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:
Holly says
Love it! I like the chairs better with some space between them. And leaving room for charging was a great idea! Those side by side doors (entry and bathroom) are begging for something painted on the back of them… I didn’t mind the brown blanket, but it does look a less “teen” without it. Your guests will love such colorful room!
As for art – here’s an idea I’m working on in my guest room… I saw it years ago and it has stuck with me… the plan is to find multiple photos of clouds and do a gallery wall in varied frames. I haven’t decided if the frames should be matching colors or not, but the fresh photos of blue sky and clouds looked so soothing! Plus with all the google images out there: pretty, cheap art!
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds gorgeous! We’d love to see pics when you’re done!
xo,
s
laurenjanelle says
It looks beautiful. I love the blue, yellow and brown combination. It looks like spring!
Amanda says
Hey, this might be weird or someone else might have suggested it, but… Wouldn’t it be cute to have those polka-dotted blue curtains around the closet door too? If you wanted to get rid of that bi-fold door you could even replace it with those curtains!
I don’t know why, but when I look at the picture with the floor-length curtains framing the window, that closet door right there just seems to be crying out for some nice framing curtains too. Maybe it’s just that it’s so close to that window that it seems like it’s part of the same unit… if that makes any sense at all.
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely love a curtained closet (like we created in Clara’s room) but we thought the rods and panels might be too close for comfort in that corner, and the white door is kind of a nice break from all the color and saturation- kind of balancing out the white bedding.
xo,
s
jbhat says
Utterly charming. I am simply smitten with this room. Good job, guys!
jbhat
Chelsea says
Man, that room is incredible! I can’t believe you did all that in such a short period of time. I wish I could come hire you to get my nursery done! Oh, and Clara is way, way too cute!
Christina says
I am loving fun and eclectic knobs lately- we just spent weeks finding the perfect ones for a few of the crazy projects around our house!
the S's Beach House says
Once again you guys are amazing! This would have taken me so long to complete. We are currently putting wallpaper in our master and it is taking us days! Your guests are not going to want to leave!
Stephanie S says
The room looks GREAT! And I can’t believe I just looked at the green lamp at the Willow Lawn Target not one hour ago! Couldn’t pull the trigger on it, but this may entice me to go back.
Hilary @ My So-Called Home says
Soo much better without the brown comforter. I think the mix with the curtains is what really threw me off. The white is a nice calm amongst all the other colors.
Annie says
I love this room so much more than I did yesterday! The white provides the eye a place to rest from all the great color! With all the edits the room classed it up a lot! I love how you do fabulous things on a budget. Oh if I only had a bit of your two’s creativity!
jennifer d says
I just bought that same knob at Hobby Lobby. Great minds think alike!
Paulina J! says
I LOVE the changes. It’s amazing what a few changes can do. So glad the brown comforter is gone. It really does make a difference. The room looks very put together and cohesive now. Clara is the best “accessory”.
brenna says
Loved it yesterday and still love it even more today! The luggage rack makes the perfect bedside table too. And I still think the bed would look good with something at the foot – maybe blue of the pillow instead of the brown you removed. And I can’t wait to see when you find a dresser and redo it – green, maybe :)
And your mom would totally have slept on the floor with all the stuff in there to hang out with her grandbaby! I have an almost 2 year old and my mom would be at our house every day if she could :)
Holly says
Awesome job guys! You pulled that room together really quick! LOL about the brown blanket. I thought about commenting yesterday that I didn’t think it went, but never did. I had no idea there was a lot of hate about it. Haha!
Kara Paslay @ kara paslay designs says
Great job with the colors guys! Love them!
Katie says
This makes me want to immediately go home and paint my spare room and get to work!
Michele says
Small tweaks = huge improvement. What a difference a day makes. Great job. FYI: I didn’t hate the brown blanket (apparently some peeps did) but it’s much better without it.
kemmie says
Very nice! Y’all are fast! Mommy will love it during her stay! I love the shot of lil peanut!
Ana Silva says
You are right about the changes. It looks so much better now. At first it looked really good but comparing it to how it looks in it’s current state I see the difference. It still is fun and color full but at the same time cohesive, balanced and it’s just more calm (not too busy). Before if was a tiny bit chaotic and too “thrown together” per say. I don’t know if I am making any sense but it’s really nice now. I guess is not sporadic like the first attempt. You guys gave me some great ideas.
rebecca a. says
After seeing you pull off this fun and inviting guest room I can’t wait to see what happens in the playroom! It’s gonna be great….whenever you get to it.
Kelly says
Beautiful…that’s the only word to describe it…well, other than fun and beautiful. You two are amazing! I want to be just like you when I grow up. Wait…I am older than you are. So, that won’t exactly work will it?? Anyways, great job!!
Heather says
gorgeous!! love it!!
Joy says
I have been following your blogs and enjoying them for the past several months. Thank you for providing the evolving revamping, decorating, budgeting, pure joy of living blogs that you both write. (And as a grandma I am loving the series of Clara photos. Pure happiness – and I know, mixed in with an amazing amount of time and effort and love).You give me courage to step outside of my comfort zone. Your pops of color in the guest room blog and your ‘today’ photos showing your path through the whole process are clear, inspirational and just pure enjoyment.
Mel says
Loving the duvet sans cover..that is what it is, isn’t it:)
I have the same on my bed. I rather dislike duvet covers. I swear, they bring an already tired mommy that much farther to have her head hit the pillow when she is done!
Grovvy mirror!
Jill says
This looks amazing! I really love where you are going with the new home!
Julie - On the Dot Creations says
I’m in LOVE with that wall color! The curtains are fabulous too! They look like polka dots to me! :)
KatelynLikesThis says
love those curtains!!! So flowy
Sue says
Now, that’s more like it! And the pictures of adorable Clara are always appreciated. Enjoy your time with your mom and Jack!
Alisa D. says
I LOVE it!
emily says
i love it. i want to redo my own bedroom just like this during my spring cleaning spurt in a few weeks.
i don’t know if the ‘extras’ from around my house are as cute as yours, but i’m going to look!
Rose says
LOVE it! What a great room. I’m really digging that blue and the pops of color. These pics are going in my inspiration file for sure.
shellie phillips says
i love love love the room it looks great. i really like your rug. would you mind if i asked where you found it? i have been looking to a rug for my living room forever. i want something yellow.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s the Moorish Tile Rug from Pottery Barn but they no longer sell it, so maybe try ebay?
xo,
s
Stacy says
Looks wonderful! And…I liked the brown blanket. *ducks* ;)
I think my favorite is the luggage rack turned bedside table. I would have never thought to do that, and it’s fabulous.
Sarah says
I didn’t read through all 8 pages of comments so someone else may have asked, but what’s with your door stoppers being at the top instead of the bottom of the doors? No opinion, just noticed it’s kinda quirky :)
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny? We thought the same thing! Our last house had some of them too.
xo,
s
Jodi says
I didn’t notice that, but that is a great idea. I know… sounds weird, but I can tell you once my youngest started crawling, he was OBSESSED with playing with them. He’s 2-1/2 now and every once in awhile he seeks them out. They easily come off, but some doors we needed them on to protect the wall behind. The noise they make when they are play with…I sure don’t miss that sound. If I had a brain at the time (it was sucked out from pregnancy), on the needed doors I would have moved them to the top of the door to save my sanity.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so glad someone figured out a use for them!
xo,
s
Liz says
That’s a super nice feature! My 10 month old knows how to unscrew all of our door stoppers that are at child-level. Look! You are already baby-proofed in that department!
Paige of Jones Photography says
I was on team-keepthebrownblanket so I was anxious to see the changes…I love how you kept the dark and grounding brown color by adding the ottoman. I think the brown adds a sophisticated look–esp. with the gorgeous mirror! I also like multiple seating/throwyourjunkdown spots when I’m a guest either at a hotel or someone’s pad…so kudos on the minor changes–looks great!
Kat Simplified says
It looks so much better with that brown blanket removed! I didn’t like the curtains yesterday with the blanket, but now they look great with just the white bedding. I’m still not feeling the shower curtain though. I think the brown is too heavy with the yellow tile. You should get a sheet that matches your pillow cases and just make a shower curtain. It’s easy.
Laurel says
I bumped into this adorable print today and thought of your new guest nest:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54469687/welcome-to-our-nest-bird-in-yellow-teal?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_query=welcome&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade/art
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo,
s
Kristi says
I think you need some bold colored tie backs for your curtains. Yellow? Orange? Green? Something to break up the white. Cute room. I like the direction you’re going here.
Tanya from dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com says
So gorgeous and cheery!
yancey says
That is one beautful guest room you have there. Can’t get enough of blue and green together, I swoon.
Jessica says
I love the little changes you have made since yesterday! The room looks great!
Yesterday you asked for guest room tips. One thing I love when I stay at someone’s place is space on bedside tables and dresser tops. While I appreciate the time and love you spent to style areas such as the bedside table, it’s also nice to have space for things like my book, glasses, etc when I’m at someone’s place and to not have to worry or feel awkward about messing up or moving their stuff. A small container is also great for storing earrings and rings. However, major bonus points for the empty closet. That’s great!!!
Lauren says
Love how much you guys are experimenting with color in this new house!
The room reminds me a little bit of my guest room (http://circlegdesigns.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/)- but yours is much more polished, of course. I wonder what the room would look like if you tried some more neutral pillow cases on the bed? I think it would help those lime green accents really pop.
Lori @ Richmond, BABY! says
Love, love, love it! And Clara is such a cutie.
Have fun with the family! Richmond is such a great city for kids and visitors, isn’t it?! We are so lucky! :)
Steph at Modern Parents Messy Kids says
I love it!! The colors look amazing and I’m so glad you used those Ikea curtains. I had them marked for my son’s nursery when I was pregnant but my “son” turned out to be my daughter so I decided not to go blue (since I already had a little boy with lots of blue)…anyway, they look fab :)
Alison says
When you guys go shopping, do you have things in mind to get, or do you just buy things you like and figure out later where they should go? I feel like I shop for stuff all the time, but I can never pull the trigger because I don’t have an exact place for it in my house.
YoungHouseLove says
We usually try to shop for specific needs (like a tray for the luggage rack and a light to go on top or the round mirror for above the bed) but occasionally when we see something that we love that feels versatile enough, we just grab it and find a place for it later (like our $30 chairs from the antique store that currently live in our office but might move to the sunroom or the playroom someday).
xo,
s
Meera says
Love, Love, Love it !!
Becky says
I’m thinking a couple of your calender maps for over the chairs. What better art for a guest room;)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re reading our mind. That’s the plan… at least it is today. Pic of whatever we end up with to come!
xo,
s
Sarah@StyleandCentsability says
Yes! I was envisioning bright green as an accent color. Looks really fun and any guest will feel special to stay in such a room! It’s the little things!
Samantha says
Great job guys! I’ve gotta find out where you bought those pillow cases? They would make a great addition to our master bedroom as curtains (thank goodness for the sewing machine I just got for Christmas). We are new readers and enjoying checking out your progress. So fun! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re from Pottery Barn (we hear they’re still on sale!).
xo,
s
Jasmine says
You guys are adorable. I love reading your progress reports, a little guilty pleasure while I’m at work! The guest room is very fresh and inviting, my only issue is the mirror above the bed. Not in a design sense, (it looks great) but from a safety point of view. I live in an earthquake prone area, so I have always been a bit paranoid about things above the bed because of it. Is that an issue for you guys?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, that’s not an issue out here- but it’s definitely something to think about if you live in an earthquake prone region for sure! Although we screwed right through a mirror above Clara’s crib to secure it to the wall, so if you’re dying to hang a mirror above a bed, this method (scroll down about halfway through the post) might work for ya. Hope it helps!
xo,
s