Gretchen makes a switch! Here’s how she designed this small guest space, just in time for hosting the holidays

Hello there, reader! Does the background image look familiar? Any chance you remember this photo of the car (below) from my last post? The one I put on my twin bed on the DIY Fabric Wallpaper page, forced a queen bed in there, called it mine? Or maybe you are up to date and remember the last post, where I flashed you the second scary bedroom, the name “Room of Doom”, and it was proposed to exchange the two?

The TLDR version goes something like- i – like My first bedroom design also intends to keep the furniture (and the fabric wallpaper) forever, but I made a mistake in choosing a small room in my bedroom, leaving the main office “to be my office”. Instead, this larger space simply became a dumping ground for merchandise, crap crap, and miscellaneous junk I wanted to close behind the door and forget about. I was sick of my stuff, I wanted more space in my bedroom, and I was hoping that by changing two rooms, I could turn off the little guests. So off I went, moving my bed and inspiration to a bigger room (which I really like BTW), to release a new canvas for a new project.

During the transition, the opportunity for KisMiSME to collaborate with Allemoder dropped straight from the sky and into my lap. They are directly looking to make a case for hosting guests during the holidays. Like what?! This was my chance! A timely partnership paired with an unending desire to cultivate and design an imaginative guest space? My back room kicked into high gear, and I can’t wait to show you how it all turned out.

Double sided desk

When I started writing the room post, thinking about how each space could look and function, I thought I wanted this second bedroom to double as an office space. Before I got caught, I had even chosen the Allmodern desk (a piece I could see with my eyes, it’s double-jointed, dual-purpose design). But the truth is, I like to do my daily computer work on my dining table and I use my vintage desk chair a lot as an additional living room seat, so my office that room went with this small room makes no sense. That needed to be maintained (and sadly, this cooling cost was too high anyway).

Most of all, I wanted a second bedroom that felt comfortable and spacious. An enclosed oasis – its for any friend, parent, or first timer to have a place to crash for the night. A room that feels … Roomy, despite its humble feet. It’s a private hang-out space that can be converted by guests but still literally inspires me any time I needed to dig in the room to find art. This classic “Wallfabric” is not coming down anytime soon, but with a hefty dose of magic of all kinds, I think we gave this ordinary space a great look…

Please, feast your eyes on my new and improved bedroom! A fun lounge space by day, a creative bedroom by night, and with enough storage to pull my own a dancer intangible values. Let’s wash, shall we?

A rug

One thing I wanted from the jump was a big hit of red. I knew this would help guide the design in a new direction. I saw a simple colorful but interesting rug, and it was hard to find a winner – I felt good about this! I love how its subtle, soft repeating pattern is addressed like the wallpaper, and I think the deep red color really sticks to the space, don’t you?

Sleeping couch

At first, I was thinking of a green sofa bed here. It for four To be a sofa bed to save space and increase the functionality of the room. But it will have to be plow It’s Goldilocks green to work with green on the wall, and I didn’t want to get it. I found something neutral, beige, gray, or cream would be better overall. I was between the sleeping couches. At first, I liked the 84 “Cleo Sleeper Sofa with its compact shape and a long list of customized colors. But in the end I chose this one, the savele 88 “Sleever Sleeseer Sofa (in Mink Chenille) because it was moved a little more by the stellar bed, even if the sofa itself could have better filled the space, even if the sofa itself was something better.

I’m so glad I went this route. The oatmeal color looks great here and helps to dial back the feature of the wild wall, allowing the rug to stand out more. Also, a neutral like this will work in almost any space I move into next – something I see a lot with a piece like this. I want it to stay!

But I also want it to be simple. So far, switching between jobs has been difficult! From the sofa to the bed, you first remove the two strips at the back, drag the bench seat to the front (on wheels and it works as a strong rear spring to reveal a new, spacious sleeping area in the back – simply add a bed! Flip it and retract it again Missy Elliot style, and you will have a bed again in no time.

Set the Ivory sheet | Waffle duvet cover | Insert Duvet | Yellow stripes | Pillow installation | Waffle throw blanket | A yellow dress

The cushions are firm, but not as cheap futusson. They feel like a big mattress, with a lot of bounce. Two climbing friends or one Emily Henderson should have no problem sleeping here well! Do you see? In fact, I have had many guests stay in this room (no, not my boss), and they have all reviewed the comfort with the comfort. I mean, I asked each of them how they slept well, and that Is They may be lying to me… But I had the pleasure of accidentally sleeping in it recently, and I can attest, it was a very solid sleep!

Gumdrop throw pillows | Wool Prickew | Yellow dress | Side table | Paper trees

You can see some of the style elements (such as the throw, the side table, the chrome lamp, the high chair, or the paper trees) from our last Christmas. And, that’s because I stole them myself from the back of the bud. Actually, em asked me to do a chunk of shopping for that first vacation, and in seconds, I pulled everyone’s pieces that I thought might work in my space, hoping to cut down on the amount we needed to style both of us. I have chosen the colors and the colors that I like and can use here, so it is understandable that I just keep most of them for the end. Just some light, a nice “steal”. Like, I’m sorry, but I really wanted some of those skeleton paper trees. This is meant to be a a break It’s a guest story after all!

Wall shelf

While I was able to chuck most of my junky stuff away, I wanted to put in a few nice last pieces to clear out the space. I found this great wall shade to display my favorite things, finally giving a purpose to this small wall that can be next to my dresser. It was very easy to put together and just as easy to hang.

The board

After that I found out this one good thing. Storage storage with a ton of wood – likewith fine lines … and a secret! To me, it evoked the same vibes as the double sided desk I loved from before. At first glance, you think you know just what it is: a player with nine drawers. Now keep moving that little slider to the left for maximum satisfaction. They are actually the doors of the Cabinet cabin! Boy, do I love a stacked piece of furniture.

Side chair

It’s a great size, too, but with plenty of room inside. In my mind, having doors instead of cabinets also allows for easy access to things inside, but maybe that’s just me? For now, this closet holds guest sleep, but I’m sure eventually I’ll find a way to put a hammer or a few vintage finds in there, too.

Mirror | Chrome Lamp | A vase | Pink CatchAll

Above the sideboard is this funky, amorphous mirror. I love it. It’s a curvaceous walnut with a hint of red (just as I had hoped when I first saw it online). It completely fills the pillows and cushions and accounts for both well (but not very close) and the storage piece below. That light was a caring swipe. Its structure and content are only growing reminiscent of the last lamp I had here (which was sadly misplaced).

Chrome side table

A small metal table in the corner was added at the last minute (in the end, a tall plant, a larger or smaller bookcase could sit here instead), but I love how these balanced pops of chrome add to the space. The planter sitting in the cabinet works well as a place to hang out, and the pink is like flowers on the wall, but where the guests stay, I will just remove the space so that I can use it to spread and remove. However, one should leave a design-forward vase of flowers to properly greet your guests when they arrive!

We filled the opposite wall with my usual Anchworks art. The large painting is a piece my mother’s college classmate taught her, yes, she stole it and refused to return it. A bamboo-framed dance print is something I scored years ago at a local flea market in Latvia for only $10. And a new addition is an EM piece sent to all of us by one of our favorite local artists, purl. On our last visit, he surprised us each with a custom piece of art for our birthdays. Mine is titled “Thephers”. It was the last piece needed for the one on the small gallery wall, which I think hangs beautifully over the bed and sofa. I didn’t even move the vintage swing sconce from my last makeover!

Well, folks, I think it’s about summarizing! In just a few weeks, I was able to pull off my dream little space for all future guests with the help of Allemodern. Strong punches of color and wild wallpapers might be a bit much for some of you out there, and that’s okay! But I’m over the moon with how it turned out. It’s exciting and It works, but the best part is that it is now a very important job site. Way more than before, even the sofa in “sleep mode”. I no longer feel like I’m climbing over wet furniture or my homeless piles of “my stuff”. Everything and everyone has a place now. So what are you waiting for? COME ON!!! I will send you the address.

Sincerely, gret

* Created by Gretchen Raguse
* Photos by Kaitlin Green