House Tour: A Sumptuous Suite

TEXT Jasmine Bible + PHOTOGRAPHY Kimberly Murray Photography

Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters are taking the Atlanta, GA, design market by storm. Their bold approach to design is exactly what hip homeowners are craving. The duo teamed up when they serendipitously crossed paths on a design project, and saw a kindred spirit in one another—they each possess a passion for fearless design that’s both personal and moving to their clients. FORBES + MASTERS was formed, and the results are stunning.

Working with both residential and commercial clients, each project elegantly evokes a specific mood. For this Atlanta homeowner, she saw FORBES + MASTERS work on social media and knew they were the perfect designers to transform her bland and boring guest room into a jaw-dropping guest suite. Based on the client’s jet-setting lifestyle, Forbes and Masters decided to create a room that’s reminiscent of a boutique hotel with a retro 1970s glam vibe. Masters explains, “Guest rooms can often be an extension of the home, and sometimes be bland spaces with just a simple bed and sheets with little or no accessories.” Instead, they wanted to create a themed and thoughtful space that would be an exciting treat for guests.

Knowing they needed to dress up the entire room including the floors, walls, and ceiling—they utilized large-scale elements that filled the space, but didn’t overcrowd the room. They focused on essentials—the sleeping zone, a lounge area to sit, and a television station.

Each piece needed to be iconic when left on its own, but feel cohesive in the room. They began by designing the headboard, wanting it to make a huge visual impact, take up as much space as possible, and enclose the nightstands.

A retro emerald green fabric with vertical lines and texture was used to create the massive channel-tufted bed. Minimal nightstands from West Elm flank the bed, and a pair of retro-style brass light fixtures hang from the ceiling, drawing the eye upwards, and saving valuable limited space on the nightstands. The Jim Thompson fabric used on the face of the custom pillows dictated the strict color palette, while the fringe edging added a fun detail. The oversized leopard print rug was the largest size they could order without going custom, saving the client money. Forbes shares, “Every room in the house calls for a different budget and level of intention.”

The matching set of pleated velvet chairs, also by West Elm, creates a lounge area that complements the custom bench finished in a Larsen fabric, Douglas in yellow green. For the television area, new brass hardware was added to the console, creating a one-of-a-kind feature, that pairs nicely with the sleek brass light fixtures.

Natural elements are used throughout the space—on the console sits a bone-inlay box, ostrich eggs, and even a whale bone. They built the sculpture above the bed from dried grape wood. “We always add odd curiosities,” shares Masters. The Westside Market in Atlanta is one of their favorite places to source these beautiful artifacts and interesting pieces.

Perhaps the most impactful component of the entire space is the black walls. What looks like wallpaper is actually a stencil by Cutting Edge Stencils, Forbes and Masters’ favorite stencil maker.

They share their secret, “To get the look of a high-end wallpaper, start with flat paint as your base, then stencil with a high gloss paint in the same color.” For this room, they used Limousine Leather by Behr on the walls and ceiling, and added the stencil to all four walls. We’re obsessed with the results. Any guest would be thrilled to visit this bold and sumptuous space.

To connect with Forbes + Masters, visit ForbesMasters.com.

We shared this story with you in our Spring/Summer 2018 Issue of NEST Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.