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abigailca

Finishing touches for guest bedroom.

10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

A couple years ago, I received a lot of help from the Houzz community in redesigning my guest bedroom. We repainted it from a blah beige to Amazon Soil (sort of a purple-brown). We also hung some prints that my parents had from Switzerland and bought a duvet cover.

I have some guests coming in March and I would like to add some finishing touches. The room is very peaceful ... I want to keep it that way. The photos don't totally do it justice.

Here is what I am looking for:

1) Opinions on decorative pillow and throw combinations. I have some thoughts on these but don't want to bias this post.

2) Suggestions for adding to top of the chest of drawers. I recently bought a brass vase but haven't put anything in it. I also think the top of the chest needs something else. A tray? Another vase or two?

3) For the purposes of these photos, I used our master bedroom floor lamp for the corner of the room - I do not plan to keep it there because it is a little too big. My plan is to put something smaller there but which brightens that corner.

What I *don't* want to change:

1) Paint color

2) Bed position

3) Art on wall next to bed (I have considered hanging it lower, but every time I look at it in person, it looks like the right height. It's only in photos that it looks a little high.)

4) Table lamp on chest (in fact, I want to work off of that lamp)

Option 1: Blue pillow combo with blue wool throw (from Crate & Barrel - woven has some purples in it) (Note - the floor lamp in the corner is only borrowed. I plan to get a smaller floor lamp for the corner. My feeling is that a table lamp might feel off-balance since the one on the chest is tall.)

Option 2: Grey pillow combo with light blue cashmere throw (Note - no lamp in the far corner)

Option 3: Beige pillows with blue cashmere throw

Below is the same as Option 1 - I just wanted to show the flowers (fake) in the brass vase.

PS This is what it used to look like:

Thanks in advance!

Abby

Comments (36)

  • 10 years ago

    #1. And stop worrying about it. :)

  • 10 years ago

    Room looks great which ever you choose!

  • 10 years ago

    Also, as a guest, I would bless you for not giving me a heap of throw pillows that I have to find a decent place to stowe while I'm sleeping. Maybe just use the one that's multicolored and skip the rest! :)

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    # 1 perfect.

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks for your feedback!

    Option 1 has me torn - on the one hand, the mix of blues and turquoises is really fun/works well. On the other hand, I'm concerned that the accents are too dark in an already dark room. However, the lightest beige (Option 3) feels bland to me.

    I see that BeverlyFLADeziner photoshopped the blanket to better match the pillow in Option 2. I could play around with colors that are still vibrant but not as dark. Crate and Barrel has a lot of nice pillows and throws these days, including:

    Too light?

    I haven't taken the tags off of two of the monochromatic pillows and throw in Option 1, so I can still return/exchange them.

    Any comments either on type of lamp for the corner or top of chest of drawers are welcome.

    Thanks again,

    Abby

  • 10 years ago

    @acm - Thanks for your comments. Here is a picture with just the one pillow. I thought it looked lonely, so I set out to pair it with the other pillow(s) and a throw.

    This is the pairing that I used to have but now I need the yellow/grey pillow for the living room because it works really well there. But I really liked these together.


  • 10 years ago
    I like the two pillows above. Maybe a throw across the end of the bed in one of the colors in the pillows.
  • 10 years ago

    I remember this room. It looks great! And I choose option 2.

  • 10 years ago

    I like option 2 with the option 1 throw instead. You've done a great job already, but I like the room better without the other lamp.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I also remember this wonderful room. I agree about no floor lamp in the corner.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    So nice to see some of those who helped me on the initial journey (@ann & @goveraxle)! Thank you!

    I went to Crate and Barrel this afternoon and discussed with an associate. Here's what came of it:

    1) We decided that the dark blues and teals were distracting, so I'm looking for more grey tones. I bought a grey blanket and returned the other items. Even though I loved how the bed looked in Option 1, I didn't love how it looked as a whole.

    2) He also suggested getting shams in the same color as the duvet ... I'm debating between standard and Euro. Any suggestions?

    3) I think I'm keeping the gold pillow for the rocking chair. It's a pricier pillow, so I'm still debating whether it's worth it.

    4) I keep looking for a good lamp for the corner, but I see what others have mentioned - that it feels a bit cluttered with corner lamp. The vase in the corner won't stay.

    5) He also suggested moving the vase closer to the lamp and bringing the photo above the chest in so it comes together as a trio. It's not totally right in the picture below, but I'm working on it.

    I'll post an update photo as I get it together. Here is an in-progress photo. Any comments welcome in the meantime!

  • 10 years ago

    I love the gray blanket at the foot of the bed. I like a little more separation between the nightstand objects (kind of halfway between the before and after). I'd return the pillow on the rocker and I still say no about a floor lamp.

  • 10 years ago

    Because you've used a deep color, in a room with not a lot of natural light, I would add some ceiling pendants. Placed on both sides of the bed, they clear up the bedside tables of lamps, and create an effect on the wall with the light cast as well as the fixture itself. Considering that you're set on the lamp on the chest, you may want to have one ceiling pendant for the corner.

  • 10 years ago

    @puremichigan60 - That's a cool room. The idea of a pendant had occurred to me, but we also have recessed lighting. Perhaps a sconce - but it would only be on one side. Good to think outside the box ... although I'm anxious to finish this up without the extra installation work. Thank you!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Playing around with things that I have in the house ... this torch light might do the trick? The flowers on the table could be replaced with brighter ones?

    Jury is still out on the right pillow combination. In looking at these, the torch light feels right as does the addition of tall flowers but now the blue/grey pillow looks out of place.

    I was also thinking of including an alarm clock. I still need to move the picture down some on the chest.

  • 10 years ago

    The torch light isn't bad. I think I'd skip the flowers on that side altogether. I love the pillow on the bed (and the throw). I agree about lowering the pic next to the table lamp. I don't think the rocker pillow ties in with anything else in the room.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Perhaps sharing a bedroom design of ours will help answer you question.

    Old Hyde Park, Florida · More Info

  • 10 years ago

    They make conversion kits for turning recessed lights into pendant fixtures, but I'm not sure if yours are in the right place for pendant placement. Might investigate.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Update!

    I returned the navy throw, grey blanket and pillows to the store and kept the vase. I have opted for:

    1) a light grey alpaca throw from Crate and Barrel.
    2) two standard shams to match the duvet cover (West Elm)
    3) two grey pillowcases (Restoration Hardware) (I'll use white sheets though, I think.)

    4) I decided to keep it to one decorative pillow (@acm - thanks for your advice on keeping decorative pillows to a minimum.)

    5) I bought a different lumbar pillow for the small chair (West Elm - on sale!) that has silver tones in it. I like it much better than the super expensive gold one (that is - it looks better in that spot than the gold one.)

    6) I also moved the picture above the chest down (to the right of the bed.)

    7) I dressed up the guest bathroom ... changed the print shower curtain to a white one, bought some new white towels and a basket to put them in, plus a soft bathmat.

    Misc
    1) I'm looking into a very slender black reading lamp from Ikea for the corner but haven't gotten a chance to get it.
    2) I bought a small frame to put an old black and why're photo of my father in an airplane for the side table and one other mini frame - still deciding on a picture.
    3) I bought an alarm clock but I'm not happy with how it looks. A more stylish clock on that table would be better. I'll probably have to forgo the digital/alarm features. Any suggestions?

    Let me know if you see anything odd and thanks again for all your help!

    Abby

  • 10 years ago

    Congratulations on your hard work. Any guest would feel pampered.

  • 10 years ago
    That's a nice clock. Where is it from?
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    A good start on a great guest room. If you do decide to adjust the gallery, check to see that the center line between the the two rows is 5' above the floor. The high dresser next to the bed isn't working at all. Is there another wall for it?. Get a pair of something to work as night stands (not alike but the same height & level with the mattress top.) When you add lamps to them, the two items together should measure 58-64" from the floor. Be sure the tables have plenty of surface area for a book, clock, glasses, guest pitcher and water glass, plus your lamp.

  • 10 years ago

    It's a "Big Ben", probably different manufacturers make them. Google Big Ben for where to buy.

  • 10 years ago

    You are back! I did love the evolution of this lovely room. Everything looks wonderful. I really like the first throw the best, But pillows from photo #2. Really though, they are all good choices. Still love your pictures from I think you said Switzerland...they make the room along with that yummy paint.


  • 10 years ago

    ooops...just saw the latest photos...they look good too!


  • 10 years ago

    Hi @sellable home! Nice to see you again! Yes, the prints are from Switzerland. Good memory. :) Thanks again for all your help before.

    @puremichigan60 - I actually own a Big Ben clock (didn't know that was its name, which is why I asked) in our master bath, so I have moved it down to the guest bedroom and will find a replacement for our bathroom. It works.

    @decoenthusiaste - hanging the prints from the middle at 5 feet would mean that the top row would almost touch the ceiling, which wouldn't look good. I actually don't mind the chest of drawers where they are. Right now, this is the only spot I can put it. Funny how certain things strike different people.

    I found a nice black desk lamp from Target that sort of fades into the background for the corner.

    I really appreciate everyone's help!

  • 10 years ago

    You may want to smack me, but have you tried the lumbar pillow on the bed and the colorful pillow on the chair? The lumbar looks a little large for the chair. I really like the chest by the bed. You've done a lovely job!

  • 10 years ago

    @indomom - it's true, I had noticed the pillow is a bit tight. I'll try switching them around. Thanks for the feedback. :)

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Question - someone at a store suggested I could put a small picture or two on the side table in the corner. I thought that was a cool idea, so I printed out an old picture of my father in an old single engine airplane (he used to teach stunt flying as a hobby) and then a cute picture of my daughters under the covers at a hotel. I've put these up on the table but wanted to ask you all as an objective audience if this is a nice touch or not necessary? (Does having both or even one take up too much room?) I don't want to impose family pictures on my guests, it was more of a playful way of decorating. Let me know what you think. I'm attaching photos with the one of my girls blurred out a little for their privacy.


    Also, my friend is coming tomorrow. I wanted to leave a little basket of toiletries (little shampoo, toothpaste etc) in case she needs it. I don't have a lot of room in the bathroom itself to leave this little basket. Should I just put it on the chest in the bedroom or move the tissue box behind the toilet so that I can put it there? (Ignore the toothpaste that is on the sink in the photo.)

    You would think I was expecting the Queen of England! But I'm just having fun making things welcoming ...

  • 10 years ago

    Haha--that's exactly the kind of stuff I think about! I'd move the tissues. I like the little family touch on the bedside table, especially for people you know well. They're sure to go to sleep smiling.

  • 10 years ago

    I think the basket of toiletries would be fine in either place and I'd leave the bedside table without the 2 pics. Just the lamp and clock are nice so she'll have more room for her book, water, etc.

  • 10 years ago
    Great guest room. Love the gray throw and single pillow. On the side tables I'd remove everything except possibly a clock and one case of flowers. So that your guests have room for their eyeglasses, cell phones, books, earplugs, wedding ring, earrings, Chapstick etc. All that real life stuff that takes up space. If anything add a small dish to corral said stuff. Otherwise: winner, winner, chicken dinner. Well done.
  • 10 years ago

    Thank you ... I think I asked the question because I was feeling unsure about the personal photos. Probably a clue!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Visit with my friend went well. She seemed to enjoy the room. She just sent us a dozen cupcakes from DC cupcakes as a thank you - yum!

    I ended up leaving the picture of my father in the single engine airplane on the side table in the corner since it feels more artistic than personal (like the one of my daughters).

    The room is almost complete except for the "other side" - I really don't know what to do with that side so for the time being, I'm just leaving it. The dressing table is one that I'm indifferent about ... it does provide a place to put on make-up and the stool is good for luggage. If you have any recommendations, let me know! (NB we need to secure the mirror better.)

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Thanks puremichigan60 - the idea of chalk paint for the dresser is interesting to me. What color would you do? The grey? Is it hard to apply properly oneself?

    I'll keep the pendant in my ideas box ... I think it would look nice but I'm definitely running out of steam for that room for the time-being!

    Thanks for your feedback!