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Saturday, May 1, 2010

A Bottle Of Water, A Chocolate Mint, and Thou: The Perfect Guest Room

I am linking this post on  8/16/2010 to The Lettered Cottage, where there's a "Guest Bedroom Re-do" party going on.  Go visit!


 With two guest bedrooms, and another available in emergencies if the guest doesn't mind sleeping in the midst of one or two or 12 boxes, we love to have overnight company at That Old House.

The small yellow room at the back of the house is our first, and I think our coziest, guest room.




It started out lavendar, with floral wallpaper borders and pink woodwork.

Oh, my eyes!  My eyes!



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Now . . . gone are the Barbie colors, and if you knocked on our door 
in the middle of the night and needed a refuge. . . .
this is where you would stay.

Come in. . .

Don't you just love guest rooms? They never get messy.

The Yellow Room is our smallest bedroom, so we maximize guest storage (does that
wording make it creepily sound as if we are storing our guests?).

Near the door, there's a vintage bombe chest, burled wood, one of my best Craigslist bargains.
Thank goodness for people with more money than sense, who re-decorate and get rid of their old stuff -- cheap!
The top and middle drawers are empty, for guests to use.
The bottom drawer holds extra sets of linens for the bed.

The lamp is a pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.  Like all my lamps, a bargain.


A little peachy-pink tole basket (Home Goods) holds bottled water,
York Peppermint Patties, and hard candies when guests are in residence.

We have an old hotel luggage rack, bought for $6 when the
downtown Carlton House Hotel closed in Pittsburgh in the early '80s.
You can just spot it under the window.


On built-in shelves -- books, a plastic carry basket for bath items, and two sets of towels.
Extra towels are stored on the shelves underneath, behind the doors.


There are yellow towels for guests in this room; they always know which are theirs.
Guests in the Pink Bedroom get ... yeah, you guessed it.

A pair of Teddy Bears perches on the shelves;
you never know when you might need a Teddy Bear on a stormy night.


In the closet, kept empty and ready for guests' clothes, there are wooden and padded hangers, and extra pillows.
(Now how often do you see the inside of someone's closet?  It's the only one of mine you will ever see!)


On an old quilt rack (yard sale): extra blankets and a sweet little blue, pink & yellow printed quilt.
Note: The quilt rack has since migrated to daughter Anne's apartment. 
I'm looking for a replacement, one that I'll like better than this one!.

For bare toes, a little rug, hand hooked by a gentleman who was my father's best friend.
His wife was French, and the little rug has "Bonne nuit" and "Bon jour" worked into it.


And on one of the bedside tables, a lamp I bought on Ebay.
Can you see what it is? Look closely. . . .

It is a miniature replica of an old wicker suitcase.
There's a small brass handle at the top.

I just get such a kick out of a suitcase lamp in a guest room.
Simple things amuse me.
Just ask my husband. He amuses me no end.


The low-post cherry and poplar bed is one Howard and I bought 30 years ago at
The Whale's Tail antiques shop in Mars, Pennsylvania.
I love it, but there is a creakiness factor. We warn overnight guests.
Beds that are almost 200 years old have a tendency to audibly protest when used.
Can't say that I blame them.

The nightstands are from my in-laws' beautiful block-front Newport-style
mahogany bedroom furniture, handmade in Boston in the 1940s.
Most of this set is in our master bedroom, but these little guys just fit in so perfectly
in this small space that they just toddled across the hall to the guest room.


The blue needlepoint chair I wrote about in another post, here; another Craigslist bargain!

The colors for this room were taken from a beautiful cotton fabric by Greeff/Schumacher.
Soft yellow background, tiny peachy-pink dots, and flowers.

Green, blue, pink, peach and yellow.
That was the palette, and luckily it all came together,
with Benjamin Moore's Corn Silk on the walls.

I've been asked the name of the fabric but I don't remember it,
and I think it is discontinued. I got it at a bargain-barrel price from a fantastic
online site -- fabricguru.com -- from whom I've ordered many home dec fabrics.
Cheap shipping, fast service.
(I am not compensated by them; wish I were, I'd take my payola in fabric!)

Our other guest room would be my daughter Alida's room if she had not heartlessly deserted her loving family and moved 10-thousand miles away to the wild and woolly frontier town known as Los Angeles.

Here's a collage I did awhile back of the Pink Room -- there are pictures of "befores" including the extensive plaster repair and removal of some mystery shelves -- and "afters," but this poor room still is needs its window treatments and other niceties.



I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our guest room.  It's just the right size for a single guest, or a very close couple. --- Cass

31 comments:

  1. Beautiful rooms! And I want that Bombe chese very badly! Have a great weekend! ~andrea

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  2. Such beautiful guest rooms. I love the fabrics. They are stunning. Both of these rooms will be so appreciated. So pretty for your guests. Happy Birthday to your dad. I know you will have a wonderful celebration. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Good luck with the pink room - it looks gorgeous already, though, and I'd gladly take up residence.
    We have a family wedding approaching (down the road at my sister's house) and I am in a panic about the guest room. It could be described as sewing-room-grandsons-room-storage-room-library-overflow....get the picture? Perhaps I can draw inspiration from yours!

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  4. both rooms are beautiful, but I prefer pink over yellow. Which one is closest to the parlor that I will be parking my behind in when I visit? hahahah
    You've not spared any particular for your lucky guests!
    seriously, you have a beautiful home, and I'm sure you'll have everything ready to celebrate the big 9-0! Happy Birthday to your pops!
    gail

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  5. Cass, you are obviously a fabulous hostess. What wonderful guest rooms, and you have given attention to every detail. I love that drapery fabric! I want that drapery fabric! How wonderful to have an empty closet for guests (with pretty padded hangers). Even my guestroom closet has clothes hanging in it. I know your family will have a wonderful time celebrating the big b'day at your house. Thanks so much for linking to Favorite Things. (I'm sure your husband isn't really "simple" - you are soooo funny!) laurie

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  6. Can I make reservations for this summer? Seriously- beatifully done and inviting. I'm covetting your bombe chest
    xoxo Pattie

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  7. What guest would not like to stay there. :)
    Thanks for sharing with us. Like the fabric.

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  8. Sorry your booked I was getting ready to make my reservation! It looks so comfortable and quiet, I bet it is the best room in the house.....I know that is the way our guest room is. I love it all, your furniture is super pretty too.

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  9. Cass, thank you so much for your gracious comments on my porch. I had fun with the chinese stool. I just used the paint I had and went from there. I did like the way it turned out. I thought if my idea didn't work, then I could always repaint it. lol Thanks again. Hugs, Marty

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  10. It's always hard for me to believe that some very lucky people actually live in these beautiful, well-appointed old houses....and I'm not one of them!! (sigh)

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  11. Beautiful rooms, Cass. I love the yellow room, it is so warm and welcoming.

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  12. Your guest rooms are all so beautiful and very welcoming! Lucky guests!! Love & blessings from NC!

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  13. Cass-Your guest rooms are lovely and would make a guest feel special and welcome! Love that cornsilk yellow. Love the lamp too! Your dad's 90th will be a real celebration for all of you! Hope heartless Alida is able to come for the big day!

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  14. This makes me want to visit, what a great guest room!

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  15. I think I need to come and stay for a visit! Your guest rooms are so beautiful! I love all the antique touches and it looks like you have thought of everything for your guests!

    Thanks for the sweet comment you left on my blog. I appreciate your kind words more than you know.

    Krystal @ Sassy Sanctuary

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  16. My dear Cass, your home is so inviting and lovely. I cannot express my happiness for you're Father's 90th birthday! I know you will have a great time. Enjoy, my friend.
    Carol

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  17. I'd love to come and stay in the Yellow Room!! The antiques are gorgeous and the built in's are great! I love the drapes and the bedspreads, etc... I love everything! You have given me some great ideas as we are redoing the guest rooms at the lake.

    Happy May Day, Cass!

    xoxo
    JAne

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  18. Beautiful rooms, my husband is celebrating his birthday on 14th of May. I hope your father enjoys the reunion!

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  19. YOU can do anything you set your mind to.
    I know that you will get things accomplished.

    Have fun.

    Melinda

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  20. I would be a very happy guest in this lovely room! Your floors are amazing! Love them! I also like the idea of a bowl full of candy in the guest room. :)

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  21. Something tells me that your guests will be very happy there. You've thought of everything and the rooms are just lovely. Enjoy your time and Happy Birthday to your dad.

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  22. Very nice!! You are getting me excited to decorate a guest room! After we finish the basement, we'll have an extra bedroom to do that with! I love what you've done! Have a great celebration!!

    Thanks so much for joining the parade!!
    XOXO,
    Andy

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  23. Can I come stay in your guest room? I'm sure it makes your guests feel so welcome and cared for.
    It really is beautiful and you can tell a lot of thought has been put into it.

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  24. Your guest room is so beautiful! I love that curtain fabric the color on the walls and the pineapple lamp! You have not overlooked any details. Your guests will never want to leave!

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  25. I love your blog today. I spent many minutes examining every photo. What great ideas! Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Hi Cass! Oh, I love your guest bedroom and how your dressed her all up. I remember when you were about to make those pretty draperies. I'll go and check out that fabric site. I need some for some drapes! ;)
    Love your little suitcase lamp and the closet. Honey! You have an empty closet? I'm so impressed. Everything is picture perfect and I'm so thrilled to hear about your dad and his birthday bash he's going to have! What a blessing to have him!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  27. So inviting. You did a beautiful job!

    I just noticed that you bought things from Mars & Pittsburgh...my parents & sister live in Washington, PA and many other family members scattered around Pittsburgh. (I visit them often. I live in Buffalo)

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  28. I would ♥ to be a guest in either of your rooms, Cass!
    They both look so warm & cozy. It is obvious that you have put a lot of time & thought into making them so.

    I'm still giggling at your comment "Simple things amuse me.
    Just ask my husband. He amuses me no end." LOL :p

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  29. There will be sweet dreams in this wonderfully relaxing and homey guest room. I love it. It's so inviting. I especially love your pineapple lamp. My husband just tripped over mine last week and broke it. I sure miss it. Hope I can find another one.
    Have a wonderful time at the birthday party and your "family reunion".
    Hugs,
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  30. Looks beautiful!
    I'm a new follower!

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