character of the building, a former toy factory built in 1924 in Los Angeles,” says Ron Radziner, cofounder of Marmol Radziner. “We wanted to preserve that character but make it welcoming with an array of comfortable seating and subtle lighting. The master suite, which features a seating area for viewing movies, is connected to the living room by a rotating bookcase. Flexible spaces and comfortable furniture make for a great bachelor pad.”
Statement Bathroom
“I was inspired to create a relaxing spa-like space for my client to rest while living in the middle of hectic Chicago,” says Bruce Fox. “When designing bachelor pads, I always think about how to make it beautiful and simple. Technology can play a part here, with motorized shades and drapes, lighting that is easily dimmable to achieve the perfect mood and music to fit any situation, all available at the touch of an app on your phone. It’s ease of living, and it’s sexy.”
Cushy Entertainment Room
“I wanted to create a handsome interior that felt masculine yet classic and tailored,” says Tatum Kendrick, founder of Studio Hus. “My rule of thumb when designing bachelor pads, especially this one in New York’s Greenwich Village, is to only use materials that you would wear. In this room, we layered camel cashmere, leather and linen to create a warm and cozy space that feels modern. The custom-designed, blackened-steel floating console under the TV stays true to the ‘would I wear it’ mantra and is a perfect accessory to the TV.”
Lush Lounge
“In addition to restoring this living room’s highly unusual fireplace and romantic tracery ceiling, we completely reinvented the rest of the New York City home’s layout,” says Frank Webb. “With a swank gentlemen’s club as our design inspiration, we chose deep saturated colors for the public rooms, which not only set a masculine tone, but also provided the perfect backdrop for the client’s impressive art collection. By blending in bold, futuristic lighting and clean mid-century furnishings, we punched up the contrast, making for interiors that feel fresh and dramatic.”
Wide-Open Loft
“The overall color palette is masculine, as it references both the natural grays from the concrete floors and the zinc windows,” says Vanessa Alexander of this Venice, California, loft. “In the living room, we took down almost all the existing walls from its former life as an art gallery and office, and stripped the columns down to their raw concrete base and sealed them in that rugged state, adding only a hand-patina, blackened-steel base trim. The only partitions are the long draperies from a custom bronze track, which add a sense of intimacy and softness.”
Tailored Bedroom
“For this Los Angeles bedroom, I was inspired by luxurious suiting fabrics in addition to a distinct combination of American and European antiques,” says Mary McDonald. “I’ve also always loved everything about Bill Blass, from his clothing and personal style to his homes. In this project, there were many seeds of inspiration from Bill’s masculine classicism.”
Seaworthy Living Room
“This downtown Seattle condominium was stripped to the concrete studs to create a warm yet masculine urban retreat,” says Tim Pfeiffer. “The Moroccan rug, mid-century California mosaic coffee table and leather Mr. Chair by George Mulhauser combined with the Camerich sectional reduce formality all while delivering a familiarity and comfort of material composition.”
