The Fashionista recently turned 20. We celebrated by going to the Elton John/Billy Joel concert and donning big glasses and feather boas. At this point, you are probably saying “What does this have to do with A Great Guest Bedroom?”
She’s Leaving The Nest
She’ll take her bed, her work table and even the dachshund lamp, “Bye Blue.” I can’t wait to rip these horrible blinds down!
I am masking the pain of her leaving by dreaming of what her room will become.
A Great Guest Bedroom
But perhaps a little color on the walls. I love the sea green accented with pink. Still, this color already exists in Sweet Boy’s room. The green, not the pink. I like the flooring and the bed.
What about a nice neutral taupe on the walls? The white furniture looks so fresh against it. Yes, I definitely want white furniture.
Look at the lovely blue walls. This shade is similar to what is in my bedroom. Sigh…look at the curved footboard… in a wonderful shade of creamy white. Do you love it? I found an antique bed on Craigslist that is very similar to this for $100. Did I buy it? Of course, I bought it. It currently is sitting in our garage…waiting.
What about sunny yellow? It is such a cheerful, happy shade.
I think maybe just a touch of color. Like on these nightstands. They are perfect. The room is fairly small, so the scale of the pieces must be petite as well.
I am not quite sure about the faux bois treatment on the outer walls but love the cheery aqua in the inner sanctum.
I would like a small sitting area. Slipper chairs are wonderful when you don’t have much space. I found a similar chair on Craigslist for $25. It is currently at the upholsterers. Don’t worry! I took a few “ugly duckling” pictures.
A Place To Blog
There is a need for an area to blog. I have been dreaming about the Phillipe Stark Louis ghost chair for 2 years now. Visually it doesn’t take up much space.
But I think I might transform my closet ala, Pam Garrison. I could blog, craft and scrapbook to my heart’s content and then just shut the doors.
There is a vision that the bed linens will be made of natural fabrics in various shades of lavender, grey, and white.
I would also add a few florals and lace for a bit of texture.
Lil Mama and Her Babies Leave
Speaking of leaving the nest…this will be our last hummingbird update… Lil’ Mama has been a fabulous mother.
Rocky and Edith quickly became almost as big as she is. They grew all of their feathers and beautiful delicate beaks.
I shall miss all of them. Sniff.
What lovely rooms you shared with us. I would take any one of them.
Good luck on your “new” room and even better luck to your daughter.
I got to keep mine at home until she married at 20…those 2 extra years were such a blessing !!
What a beautiful and inspiring post!
Ashley has many of the same books as your daughter and has many inspiration boards, too… her bedroom is about to become a guest room as well.
In the first picture, which one of you is the 20 year old?
Ash and I attended an Elton John/Billy Joel concert, too. It was totally fabulous. We got to see Garth Brooks some time later and we were totally impressed with him, too!
Keep us posted on the room and I’ll try to do the same!
I love all of your room ideas though I have to say I felt sad reading the post, because I can’t imagine how I’ll deal with the time that my own daughter, now 13, leaves the nest. She’s my only child and all that I’ve known since she was born is to be her Mom. I’ve been fully entrenched in all of her life and it’s always been the two of us, even when I remarried many years ago.
So… your post makes me think and while it’s part of life, I know that it’s not an easy part for us Moms to deal with.
I hope you have great fun with the decorating project and I loved the update on the Hummingbirds. 🙂
I know that decorating can be very therapeutic! Your daughter looks gorgeous(in fact you both look gorgeous!) and I just know that she is going to be missed. My daughter is 15 so we have a little while…
I love seeing all the bedrooms. I think it is a great idea to have a blogging/crafting closet as well as a guestroom in one room. Too bad that the hummingbirds already left the nest, they all leave the nest too soon, don’t they?
Have a nice day!
Those inspiration rooms are scrumpticious, but that room will never be more lovely than it is right now, huh? Huuuuuuug…
You and your daughter look fab! I love all the different ideas for the comfy guest room to be. I especially love the taupe walls with the white accessories. It’s been fun following your little hummer buddies too. What amazing photos you were able to capture. You and lil’ mama both have done a good job with your little ones. I know it’s a little sad that the fashionista is headed to college, but I can just remember what an exciting time in my life that was. I wish her beautiful memories and treasured friendships as she enters this new phase in her life. God bless you all!
Ohhhh so much fun, I love them all, how will you ever choose? I am sure you will manage 😉 I think that’s a clever way to mask the pain-but hugs anyway. The hummingbird photos are priceless. Thanks for all the eye-candy this morning! Loved it. 🙂
thanks for all the great photos. I am redoing my guest room, and did not have a clue. My iron bed is bronze with cream bedding. and the walls are a interesting coral that when you look upstairs it glistens as if the lights were on in the room. I think I need a large mirror propped on the floor and a cream vanity. Thanks again for the inspiration!
What a beautiful room idea. The baby birds are so cute!!!
I love all your ideas for the new guest nest. The lavender is just dreamy. I can’t wait to see the progress. Your taste is exquisite so I am sure it will be wonderful 🙂
LOVE the picture of you and the Fashionista together all dolled up!
We have 6 kids between us and all are out of the nest. It’s hard when they leave but such a joy when they come back to visit.
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo
Lil Mama and the babies are so sweet. We filled our hummingbird feeders this weekend, and someone has been visiting them. I wish I could catch a peek of them.
I’m looking forward to seeing the progress in the guest room. All of your inspiration pictures are lovely. I’ve decided to paint my bedroom furniture a soft white color and antique it. I don’t think I can bring myself to paint the blue walls just yet, but the furniture will definitely soften the look of the room.
Lisa
I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when my children start leaving…. All those rooms are truly dreamy!!!! Love them!!
Isabel
When my first child left the nest it was awful, none of the comedy of watching your birdie friends leave home.
We were going to be moving following her departure, so there was no redecorating joy.
Go ahead and do your guest room with ANY of these fabulous styles. I won’t complain when I visit. =)
I’d even sleep in an apple green room with a blue weiner dog and RStones poster and I loathe them (the band, not daschunds.)
Imagine my glee when I discovered I have the SAME PHOTO (in my tear file) of the small nightstands. Lovely!
I think I’m awesome.
I can’t wait to see what you create.
What a beautiful posting Laura;tying your empty nest to that of “Lil Mama's”. Perfect.
It's a tough time, but I know you are busting with pride for your fashionista! When Elton & Billie came to Houston I wanted to attend so bad! What a great way to celebrate your daughters 20th.
I'll be thinking of you. Next year will likely be my last with a child living @ home full-time. This after 30 yrs. of parenting. Where did my life go?
xxoo
Whatever you do, the guest room will be beautiful!!
Oh my Gosh, I adore all the bedrooms you showed. Esp. the pink one lol.
You will miss your daughter but think of the FUN you are going to have redoing her bedroom and the times she will come for a visit, bring her dirty laundry etc. lol
Hugs to you from Marian
LOL, I LOVE the picture of you two! You must be such a fun mom. 🙂
I’ve found it so helpful to have something positive to anticipate while grieving a major change in life, like a child leaving home.
All the bedrooms are so lovely – it’s hard to choose just one style or colour. I say to my husband sometimes that I’d like about 4 homes to decorate, all in different styles. Wouldn’t that be fun!
Lorrie
My mother begged me to not leave at 25!!!!! But I went anyway and two weeks later my little bedroom was a beautiful bathroom. I still won’t let my mother live that one down (aren’t I rotten!!) Now my son is 19 and anxious to go and I can’t imagine changing his room into something else, but that closet idea is pretty darn wonderful, and a computer corner, a table to craft at, a chair by the window for reading . . .
Mummy and daughter always so close and best girlfriend ever:) She’s going to miss home!
I love furniture in white too just so clean and neat feeling perhaps i wanted my room to be in cottage style maybe some rose print curtain with some lace…
OOh…wanted so much to makeover my bedroom:)
xoxo
Zoe
Aw the little birdies are so cute! Maybe they will come back someday and you’ll see them buzz around your garden 🙂 I just left the nest last summer also LOL, doing the same thing as your daughter. Will she be very far away? I am only an hour away so I visit my house often and still have my old room. Your ideas for the bedroom are wonderful! I wish I could turn my own room into something so pretty.
All the best,
Allison
You have such great taste! My son is 18 and will be graduating in just weeks. Im not ready for him to leave the nest but I know the time is near. He thinks he is ready….we will see. For now I will just hang on to the precious time I have left and get my ducks in a row. Boy I have so much I could do to his room when that day comes. Thanks for all the great ideas!
I like your hummingbirds and your blog! I just passed a blogging award to you.You can receive it on my Boogieboard Cottage blog. Mary :O)
I’m loving all your guest room inspirational pictures. Can’t wait to see the finished room.
The Humming birds are so sweet!
Have a great day!
Darlene
This makes me kinda sad…..:( My 22 year old daughter is graduating in a couple of weeks…. Yet another stage….
Congrats to Fashionista!
~Liz
Those photos are just lovely!
Have you ever watched Sarah Richardson’s show Design Inc.? The other day she had one called “Sharon’s Bedrooms”. If you want to be really inspired watch that show! She takes 3 rooms and transforms them into pretty time worn fresh looking bedrooms. They usually repeat the show on the weekend…this one is on Sunday morning here in PA. You may want to check for it I think you’ll love it.
Whatever you decide to do will be beautiful ~ I look forward to seeing the pictures!
Love the little birdies also ~ they tug at my heart.
Have a wonderful day!
Jenn
Oh, I love lavender, gray, and white together!
Farewell to your little friends!
Not only do you have a gift for decorating & design…you have a real gift for writing.
You have a wonderful attitude about your daughter leaving the next–I may ask you to remind me about it in a few years when ours flies out!
These inspiration pictures are all so beautiful. I can’t wait to see what you do with the room, and the idea of the craft/blogging closet is so great! I can just imagine the fun of watching the little bird learn to fly, and now your little bird is learning to fly and leaving the nest. laurie
Beautiful rooms! Oh, to dream. But you be able to make one a reality. Have fun with it! And be sure to post when it is done.
Keep dreaming! Thanks for sharing the photos of your dream. My best to you and your daughter.
PS came over from hooked on houses
I love the inspiration rooms….I can’t find one of them that I wouldn’t be thrilled to have in my own home…or stay in as a guest! And it’s hard having the young ones leave the nest…be they bird or daughter!
Lavender is a great choice for a guest bedroom. It’s such a pretty, soothing colour.
Of course, the nicer you make your guest bedroom, the longer your guests will want to stay and the more often they’ll want to visit!! 🙂
Kelly @ DesignTies
I know you’re going to miss her, but the room will be so fabulous she’ll want to come home often so she can stay in there… I know I would 😉
Please tell her good luck for me…
hugs,
rue
So sad when they leave the nest and I want to wish the Fashionista, all the very best.
look forward to seeing your new Guest room and I am sure your DF will be home often.
Love all the bedrooms you have shared, they are really beautiful
Hugs
Carolyn
WOW, we must be sisters separated at birth. I have SO many of the same pictures of home decor as you do saved in my files. Great minds…
Smiles,
Judy
I came by to check in, but also to let you know that I am doing a giveaway. Yippee!! I hope you will stop on by for more info.
Celita
http://daysease.blogspot.com/2009/04/it-has-been-year.html
Oh Laura, this is too funny only because when my daughter left home 5 years ago to go to UC Davis, she too left behind a “green” room only hers was/is dark green. Something I came home to one day, her father and her painting the room and ceiling even! The room was turned into an office but the walls are still green and still hold her posters and cork board. I keep saying I am going to paint and redecorate but I haven’t brought myself to do it yet. Maybe after her wedding when I KNOW she will not move back. hahaha
…or you could keep the room as is for a little while. As one not so long out of college, I can confidently say that it would have been nice to have my own room to come home to sometimes. My mom made mine into storage, and I had to sleep in my sister’s room. I didn’t go home very much after that.