Essential "Ingredients" for a Luxurious Guest Room

My French Style Guest Room renvoation series continues, so here is a check list of must have items for a luxurious Guest room that I will endeavour to include in the space planning for my French style guest room.

• Most important - somewhere to put a suitcase.
• Rug or carpet as you step out of bed.
• Quality Queen Size Bed
• Bedside Cabinets
• Bedside Lamps that you can read under.
• A wardrobe to encourage guests not to live out of a suitcase on the floor.
• Chair for some quiet space or putting your shoes on.
• Mirror
• Desk / Dresser for somewhere to put their nick nacks.
• Adequate Lighting
• Accessories such as an alarm clock & I pod dock. Placing a hair dryer in the guest room can help ease congestion in the bathroom when guests visit.
• Quality Linen & towels.
• Books to read

Monica Pedersen designed this guest room for the 2011

Lake Forest Showcase House in Illinois.



Great bedding is a must for styling and there is something about sleeping in freshly washed crisp sheets so I offer clients the choice of embroidered cotton satteen, pure linen or silk sheets for their bedrooms.

Flaxfield Linen is avalable through Journey Home.



Front Guest Room - Accessories

It is time to choose accessories for the front guest room, so far these are definately being included:

Port Hole Mirror

 - available from Journey Home contact 02 6156 2379 or email nadine@journeyhomeonline.com.au

Brass Jars
 - available from Journey Home contact 02 6156 2379 or email nadine@journeyhomeonline.com.au

I am also on the hunt for Bahamas Inspired art such as this water colour by Frances Schultz.

I might use this print I found at the Rocks Markets in Sydney.

Would love to find a home for these colourful postcards from my last trip to Spain. (Mr Journey Home shall we call him,  is Spanish)

I found this great little feaux bamboo picture frame at Down Memory Lane Antiques, Fyshwick ACT.

I will change the cushions around regularily but here are two I hope to use at some point.

Linen in gold and brown. It's subtle and works against the navy bed head.

Seagulls

I use either ready made cushions or  custom made cushions in client projects, depending on budget and necessities.

French Style Guest Room - Inspirations

Bedroom of the Stark Carpet Family residence.  

Hotel room overlooking the White house

 by  famed Interior Designer  Thomas Pheasant. 

  10 years on these rooms are  about to be refurbished.

White and Gold theme by Ralph Lauren - Plaza Collection

 

Front Guest Room - Flooring and Furniture

Starting at the bottom.

I will be working with the dark timber stain I've used throughout the house. I am custom making this trellis patterned carpet rug in an off white which is made from recycled plastic water bottles. It is extremely stain resistant and surprisingly affordable.

Time Tip - Custom made rugs take around 12 weeks no matter which supplier we use so if you are decorating for a special occassion it's another reason why it's advisable to book us in allowing time for bespoke options.

I've selected the following furniture items from the Hamptons, Carribean and even French styles to add to the British colonial feel of the room.

Fully upholstered twin bed heads in navy blue velvet with brass studs.

Extra wide bed side table with feaux bamboo details and brass trims.

Black stained timber mirror.

Versatile French style bureau provides both desk space and drawer storage.

Simple desk chair that is quite modern for a little balance.

Even if you are not a client of Journey Home Interior Design you can still access this great furniture through Journey Home contact us on 02 6156 2379

French Style Guest Bed Room - Getting Started

Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brief:

The renovation and decoration of this room starts with a few issues that need resolving.

1: it's location is off the kitchen which is not ideal.
2: it feels cold and dark.

3: it has a crumbling old built in wardrobe and carpet.

Bedroom is to the right off the kitchen

 

 

 

In the long term I would like to convert this room into a formal dining room which would better suit it's proximity off the kitchen and lounge room, and when this dream extension happens I will replace the windows with French doors and create the following dining room layout.

Formal Dining Room Layout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until such a time, the room will continue as  bedroom and my design will meet the needs of our overnight  guests. 

I would like to bring out of storage a lovely bed crown I had purchased in France and a chandelier I bought to style an apartment, plus  I've always wanted a French sleigh bed hence  a Classic French Style guest bedroom will be the mission for this renovation.

 

 

 

Lighting is like jewellry for your room.

Here is what I intend on using in the British Colonial style guest room.

The fan light like those at the Raffles Hotel in Sinapore adds to the British Colonial theme and helps our climate control for the hottest room of the house.

Quirky desk light

Reading lamps for each bed.

Georgous glazed lamp with linen shade.

All the lamps can be purchased through Journey Home to make enquiries telephone 02 6156 2379 or email nadine@journeyhomeonline.com.au

Front Guest Room - Navy Wins

My choice of Navy was cemented by a Navy velvet sofa with brass studs I saw in New York.

I am drawn to Blues mixed with natural wood tones. Fortunately Navy is huge right now so fabric suppliers are offering plenty of choice, here are a couple of swatches from one of my suppliers.

Spoiler Alert - Navy will also be used in other rooms throughout the house so it makes sense.