CREATING A GUEST ROOM RETREAT!

Nearly every spring, I get the bug to recreate or upgrade my home. Being empty Nester's leaves us with 3 extra bedrooms. So given that, we have plenty of room for company. I love to have guests and make those areas of stay, inviting, comfortable and accommodating. Starting with a first floor guestroom, I want to share what makes this room the retreat my family and friends love to stay in. Walking in the room, I have on the entry wall, a long hanging cross stitch called the four seasons made by my mother. It is 4 trees designed for all four seasons giving my guests the feeling that they are welcome all through the year!



Receiving lots of sunshine in this room, I started off with a color made from several blends of blue, making a coastal color soft and relaxing. After several coats of color, I dressed the large double window with soft white sheer fabrics that hang very long to the floor and a full 91 inches. Over the top I draped a long length of sheers to soften and added 3 white scroll iron designs for interest. Light white blinds were added for privacy for quests, and are softened by the sheers. Right to the left of the window I have a white wicker chair padded for comfort, a table filled with hydrangeas making it a sweet little spot to relax. The double mirror wall opens to a large closet that I topped with three metal ceiling tiles for interest.

Moving on to the rest of the room, starting with the furniture set, which is vintage and originally a maple finish. I hand painted each piece in a light ivory and distressed all around. I dressed the bed with a mattlasse in white and layered with lacey pillows, vintage embroidery pillow cases handmade by my talented mother, a wedding ring quilt in blues and light coral and an eyelet bed skirt in crisp white. Above the bed I have hand painted a large canvas with one large coral rose. It is the focal point of the room and adds to the style and color. To the long dresser I have layered a vintage runner doily made by my grandma and pitcher and bowl made by my mother. A small white TV sits on the end for viewing and relaxing if my company choose. On the night table, I keep on the lower shelf, a cookie jar made by Claire Murray filled with goodies for a little snack.

Looking on to the chest of drawers, also hand painted and distressed, I added a small lamp, hanky keeper holding vintage hankies for something unique to look at, standing mirror, and topped with a berry wreath filled with gorgeous hang tags made by some of my dear blog friends. In the center of the wreath is a ceramic sign that reads DREAM. Just what I hope my guests will do while visiting. Comforts, full of dreams. Painting I did on canvas to the side of the dresser. Beach scene with blue waters and pretty blue sky.

Now on to a very special spot in this room and that is to the very old desk found at an antique market. It fit the wall exactly and the perfect place for a guest to sit and write a note, or organize postcards. Above the desk is my newest addition hand painted by KAREN HARVEY COX called Cottage of Abundance. Isn't is gorgeous in this spot? The colors are perfect for the room and capture the feeling in this cottage room. I found the frame at a sale already in the soft ivory/white and it fit nicely giving Karen's gorgeous work the framing it deserved! Now when you open the desk you see a few hand painted note cards that Karen also designed, ready for those special correspondence.

Designed from a piece of an old quilt is this darling little heart gift from a friend. I cherish this piece and is perfect in this guestroom.

Sunny and bright with room to relax and attached with a hall bathroom designed to coordinate with the guest room. Again I have hand painted all the main pieces in the room the light ivory with distress. The wall mirror above the sink is a framed mirror given to me by my grandma. I needed a cabinet to hold essentials so my dear hubby boxed the back, added shelf's, hinged the mirror to form the door and in the end it made the perfect wall cabinet to finish the room. Over the commode area I also added a country style cabinet painted out inside and out to tie into the room. Behind the door I have a soft full length robe ready for use by a quest if they need. On the lapel I have a vintage pin for accent. To soften the hard edge of the shower doors I added a long white embroidery shower panel that puddles on the floor just a bit. On the back of the commode is a vintage sewing machine drawer to hold hand towels. On the wall between the cabinets is two darling framed prints that greet with a Good Morning and Rise and Shine. Showers for 5 cents is a print above the towel bar, along with three oval etched hanging mirrors for added interest.
Towels in corals, blues and white complete the style linking it to the guest bedroom.



To view Karen Harvey Cox Designs go to her blog on my favorites and click on her etsy shop! You will love her wonderful work!

This completes my little tour of this guest bedroom retreat. I have two more rooms to share, completely different, and will show those in the days ahead. It was fun to design this room in coastal blue giving it a feeling of a beach cottage with fresh light appeal. I hope you enjoyed seeing this room and I thank you for stopping by. Now let's see, what can I redecorate next?

Happy Spring! Celestina