Welcome to the Storybook Cottage A Truly Tiny Guest Room Wintermint.
Storybook Cottage A Truly Tiny Guest Room
Let’s start from the beginning. Back in October when we moved into our home this room, like the rest of the house, was yet another shade of brown. (Please, quit coveting the yellow and brown glass light shades! 🙂
So I painted the walls a lovely shade of winter mint.
Then the room became a dumping ground for everything that was not being used in other areas of the house.
I think most of us are guilty of having such a space filled with…stuff….things.
Too Much Stuff
Things that we cling to because we think they are happy memories. But they’re not. Memories are stored treasures in our hearts. Not the stuff.
The problem begins when we let the stuff interfere with making new memories with those we love and cherish. More than once I have heard of people not having guests over because there is no room. Yet, they live in a 2000 (or fill in the number) square foot home. It’s not that they don’t have the room, it’s because they have too much stuff.
I had three sets of wonderful guests wanting to visit in the very near future. Yet I had no room. Or did I?
It seemed a shame to let stuff interfere with a potentially great opportunity to make memories.
So, I did something really hard. I let some of the stuff go.
The 1980’s wedding dress? Gone. The Fashionista for the 800th and final time said she was NOT interested.
The heirloom piece of furniture I have never liked? Gone to someone who LOVED it.
You know what made it easy?
Keeping my focus on that special people are more important than average things.
In just two days the room was transformed.
A Room Transformed
The room is pretty tiny but comfortable.
How tiny might you wonder?
Well, after placing a nice and fluffy double bed in the room there was no way a nightstand was going to fit on the right side.
So Mr. Décor built a wee shelf that comes THISCLOSE to the closet door.
But, the tray on top can hold a lovely winter rose, a set of keys, your phone and maybe a ring or two.
On the opposite side, I used a bookcase that serves several purposes. It contains classic reading material for guests of course. But it also offers fresh towels, a clock, a water glass and a lovely bar of soap.
Tiny House Nation
I got the idea from Tiny House Nation. Do you watch the show? Sweet Guy and I are totally hooked! We’ve been snuggling up each evening to view episodes online. We can’t wait for Season 2 to start on Monday, December 22nd at 9 pm ET/10 pm PT on FYI Network. The host, renovation expert John Weisbarth, often says that furniture should serve more than one purpose in a tiny home (or room in this case). The master builder and tiny house expert on the show, Zach Giffin, has some really ingenious ideas. You can also follow the show and the journey of “going tiny” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
It sure feels good to pare down and offer a few lovely touches for guests.
The bed is dressed in soft comfortable linens. But, you had better believe that I have some storage bins hiding underneath the dust ruffle.
There’s a nice chair to sit on. I think every guest room should have one so that guests can comfortably remove their shoes or lay out the next days outfit.
Right above the chair hangs some meaningful artwork of people, places and things we love.
You can always take a photo or create a painting of something special and adorn your walls with an image instead of a thing.
There is also a luggage rack placed beneath some needlework Grandma Jingles did as a young girl and a painting my mother, Karen, created at age 13.
Not wanting the room to feel too serious the boy and girl sculpture busts are adorned with festive New Years Eve party hats.
With such a deep windowsill I set up a small flocked Charlie Brown tree to provide a bit of festive cheer for our guests. I am looking forward to changing the space up as I have so many ideas!
The tree also doubles as a happy nightlight.
Are you ready to make a reservation in this quaint tiny space? All the sourcing details are HERE.
Laura
This is such a beautiful tree! I found your lovely blog on Thursday Favorite Things.
Thanks
Angie
godsgrowinggarden.com
Oh I love it and I can't wait to make my reservation. You did a fantastic job and the room looks amazing. I am sure any guest would love this special room.
O wise one, I am in the same position of not being able to have people over because of stuff! (only my house is more like 1000 sq. ft…) Painting of the 'guest room' is 3/4 done and I'll be looking at this again for inspiration. Thanks!
Guests will love staying in there. I have a small home too, and it is a 1/3 of the last one. I can sleep two people on the porch ( more if they want to sleep on the floor). I gave a lot of furniture away, but I still think I'm battling too much, because untidy shows quicker in a small home. I didn't know there was such a show! Those are really tiny.
Such a lovely cozy space. Tiny rooms have their own charm. It's all so pretty, Laura – the tree is the final wonderful touch!
You have no idea how timely this post is. You see, my mom is selling the home I have known for 50 years to move into an apartment. We have encouraged this for many years, but now it is the right time. That means, this is the last Christmas in my childhood home. While I know it is the right thing to do, my heart breaks. I was able to get my mom past the idea that memories were in the house, but now I am not dealing well with it. Thanks for the post to remind me of the very thing I told my mother, the memories are within the heart, not within the walls. Hugs.
How lovely! Everything looks so welcoming and tiny doesn't matter. Happy Christmas to you.
I love your wee quest retreat!! Who wouldn't love to come and visit you,,,they may not leave though! it is amazing what we can accomplish when we declutter and purge some of our “stuff” and you have done a great job! We are in our home 2 years now and I have come to realize that home is where you hang your pictures and put out the things that mean so much to you. I know your guests will feel very special staying in this awesome guest room!!
You keep inspiring me Laura, I have downsized considerably yet still have too much “stuff”
The new guest room is darling and looks so comfortable!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
What a perfect room! I am impressed by your attention to detail, not only in the decorating but in the thought behind what a guest might need or enjoy.
What a pretty space Laura…your guests are going to love it!!
That looks so beautiful, Laura! I had to chuckle though because you haven't seen tiny unless you've seen our 1200 square foot home. Our “guest bedroom” is also Jim's office and since it holds a long, heavy wood, credenza along one entire wall (that we had to move into the room through the window!) there is only room for a small pull out Ikea bed and that's it. When the bed is opened like it was this week for our daughters, there's only 2 feet of space to walk around the bed on 2 sides. Btw, we painted our office brownish-tan (like a milky coffee color) by choice and we have a similar ceiling fan. I wanted to keep the space masculine since it is Jim's office. So now, I think you'd be shaking your head if you saw our space and yet it's what works for us, lol. But then I look at what you created and I sigh and wish we had that. : )
Linda
Very pretty, Laura. I love the colors in this room.
I think your tiny guest room is lovely, and I would feel so welcome and cozy there. Beautifully done. Popping over from Grace at Home.
Heather @ encouragedathome.com
Laura, what a fantastic job you did of transforming this tiny room previously in browns into a lovely, welcoming Guest Room. The tiny shelf and the beautiful Christmas Tree are two of my favorite things. Everything was created with love in your heart, that's obvious. Have a wonderful time with all of the Guests you welcome into this room!
Hugs,
Jan
Your room is beautiful! I love the colour palette. You totally managed to create a sweet oasis from chaos in such a short time. Any guest would feel like royalty snuggling down for the night in it.
Thank you for sharing a peek at your festive design! 🙂
This is so pretty and cozy, Laura — I love it!! I'm having such fun watching you decorate and renovate your new home! I would LOVE to make a reservation for a stay in this darling room. 🙂 I love your artwork and the luggage stand. I've been looking for one of those, but haven't found what I want yet.
Thanks for sharing with us, Laura. I'm way behind on my blog visits, so I'll be trying to catch up over the next week or so. I've been following your reveals, though, and oh what fun! You're doing a terrific job!
Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Denise at Forest Manor
hello friend! Love you sweet guest room! The wee shelf was a great idea and I love the bedding pillows. You look like you are making a beautiful home very quickly! After you get done you are welcome to visit Co and stay in my guest room and give me some ideas for several of the rooms I have yet to finish!!! Miss getting to see you!
bee blessed
mary
The room looks lovely, serene and welcoming; but above all I like the thoughts behind the room, that making happy memories is important. I have a tiny Cottage and I always try to have things serve two purposes. For example, on my kitchen window sill, there's a teapot for decoration… But I also hide inside my coffee filters! Merry Christmas to you!
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I would like to book my reservations ASAP!!! lol … Great job Laura!