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Sarah's Mountain Escape: Heidi Suite

Designed by Sarah Richardson

Photography by Valerie Wilcox

Haus Heidi Whistler: Heidi Suite

Bed with colourful blue, white and coral upholstered headboard

Infuse Your Bedroom with Character and Inspirations


Make your bedroom your favourite escape and the ultimate expression of YOU! In this episode of Design Life, we'll show you how to bring your inspirations to life and infuse your bedroom with the character you crave. Watch as we take you behind the design of 4 totally unique guest suites at Haus Heidi, our newly renovated luxury modern alpine chalet rental as seen on HGTV Canada's Sarah's Mountain Escape!

Bedroom Before & After

Haus Heidi Whistler Heidi Suite, before renovation
Haus Heidi Whistler Heidi Suite, after renovation
Bedroom nook with built-in floating bench

Reimagine Vintage Artefacts


Chalet chic is about vintage style and I'm always in the mood for that! Wanting to give a nod to the original flowery exterior of Haus Heidi Whistler, I designed the Heidi Suite to evoke a vibe of playfulness with reimagined salvaged chalet artefacts and contemporary colourful patterns and prints.


  • A trio of winter fun art collages of vintage toques, snowmobiles, and ski jackets by Sarah Merry Art act as the colour inspiration for the cozy room - 'cuz winter is about outdoor fun.
  • Salvaged chip carving elements became custom built-in furniture.
  • A nod to the Bavarian-style exterior dressed in window boxes came via the headboard fabric by Christopher Farr Cloth.
  • Wacky vintage bedside tables got a shiny fresh hue of teal lacquer.
Bed with colourful blue, white and coral upholstered headboard

Make a Nifty Nook


Outfit your nook with a simple floating bench topped with a plush daybed cushion and toss in some fun accent fabrics to make a cozy nest. If you've got the room it could even double as an extra sleeping space - this one's 30" deep and 70" long so it's perfect for a kid to tuck into.


The construction is super simple: a frame of 2 by 4's is attached to the back and side walls, topped with a piece of plywood, then dressed with decorative trim (you can use casing or baseboard). 


Keep the lower part open and it makes for an easy spot to keep stuff tucked away (a suitcase, a basket).

Bedroom nook with built-in floating bench
Build-in open closet with bed in the foreground

Get The Look

Sico Paints Melt Water 6156-63
Sico Paints Melt Water 6156-63
Handcarved knobs
Anthropologie Handcarved Gulliver Knobs
Sarah Merry "Les Toques Ensemble" artwork
Sarah Merry "Les Toques Ensemble" artwork
Christopher Farr Cloth: headboard fabric  Array, Dark Indigo
Christopher Farr Cloth Array, Dark Indigo Fabric


Dark blue broadloom rug
Vifloor Broadloom Rug, Stria Colour: 40
Velvet mint green accent pillow
Tonic Living: accent pillow fabric Valentina Velvet Fabric, Mineral

Heidi Bedroom Sources: Vifloor: Broadloom Rug, Stria Colour: 40 (100% New Zealand Wool) | Martin Windows and Doors: Vinyl Awning Window | Anthropologie: Gulliver Knobs, Set of 2 (sku: 60022399-010) | Sarah Merry: "Les Toques Ensemble", "Les Sleds Ensemble", and "Le Ski Ensemble" Artworks | Panasonic Canada: Air Conditioner | IKEA: HAUGSVÄRHybrid Mattress, Plush/Dark Gray, Queen (sku: 304.646.54) | West Elm: Triangle Sheet Set, Multi, WE Kids | H&M: Linen King/Queen Duvet Cover Set, White (sku: 188589001) | Kravet: "Kravet Design 34086-516" (bench cushion fabric), "Highpoint Coral" - discontinued (accent pillow) | Tonic Living: Valentina Velvet, Mineral (accent pillow) | Premier Prints: "Unprinted Slub Canvas" Roman Blinds (sku: SLUB06) | Thibaut: Spotted Aqua Fabric (accent pillows) | Kijiji: Vintage Nightstands | Darzzi: Throw Blanket | Christopher Farr Cloth: "Array, Dark Indigo" Fabric (headboard) | HomeSense: Table Lamps, Round Mirror | Lowe's: Lumirama Fossïl Wall Sconce (sku: 903565) | Sico: Cotton Rag Paper 6195-11 (wall and ceiling paint), Natural White 6000-11 (trim and door paint), Melt Water 6156-63 (paint for nightstands)

Ensuite

Blue and white bathroom

31 Tile, Tub, Vanity and Lighting tips


Let's talk about bathroom design! If you're thinking about renovating your bathroom, here's what you need to know to make it fun, functional and fabulous, and the ultimate expression of you! Press play for 31 tile, tub, vanity and lighting tips and ideas for standout bathroom style. 

Bathroom Before & After

Haus Heidi Whistler Heidi Bathroom, before renovation
Haus Heidi Whistler Heidi Bathroom, after renovation
Blue and white bathroom with bathtub below the window

Dive In On Fresh Ideas


This idea is a first for me. Instead of tiling the walls to make them splash-proof in a kid-friendly bath, I opted for slabs of Caesarstone installed as wainscotting (with a custom cut groove to match the trim profile). A deep soaker tub that mounts against the wall yet floats in the room keeps this bath streamlined and scrub-a-dub ready!


Make Asymmetrical Fun


Asymmetrical ceilings or irregular shaped rooms call for injecting a little FUN into the design details! We treated the Heidi bathroom to a medley of patterns and shapes:


  • Octagon marble mosaic floors bring the zing
  • Notched vanity backsplash commands attention
  • Oversized oval mirror and chunky circular knobs add playfulness

Want to temper the bold details? Choose a muted or monochromatic palette to help master the mix!

White quartz installed as wainscotting
Bathroom vanity with glass-enclosed shower

Get The Look

Sico Paints Stainless Steel 6241-21
Sico Paints Stainless Steel 6241-21
Saltillo blue and white octagon tiles
Saltillo Tiles Octagon Border Thassos Azul Macauba
IKEA GODMORGON vanity
IKEA GODMORGON Bathroom Vanity
Round oak wood peg hooks
LelloLiving (Etsy) Round Oak Wood Hook/Peg
Caesarstone white counter slab
Caesarstone Intense White 6011
Kravet blue and white  gridwork fabric pattern
Kravet Gridwork Slate by Jeffrey Alan Marks (GRIDWORK.21.0)
White ribbed cone pendant
Litfab White Ribbed Cone Pendant
Cyanotypes artwork
ArtisticallyXi (Etsy) Cyanotypes Original Art
Freestanding bathtub
Lowe's Jade Bath Sao Paolo 59" Freestanding Tub
The Rubinet Faucet Company Chrome Single Control Lav Set  (1KRTLCHCH)
Rubinet Single Control Lav Set, Chrome (1KRTLCHCH)
The Rubinet Faucet Company: tub spout  Wall Mount Tub Spout, Chrome (2TRTWCHCH)
Rubinet Wall Mount Tub Spout, Chrome (2TRTWCHCH)
Chrome toilet paper holder
Rubinet Toilet Paper Holder Chrome (7FRT0CHCH)

Heidi Bathroom Sources: Saltillo Tiles: Octagon Border Thassos Azul Macauba, floors (sku: IMOCTBDTHAAZ), Azul Macauba, shower floors (sku: IM58AZULMACA), Zellige Meknes Marine, shower walls (sku: VT44MEKNMARI), Zellige Sahara White, shower walls (sku: VT44SAHAWHIT) | Caesarstone: Intense White 6011 Counter Slab | Litfab: White Ribbed Cone Pendant Light, Nordic Style, 1 Light Hanging Lamp, 12.5" D (sku: 2258951) | ArtisticallyXi on Etsy: Xi Wang Original Cyanotypes | LelloLiving on Etsy: Round Oak Wall Hook | IKEA: GODMORGON Bathroom Vanity, White (sku: 002.811.04) | Kravet: "Gridwork Slate" by Jeffrey Alan Marks, GRIDWORK.21.0 (Roman blind fabric) | H&M: Wooden Picture Frames | Around The Block: Vintage Soap Dish | The Rubinet Faucet Company: Single Control Lav Set 6 3/4" Aeratir to Deck, Less Drain (sku: 1KRTLCHCH), Push Up Drain with Overflow (sku: 9DPU13CH), Bottle Trap with Flange Contemporary Includes Tailpiece Extension 9DTP1, Exposed (sku: 9DPT3CH), Adjustable Slide Bar with Hand Held Shower Assembly (sku: 4GRT0CHCH), Temperature Control Valve with Stops & Two Way Diverter with Shut-Off (sku: 2QRTLCHCH), Rough Temperature Control Valve 1/2" (sku: 2QR100), 8" Shower Head with Wall-Mount 12" Shower Arm & Flange (sku: 4F021CHCH), Integral Supply with 1/2" NPT x 1/2" NPSM x 3" Nipple (sku: 4H010CH), Wall Bracket with Integral Supply (sku: 9WB02CH), Hose Only 1/2" F x 1/2" x F x 60" For Wall Mount (sku: 9FH01CH), Hand Held Shower Only Single Function (sku: 9HS05CHCH), Three Valve Tub Filler with Diverter (sku: 2ARTQCHCH), Rough Three Valve Tub Filler (sku: 2AR100), Wall Mount Tub Spout (sku: 2TRTWCHCH), 24" Towel Bar (sku: 7BRT0CHCH), Toilet Paper Holder Single Post (sku: 7FRT0CHCH), Robe Hook (sku: 7HRT0CHCH) | Schluter: Schluter®-KERDI-LINE Linear Drain | HomeSense: Towels | Home Depot: American Standard Tofino Concealed Trapway 1-piece 1.1/1.6 GPF Dual Flush Elongated Toilet (sku: 1000736290) | Bouclair: Wood Framed Mirror (sku: 9401608, discontinued) | Lowe's: Jade Bath 59" Sao Paolo Wallmounted Freestanding Tub (sku: 330002526), Kohler Verticyl® Rectangle Undermount Bathroom Sink (sku: 560691) | Sico: Stainless Steel 6241-21 (wall and ceiling paint), Natural White 6000-11 (trim and door paint)