"the blue room" aka the first guest room

Buckle your seatbelts, dear readers, because the "afters" will be coming fast and furious this week. No more of those namby pamby "progress" photos. It's time to get real.

(Just kidding about the namby pamby part. I think all "after" photos really are "progress," or "after for now," photos anyway. But it's time to show off some real progress.)

Today's subject: the first guest room, heretofore known as "the blue room." While Mark was out of town last week, I finally made all the little tweaks to it that it needed: sewing and hanging the real curtains in front of the thermal liners (which are there to keep the cold out), hanging big posters, painting the small nightstand dark espresso, adding an accent pillow to tie it all together, and generally styling the room to look more "finished."

It's been a while since I've posted about this guest room (you can read the original update here). But let's take my patented walk down memory lane:

When we first closed on the house in August, the room was neon green with red gingham curtains.

And within our first few days of moving into the house, we got it to this point, so that it would be ready for our first guests.

The biggest change was obviously the wall color and the curtains (those are the thermal liners hanging), but we also added a small desk for guests, a queen bed, and a basket full of local info and magazines.

You've all been so very patient, letting me enjoy the flashback. But no more delays. Here's how it looks now:

Before, it really felt like it needed something hanging above the bed. But now with the deep tones of the posters to the left and the curtains to the right, that blank space above the bed feels just right. A place for the eye to rest and all that.

Oh, and please forgive the wrinkly duvet cover. I am never going to be the type of woman who irons bedding, and "wrinkle-resistant" textiles are never actually wrinkle-resistant. The pillow is by bexcaliber on Etsy.

My favorite part: the new curtains. I was too terrified to try to make the curtain rod pocket, but when the light bulb went on and I realized I could use ring clips, it was like a whole new world. Just a bit of cutting, ironing and hemming, and you've got gorgeous drapes. Unlike with my first pair of curtains, I did a double-folded hem all around so that there are no raggedy edges visible even on the back of the panels.

With the recycled newspaper-framed mirror and a stack of postcards, the console table is now both a vanity and a writing desk. 

The owl was five bucks at HomeGoods, and was a splotchy dark blue until he met my friend Mr. Krylon.

The mini takeout carton bowl is from Crate and Barrel. Fun.

Lots of vintage finds live in the built-in bookcase, including an old Democrat-themed Jim Beam bottle (the donkey's head comes off), those great blue glass canisters from the 70s, an old camera and a brass bell. The magnet board is by Steel Dreaming Designs on Etsy.

A CB2 touch lamp and vintage Tiffany's box (snagged for 8 bucks at the antiques store in Grass Valley) round out the newly dark-toned nightstand.

 

I love these posters, and how the stalagmites in the one on the left mimic the geyser in the one on the right. Symmetry is nice.

The room is so cozy that I had to stand inside the closet to get the whole room in the frame.

This one is from standing on top of the small chest that's inside the closet. While praying it was strong enough to support me. Thank goodness it was. (And if you look closely, you can see that the curtains still need hemming.)

I have no idea who makes this fabric or what it's called, but I got it at Home Fabrics and Rugs in Reno. And this mostly green print you're seeing is actually the back of the fabric. We just decided we like it better, and it gives the room more depth, in addition to serving as a better counterbalance to the deep-hued blue posters on the opposite wall.

This is the "right side," which faces the glass. It's pretty, too, but the room has enough blue, especially with those new posters.

There you have it. I love how it turned out. And I love that the room is now the blue room instead of the primary guest room.

Got any great tips for making guests feel comfortable in your house? Please share!

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xoxo,