What Should A Good Guest Room Have?
After renting the back bedroom to a friend for a year and a half, I’m really moving up in the world. I have a guest room (Project 10)!
First off, wow. When she moved in last April, I was scrambling to finish things that now I’d call basic necessities, like the drawers in the kitchen. I didn’t have blinds for that room yet and she had a felt blanket covering the windows. That’s a relic from the heavy construction days I don’t miss. (Picture is my bedroom in case you don’t recognize it.)
And here it is now, with authentic guest room accessories!
And in all seriousness, I’d like to have some things in here that will be handy for guests. Because I live in a place people want to visit, because I might go to work and leave out of town visitors to their own devices, and also because what else am I going to do with the cutlery dividers in the dresser? So far, I have spare toothbrushes, a small tube of toothpaste, and 3 SEPTA tokens. Amy Vanderbilt’s Etiquette says that I should provide stationery, stamps, envelopes, and an alarm clock, and that my maid should close the blinds and turn down the sheets in the evening unless I know my guests prefer otherwise. I’m thinking a paper pad and a few pens would be nice anyway.
And this is what it looks like. Because I don’t actually iron very often. I love this room. It’s the only room in the house that gets bright direct sunlight for more than 2 hours (until the awnings come down on the front next year) and in South Philly, it overlooks, gasp, a tree! I’ve started to have my coffee in here on weekend mornings.
And let’s make it a full tour. Here’s what else is in the room. A friend swung by to help me get the bed in and I asked him about a print that my mom’s friends gave her when they downsized. “Is it too meta?” He said, “Too meta? I love things that are meta.” The size and price were pretty perfect, too.
In fact, almost everything in the room was that same price. The only thing I paid for is the lamp shade above, which was $1 in the as is section at IKEA. I like that I have this modern cedar chest / night stand from one grandmother’s dining room…
And the dresser is out of the other grandmother’s dining room, almost the exact same age, and basically the opposite style. And though I was considering architectural details separate from the decor, doors and hardware are like the most important thing in the world, and I got mine at Philadelphia Salvage. Same with the light fixture.
The bed was free, too, and the bedding came from my dorm room. It’s not quite perfect. I’d like a nicer daybed, possibly made out of a door in my basement hoard, and bedding that covers the mattress properly. Also, if I put bolster cushions against the wall, I might be able to make this comfortable to sit on.
No Responses
Hangers, soap, shampoo. Tourist information. A brief history of Philadelphia. A book or two on Philadelphia’s architectural heritage. A spare light bulb and a flashlight. An extra blanket. A water carafe and glass. All cozy!
Beautiful, Chad! And don’t forget that the curtains were free also. 🙂 I like the meta-art, and what’s funny is that I was recently toying with the idea of getting for my guest room a print by Aida Whedon that features a bed with a couple in it. It was called “Cozy Morning” or something like that. But before I could make up my mind, it sold on eBay.
Now, every good guest room should have a maid to iron the sheets on the bed, turn down the sheets at night, and leave a chocolate on the pillow, but I think that isn’t going to happen anytime soon. Nor is your quilt and robe warmer going to be your next project, I’m sure. But I think you have all the essentials: a bed, a desk for using a laptop or writing in a notebook, a lamp (for finding your way around the room and reading in bed), and some extra toiletries. Do you have WiFi? That would be a good feature for your guests. Also, when you can afford it, maybe a day bed with a trundle or a sofa bed that opens to a double, in case your guests come with partners. When your guests are coming, you can leave the towels you want them to use on the dresser or on the bed. You might want to add a double robe hook inside the door so they can hang up their towels (if there isn’t room in the bathroom to do so). Hangers in the closet for their clothes are necessary, and a luggage rack is convenient. In my guest room I also have a guide book of the area for them to peruse, a couple of novels and poetry books, and a few quirky books, like Dr. Suess’ “The Seven Lady Godivas” (http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Seven-Lady-Godivas-by-Dr-Seuss-1987-Hardcover-/311958804362?epid=155146&hash=item48a231978a:g:sZgAAOSwXXxZWZWT0 and Roni Jay’s “Feng Shui for Cats” (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Feng-Shui-for-Cats-By-Cats-For-Cats-/152662732929?epid=886633&hash=item238b687081:g:PDYAAOSwB09YMGoI). Oh, and a nighlight so they can get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and a mini mag light in case the power goes out.
I actually had a thank you for the curtains in a draft of this post, then deleted several paragraphs to make it shorter and didn’t get that back in. Of course the blinds and curtain rods were bought, but the blinds were on sale. Good point about the WiFi password, along with a marked up map of my immediate neighborhood and tourist information for the city. I have books in the living room.
You already thanked me in an earlier post–and sent me photos of them when you and your roommate put them up, so I think you’re more than covered. Just thought you should brag that they were also free.
Well I had a draft of the post with the provenance of every item in it and it just seemed… long
Yes, it would end up being very long, indeed. Perhaps you should save it as part of your tour of the house when your guest arrives. That way, you could put him/her to sleep by the time you get to the little box on the desk. 🙂
Be careful what you wish for … I foresee a steady stream of guests! Looks very inviting.
that drawer needs CANDY BARS!!! and a disposable camera, b/c those are just fun. lovely room, love the view of the tree and all the sun!
Yes, Dark Moons, candy bars!
My great grandmother had guests on the Jersey Shore without even knowing who was there. She is my role model
When I come to visit, I would like a city map or two and some seasonable literature about what’s going on in Philly while I am there. A phone charger would also be nice. And now, you are terrified that I sound like I expect to stay with you should I visit your city. 🙂
I’d be totally up for you staying with me. I’d probably change the sheets on my bed since you’d likely not be alone
I love the fact that no one has suggested a television! I haven’t had a television since 1994 and do not miss it. The suggestions made so far are all good ones… the only thing I could suggest would be a wastebasket of some sort if you don’t already have one, and perhaps a radio (vintage and free, of course!) Looks very comfy!
See a wastebasket in the photos already, and also some kind of vase for fresh flowers (if the guest is special enough). Oh, a box of tissues, too.
I have a TV in the living room in a cabinet. I looked into putting a lock on the doors to protect myself other people’s TV shows annoying me. My cable bill is $5 a month, which is a ridiculous waste of money.
Charging station, ipod/music dock, wifi password, and of course: nine dark moon’s candy bars!