The Quick Change

There is a time in everyone’s decorating life when they look at their guest room and feel very overwhelmed. Often that happens when guests are on the way for a surprise visit. You think to yourself; “My daughter’s old bedroom set won’t cut it anymore.” And as you prepare to get rid of that set you slowly realize after three consignment stores refuse it for resale; you will need to donate it after all. Before running out to buy a whole new bedroom suite, stop and think on a broader scale. What other rooms need to be refreshed in the future and are there items in those rooms that will work in the guest room? These are questions that work to save you money if you will apply them. Let’s take a peek into a guest bedroom of a Begonia model to see how applying questions on a larger scale created a quick change just in time for Spring break visitors somewhere in the Heart of The Villages Community.

• The right questionsQuick project and it looks inviting and ready for guests - Interior Design - in the Villages of Florida.

The project started with the guest room and that contained an old bedroom set from the 1970’s. It was dark, very tired and dated. The homeowners wanted a new set and we were discussing what to get, when I asked about the master bedroom bed. “Have you ever wanted a new bed for the master bedroom?” I asked. Yes they did and they wanted to move from a queen mattress up to a king mattress. This was critical information to keep money from being wasted. The guest bedroom needed a queen bed and we had one.

• Move the Bed

We moved the queen bed from the master bedroom into the guest bedroom and it was perfect. The homeowner called the store where they had purchased the queen bed and they had a matching nightstand in stock. Now we had a bed and a nightstand!

• Coordinate don’t match

When you release the idea that everything has to match, two things will happen. First you will feel free and secondly you will stop analyzing and move forward quickly. We needed a very small side table for the angled wall of the guest bedroom. We used an oval wicker and wood table that’s finish was not the same as the other items in the room but still looked good with them. By keeping the second side table smaller this allowed us to have room for a 60” long bench on the wall opposing the window. Guests could lay their luggage on the bench or sit down at a lower level to put on their shoes. The grey blue of the bench complemented the grey tones in the bedspread so it worked.  Also, we hung a large mirror above the bench. This mirror would reflect light from the window and allow an extra space for guest to put on makeup or do their hair. This is a great trick to create more space for getting ready. If one person is in the bathroom, the other person can be using the mirror over the bench for hair and makeup.

• Bedspread

The homeowner owned the bedspread that is shown and we loved it! We used this spread as an inspiration to select our art and lamps. The homeowner chose a beautiful picture of the Caribbean with blues and teals that complement the bedspread. This bedspread also has grey in the pattern and that complements the floor and the art that we chose for the side wall. The side wall picture is of a manatee looking through seaweed at the guests as they drift off to sleep.

• Lamps

The lamps are teal with tiny starfish on the base. The white shades allow the three way bulbs to put out lots of light for your guests.

• No Rug

There was no room to place a rug in the space. If you place a rug that is too small or flimsy, it becomes a tripping hazard. Sometimes it is best to have no rug to keep it safe.

• TV

If your guests are lying in bed they will be looking at a closet and a small piece of wall in this guest bedroom. This little wall is great for a TV. We purchased a console from an online retailer and it was thin enough and sturdy enough to hold a small TV and provide a bit of extra storage. We purchased it in white and we did not worry if all the whites in the room matched. It all worked out great!

• Master bedroom

The homeowners were able to find a king bed in a different collection that complemented their existing furniture. They purchased their new king mattress and the new bed was a perfect fit!

• Pressure

Remember, that pressure can be good. Pressure makes you move and make decisions. I find clients don’t get held up as much if they are on a timeline. Silly hang-ups go away and over analysis exhausts itself as the timeline draws ever near. If you have trouble making decisions then invite guests to stay with you and that will help you get it done!

P.S. –Attention all club presidents! We give free decorating seminars. It is lots of fun and very informative. Call and schedule your club today. Also, we are on-line check out our web-site at www.ruthdyer.com and you can always e-mail us at ruth@finishingtouchfl.com or Call Ruth your full service decorator at 352-804-2056.

Before and After Pics Below