One of my readers and another blogger, Malinda, asked me recently to help her with her guestroom. She had moved in this house recently and really didn’t know what to do to finish this room off and give it the warmth and coziness that she wanted in here. So, I checked out all her pics and gave her some ideas on achieving the look she wants for her guests. The bed is dark wood and traditional and there’s nothing wrong with the shape of it, as well as the nightstands that go with it.
But, the hutch on the matching dresser just screams “country” loud and clear, so first thing I suggested was to take the hutch off and add a nice wide mirror in a brown tone above the dresser. This alone will really update the dresser and take away that Colonial feel that she doesn’t want in the room. She wanted to keep the bedding, which I love, so I’m glad she won’t have to replace it. It’s a nice neutral tone on tone in the camel family. She had mentioned maybe painting the walls a soft blue and I love that idea, so I threw out some paint chip colors for her: Rainwashed, Palladian Blue, Wythe Blue, Oyster Bay, these are all beautiful blues, but I suggested she definitely try a few samples out in the space to decide on just the right one.
She’s going to add a pretty dark wicker chair there in the right corner, along with a floor lamp to create a cozy reading nook.
She’s got one large window and one small one, so I suggested she definitely get some panels on those windows to soften things up. And I hope that later, she’ll add some bamboo blinds along with the panels. That will really take it all up a notch.
These burlap fringed beauties from Ballard Designs will be perfect. One pair on each window will really soften up this space and I advised her to get some simple dark iron rods and take them almost to the ceiling to give the windows more height and width. Adding panels will go a long ways towards softening the entire room too. Fabric just has a way of doing that.
The fringed bedskirt from Ballards will be added to the bed, as well as a couple of pretty pillows for the center of the bed, bringing in some of the soft blue that will be on the walls. She’s definitely going to get the burlap panels and bedskirt.
The small round decorator’s table will go and in it’s place, I told her to look for a small chest of some kind that could go in that spot. The collage print above will probably be moved to another room. The 2 longish prints will be moved on either side of the closet space and the 2 smaller prints that are currently above the bed will be moved to the reading nook and placed closer together as a grouping. They should all be moved down some too, as right now they are floating too high.
I love her current glass lamps. They are a great size and shape and she could fill them with shells for something different or keep them empty as they are now.
With some changes in here, this room will really come alive.
(from Elle Decor, July/August 2009)
And this pic above is one that I sent to Malinda to show her the feel her room can have. The email that I got back from her said it all:
I LOVE it all!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for. Direction from someone who knows what they are talking about. I told my husband yesterday afternoon, “You have to get that hutch out of there this weekend.” I plan to make some of these changes in the next few weeks and I’ll email you when I’m done. I definitely want you to help me with a few more rooms. Let me get this one done and I’ll be in touch. Thanks so much. I can’t wait to see what it looks like.
Thank you, Malinda, for letting me work with you on your guestroom. It was so much fun coming up with these ideas and the good thing is, they won’t break the bank, but are very doable on a budget. This was the $50 consultation and Malinda just took my ideas and ran with them.
And for the first time, I’ve actually gotten to see the AFTER pics of a space I helped create. Malinda just posted these on her blog and I can’t wait to share them with you. Go over and read all her post too for all the details of what else is to come. I advised her not to rush on buying artwork for over the bed or a rug for the floor, so that is still to come.
Isn’t it gorgeous now?? I love the new paint color, Rainwashed, by Sherwin Williams. It’s the same color I used in my beachy guestroom.
I just love it and the addition of the burlap drapes and bedskirt, really kicks it up a stylish notch. The bedding was already nice, it just needed some accents.
Beautiful color!
It really looks like a different room now.
Check out the burlap bedskirt, love this little detail. They have some beautiful stained concrete floors in here too, which I’m extremely jealous of. I’d love to do this too in our downstairs rooms.
I thought a striped rug would look rather beachy in here and this is the one she found. So cute!
Malinda personalized her space with some cute accessories, but I cautioned her against TOO much of a beach theme. This is good!
And while these lamps are cute, I advised her to only keep one of them in here. I love the simplicity of the glass lamps on the nightstands and she already had those.
This little nook really came alive with a wicker chair, floor lamp, and throw.
And last, but not least, this is the big mirror that she found for over the dresser and it’s been painted with an oil rubbed bronze paint. I just love how it all turned out!
If you have a problem room that you need another opinion on, just click here for details! I’d love to help you out with one of your rooms too.
Suzanne says
That really is nice. Great job….both of you. 🙂
Becky K. says
Very, very nice.
Finding the right shade of blue has to be the hardest. It is so nice that you had experience with this one.
Becky K.
Lisa@Picklesandcheeseblog says
Beautifully done! How fun to see the ideas impletmented. Fun for you and the homeowner. That room has such a calm feel to it. I love it.
Linda says
Love how she put your ideas in place! Our master bedroom is painted palladian blue and I love the calmness of it. The color she put in her room is perfect.
Kaye says
Looks absolutely inviting and comfy! The two of you together did a fantastic job. Congratulations.
Some time while you are at Sherwin Williams, look at ‘upward’. It is the ‘blue’ we used in our Master bedroom and bath and I LOVE IT! With different lighting in the room it seems to change hues. A great soothing color!
Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
Stacey says
Wow! Malinda’s room turned out even prettier than the magazine picture. Nice job girls. 🙂
Lori E says
It really is nice to see the after pictures of a regular room and not a to magazine’s portrayal which always seems faked me.
suzanne says
Ooooh, I love it now, too!! GREat job!
suzanne
Sindy says
Hi there,
I love your consultation ideas for this room and your continued comments on her progress in implementing those ideas. I look at magazine pictures and sigh–they just seem like they would be sooooooo expensive–but you have shown how to have the same style beautiful room on a doable budget! Thank you Rhoda!
Designs on 47th Street says
Hey Rhoda, The room looks just as a guest room should…very relaxing and it makes you feel comfortable and glad you are there. Love that paint color. Your advice was good and I’m glad she took it. Brilliant to remove the hutch and add a long mirror.
Even though I LOVE the bedskirt it would not work for what I’m looking for. Do you have other sources for bedskirts? I find that they are difficult to locate.
Hillary @ The Other Mama says
I love the room! Very cozy and super cute! Y’all did a great job. And thanks for sharing that Elle Decor pic. I know y’all didn’t have a chandelier in your room, but I think the cover on the one in the pic is adorable!! Great tip!
Julia says
You both did a beautiful job. I love how the room feels now. I love seeing before and after pictures! Thanks.
Julia
Kitty Scraps says
Good Morning Miz Rhoda,
Once again another beautiful makeover, you are one very talented lady! I especially love how your rooms look so inviting and polished but not intimidating. You definitely have a sense of style that most of us can only dream of. And your very generous to share all your insider decorating tips and philosophy with us. A great thing that you do is offer suggestions on how to use what we have, adding affordable pieces to it, so we can learn to build upon what we have instead of throwing everything out. Anyone could probably come up with a decent room with an unlimited budget starting from scratch… it takes real creative insight, talent, love of design and detail to do it on a budget using some existing pieces. And the biggest impact in this room to setting the mood is the color choice, paint, oh so affordable for all us. See what I mean? You’re the bomb Miz Rhoda! This is why we all love you and your blog so much!
Tricia Anne says
What beautiful colors and texture! It is amazing at how much different hanging curtains, makes in a room. Your consult is fabulous!
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
Debra says
Love the color and the burlap, love it all! The inspiration room is so pretty.
Blessed Mama says
Fantastic job! I adore the paint color on the walls. Thanks for sharing the color. I am looking for that “just right” color for myself and I might have to pick up a tester of that. I think Ballard Designs can do no wrong. Everything they have makes me heart sing! You are truly blessed with an amazing talent. Thank you for sharing it with us!
grannyann says
What a neat re-do. You both did great
Alison says
Lovely, you both worked wonders.
love
Alison
x
Tracie says
My favorite has got to be the burlap bed skirt. That is beautiful and unique. I love whimsy little touches like that…I think it is what makes a house a home.
Wagonwife Designs says
Just gorgeous. What a transformation. Love the blue.
What guest would want to leave?
Debra