Front Guest Room - Fabric and Wallpaper

Fabric and Wallpaper  are probably most peoples favourite part of renovating, here are my selections for the curtains, upholstery and wall paper.

Clockwise from top left:
Trellis Fabric - Main curtains and bed valances.
Grass cloth wall paper, navy velvet - Bed heads. Commercial grade velvet will insure years of wear and easy cleaning.
Check - Desk chair and perhaps some cushions later.
Tweed - This gorgeous woollen herringbone tweed will make great throws in winter.
Beige and white broad stripe sheer linen fabric for the sheers for a touch of privacy and sun filtering.

This will be the last post on the renovation and decoration of the  Front Guest Bedroom until the big room reveal at Journey Homes Charity Showhouse event in 2013 - stay tuned for details.

Front Guest Room - Accessories

It is time to choose accessories for the front guest room, so far these are definately being included:

Port Hole Mirror

 - available from Journey Home contact 02 6156 2379 or email nadine@journeyhomeonline.com.au

Brass Jars
 - available from Journey Home contact 02 6156 2379 or email nadine@journeyhomeonline.com.au

I am also on the hunt for Bahamas Inspired art such as this water colour by Frances Schultz.

I might use this print I found at the Rocks Markets in Sydney.

Would love to find a home for these colourful postcards from my last trip to Spain. (Mr Journey Home shall we call him,  is Spanish)

I found this great little feaux bamboo picture frame at Down Memory Lane Antiques, Fyshwick ACT.

I will change the cushions around regularily but here are two I hope to use at some point.

Linen in gold and brown. It's subtle and works against the navy bed head.

Seagulls

I use either ready made cushions or  custom made cushions in client projects, depending on budget and necessities.

Front Guest Room - Flooring and Furniture

Starting at the bottom.

I will be working with the dark timber stain I've used throughout the house. I am custom making this trellis patterned carpet rug in an off white which is made from recycled plastic water bottles. It is extremely stain resistant and surprisingly affordable.

Time Tip - Custom made rugs take around 12 weeks no matter which supplier we use so if you are decorating for a special occassion it's another reason why it's advisable to book us in allowing time for bespoke options.

I've selected the following furniture items from the Hamptons, Carribean and even French styles to add to the British colonial feel of the room.

Fully upholstered twin bed heads in navy blue velvet with brass studs.

Extra wide bed side table with feaux bamboo details and brass trims.

Black stained timber mirror.

Versatile French style bureau provides both desk space and drawer storage.

Simple desk chair that is quite modern for a little balance.

Even if you are not a client of Journey Home Interior Design you can still access this great furniture through Journey Home contact us on 02 6156 2379

Lighting is like jewellry for your room.

Here is what I intend on using in the British Colonial style guest room.

The fan light like those at the Raffles Hotel in Sinapore adds to the British Colonial theme and helps our climate control for the hottest room of the house.

Quirky desk light

Reading lamps for each bed.

Georgous glazed lamp with linen shade.

All the lamps can be purchased through Journey Home to make enquiries telephone 02 6156 2379 or email nadine@journeyhomeonline.com.au

Front Guest Room - Navy Wins

My choice of Navy was cemented by a Navy velvet sofa with brass studs I saw in New York.

I am drawn to Blues mixed with natural wood tones. Fortunately Navy is huge right now so fabric suppliers are offering plenty of choice, here are a couple of swatches from one of my suppliers.

Spoiler Alert - Navy will also be used in other rooms throughout the house so it makes sense.

Front Guest Room - Consider Navy

My second colour scheme option for the Front Guest Room is Navy. Show me someone who doesn't love Navy!

Front Guest Room - How about Tan?

My first first option for the room's colour scheme is Black and Tan with Toile Brown and here is a little inspiraton for this scheme.

From Nancy Corzine's Glamour at Home

What do you think do you love the tan?






















or a Navy Blue scheme.

I

Front Guest Room - Contruction Begins

Arhitectural Elements I will be looking for the room

Contruction begins, hello new wardrobe.

The old veneer cupboards and dated carpet are removed leaving the walls, skirtings and cornices in an icky state.

New built-ins robe was constructed on a smaller foot print to make space for furniture The extra space opens the room up and yet there is still ample storage for a guest room and my ironing. Due to the existing ceiling battens, you are always going to realise that the wardrobe was retrofitted, so I chose not to cornice the new wardrobe, the goal was to make it look smart and tidy, which it certainly does.

I would have prefered to keep the original doors however they were heavily damaged so when bedroom door was replaced we took the opportunity to change the swing direction to open up the view of the room from the hall way making both the room and hall way feel more spacious. Gotta love those floral door handles.

2 new additional power points have been installed in the room for lamps and other modern day appliances. It would have been rather costly to move the light switch out from the behind the new door swing, we've installed the fan light remote on the side of the door for easy access. I chose to mount the remote onto a traditional switch block for consistency. It's the details that count.

Front Guest Room - A starting point

Before Photo

As I would do with clients I like to set out a brief for the space which includes both function and style.

Our guest room at the front of the house needs to cater to our guest requirements such as sleeping, luggage placement and dressing, using a computer, reading and childs play. It will also be used as a quiet place where we can use a desk, and hang the ironing.

Building Constraints & Issues to resolve:
The room has a dated dark veneer wardrobe. Low window heights are a consistant issue around the house but I have solution for that so stay posted. As with many of the rooms in older houses the door swings into middle of the room, The room has only one power point making placement of lamps difficult with no spares for charging mobile phones or running a computer or the vacuum. In terms of climate control this room is anticipated to be the hottest in the home due to it's north west aspect at the front of the house. Street privacy could be an issue. Existing furniture includes two existing single extra long ensemble beds which can be reconfigured to a king size bed.

New Floor Plan of Front Guest Room

Style Quest: The existing elements of our 1930's bungalow style home in Canberra will blend beautifully with the British Colonial Style and masculine feel I am going for in the Front guest room.

Room concept Sketch - Facing South East

Room Concept Sketch - Facing North West