Sometimes, you just gotta let things “shake out” – haha. John kept rolling his eyes while I ran back and forth from the guest room to try “one more thing” all day yesterday, but I just love playing around, tweaking things, adding this, subtracting that, and seeing where we end up. It’s probably my favorite part of the whole process, all that final-hour-switcheroo business. And we’re so glad that we shared yesterday’s in-progress pics to show how just a few tweaks in the last 24 hours can really change things up. Not über dramatically, but enough to make a difference for sure. Sometimes it’s those last minute changes that make you step back and go: There. Done. At least for now.
Who am I kidding? I’ll probably be back in there hanging art above the chairs and switching out the bookcase for a proper dresser when we hunt down the perfect one on craigslist in a week or two. And then there’s the crown molding we’d love to add down the line along with a million other changes that we’ll probably roll out over the next few years. But those are projects for another day, because my mom and stepdad will be arriving in T-minus-four-hours. So here’s what the guest room looks like now that we picked up three things from Tar-jay yesterday afternoon.
Those three things were:
- a large $24 faux leather tray
- a round $49 oil-rubbed bronze mirror
- a cute green $19 table lamp
You’ll remember that yesterday’s to do list included hanging something above the bed to balance out the big window to the left (hence the purchase of the big round mirror) and adding a nightstand and table lamp (hence the purchase of the cheap-o table lamp and the tray that we attached to the top of the green luggage rack that we got last week while thrifting on our little V-day beach trip last week).
First I repaired the straps on the luggage rack with thick brown ribbon and a staple gun.
Then John came up with the genius plan to use Command removable adhesive strips…
… to securely fasten the tray to the luggage rack in a way that’s 100% un-doable, thanks to those removable strips.
After placing our new luggage-rack-turned-side-table next to the bed with that cute green lamp…
… and hanging the oil-rubbed bronze mirror above the bed…
…we both really loved the idea of bringing in the leather storage bench that was sitting unused in the playroom for the foot of the guest bed.
That way we could remove the patterned brown blanket that we had folded at the foot of the bed (for a splash of dark color) in exchange for the more “classic” and less busy brown ottoman (which would also serve as a place to sit down, store linens, drop bags, set out magazines for mom, etc). All hail function. And ottomans. Seriously, we can’t get enough of them. So for those of you who hated the brown blanket with a passion that can only be described as intense, rest assured that it’s been beaten and burned. Just kidding, it’s sitting in playroom purgatory with all of our other “leftovers.”
And on the subject of stuff we already have, we knew that our guests would love a place to charge their cellphones, so I brought in a ceramic stool from the sunroom and placed it between the two chairs that I shifted apart so the outlet was easily visible right behind the stool. Bam: cellphone charging central. Note: I’ve since come to my senses and removed the cute blue vase to actually make room for cell phones.
And in separating those chairs I nixed the faux sheepskin and brought over the two happy yellow pinwheel pillows for some easy balance. Of course we still have to hang some art above those chairs, but we’ll get there someday.
So that’s the room as it looks today with mom and Jack on the road from NY. Just for fun, here’s another shot of our cute little $1.25 closet door pull and the empty closet with a bunch of wood hangers just waiting for our guests:
The funny thing is that I’m pretty sure my mom would sleep on the floor for a chance to hang out with Clara, so she probably won’t even notice the walls or the curtains or the bedding because she’ll be so busy staring at the bean.
Speaking of our little helper, here she is hanging out while we hung the mirror above the bed.
Gotta love that girl. She already has an appreciation for rugs and other accessories.
Oh and since you know we love a good budget breakdown, here’s what we spent for the guest bedroom & adjoining guest bathroom makeover:
- Olympic Premium No-VOC primer: $12
- Olympic Premium No-VOC paint (color matched to Martha Stewart’s Plumage): $22
- Target bedskirt: $10
- Ikea curtains: $76 (around $19 a panel)
- Target curtain rods: $18
- Hobby Lobby closet knob: $1.25 (50% off thanks to a hardware sale)
- Target oil-rubbed bronze mirror: $49
- Target tray for luggage rack: $24
- Target table lamp: $19
- Target bathroom shower curtain: $20
- Target bathmat: $20
- Target Waterpik showerhead: $14
- Home Depot toilet seat: $12
- TOTAL: $297.25
Thanks to working with a ton of things that we already had (like our DIYed headboard, existing linens, the two slipper chairs, the ceramic drum stool, our yellow Pottery Barn rug, and our old bookcase) we came in well under a 1K Trading Spaces budget, even if you add our $488 bed purchase to the total above (which takes us to a grand total of $785.25). Now we just have to do a little last minute vacuuming and dusting before my mom swoops in and steals my child. That’s right, our family voted her as Most Likely To Steal Clara for a reason.
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
Ally says
Love it! I was def on the nix the brown blanket team and I love the addition of the ottoman and the split of the “love seat.” So cute and fun!
Marlo says
You guys are amazing! I’m always so impressed with how quickly you’re able to pull things together. What a great guest bedroom!
Crystal says
I didn’t comment yesterday on the brown blanket, but picture me now doing “the blanket is gone” dance! Love the room – the finishing touches really brings it together!
Katie says
I went to the bank yesterday and they had the same little potted faux succulents on their counter that you have on the table!! I LOVE THOSE! Were those from Target as well?? These are the only ones I was able to find:
http://www.target.com/Mini-Potted-Echeveria-4-pc-Set/dp/B001EH7056/ref=sr_1_56?ie=UTF8&id=Mini%20Potted%20Echeveria%204-pc%20Set&node=1038576|1287991011&searchView=grid5&searchSize=90&keywords=artificial&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&sr=1-56&searchRank=target104545&frombrowse=0&qid=1298565939
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, those look exactly like ours (which were also from Target a while back) but ours came in a group of three. So funny they sell them with four now!
xo,
s
mya says
Isn’t it kind of pricey?$30 for small plants
(even if its set of 4)?
YoungHouseLove says
I think we paid $12 for all three back in the day, but I’m not sure. I look for that red clearance sticker though!
xo,
s
Jen K says
I love the curtains! I’m thinking we need them for my son’s new nursery when we move this spring! The room really looks great. One of my favorite rooms you’ve done so far! Bravo.
LauraJane says
I love how you are taking risks with decor these days, it must feel so great to have them pay off in such an obvious way. Your mom and step-dad will love it, I’m sure. The real test though? To see under which covers Burger decides to lay from here on out…
Have fun this weekend!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha it’s true. Burger hasn’t been hanging out in there much (since it never had anything but junk before our bed came on Monday). So he’ll have to slowly get used to having a whole new room to be lazy in!
xo,
s
Iris says
Maybe a brown wooden dresser with some cute yellow or green knobs to balance out all of the colors and tie in the ottoman. :)
ldippong says
Where did you get the clock on the nightstand? I have been looking for something similar. Actually.. question should be…Can you actually see the time in the dark? And if yes… Where did you get it?? Room looks fantastic!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from Target a few years back. Hope they still have it! It has a slightly glow in the dark face (not too bright to be annoying, but enough so that you can read it at night). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Elaine says
I love the idea of using a tray as the side table. Looks great!
Katrina says
I love the new, edited space! It has wonderful energy to it. And I love that you brought the beloved yellow rug into this space.
I totally get why you guys wait for good light to take your final reveal pictures of your rooms (you sweat over every detail, so why not show them to their best advantage!). I can’t help but be a wee bit curious about how the rooms look in different light though. I know our rooms “morph” as the day goes on. Any chance you would be willing to give us some pictorial insight into how your rooms look a different times during the day?
YoungHouseLove says
Sure! We love how moody the color gets at night! After our guests clear out we’ll have to snap some evening pics. It’s still very lovely, but things like the items on the tray or the bookcase are a tad less illuminated, so daylight pics are better to share all those intricate details.
xo,
s
debbie c says
Room looks awesome!! I could have gone either way-with or without the brown blanket. That little luggage rack was a major find-love how you added the tray to it. Was in Target yesterday and didn’t see that little green lamp-gonna have to check again next week-perfect for that table. Looking forward to seeing the bathroom done….
Angela says
Looks amazing! (I even like those curtains now that the brown blanket is gone… maybe that was the real problem all along).
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
oooh, even better! sometimes you juts have to sit and look at a room, or let it just “be” for a few hours or even a day or two (if you have time), and then make adjustments. we do that all the time. My first try at decorating is never the “final” look, lol.
Ashley says
I’m just IN LOVE with the bold color choices. The huz and I are about to buy our first house, next Friday!! We’re repainting every square inch [it’s just over 1000sqft, so not thaaat big] and completely gutting the kitchen. My food photography blog is about to turn into DIY blog, haha. Thanks for all of your inspiration!! Love that you call your daughter “bean!” We have a really lanky lab/great dane mix that we call Kenna-beans. ;)
Paulina J! says
Ashley, I love your bloga dn I’m subscribed to it!!! You have inspired me to make serious changes in my diet. Will love to see your DIYs!
Elizabeth says
Do you by any chance remember the name of the pattern for the flowered shams from Pottery Barn?
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe they were called “Woodland” something? I know they were organic so that might help. Maybe try searching “woodland organic” or “PB floral bedding” on ebay? Good luck!
xo,
s
Katrina says
I think they are the woodland organic pillowcases/duvet set.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! That sounds right!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Thanks…I saw that name on the website, but couldn’t decide if it was actually the same pattern.
Emily says
They are on sale on the site now. Look under patterned sheet sets.
Carmen says
It is sooooo gorgeous! Love it! Everything you guys do is GORGEOUS!!! I wanted to tell you, that I made the picture ledges (well, finished one) and I love it. It looks really good. Thanks guys.
YoungHouseLove says
So glad! Congrats!
xo,
s
jenna@frombostonwithlove says
It looks fantastic! I liked it yesterday but really, really like it today. I echo the “more polished, less busy” sentiment.
I feel so honored that you took my advice and added more of the green. My comment yesterday was instrumental in that decision, right?? ;)
Great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes. Well that and the fact that we already had plans for that green luggage rack. Haha.
xo,
s
Dusa says
Not that it matters one iota, but I deeply love Guest Room 2.0, much more than I did 1.0. Just goes to show that a tweak here and there can flip a project 180 degrees. Thank you for showing us both versions.
JoDi says
This room is coming together really nicely! I really like the fact that you show us how everything evolves in a natural way. This isn’t some makeover show where a team comes in and makes everything over completely in a day! You guys are real people showing us how this happens in real life (and yet you manage to do it much quicker than most of us could!)
I think it’s kind of funny when people expect a room to be “done” the first time you put stuff in it. I look at all the rooms in your house as rooms in progress that will take quite a while to complete. I expect polishing and changes along the way as you decide what you like and what needs tweaking. It’s fun to watch it happen!
I’m on team “no brown blanket.” I think it added one too many bold colors/patterns to the room. I like how you’ve added the brown in a more subtle way with the tray, mirror, and bench. I do think the bed could use a little more color to break up the white though. Maybe a blanket that echos one or two of the colors near the top of the bed.
Chipster says
I definitely saw that green lamp at Target the other day and thought of you guys! And then I almost bought if for my house. I’m redoing my guest bedroom based off of a white and yellow House Beautiful picture and a few of my own tweaks. And I think that punch of green would fit right in :-)
Erin @ WriteTasty says
This looks much better! Kudos!
Laura says
The room looks great. I like that you separated the chairs. The purist in me thought no one thinks that is a love seat, so why fake it? Looking forward to seeing what kind of area rug you get for the living room. The yellow one works so well in its new spot!
Candace says
Love the finished product! Especially the green headboard/luggage rack/lamp combo. I might have to go to Target and snag one of those lamps! Also — the polka-dot curtains are too cute!
Jarman says
Love it! I like that you guys are shaking things up and keeping it edgy.
Tovah says
I too was another “the brown blanket needs to go” (although I didn’t say anything because, you know, it is YOUR house:) Anyway I can’t believe just changing a few things transformed the room like that. It is gorgeous!! I love the green!
Nichole@40daysof says
It looks great! I particularly love the curtains.
Monica says
Love this room…and am in AWE of how quickly you pulled it together. I mull over things for YEARS sometimes and still don’t manage to get it as pulled together as this. And am in total agreement with the earlier post that this room is looking very DOMINO-esque! Great job! And I’m looking forward to see the future progress on this space.
BTW…SOOO Team NO Brown Blanket! :-)
Jess says
Wow. amazing what a couple little changes can make! looks fantastic!! talk about fine tuning! i’m impressed.
Peg says
Love where you landed……grandma and grandpa are lucky house guests……
Sheena says
Ooh I love how you guys were able to keep things so light & bright even with the darker walls! PS.. love the ottoman at the foot of the bed. We have the same one & its one of our most used/loved wedding gifts. :)
Kristi W. says
This is so much better – I love the little tweaks you made. The bed is a lot less hectic now that you took away the yellow pillow and brown blanket. The curtains look nice now, matched with the more simple bedding. Nice work! I usually don’t like bright rooms, but this one is great. :)
JMJE says
I love it. Can I come stay with you? I kidd, but seriously now I want to redo our guest bedroom down stairs so people really feel welcomed when they come stay with us.
Melissa Breau says
I’m normally more of a lurker than a commenter but, I wanted to say that I love this room.. you guys make me daydream about the day ill move from my tiny NYC apartment to a house and be able to really decorate…
Kate says
Incredible. I love how you incorporated several different colors and patterns. And it doesn’t look too busy at all! It all looks wonderful together! So impressed!
Krissy says
I really love that you guys shared the photos of both the original decoration and the ultimate setup you selected. I’m at that very fun stage myself, and it’s encouraging to see that others nearly get there, too, but then step back, edit the decor selections a bit, and arrive at a final arrangement that’s perfect. One of the hardest things that I’m finding is trying to use everything I already have (and love) in one spot, sometimes yielding a look that’s a bit too busy. Thankfully, there are other rooms possibly yearning for the item that didn’t quite fit… as you found here, with the brown blanket. The final result is awesome — such a warm & inviting room! Kudos.
Jen says
Hey guys! Great room. I had a question about the headboard (I did read the whole DIY post). How does it hold up to actual usage? For instance, I like to read in bed, so I’m usually propped up against the headboard. Would this really hold up to that kind of thing? I’m thinking about doing it for my kids since it seems an easier way to do it, but I know they’ll lean against it.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
It was my headboard in NYC for two years, then it became me and John’s headboard for another year, then it moved into the guest room for 4+ years- and it still looks like new! We leaned back on it to read books all the time, so I guess that’s a good testimonial for the durability! It probably depends how thick the fabric you use is or how tightly you staple it (so it doesn’t sag over time). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
OMG-YHL says
You guys are GENIUSES! I can’t believe you designed this so quickly and with so much stuff you already had! That’s one good argument for buying stuff you love but have no use for– it comes in handy! It looks amazing!
Melly says
It’s been so much fun watching this room come together. I absolutely LOVE that you made the luggage rack into a night table with the tray. So, so cute!
megan @ a life's design says
I cannot blame your mom, Clara is by far one of the cutest babies EVER! Oh…and the guest rooom looks fabulous! I can’t get enough of the wall color; I love how bold it is. I need to incorporate more color.
Jessica Woodard says
Noticed some people have asked where the cute pillows are from and saw they still have them available on the potterybarn website. On sale too!
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/woodland-organic-duvet-cover-sham/?pkey=cpatterned-duvet-covers-shams
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! I didn’t know they still sold those! Thanks for sharing the link for anyone interested.
xo,
s
Ashley says
I love this room! It’s fabulous!
syreena says
geez…one of 358 comments…why bother! J/K I lovEEEE it.. my fav are the curtains and the pillows on the chairs. I wish I could have my little one around while i am trying to get a good photo for my blog. He purposely just tosses everything onto the middle of the floor b/c apparently he gets a kick outta making things messy..aghhhh! Great job guys.
Katie J. says
I love the room! I think my favorite part is the lamp and side table… I love that green… and how the lines in each counterbalance each other. :)
Becky says
I looked yesterday but never read the comments. Sorry about all the negative feedback. I LOVE the curtains…fun! I do think the brown comforter was a little too much. The room looks great and I would love to stay there. Have a great visit with the family!
Mel says
Chiming in to say I liked it before and I simply adore it now. Wonderful job. Really. Just lovely.
Sofie says
I loved it yesterday and love it even more today! I love this American tradition of guest-rooms. We don’t do that in my part of Europe. Houses are smaller and guests tend to end up of the couch or a mattress on the floor. Haha. Oh Sherry, I just thought of this, wouldn’t the brown ikea dresser in your bedroom look gorgeous in this room? None of my business, of course! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! We debated bringing that in but we need it for now (it’s full of socks and t-shirts, haha). But once we have a better dresser in our room we could definitely pop it into the guest room (it used to live in our old guest room with a nice big mirror on top).
xo,
s
hollyG says
Great work – I love the charging station idea (and that you decided to split the chairs). Now both guests have another place to plop a bag or other item. And you’re right – your Mom will be so excited just to get some time with her little grandbaby that she won’t even notice or care where she sleeps!! My Mom is the same way. Enjoy your time with them!
Leslie says
I really like the room. I am glad that you removed the brown off of the bed. The room looks more cohesive. Thanks for sharing.
Cameron says
I love it!!!! The little tweaks were just what it needed. It’s put together without being fussy, and it’s so colorful and fun!! I loved seeing the process evolve. (Not to mention I feel a little better knowing y’all don’t always get it absolutely perfect on the first try!)
tyra says
i’m obsessed with this room. can it be in my house please? love all the pops of green and the shams!!