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:
you guys are magicians. great job!
Love it! The rom looks to cheerful and inviting. (And of course I will be “borrowing” a few of your designs ideals to incorporate into my house).
Gorgeous – your guests will undoubtedly be very happy there! I love those pillowcases – I have the whole set on my bed and it makes me happy every time I walk into my room (when my bed is made! ha!).
I love the pillowcases! Where are they from?
They’re the Woodland Organic ones from Pottery Barn. They no longer sell them but maybe try ebay? Good luck!
xo,
s
Wonderful tweaks. That is a cheerful and inviting room for your guests.
Hah! Tonya — we used the same adjectives!
That’s too funny! When those comments came through I was like – wow, same adjectives.
xo,
s
Fabulous – love the quirky but stylish look! The green works really well with the wall colour.
Great job, you guys! Looks very cohesive and fun – it will be a joy to stay in for any of your guests. I love all the colors!
Thanks for sharing and for always staying so chipper in the midst of criticism. I realize it comes with the territory, but I would probably let my sarcasm get the best of me! :)
I love everything you two do—very creative!! Gives me and my hubby inspiration for some estate sales, consignment shops, and our local thrift store shopping trips:)
Love it! Well done, and on a totally reasonable budget to boot. You guys must have been running around like crazies yesterday! Enjoy the time with your mom–and a little break from full-time mommy duties:)
It’s such a cheerful and inviting room! What a difference a day makes!
Looks so cheerful, your guest will never want to leave! I love it all!
Debbie
i loved it before but it looks even better! you are amazing :) you would die if you saw my guest room – and my parents have stayed in there – it probably looks like your playroom – it’s our catch-all room for now
This room looks so FUN and happy and colorful. Clara looks just like Sherry in that pic! Too cute.
love it!
Love the mirror and the tray. Way to go guys!
Looks great. Personally, I was on team keep the brown blanket, but it looks good with or without. Have fun this weekend!
Love it. Kinda miss the brown blanket, not gonna lie. But, everything looks great. I love the touches of green with the wall color, so unexpected but it works! :D
You guys are simply amazing! Love all of the color that you are using the new house! That blue was definitely the way to go. Love the pops of green too!
And Clara is just toooooo cute! I swear she takes the focus off of the room!
Call me crazy, but I think the white comforter is too stark in such a fun, colorful (by which I mean “cheerful and inviting”) room. Like it’s missing something…like a geometric brown blanket.
Haha, the polarizing brown blanket will have the last laugh!
xo,
s
I really liked the brown blanket too. Must’ve missed the comments of those who didn’t like it, cause Sherry’s comment surprised me this morning.
I liked the blanket just fine—just never liked the curtains.
I agree about the white comforter. I think that the brown blanket didn’t work with all the other patterns and colors that are currently on the bed, but it could be brought back in if some other elements got edited out. E.g. I feel like the headboard and PB pillowcases look like a different room than the bathroom and rest of the bedroom. I prefer the deep blue, warm brown and yellow components of the bedroom (which complement the bathroom SO well) to the green headboard area. Regardless, awesome work in progress and lucky guests!
Love it! Of course, I liked it yesterday, but it looks way more polished and grown-up (though still fun) today. Lovely! And I think it will look even better with a fun (green?) dresser and art on the walls!
You’re reading my mind! We’ll definitely keep you guys posted when we refinish an old dresser and add art. Woot!
xo,
s
Totally agree. Love it now! But, not sure about the green dresser….. Maybe a white dresser with green accents? I’m sure what ever you do, you will totally make it work though :)
Haha, we’re not sure either. Who knows where we’ll end up! Maybe wood toned with a green top? Or green pulls? Time will tell…
xo,
s
How about whimsical? Great re-use of the rug. Love the pop of color from the pillow cases. Love the curtains too. It really works.
Where did y’all get the brown tray? I love it!
Target. It was in that area with the home decor by the front. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
LOVE the room! Just wondering where you kept the white round mirror that used to be in the den in your old home. Would that have worked above the bed too?
We hung that above the fireplace in the kitchen but we tried it in the guest bedroom and it was a smidge too small.
xo,
s
We need pictures of the finished bathroom!
Will do! Maybe this afternoon.
xo,
s
I really love how it’s all coming togther. The wall color is nothing short of gorgeous. Seriously, you guys are just so inspirational!! And I love the create-a-side-table you put together. Brilliant. :)
If you can imagine, I kept my eyes shut, blindly scrolled down for the picture from yesterday, looked at it, shut my eyes and scrolled up, in blind again, and looked at today’s picture. And you know what? In my opinion, the difference is that between an amateur design and a pro one. Thank you a million times for showing us that work, any work, must be done up to 100%, because the difference is that from 98 to 100. I could keep rambling, but I know you don’t have the time. Perfect!
hahaha, I kind of did the same thing, and I completely agree. I also scrolled down and tried to imagine what it would look like to be looking into the bathroom from the bedroom…. a picture (or video tour?) would be great! hehe… does this make us obsessed?
I love you guys. Really. The room turned out beautifully! I’m amazed by how patient you are with complete strangers picking your room apart. I have to tell you, I enjoy reading your blog for *you* as much as for the design and DIY help. Such positive people are hard to come by!
Keep doin’ whatcha do!
Me too! I went back to work as a teacher this year, and so my reading-blogs-while-my-children-nap time has really been cut into. I now only read a very select few blogs with any regularity…and yours is one because of *you* as much as because of your fab designs.
Speaking of designs, I love how the room turned out. I thought the brown blanket (which I LOVED in your old guest bedroom) didn’t work with this room, but I didn’t feel like I had any place saying so. Sounds like others voiced that, and I’m glad you guys went in the direction you did. I think it all turned out perfectly!
How long of a drive is it for them, Sherry? My in-laws are also the most likely-run-away-with-my baby! They will drive 9 hours for a visit of less than 48 hours. First grandchild, what a surprise, right?
It’s about a 7-8 hour drive. Sometimes they fly – they come any way they can! Clara’s a lucky lady.
xo,
s
She sure is! My son only has one set of grandparents, so I’m glad they are so devoted. :)
My folks are four hours away (in NOVA, near John’s family, actually) and they have come down to visit us more times in the year since my girls were born than in the eight years prior! I’ll get an email- “We want to come see the grandbabies…” Hey! What about your lovely daughter??
It’s amazing how much grandparents adore their grandkids, though. Makes me so happy. I’m sure it makes you as proud as it does me. ;)
I like it!!! I def like the decision to take out the brown circled duvet!! Looks so nice!! The color is my favorite part! so different and just so fun!! Enjoy a little bean-free time. I think your mom probably will steal her and leave you guys high and dry at least for a couple of hours!
oh, forgot to ask! do you think you guys will paint the mirror above the bed? if so, what color?
For now we like it as-is since it ties into the tray, ottoman, and curtain rods. It’s nice to let some things “fall back” in a room full of color.
xo,
s
It looks much more balanced without the brown blanket (not in a boring way!). And I love how you DIYed the nightstand, things like that make me come back (although I never leave your blog anyway :D)
I totally agree! I think, if you guys ever put another blanket at the foot of the bed, a solid color would work. Yesterday, I wasn’t loving the curtains and I think it’s because the pattern was competing with the blanket – but now I love ’em. This room just looks like fun.
I’m wondering if that is the same rug and yellow-flowered pillows from the living room?
Yup, the 5×8 rug is way too small with such a large sectional so we’re on the hunt of an 8×10.
xo,
s
NO BIGGER THEN 8-10
Oh, icing on the cake! Great final touches. Love the garden stool separating the chairs and the bedside table is so YHL. Can I make reservations?
the turn around time on this project amazes me! well done!! fantastic job.
loved it yesterday….but this is even better! I woke up in the middle of the night and my first thought was…I cant wait until morning to see what they have added or taken away…LOL!
Me too! I think that makes us kind of weird haha
Ooooo, love the omissions. And OMG on the lamp, headboard, luggage rack color love. It looks fab! I love that luggage rack as a side table! It’s PERFECT! Can I come over and spend a night in that room? ha. Hope your family enjoys!
It looks amazing. Everything came together very nice. Love all the choices and of course the cutest thing in that room is Clara.
Much better! However, I think I’d really like that end-table long ways under the window. I worry that you’ll be hitting it each time you get in or out of the bed. Must my two cents. Otherwise the room looks awesome! Great job y’all!
John and Sherry, this room is absolutely fantastic. In an oh-my-God-I’m-going-to-take-inspiration-from-this-room-in-every-future-project kind of way. I love the way you two work with color. The splashes of yellow and green are so fun! And I agree with a few of the other commenters–I was on Team Brown Blanket, but I can see how it does make the space look a bit more polished. I hope your guests love it as much as your readers!
Cheers,
Kath
You make those blue walls look good!
Looks good! I think removing the brown blanket and adding more green helped.
Wow, looks really good! I love those great bold colors! Great job!
(and literally, this has been posted for 4 minutes, according to my Google Reader, and you have 41 comments….ONE DAY I’ll get that coveted FIRST COMMENT spot! ONE DAY!!!)
;-)
I love it! Now it looks fun and fresh… not too busy at all. Love that little green lamp. I’m going to have to go look for one of those.
It’s amazing that just separating those two chairs and adding the yellow pillows made such a difference.
Great job, guys.
What is that little colorful round thing sitting on the bedside table?
That’s a coaster. Love that thing.
xo,
s
Loving the pillows and the rug! The addition of green is pure genius. Clara is THE cutest!
LOVE the wall color along with all the other pops of color. Very nice.
Wow! I LOVE how cheerful, happy, welcoming this guest room is. It’s everything a guest could want in a room! And if you do paint the mirror, may I please suggest spray painting it gold? The luggage rack is the best. GENIUS!
abby
Awesome room! From the wall color to the crisp linens and fun accents this room turned out absolutely great! I’m feeling inspired! :)
WOW you pulled this together crazy fast! We’ve been in the house 7 months now and were happy to get a bed in ours hahaha. Im so loving all these new colors you guys are playing with.
Thanks for sharing your trials & updates along the way… I too was on the “86 the brown-geo-print blanket” team and think the addition of the brown mirror & ottoman balance the dark ying to your light yang! :)
LOVE the side table you created also- my only suggestion would be to remove the green box from the top- so it gives your guests enough room to place their reading glasses/book/water glass, etc.
I love the changes from yesterday! No more brown blanket :)