We decided to continue to live in a hotel down the street from our house until our moving truck comes on 7/21 (and the floors are ready for us!). However, my mom just booked a ticket to come see us on July 23rd! So the guest house needs a good scrubbing and we need to get it ready!! Clean it, for sure. Paint it–I hope!
It first needs to be CLEANED. It smells very stale and there are cobwebs and dust everywhere. That’s priority one. It doesn’t need to be painted, but bonus points. Honestly, it’ll never be easier. And here’s a secret–I’m tempted to paint the floors. These are the Brazilian cherry floors that we removed in the main house but we didn’t do anything in here because the guest house will be a completely different renovation down the road–so part of me is thinking why not paint the floors in the interim?!
Someone talk me out of it or I’m going for it. There’s a lot I want to do before our first very special guest arrives (hi, mom!), but I realize there are only a few things that are a must.
• A lamp to immediately cozy the place up.
• A stocked fridge. We’re so lucky the guest house has a full kitchen that we’ll be using until our kitchen in the main house is completed.
• Bathroom essentials (extra toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, towels, toothpaste, floss!
• Some sort of bedside table (You can even use a chair, or these $9 folding table that can travel around in a pinch in the future.)
• Display the Wifi password prominently somewhere. It’s cute in a mini frame on a nightstand.
• Allow for temperature control. I love layering soft sheets, with a light coverlet and then a warm duvet so our guests can choose how many or little blankets they need. I also put a basket with extra blankets by the bed–you never know. I’m someone that always needs an extra blanket!
Last note, we love our Sleep Number bed and honestly miss it right now. But over the years, we have switched every other bed in our house to this hybrid mattress and our guests always ask what kind it is because it’s so comfortable! Highly recommend it!
More phase 1 updates to come!! Here’s some other fun things from this week.
• This short sleeved sweater in the prettiest ochre color, that I picked up for a steal this week made me feel so incredibly put together after wearing the same 4 oversized t-shirts for the last 26 days.
• Comparison is the thief of joy and originality.
• made me laugh
• An arch mirror hung on the wall, looking so crisp and clean and chic! (this one is really similar for $200 and can be hung on the wall!)
• My go-to, tried and true lash serum is 2 for 1 in the Nordstrom sale! (I added it to my wish list to stock up!)
Psst–there’s some amazing Weekend Sales happening!
Abercrombie: up to 40% off select styles (obsessed with this fit)
Amazon: You can shop our storefront here! (my fave Amazon curtains are 48% off!)
Juniper Print Shop: Summer Sale up to 25% off site-wide! (one of my favorites)
Madewell: Secret Stock Sale (living in these)
Mango: up to 70% off! (all of their dresses are so good)
One King’s Lane: Warehouse Sale up to 50% off (love this slipcover bed & the price!!)
Urban Outfitters: Up to 40% off home (sheets we used in Polly’s room)
Vanity Planet: Last chance to use code juliamarcum55 for 55% off! (can’t live without)
Hi! I’m curious to know if you sanded the floors before you primed?
We didn’t!
Glad you’re going for it! It will look beautiful! I’m guessing you’ll keep them that way for a while! I always look forward to your reveals :)
You have a beautiful rug collection. Please use one of those in the room and don’t paint the floors.
I get that not everyone like the warm rich red color but paired with a soft green, brilliant white and a lot of green plants it can look really great.
And you don’t want your mum sleeping in the fumes of paint when she arrives. Keep the floors!
People saying to save the ugly floor color/stain are bananas and clearly don’t know your aesthetic! Just because something is considered nice it doesn’t mean it’s worth keeping. As long as it’s not humid in the space you are painting there isn’t anything to be worried about. You could always sit a portable dehumidifier on the kitchen counter and drain it in the sink while u are painting and letting it dry.
Ahh, yes, paint them NOW! You won’t regret painting the Brazilian cherry. It’s tired of all that red and ready for a little fresh air.