When designating an area of your home to be used as a welcoming retreat for guests, you’ll want to outfit it in a way that is neither too masculine nor too feminine and suited to visitors of all ages. In a top-floor guest room of a historic town house with a revolving roster of international travellers both young and old, the focus here was on providing a serene spot to sleep off the jet lag and wake up ready to explore the city.
Blending a diverse assortment of patterns that includes stripes and plaid with damask and paisley can seem like an unusual combination, but this lighthearted approach to layering patterns results in an atmosphere of casual elegance that is appealing to all. Choose fabrics in a uniform range of colours that read as neither too juvenile nor too mature.
If symmetry and order appeal to your sense of balance, twin beds are undoubtedly on your list of likes. Many people think that bigger is better in furniture these days, so it’s easy to snag a beautiful pair of antique twin beds for less than you’d pay for a mass-produced new version. The old ones are guaranteed to outscore the new models in quality, design, and value.
When working with a pair of twin beds, you may find that two nightstands aren’t necessarily better than one. In this case, the sloped walls indicated that it would be best to leave ample room as a corridor between the two beds, so a wide, low table was chosen to connect the beds with a single lamp to illuminate.
To play up the symmetry of the bed placement, a tall, gilded mirror hangs centred above the shared bedside table and provides contrast to the low horizontal line of the beds and table. It is also a practical location for a dressing mirror. Instead of art, you can look for unusual objects to hang on the walls, such as these vintage convex porthole mirrors.
The softened palette of muted greens is drawn from the moss that grows on the buttressed stone walls running in front of the windows in this bedroom. If you are looking to connect your home to its surroundings, spend some time gazing out the windows as you look for a sign to influence your design.
While you may not want your guests to get too comfortable and overstay their welcome, it’s important to provide a place to unpack so they can keep organized and enjoy the well-appointed surroundings you’ve provided them. A black-painted dresser covered with découpaged fish has enough drawers to store extra bedding and supplies while still leaving a few drawers free for visitors’ belongings. A desk with a lamp and a chair is another thoughtful addition to your furniture plan that enables your guests to enjoy some quiet time and catch up on correspondence or work if needed.
