Christmas Guest Bedroom at The Little Cottage

Hello friends! It’s been a long time coming for me to be able to get into The Little Cottage and start making changes and improvements. So much longer than we thought when we began building our shop. But in the Saint Nick of time, The Little Cottage is free of tools, hoarded furniture and future projects! It was a group effort to get everything moved into the new shop and we are so thankful for the help from family and friends. My husband has worked so hard to make this happen, and to prepare a new place for us to create!

So I’m excited to share that I’ve got the Christmas Guest Bedroom at The Little Cottage ready to show you.

And ready for my father to visit for the holidays. It’s by no means fancy…. or even done. But I tried my best to create a warm, welcoming room in time for his arrival.

I had intended to put the Top Hat Tree down here at The Little Cottage for my dad, but my eyes were bigger than the bedroom, and I had to go with plan B, which is a mini tree in an old crock.

I transplanted my painted velvet chair down here because I thought it would look good with the freshly painted headboard, and so far, I really like it here! I always like to put a chair in the bedroom. I think it’s nice to supply someplace to sit other than the bed for your guests. Most everything but the new mattress was a DIY or thrifted find, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out for working with a teeny tiny budget. 

The faux fur pillow & cable knit throw add a layer of cozy! I picked up the pillow at HomeGoods and that cloud soft cable knit is from Boll & Branch. You might recall seeing that cutie pop-up on over on Instagram. (I could pretty much have one in every color and be okay with it.)

This wardrobe will afford our guests their very own dedicated space to unpack. It’s the perfect size, without overpowering the room. Jim and I picked this up last Summer after he spotted it on Craig’s List. We ran up to Bandon to get it. He is my awesome Craig’s List watcher! Always keeping an eye out for the pieces he knows I’m looking for. It was made in England, and I just love it! 

There is enough room for a luggage valet (that reminds me I need to do that) in the bottom, hanging garments, and the three shelves will be super for personal belongings.

I made sure to add a basket with extra pillows & blankets right out in the open so they don’t have to be hunted for.

I know extra pillows are they first thing I look for when we check-into a hotel, so I figure others might feel the same.

At the time, I wasn’t’ sure where it was going to go, but when I ran across a brand-new Pottery Barn sisal rug for $100… for this huge size, I grabbed it. And thank goodness… because it’s pretty much how I was able to piece together this entire room. A little grabbing here, and little borrowing from the house.

The light fixture has since changed (as has the bedroom) and you can see it all [just click here].

I stored the rug for months, but I’m sure glad I did. It really grounds the room so well. Although, it’s not very soft… so I might need to do something more cushy for this room, and transfer it out to the living area at a later date.

The “dresser” is technically a buffet… but I thought it looked so pretty here that it’s staying for now. Another junking find. I’m not even kidding… someone was getting rid of it. Wait until you see the mirror that goes with it. It’s in “the shop” haha… being repaired. (thanks honey!)

Isn’t she so pretty? I love the soft curve of her legs and her dainty feet!

If I can find a just-right piece for this spot, she may go out into the main living area, where her charms can be more easily admired.

Right now, the MERRY is resting… well, merrily, on her surface and twinkling a happy tune.

This snow covered sweetie was the inspiration for the whole room! Which if you know of my affinity for pillows, will come as nooooo surprise at all. I love that the buck feels a little more masculine, especially when paired with the plaid, that is shot thru with dark charcoal and a hint of red.

I didn’t have one single thing slim enough to offer a spot for a bedside lamp. I was trying so hard to use what I had, but I couldn’t find a thing. Not in my entire hoarder collection of furniture & “stuff”… so I had to use my bar stool trick.

Bar Stool + Tray = Side Table.

(that is Shannon style decorating math)

I could have opted for a smaller bed… but I was amendment that we had a king size bed to offer when couples come to stay. Austin took the full when he moved, and we left the queen in his room, so it was the perfect opportunity to go big! lol

I promise to dive-into the details; like the painted sub-floor, my garage sale headboard makeover…. etc… when I share an updated, non-holiday version in the new year. I will share sources down at the bottom for you though! Hopefully when you see this room next, it’ll be with the vintage chandelier hung, it’s been waiting for it’s big moment for over a year now.

Patience. It’s like, a virtue or something right?

Well, color me virtuous.

While there is still much to do, we are so, so, so incredibly grateful to have this space to welcome guests! This is the best of both worlds. A small, manageable home for us, and The Little Cottage to welcome guest, where they can be free to come & go… and rise & shine at their own pace. When we downsized all those years ago, I didn’t foresee the house that my MIL would call her own for over ten years, as a future guest house and part-time studio for me. It’s a dream come true and my heart is bursting with contentment.

Wishing you all a very, merry & joyous Christmas!! Blessings to all, Shannon

And because it’s always fun to see how far we’ve come…

Did you notice that I was ahead of the Pantone “color of the year” 2017 trend with my green velvet sofa. lol. I knew it was a must grab!

You can catch-up on our very long journey and progress with The Little Cottage [here] & The Workshop [here]

SOURCES:

Please keep in mind before looking at the laundry-list of stuff… that these things were bought and gathered over time, were on sale, thrifted, hoarded, borrowed from the house, etc… like the white cable knit pillow covers, I’ve had those at least ten years. Okay, you can look now.

• DIY Painted Sub Floor (while I decide what kind of flooring I want)
• Headboard $25, garage sale I chalk painted and waxed
• Rug: Pottery Barn (new in bag) via Vintage 101
• Side Table: Bar Stool + HomeGoods Tray
• Lamp: Target Shabby Chic Line
• Lamp Shade: Ross
• Cast Iron Deer Bust: Ross or HomeGoods (?)
• Snowy Pine Cone Christmas Tree: HomeGoods
• Window Frame: Salvage from our home
• Wreath: Ace Hardware
• Garlands: Ace Hardware
• Bed Frame: Amazon
• Box Springs: Facebook Garage Sale Site (really nice ones, like new, from someone I happened to know! Otherwise…. no)
• Mattress: Better Homes & Gardens from Walmart 
• Bedding: Dust Ruffle from my stash
• Bedding: Vintage Matelasse Bed Cover, thrifted 
• Bedding: Comforter, Ross
• Bedding: Ralph Lauren Cable Knit Shams 
• Bedding: Creamy Floral Shams/Quilt, Ross (bought a year ago)
• Buck Pillow: ROSS $8.99!
• Bedding: Plaid Euro Pillows by Ralph Lauren, from HomeGoods
• NOEL Garland: locally made
• Buffet: Craig’s List, Vintage
• MERRY Light Up Marque, HomeGoods
• School Chalkboard, Vintage
• Mirror, Vintage Garage Sale Find
• Large Basket: HomeGoods
• Armoire/Wardrobe: Craig’s List, Vintage
• Cane & Velvet Chair: Garage Sale Makeover
• Fur Pillow: HomeGoods
• Charcoal Cable Knit Throw: Boll & Branch
• Vintage Crock: From Texas! (so fun) Found via… Craig’s List
• Mini Pre-Lit Tree: Big Lots

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