As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Monday, January 16, 2023

Slow Decorating in the Guest Room



When Kati got married in May 2019, her room became our guest room. I called it my "consolation prize," this new room to decorate. I had purchased a pineapple post bed on Facebook Marketplace that spring, and eight days after the wedding, Bekah and I set up the bed and jumped into redecorating the room.

The bed and coverlet were new. We shopped the house for everything else.

May 26, 2019


We have been slow decorating that room ever since . . one little bit at a time, buying a few pieces, tweaking here and there. 




We found this chest of drawers at a local antique store. 


Bekah spotted this little table at another antique store, a bargain at $36.00!

The little stool was buried under stuff in another antique store. It was the perfect little landing area for a purse or a bag as you enter the room. 



Last summer, I found the the lovely matelassé coverlet and shams, also a fabulous bargain at $18.00! 



 Ron made shutters for the windows in the spring of 2021.

And then there was the succession of chairs . . . 

I bought this one on Facebook Marketplace. It had a tan slipcover which was not the right color for the room. The original fabric was a little luster that didn't fit. I could have had it reupholstered, but the chair was actually too big for the space so we moved it to the library where it became Ron's office chair while he worked from home. (When he went back to the office, I resold the chair on Marketplace for the same price I had paid.) 



This chair was another Marketplace find. Even though the fabric was faded, I liked the style and size of this chair and intended to have it reupholstered.
But, it has since moved to the library . . . 

. . . because about a month later, we drove by an antique store and saw this chair in the window display. 

Close-up view shows true color


I loved the style and I was pretty sure it was a Johnston Benchworks chair (high quality furniture maker which is no longer in business), so we went inside to check it out. It was Johnston Benchworks and it was $99!

Sold! 

The fabric on the arms was dingy, but the red check didn't fit my vibe for the room anyway. 

If you have a quality piece of furniture, reupholstering it makes sense, and it is usually economical. Our living room sofa is also a Johnston Benchworks piece that we purchased from a friend. When the fabric became worn, we had it reupholstered because we couldn't buy a new sofa (especially one of comparable quality) for the price that we paid. 

We planned to reupholster the guest room chair over a year ago, but there were a few obstacles. Last spring, however, I was able to order some discounted fabric through a friend from a company that was discontinuing their furniture line. So instead of ordering fabric only for my guest room chair, I also ordered fabric for the loveseat in the library (the same loveseat that was in The Farmhouse kitchen) and the wing chair that is now in the library, and we'll have those two pieces done later this year.

Are you tracking with me? Following all of those chairs around the house? 🤦🏻‍♀️😂


Back to the guest room . . .  

This is what it looks like today. 

My sister gave me the rug. I'm not sure if it will stay here because the cream colored background is bothering me a little. We'll see. 

And now this corner of the room fits with the rest, with its newly upholstered chair and the shelf that my sister also gave me.




On the list of house projects for 2023 are fishtail swags for the guest room windows, but I haven't even chosen the fabric yet. I'm also on the hunt for a small table to sit beside the chair to hold a guest's book or drink or phone. Other than that, I feel that the guest room is done! (As much as a room is ever "done.") 

We are eagerly anticipating having some special guests in this room soon!  



Sometimes it sounds like fun to decorate a space all at once, but I really think that slow decorating is better . . . collecting things over time, looking for just the right pieces, tweaking as you go. What do you think? How do you decorate? 


29 comments:

  1. It is lovely, and I know those special guests will love sleeping in that room! The final chair is so YOU, including the fabric. I love that red wing back chair, that you sold on Market Place!

    I always decorate slowly, gathering my treasures as I find them. It is more fun that way, and you get a collected look which is my favorite!

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    1. Thanks so much, Deanna! And I'd have saved the chair for you if I had known! I, too, like a collected look. I think it's more homey.

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  2. Isn't it lovely when things work together so well.

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! To have gathered from so many places, I feel like the pieces do work well together.

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  3. I don't. Decorate that is.

    You do a beautiful job of creating a room. I did lose you a few times, but then I was multitasking. 😏

    Yay for expected company!

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    1. Thanks so much, Vee! Haha! I'm not surprised you got lost! As I finished writing that section, I thought, How in the world could anyone follow all of that? Oh well. The point is that there was a lot of trial and error, which is also how I work.

      We are SO excited for that company!

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  4. Slow decorating is a lovely process, and you demonstrate that so well. The chair looks perfect! What a cozy space for special guests.

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    1. Thank you kindly, Lorrie! I am quite happy with the chair, especially after all of those "almosts." Of course, the guests are the best "decorations!"

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  5. Love all the new touches in the guest room. The pineapple bed, an older addition, is perfect for the “Pineapple House”.

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    1. Thank you, Sharon! I love a four-poster bed, and the pineapple post seemed just right!

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  6. Lovely, peaceful room for your guests to find respite:) LOVE that bedside table! What a find. Pfft! I feel like our new-to-us house has been TOO slow in getting decorated but your post has inspired me to keep plugging along!

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    1. Thanks so much! That little table was a great find. I'm glad Bekah was with me that day, because I didn't even notice it!

      Absolutely! Keep plugging along!

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  7. Yes to slow decorating. Instant gratification is overrated. Enjoy the process. It's like moving to a new house......give it a season to see what is already growing there and where the sun and shade is, and time to think about it before you re-do it all instantaneously! We do a lot of dreaming here before embarking on changes. That's part of the joy.

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    1. You are absolutely right! The dreaming and planning is part of the joy! Thank you for your wise and thoughtful comments!

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  8. I loved the tour around the guest room, and even a slight detour into your library. I had to remember to come back here! :) You are quite the thoughtful and purposeful decorator, Cheryl. Reading this post, I'm in awe over your heart and enthusiasm for creating beautiful spaces in your home. I think slow decorating is the best because whatever one's style is, items are brought in more thoughtfully, and the end result is a room that feels natural. Love your wooden floors. We had similar real wooden floors in our old house and I do miss how beautiful they were.

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    1. Thanks so much for taking the tour and for your all of your kind words! It is odd to say that my house is my "hobby"? I enjoy creating spaces and foraging for just the right things!

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    2. I hadn't thought of it that way, but I don't think that's odd at all! Your family is a great beneficiary of what you enjoy doing. That's a win!

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  9. You have a great eye for decorating and you know your style which is a plus for sure. I do think finding items over time is a good way to decorate so that things end up nicely coordinated. Your guest room is magazine worthy. So happy to hear some special visitors will be visiting it soon. I'm not a decorator and our home is a mish mosh of things handed down and things bought on impulse and things bought because they were a good deal. I'm finally getting caught up after our DisneyCaliFam vacation. Laundry is almost done.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Ellen! I'm certainly not trendy and I have basically stuck with my style for many years, but it works for me so I'm in it for the long haul. :)

      Our guests left this morning and now I am in cleaning/catch up mode. I'll be over to visit you in a bit and read about your family trip!

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  10. Your house is just a vision of peacefulness and graciousness. Looking at your photos is like a long, cool drink of water. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Sue, you are too kind! I am so glad to have you visit and I hope that all is well with you and yours!

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  11. As always "perfection," Cheryl, I agree it is always better to take your time decorating, waiting for just the right item especially when it comes to antiques!
    You and Bekah have created some wonderful memories together. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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    1. Thanks so much, Sue! It's kind of like a treasure hunt, isn't it, waiting for the right piece to come along? And it is fun to hunt with a fellow treasure seeker! I am blessed to have several of those . . . Ron, Bekah, and my friend Barbara!

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  12. I've said it before but I'll say it again - I love your style!! Your idea of "slow decorating" is so wise and way more interesting than having everything matchy matchy. This guest room looks remarkable in every way. Wish I could treasure hunt with you sometime. Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours ...

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