You may have seen glimpses of our fun with the Bowers in our little road trip video from last week, but we’re back to share a collection of fun decorating ideas courtesy of our stay at the quirky and memorable Hotel Preston in Nashville. Katie and I had been brainstorming another video that we could throw together ever since we started planning our little reunion. And once we checked in at our hotel it was obvious that it was full of amazing inspiration that triggered some hotel-chic ideas that anyone can implement at home. So without further ado, here are half of our favorite hotel-inspired decorating ideas…
…to see the other half, just head on over to All Bower Power.
But then don’t forget to come back and tell us what hotel touches you’ve drawn inspiration from in the past. Was it a paint color? A good friend of mine painted her half bath a rich navy hue after she saw it at a posh hotel. Maybe it was an amazing featherbed or even a bathrobe that you just had to introduce to your own home after spotting it at a hotel? How do you keep your guest room feeling luxe and oh so inviting for your friends and family? Do tell.
Note: Hotel Preston didn’t comp us, pay us, or otherwise reward us for mentioning them in this post. We found them via Travelocity & TripAdviser and paid to stay there because it looked fun. And it was.
Hilarious! Who knew decorating videos could make someone laugh so hard, and it looks like you two have a lot of fun making them, too! I loved the drum shade idea inspired by the hanging lights. The pillow menu idea was really cute! I would love if I stayed at someone’s house and they had that for me! I hope you two can make more of these in the future, because I love them!
Hi youngsters!
We once stayed in a ridiculously expensive airport hotel in Athens, Greece, where we loooved the bathroom and made a very close copy of it when we built our house.We now take our showers in a glass-door, double built-in, with ceiling rain showers to die for and amazing greenish-stone-like large tiles.
Also, once in a hotel in Prague, we decided we really really really liked higher-than-usual beds with upholstered headboards and many many pillows and we never regreted since!
BTW your new logo (w the initials and the heart) is super cute!
Hey Calliope,
MMmmm, your bathroom sounds amazing. And funny you should mention liking our new initial logo with the heart. We actually have had some requests for a YHL t-shirt so stay tuned for that possible development…
xo,
s
We actually stayed in the Hotel Preston for a business trip. Definitely checked out a pet fish at the front desk. It’s a fun hotel and we had a great time.
I’ve not copied anything from a hotel, but we once stayed in a hotel with the BEST transluscent tile in the shower/tub. Gorgeous. I took a photo and keep it in my inspiration folder.
Love the paper lantern or drum shade idea. We are thinking of doing something like that for our enclosed deck. It is bare now, but with some TLC and paper lanterns, it will look inviting. Great videos. You two are so cute. Love watching and thanks for the great ideas. :-D
I always have a robe, slippers and small toiletries kit ready for when my guests stay. The slippers are cheapies that I get at Target so that my guests can keep them, the robes (I have a men’s and a women’s) I actually wash and reuse because I’m not made of money! But I also added a sitting area/writing desk in our guest room complete with stationary. If they’re an out of town guest that has brought their own car I also give them a list of cool stuff to do.
I want a Young House Love tee! How awesome!
-e
Hi again guys!
I had some ideas I borrowed from http://www.tensquare.co.uk/ a hotel in Belfast.
*crisp, white, high thread count egyptian cotton bedlinen, I found mine in a supermarket in the sale.
*a tiny fresh filter coffee maker with espresso-size cups, I bought mine from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FDFD18/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
*even cheaper idea: hide all your potions lotions creams soaps shampoos and paraphenalia inside the bathroom cabinets. Shelves are for plants, not mismatched plastic and labels. Actually, my plants are fakes, found in a sale. Saves watering!
I got the chocolate brown and light neutrals color scheme from hotels. Plus sofas that have white outline on them. Our bedroom also sport almost the same massive, vertical, and cushioned headboard in your hotel room.
I also got the idea of having two separate bathroom sinks from hotels. I also have a man urinal installed since my wife threatened to file a divorce if I don’t change my morning habits. I got this idea from public restrooms though. But the best Idea I got from the hotel is the “Do not Disturb” Sign. ;)
Nice idea Erin. I think we’ll also apply the free-toiletries and-slippers-for-guests at our home. I am might also start putting a basket of fruit or a large bar of chocolate on their pillow prior to their arrival.
you two crack me up! love the little videos … i love the travel bottles of shampoo and such … they always “seem” to make it into my suitcase when i travel!
Could you post the link to your video on YouTube like you usually do? My computer seems to be unhappy with the one that’s currently up and won’t show it to me. :( (I know it’s my computer and not your blog—the vimeo ones never work on this computer…) Thanks, you guys are the best!
Hey Meredith,
Here are the links to those videos freshly uploaded to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR1hAifdAq8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-n7Ig8ODM
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Regarding the crayon pop art in part 2, I saw the link below yesterday and loved it. In combination with your inspiration, I now plan to use the first letter of each of our names to hang in our kid’s den. Cute huh? And hopefully easy enough for my Kindergartner to help!
Thanks for the every-day inspiration!
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2009/08/crayon-monograms/
Amy- We love those crayon monograms. How cute!
Erin- We’ll definitely check out brannantravels.com. As long as things are dog friendly we’re totally down!
xo,
s
Hi Guys,
Love the video! Hotels always inspire me. I am working on my peaceful master bedroom retreat as we speak.
You probably won’t post this with the others because of what I’m about to say, but I don’t care. I feel I just HAVE to share this with you since you travel AND love to save money! Check out http://www.brannantravels.com. It is usually cheaper than all the major travel sites and has free concierge service and travel insurance. It is just as easy to use. Even if you don’t post this to others, I highly recommend you use it yourself! It’s worth a look if it’ll save you guys money next time you go somewhere.
Thanks!
My husband and I have traveled extensively and stayed in both hotels and people’s homes and gleaned a lot of ideas of how to make our guests more comfortable. In addition to stocking our guest bathroom with mini-shampoo, conditioner and lotion bottles, we included a travel hair dryer, hair product and spare toothbrushes. In the guest room, we added a small bookshelf with an assortment of novels, short stories and magazines.
Great videos! They’re both really cute and helpful. Sherry pulling a Vanna White from inside the closet was hysterical! our master bedroom was inspired by a hotel we stayed at on our honeymoon in Oia, Santorini. We loved the cool blue walls and dark furniture of the hotel room. We even found a Ben Moore color called “Santorini Blue” and it worked perfectly.
Too cute! Love the fact that you’re shameless!! I can only imagine what the random guests in the lobby thought was going on. lol.
Great Ben Drake song… which one is it? You always choose just the right background music!
Hey Christen,
We actually met some cowboys in the lobby. Or maybe they were just southern guys with cowboy hats on. You never know who you’ll meet when you’re filming on your Flip video in the hotel lobby. Hehe. As for the music, it’s actually an instrumental song called Good Morning by the talented Ben Drake. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Love the new video! Last week I was on vacation and we stayed at a resort hotel. I’m normally a two pillow sleeper, but they had these pillows that were so luxurious, I only slept with one. They had body, yet were so soft..and always stayed cool! Before we left I had to check the tag. They were Sweet Dreams pillows from Calderon Textiles. After finding their website, I contacted them about ordering some. They don’t sell to individuals, but directed me to an awesome site: hotelstoyou.com where you can buy things that are normally in hotels, and sure enough, they have those pillows! I can’t wait to order some!
I watched part 1 & 2 of your new video-great ideas btw. You ladies are always SO entertaining and make me laugh. :) I look forward to seeing the next one.
I typically try to make the guest room feel like a second home for our guests. I like to collect the nicer, high end toiletries and save them for guests. I also like to have a nice stack of fun magazines-some fashion and some decor for some light reading before bed. The room had a few candles but I love to have a vase with fresh flowers on one of the nightstands. My husband started this tradition the first time I stayed in his (now our) home, I leave a special package of Girardelli chocolates or another fun treat beside the magazines with a little note card that welcomes our guests.
I loved the video! Very funny and cute. I do the coffee maker station in my guest bathroom so they can get a cing cup of coffee before they leave their room. I also have an extra hair dryer for them in the caniets along with travel size toothpaste, toothbrush, razors, shaving cream and all kind of soaps. Makes life a bit easier for my guests in case they forget something at their home.
Great video once again!
Thanks for the funny videos! My apartment is very tiny and has no guest room space, but the general theme in my apartment is hotel-inspired. I’ve always loved staying in hotels, so I try to recreate that feel at home. It’s not complete, but I love how hotel bathrooms can make you feel luxurious just walking in. My bathroom cabinet is a soft wood the color of dark leather and I keep the open shelves stocked with extra bath sponges, loofahs, and French pear-shaped soap in a glass jar. I use dark wicker baskets to hold my toiletries, and I also have some books on the shelf. It just makes me feel better!
You guys crack me up! Love it and keep it coming!
My grandpa used to have a bucket of little soaps he took from hotels under the sink at his house- I guess I never realized what a chic host he was.
What fun videos!
The Heathman in Vancouver, WA had awesome Kohler showerheads – single function but they made a wide spray like rain. I’ve put them in my homes ever since – I just take shorter showers so I’m not using more water.
Besides all the ideas already shared, I also make sure there’s a wastebasket in the guest room. Also, a good reading lamp and a couple bottles of water.
Very cute video!
Side note: The comment posted by Erin is probably a travel site that she (or someone she knows) profits from if you book from it. There are several companies that do this through a pyramid scheme. My father has a website with a similar company. While I wish Erin the best of luck in her endeavors, it’s likely that she is advertising for herself, not just sharing the good news of a bargain travel site. Just FYI.
I love the videos that you guys do not only for the tips but they make me laugh. I love all of the ideas and I actually hoard the soaps, shampoos, and other small toilettres from hotels. I use them not only for my guests but I also fill up apothecary jars with it for my bathroom -free art – you can’t beat that.
Great video and great ideas you two are so funny and very clever, thanks for sharing. I wanted to ask you if you’ve ever posted a post about travel with your dog? I’d love to see your thoughts on it since you seem to be pros I have a dog now for the first time in my life and we’re planning to take a family (me, hubby and the pup) road trip towards the end of the year and was wondering if you had any tips or ways to find good hotels. And if you haven’t posted something on this subject maybe you could :) :) :).
Funny you ask, Emily. That’s exactly the topic for next week’s video! Keep an eye out for it mid-week.
-John
I really like your idea about the guest bathroom coffee maker and travel soaps/shampoos. I know when I go visit family/friends I feel bad having to ask where things are to make coffee or ‘borrow’ shampoo because I forgot mine…
Plus, the idea of having beverages in the room on a tray is really sweet. Such a simple and nice way to say “Welcome friend!” I am definitely going to implement these idea’s on our guestroom/bath! Thanks for the inspiration :) Keep ’em coming!
Great post! Love the Hotel Preston!
As a matter of fact, I posted about that headboard in their rooms after my last stay there.
http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/02/tufted-headboard-project.html
I think it’s a great DIY project.
Kimba
Your blogs are great! HUGE fan :) inspired me to completely renovate my home. Love this video, what kind of editing program do you use? All your videos are amazing. Thanks :)
Thanks! We just use iMovie ’09 which came with our MacBook. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I loved checking out the videos from your long-haul Texas road trip! The videos from Nashville were particularly precious as Nashville is my hometown. Imagine my surprise when, smack dab in the middle of Preston Hotel Video No. 2, the “Pink Slip” (the pink crayon dress) appears! I was blessed to be able to work for its creator, Herb Williams, as an intern while I was in high school (http://www.herbwilliamsart.com/). Fantastic! Thanks again for all that y’all do!
Hey, I think the part I video is under the part II tab. I was just catching up on your videos! I loved part I!
Oops, sorry about that! Part two of the video is actually over on Bower Power (which is linked to in the Part One post, so that’s why we did that). But it might make more sense to add the direct link to Vimeo. Here it is for ya: http://www
Off to edit the video page!
xo,
s
Isn’t it ironic that you are wearing pink in this and Katie is wearing black?
Did you raid each others closets?! haha
Haha- totally ironic. I think I packed colorful stuff for her and she packed black for me. Haha.
xo,
s