When I first moved into my one-bedroom apartment, I didn’t give much thought to the furniture choices. In a rush to “make it feel like home,” I clicked purchase on a mid-century bed frame without considering how it would actually fit into my space.
A few weeks later, Danielle — my interior designer and voice of reason — came over to look at the apartment in person. She took one glance at the bed frame, turned to me, and asked, “You’re going to get rid of this, right?”
Within an hour, I had arranged to send it back.
The Bed That Didn’t Fit
My next attempt was more intentional. I ordered a custom bed, one that I thought would finally solve the problem. But after four long months of waiting, the bed arrived… and it was a queen. A gorgeous queen bed, but far too big for the little nook I had carved out to serve as my “bedroom.” With the apartment reveal looming just a month away, we had no choice but to move the bed into our Miami place and start over — again.
To say I panicked would be an understatement. I had more than one breakdown during that time, wondering how something as simple as a bed could become such an obstacle. But with no time to waste, we had to find a solution.
The Floating Headboard Idea
After researching every option possible, Danielle suggested something that hadn’t even crossed my mind: a custom upholstered floating headboard.
“A classic floating headboard attached to the wall is the best design fit for the space,” she explained. “It’ll create the illusion of a full upholstered bed, and when paired with a custom bed skirt in the same fabric, the continuity will make it look seamless.”
All I’d need was a basic bed frame to sit behind it.
The idea immediately clicked. Not only would it save precious floor space, but it would also give me the opportunity to bring in fabric and color — two things I’ve always loved in interiors.
Inspiration from Ravello
A few months earlier, while traveling in Ravello, I had spotted the most beautiful bed. Its fabric was a lush green floral, romantic and timeless, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I texted Danielle a photo at the time, half-joking that I wanted to bring the entire bed home with me.
“It’s beautiful,” she replied. “And I know exactly who to call for something like this.”
That someone was Schuyler Samperton, a Los Angeles–based textile designer whose work I had admired from afar. Schuyler has a gift for creating fabrics that feel both classic and fresh — full of pattern, color, and texture, yet grounded in an understated elegance. Her work has been featured everywhere from Vogue Living to countless design publications, and she’s known for blending global inspiration with a distinctly modern sensibility.
Choosing the Perfect Fabric
When I finally connected with Schuyler, I knew we were on the right path. She immediately understood the feeling I wanted to capture — that same mix of old-world charm and vibrancy I’d fallen in love with in Italy.
She suggested her Eden fabric in the color Meadow, which struck the perfect balance of whimsy and sophistication. It had the same lush floral quality I had admired abroad, while still feeling adaptable enough for my small city apartment.
The fabric became the centerpiece of the design: it covered the floating headboard, continued through a custom bed skirt, and tied together with accent pillows. The continuity of the print created a rich, layered look that made the bed feel intentional, not cramped.
From Panic to Perfection
With just weeks to spare before the reveal, everything miraculously came together. The floating headboard idea turned out to be the solution my tiny apartment needed all along. Instead of compromising with a too-small or too-bulky bed, I ended up with something that felt personal, luxurious, and tied to one of my favorite travel memories.
Now, every time I walk into my little bedroom corner, I’m reminded of Ravello — of sunlight on terracotta rooftops, of green hills spilling into the sea, of that dreamy floral bed that sparked the whole idea. What once felt like a design disaster has become one of the most meaningful corners of my home.
It turns out that even in small spaces, the right choices — and the right people guiding you — can make all the difference.
