Page 36 - Flathead Beacon // 9.14.16

KELLEY’S MARKET TRENDS 38 FLOOR SPACE 39 Real Estate
The Perfectly Flexible Guest Room
HBY MELISSA RAYWORTH OF THE AP
OSTING HOUSEGUESTS CAN BE a challenge under the best of cir- cumstances. Having a well-de-
signed, private space for them is a huge help, but many homeowners don’t have a dedicated room just for that.
“Realistically, most people don’t have guests every week,” says interior designer Betsy Burnham, founder of Burnham Design in Los Angeles, so many create hybrid guest room/home o ce spaces, or blend a guest room with a playroom or crafting room.
The challenge is making the space warm and welcoming to guests but func- tional for other needs.
Here, Burnham, small-space design expert Kathryn Bechen and Brian Pat- rick Flynn, founder of the design rm Flynnside Out Productions, o er advice:
Create a Flexible Space
If your home o ce will double as your guest room, Flynn suggests designing a creative work station that doesn’t feel like a corporate o ce.
Instead of putting identical nightstands on either side of a bed or sofa bed, try mix- ing and matching bedside furniture, he says, “letting one of them be a desk or con- sole table to double as a workstation.”
And you may not want a queen-size bed dominating your workspace. Burn- ham notes that there are many comfort- able sofa beds these days. Or try a daybed with a trundle attachment. Decorate with structured cushions that give the appear- ance of a sofa by day, but are easily put aside at night.
One great retro option: Burnham says there are modern Murphy beds with innovative designs that work well in smaller rooms.
high-end paper and ribbons to make a hand-crafted “Do Not Disturb” sign for the room’s door.
Closet and Storage
If the room includes a closet, leave it partially empty so that guests will have a place for suitcases and other items. Deep shelves in a closet are ideal for a guest’s clothing. And if the closet is deep enough, Flynn suggest placing a dresser inside. Guests can have access to one or more drawers, and use the top as a vanity.
Also consider adding a storage otto- man or trunk to the room for hiding blankets and pillows, so you won’t have to gather them from elsewhere in the house when a guest is arriving.
All three designers recommend having lots of closed storage so you can stash your things out of sight.
Final Touches
Add an extra power strip so guests can charge digital devices, and print out your wi password for easy reference.
If the visitor is an old friend or rela- tive, create a small photo album of images from your shared past and place it on the nightstand.
Bechen suggests adding some of the details you’d nd in a luxury hotel room. Put out a basket with sample sizes of good toiletries. Add a bouquet of fresh owers and a basket of snacks.
If you have space, create a small drink station on a dresser top or table. On a pretty tray, place a small co ee maker, a basket of tea bags and co ee, a few bot- tles of water, and some glasses and mugs. To complete the hotel feel, Bechen sug- gests making a little information binder about local sights and activities to help visitors get the most out of their time in your town.
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Color and Texture
Another way to make a home o ce feel like a welcoming guest room is using color “to personalize the space and draw you in to rest,” says Flynn. “I use blue- grays and gray-greens because they’re soft and relaxing, but not too energetic.”
He also suggests using a range of tex- tures in upholstery, bedding and oor cov- erings. For example, “Mix super-nubby textures like boucle that feel good on your feet with sleek ones like silk and satin.”
Burnham’s new line of furniture, called Wardrobe, is upholstered in cozy, touch-friendly fabrics like soft linen, chambray and denim.
If the room has a sleeper sofa or futon with a less-than-luxurious mattress, add softness with plush blankets, bed pillows and high-thread-count sheets. A sheep- skin instantly warms up a guest room oor, Burnham says.
Too many throw pillows on a sofa or bed, however, can be a nuisance for guests to remove each night and rearrange in the
This undated photo
provided by Betsy
Burnham shows a
guest room designed
by Burnham of L.A.’s
Burnham Design. A full
wall of built-in closets
in this chic guest room
gives guests a space for
their belongings while
allowing the homeowner
to stash their own items
out of sight behind
closed doors, making it
easier for the room to do
double-duty as an o ce
space or kids playroom.
(GREY CRAWFORD/BETSY BURNHAM VIA AP)
morning. So stick with a few luxurious ones that add beauty and comfort.
Sharing the Space
If the room is normally your o ce, decide whether you’ll completely with- draw from using it while guests are in town. If it’s possible to work elsewhere in the house for a few days, make that eas- ier by keeping an attractive empty box or basket on hand to gather work items for temporary relocation.
If relocating isn’t practical, Bechen suggests discussing the subject up front, preferably before your guest arrives.
“A lot of people work from home,” she says. “So the issue is being consid- erate and sensitive, and having good communication.”
Let your guest know if there are spe- ci c hours when you must use the room, so they can plan to go out or just relax elsewhere in your home during that time.
To avoid intruding on your guest at other times of day, Bechen suggests using
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