house& home | September 2011 | house and home on l ine . com44

SMALL CHANGES CAN BRING BIG COMFORT TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES

Be Our GuestBe Our Guest

The spare bedroom often functions as a catch-all room,harboring miscellaneous stuff that doesn’t have a home, aiding and abet-ting clutter that needs to be hauled off. Some spare bedrooms may berecently vacated after kids have left the nest — some may have beenvacated 10, 15 or 20 years ago, but never made the transition to aproper guestroom.

You can dress up a guestroom by improving a few small things or gofor a complete makeover. The simplest things can have a major impact.New sheets or a new duvet can provide an instant boost to the look andappeal of your guestroom. Already love the linens? Spring for a spectacu-lar accent pillow to add fresh sophistication.

“I love color and texture — those are very important to me,” saysDeborah Main, owner of Deborah Main Designs, known for stunningpillow creations. “I have learned over the years to go with what you love.In a guestroom, start with a basic, soft wall color to serve as a backdrop,then have some fun. I love playing with color, such as a peacock blue or

orange. For linens, of course cotton is very durable and washable, but usesilks in accent pieces for a more luxurious touch.”

Deborah Main’s wide variety of pillows features French vintage fabricsand trims, feathers, vintage furs and antique broaches. Each one tells anindividual story. She considers the pillow collections a family of sorts foreach creation. Her Redbrick Modern collection of pillows is inspired bythe revitalization of downtown Austin.

GUESTROOM ESSENTIALS

Look around your guestroom to determine if your room has the elementsof a comfortable guestroom. At the top of the list is a comfortable bed –if you haven’t tried it in a while test out the comfort of the bed in yourguestroom. Could you sleep well on that mattress? If not, consider replac-ing it. And before you move a new bed into the room, take a look at thewall color. Make any necessary touchups or apply a whole new color for a fresh look.

ABOVE: Add appeal to a modern room with luxe accents, such as pillows from the Red Brick Modern collection by Austin-based Deborah Main Designs.

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Thoughtful Touches We asked Austin’s luxury pillow goddess Deborah Main to shareher ideas on what elements make for a delightful guestroom.Main’s Redbrick Modern collection features geometric patterns,saturated hues, and soft textures, these pillows are eye-catchingand make for an inspired focal point in any room. Keep in mindthat changing something as simple as a decorative accent canbreathe new life in a room. “The attention to detail makes guestsfeel welcome, even in an ultra modern setting,” she says. Hereare Main’s suggestions for special touches: • A single flower in a unique vase• A small gift basket • Crisp cotton sheets made up nice and tight makes a big state-ment, feather down pillows • Comfy reading chair, a lamp by the bed • Art and photos on the walls• A vintage mirror• Of course, decorative pillows

Whisper Whirl by Kate Spade New York debuts this fall at Bed Bath & Beyond.

BELOW: Deborah Main Designs creates one-of-a-kind pillows to compli-ment any décor.

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house& home | September 2011 | house and home on l ine . com46

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Dragonfly Drive is a peaceful example of Kate Spade New York’s new fall bedding line. Available at Bed Bath & Beyond.

DKNY’s Uptown Gold and Haven Grey bedding. Available atDKNYhome.com

Aston Design Studio created this fun guest room, including a custom-built corner bed.

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Once the paint is dry and the bed is in place, make sure there is atleast one bedside table with a lamp and a clock. More than a lightsource, lamps can make a bold style statement with their shape and color– from the base to the shade to the bulb. A new paint color or fresh,new shade can deliver a whole new look without a huge investment.

MORE COMFORTABLE

Additional accessories to complete your guestroom include a nice mirror,placed on a wall or dresser, so guests can easily get dressed when theymay not have access to the bathroom.

Make room for your guest’s things. Make sure there is a practicalplace for luggage, such as atop an ottoman or even a luggage rack. Besure to provide hanging space. If you guestroom closet is jammed withyour own stuff, mount wall hooks or install an over-the-door rack withmultiple hooks for guests to hang their clothes.

Give your guests easy access to an electrical outlet. These days, mosteveryone travels with a phone, computer or other device that requirescharging. If all of the outlets are obscured behind furniture, plug in anextension cord or power strip to offer guests a handy power source. Ifyou have room, place a small desk as a bedside table. Many desks can bepurchased with a built-in power stip.

To treat your guests with five-star hospitality, stock the room with afew snacks, bottle or carafe of water and a small coffee maker.

resourcesASTON DESIGN STUDIO, Carla Aston, 281.364.6699

DEBORAH MAIN DESIGNS, Austin, TX, 512.447.9807, www.deborahmaindesigns.com

SOPHIE’S UPHOLSTERY, 281.879.6300

WOODLANDS FABRICS & INTERIORS, 281.419.0419

DKNY HOME, DKNYHome.com.

KATE SPADE NEW YORK BEDDING, at BedBathandBeyond.com (star ting in October)

Thistle Street bedding by Kate Spade New York. Available at Bed Bath & Beyond.

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