"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Be my guest.....

On the first floor of the tower of our home is the guest area. I showed you the bathroom earlier. I use it as I enjoy a bath but this is actually the bathroom for the guest room.

The photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.....

Our guest room has windows on three sides since it is in the tower. This means the room is very light. I wanted to give the room a warm and welcoming look so choose a warm dark beige for the walls. I was so grateful when we were busy with the house to have help from my friends Silvia and Carolien when we were painting this room.

There are built in closets in the room and when we placed the furniture in the room, I discovered the bench I use at the end of the guest bed fit just perfectly in the space between those closets where the window is. It gave the room an instant window seat.

My miniatures and silhouettes and hanging once again. I added a few more since the previous house and just love this wall.

There is a reading corner here from which I can also sit and see the silhouettes. Sometimes, I relax with my current book here after having taken a bath.

We have two mirrored doors on the closets and two regular doors. Instead of painting them, we wallpapered these two doors. This was wallpaper I had left from lining the back of our hutch to lighten it up. That reminds me that I must share that with you soon too. This wallpaper is a Swedish reproduction wallpaper dating from 1902. The moment we saw it at the shop, Jos and I knew it was the one we wanted to use as it reminded us both of living in Stockholm. The inside of these doors is also wallpapered with the paper left from doing the sampler wall in our bedroom.

While my mother was visiting, she commented that she would like a mirror at this spot. We had this mirror still to hang so used it here along with an antique Swedish sideboard. This sideboard design is attributed to Karin Larsson. It is even held together with wooden nails. I would love to paint this to match the other furniture but am not sure about doing so with this antique piece.

There is nothing that makes a home more personal that little touches that say who you are. I included this silhouette of one of my favorite authors, Charlotte Bronte, and the lace gloves I wore when Jos and I got married.

I do not have very many but I love collecting Persephone books.

The windows in the tower are very deep which gives me lots of wonderful space to create vignettes on the window sills. Not having had window sills in our previous home, this is so much fun to have them here.

Jos and I get comments about the guest room being bigger than our bedroom downstairs. We keep saying we will be guests in our own house once and sleep up here just for the fun of it.

Thanks for being my guest and visiting our home.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

It's a wonderful room so bright. I love the colors. Linda

Susan in SC said...

I love your guest bedroom! I know you mom does too!

Deborah said...

Beautiful room. I will restful and comforting for any guest.

Ginny said...

If I (1) weren't afraid to fly and (2) had the money, I'd hop on a plane and come stay in your guest room next week! Such a beautiful room.

Elizabethd said...

Thank you for that lovely glimpse into your home. Your guest room is a beautiful peaceful place.

Willy said...

Prachtige logeerkamer hebben jullie. De logees boffen. Ziet er heel sfeervol uit en veel mooie details.
Fijn weekend, lieve groet

onlymehere said...

Oh Heidi this is lovely! Your home has such charm and it oozes hospitality!

Nancy said...

Oh yes, MY bedroom is truly beautiful.
I love it. The mirror is great, it did need that last touch.
The wall paper is from the year my Mom was born. Well, I mean the original, haha, not the repo.
I am ready to come back to have this room again.
Love you both, and Dagi too.
Mom

Reginas Cottage said...

dear heidi
your guest room looks wonderful. it's
really a peaceful room.
have a wonderful day,
regina

Annie said...

It's so nice and peaceful !

DonnaTN said...

You have made a beautiful room! Your guests may never leave. I love the chandelier and the bed covering. All those windows would make for a great stitching nook after your bath as well.

Terri said...

Really beautiful room, Heidi! Great job!

ahomespunyear said...

What a gorgeous room. It's so peaceful and relaxing...lucky guests!

Linda said...

Wow Heidi! I love this room. I might even be willing to get on plane and fly to where you are just so I can stay in it for a few days - or a year.....

Only willing to get on the plane tho, if they tranquilize me first - ha!

Linda in VA

Carolien said...

What a lovely room it is now! Mom must be satisfied ... and there's even a mirror now ;)
You've done a great job, as you always do. See you later!

Hugs, Carolien

Jackie's Stitches said...

You need to come decorate my house! Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!

Kathy A. said...

That is such a beautiful room. I love the paint color on the walls and all the white. Love the windowsill dressing. I have those deep windows too but mine have cushions in them for my grandkids to sit on LOL.
It makes me want to visit and stay in such a beautiful room. Thanks for sharing Heidi

Melanie said...

This guest room is gorgeous! I would love a room with all those windows and deep window sills (something my home doesn't have). The curtains are stunning - I love how they flow and pool on the floor. And the chandelier over the bed? Be still, my heart! That does it, Heidi - I'm coming to stay at your house! ;-)

Rhondi said...

Hello dear Heidi
I have been busy with working and haven't been able ot visit for a long time. I hope you are well and strong. What a wonderful room. I love how you've decorated it. I'm going ot keep on reading loder posts to see the rest of the house.
Hugs, Rhondi

Linda said...

Heidi...your guest room is just so lovely...not only is elegant but very warm and inviting too. Company will be very happy here...hugs, Linda

angelasweby said...

It sounds as if you already spend lots of time up in the guest area, Heidi and I am not surprised. What a welcoming place. I can feel the ambience and hospitable atmosphere from here.

I love the light airy colours but think you are right about not painting the dainty Karin Larrson table. The miniatures look perfect on this wall and the silhouette of Charlotte and the gloves set such an evocative scene. Seeing your lovely old Welcome stitchery brings back wonderful memories of our trip :>)
Angela xx

Marsha said...

What a lovely room Heidi. I love the color of the walls and the white against it. Very crisp but calming too. You have a way with decorating. It's very inviting.

Tracy said...

It is sooo LOVELY, Heidi... bright, inviting and warm... You just have such a wonderful way with decorating & presentation! :o) Happy Spring ((HUGS))

Teri said...

What a beautiful and peaceful looking room! I love, love, love the silhouettes - especially the stitched piece in the opening picture. What's the story behind the silhouettes? Sounds like you would have plenty of us in line if you ever decide to open a B&B!

Nan said...

This is a wonderful room. I love everything about it, especially your improvised window seat. You have such a gift for making a space truly special, and truly unique. And beautiful. Oh, how I love it.