Hello dollies…welcome to this month’s Where Bloggers Live 12.2020: Company’s Coming. Today we are sharing our guest room spaces. The places where we put up company when there’s no room at the inn!! This year, our guest rooms have gone dark and dusty because no one’s been able to visit. Brennyn was here in the early summer and my sister was here for Thanksgiving. But that’s been it.
Even though these Where Bloggers Live posts are always scheduled for the second Friday of each month, this one snuck up on me again. Was busy writing my latest World Through My Lens and 10 on the 10th posts, with a reminder post about the upcoming winter bucket list link-up falling in between. Completely forgot about Where Bloggers Live. Thankful our fearless leader Bettye always sends out reminders for upcoming posts. Had to scramble to get our downstairs guest room presentable. It was piled high with the fall decor I had taken down earlier in the week.
Oh, and I see a few Christmas gifts in the foreground, too. Shhh, don’t let Cia see this!
So, I got the fall stuff put up and then snapped some pictures so you could see our company accommodations if ever you find yourself in El Paso in need of a place to stay.
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WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE 12.2020
This fun series is kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! I mean, who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes and lives? For last month’s post, we shared our master bedrooms. Or the places where we lay our heads at night. And before that, a look at some of our favorite things. As we wind up the series for this year, we are busy making plans to bring it back in 2021. I look forward to continuing to blog with this creative group of gals.
For now, let’s head inside for a look at…
The Elephant Room
AKA Lauren’s old bedroom. Although, there’s nothing in the room that was Lauren’s. Unless you count a few of her baby toys in the closet that Cady, Cia and Cami play with when they visit. I always have a soft bedside light on when company arrives. The room looks more welcoming in that light.
The colors and the animal theme remind me of Lauren. Her favorite color is orange, a predominant color in the elephant room. Along with elephants. Which one might think would be Lauren’s favorite animal. But one would be wrong.
Bunnies. Bunnies are her favorite animal. And there’s a gigantic stuffed bunny that I had made by a teaching colleague of mine. One for each of the girls when they were young.
My newfound love of pattern mixing has spilled over from my clothes to my decor. Based this room around the drapes I found at Pier One. The Wayfair area rug has the same colors as the curtains in a different print. Picked up the quilts at Steinmart. Have your Pier One and Steinmart stores closed? Ours sure have.
Wicker Furniture
The wicker furniture was a bargain on sale at Hobby Lobby. I wanted some pieces to serve for TV and night stands and these fit the bill. On this little table, I have placed some cloth dolls made in Panama from shrouds. A painted and bejeweled tin elephant. A photo of PC’s mom as a child. And some old books of from my parents’ childhoods. The framed tapestry was made in Guatemala, I think. Purchased it years ago in Panama, too.
The pie rack or book shelf is short on pies and books. I use it for more family photos and a small TV and almost obsolete DVD player.
Elephant Art
I have found ‘art’ work for the room in lots of different places including the Texas Library Association annual conference! Even made the little collage of paper elephants over the bed.
Found this little tin mirror at the market in Juarez many years ago when we still traveled across the border to shop and eat. Chances are, if you were visiting us back in those days, we would have taken you across the border bridge for an afternoon in Mexico, too.
And Finally, the Bed
This is probably why you would be staying with us…a place to sleep!! And hopefully to visit with us, too. But what good is a guest room without a bed? This one is queen-sized and pretty comfy!
More pattern mixing on the bed. These pillows continue with the elephant theme. Love the little bolster with the embroidered elefantes.
And finally, a bunny. Lauren was only about 4 when I had these bunnies made so hers was as big as she was at the time. She dragged Daisy Jane (named for the daisy floral print of her dress) all over creation until her limbs started coming detached and the muslin fabric was threadbare. We tried to have her repaired several times but they were only temporary fixes. If I remember correctly, this is actually Brennyn’s bunny who has remained pretty well in tact over the years.
Best Piece of All
This photo is one Lauren took years ago. In high school and college, she was very interested in Buddhist philosophies and Middle Eastern culture. She bought and wore a bindi almost every day. My mother was semi-mortified and told me to make Lauren take off that dot on her forehead. But I thought it was a lovely nod to another culture. In this photo, Lauren was recreating a National Geographic cover she had seen and admired.
I fell in love with the photograph on the cover of the National Geographic when I first saw it. And then with my daughter’s recreation. The girl on the magazine was from Afghanistan. I am proud to say that is where Mustafa and his family immigrated from. Both Lauren and this little girl have hauntingly beautiful green eyes.
We have a second guest room but it is late, I am tired and will be heading over the mountain tomorrow morning early to help with the babies. So I will save that room for another day. Maybe even this weekend. Both guest rooms have their own baths. And wanted to show them off, too. So stay-tuned for part 2!!
YOUR TURN
Do you have a guest room or spare bedroom where I could stay for a visit? I am very neat, would help with the cooking and cleaning and pick up after myself. Wish you could share the details of your personal B&B in a comment below. Then stop by to visit the other gals opening their homes to you.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Thanks so much for wading through this photo-heavy post. I appreciate the time you spend here with me. And if you ever find yourself in El Paso and need a place to stay, you’ve got it. Until then…we’ll leave the light on.
Hugs and kisses,
So funny that in the US and UK people almost always have a guest room. We never had. Of course it’s because the Netherlands are just a small country, so we don’t need a guest room. Guest can easily drive or even walk and cycle back home. Have a great weekend!
For years, there were no hotels of any quality near our home. When anyone would visit they had to stay with us or stay across town, 15-20 miles away. Unhandy. When we bought this house, we had 2 children living at home, a son and a daughter. We needed these extra bedrooms and bathrooms. But they have been on their own for 4 years or so. We could sell this house but it is almost paid off and we love it!! So, for now, we enjoy having plenty of room.
What a lovely room, so inviting – your guests must never want to return to their own home! I would be ashamed to show our spare rooms – one resembles the toy dept of a department store and the other is just … a bit of a place to store anything we don’t have a proper home for! Of course, that one isn’t really a spare room, Coco has adopted it as her bedroom!
Ha!! Love that Coco has her own room. The toy department at our house is the closet in this elephant bedroom. We don’t have a lot of toys for the girls because they are here for such short visits. And we are usually on the go, at the park, or in the pool when they do come over. For Christmas, I have ordered a scooter for Lucia and a little balance bike for Cami. Would like to keep them here so they have something to play with when they come. But also want the toys to be used and it doesn’t make sense for them to sit here and gather dust when they might be used more at their house.
I love the sweet bunny and the memories connected to it – how sweet that it was almost her size! I swear when I see things from my boys’ childhood it just takes me right back. That mirror is really stunning and the elephants are so fun, what a great guest room!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, Kellyann. Nothing we have is expensive or top quality but it is comfortable and hopefully fun.
The bright colors in the elephant curtains are what I based this room around. Might not be terribly restful but
it is vibrant!!
What a lovely guest space. We don’t have any sort of guest room or spare room but all our family lives locally for the most part anyway and we don’t have need of one (yet!).
Thank you. We have never had any family close by. And for years neither of my daughters even lived in El Paso. But Lauren, my youngest, moved back to El Paso two years ago. So glad she did. I have hopes that when Lucia and Camila are a little older, that maybe they will come for sleep overs!!
Has Iris been here yet?! She is going to loooove all those elephants!!!
What a lovely, welcoming room, Leslie! The colors are so happy (the fabric on your window treatments 😍) and all of the touches make it a really warm space your guests must find very comfortable! You might have trouble getting people to leave…especially with your beautiful backyard!!!
My mom has a handmade rabbit almost identical to yours! Isn’t that crazy? What are the chances?
We need to tackle a guest room now that we have a vacancy! Thanks for the inspo! (And for sharing the “before” pics…I love people keeping it real.)
Was tickled that everyone thought of Iris with the elephants. So fun!!
This room was my daughter’s until she fell in love and moved to be with her future husband in Houston. I still call it Lauren’s room but PC is quick to correct me because we really hope the children will never move home because it would mean their lives have gotten off track. So this is the downstairs guest room. The upstairs guest room once belonged to Paul’s son Matt. Our house is about twice the size that we need but when we have company it is nice to have the room. And there is still the possibility that we might have one of our mother’s live with us.
Bet you will have fun putting together a guest room. It is sure to be comfortable and inviting when you do!!
Crazy coincidence about the bunny. Wonder if they were made from a commercial pattern?
The elephant theme is so fun!
Thank you!! We are pretty big animal lovers over here.
Oh wow, Iris is going to love all the elephants!
What a nice, cozy room – I’m sure your guests enjoy staying there. And wait, what? You have a SECOND guest room??
Bettye
https://fashionschlub.com
Hi, Bettye, yup, 2 guest rooms. We had 2 children living with us when we bought the house but they have grown up as children do, and we were left with a very big house. But when we have my daughter visit with her daughter, these rooms come in handy. And we were certain that one or more of our parents would wind up living with us so wanted a house with a first floor bedroom just in case. Someday we may curse having to climb the stairs to the master but right now it is good exercise!!
I love how your guest room is a catch all at times too Leslie…that makes me feel so much better. Yet you have another one?? WOWZA!!!
And I know Iris will be salivating over all of those elephants!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
You’re right there Jodie – I was like – OH MY GOODNESS!
Iris
Ha!! Iris and Jodie, you girls make me laugh.
Ha!! I had forgotten about Iris’s love of elephants. They are so sweet!!
We had 2 children living at home when we bought this house. It is almost paid for and we hate to move. We need this room when my Ft. Worth daughter and her daughter come home. But the rest of the time, this house is much too big!! I love it, though, and won’t be ready to sell until we move to our last stop…retirement community or assisted living down the road, I hope.
Looks lovely, Leslie. Love the elephants!
Thank you, Donna. I am a big animal lover over here. Could have a kitty cat room and a puppy room and a bunny room, too!!
Okay, I’m coming to your house to steal some elephants!!!! I did see a couple that I have, but you have some really nice ones. I’ve collected elephants for MANY, MANY years – but one can never have enough. How great that you have an elephant guest room. I might have to think about that myself. I did have one years ago – in another time in another house.
Love all the colors. I like bright cheery colors – not that I always use them, but I sure like them. Thanks for sharing – and again, LOVE all the elephants.
Grace & Peace, Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Thank you, sweet Iris. Had forgotten your love for elephants. They are such sweet, gentle beasts. I fell in love with the curtains and that’s how it became the elephant room. I think it is time for you to recreate your elephant guest room. Would love to see what you do!
I love the colors you combined for this room! The elephant theme is really fun too! This looks like such a welcoming room!
Thank you!! Just kind of fun!
The idea of a guest room is always an interesting one. We never had one when I was growing up – in any of our house (large or small). Not sure when they become the fashion…or even a necessity. We have one but I must admit, it seems really rather impratical. Yours does hold a lot of memories – especially a very cute bunny!!:)
Oh, and yes, Pier One and Steinmart – both…gone. Sigh.
Thank you, Jennifer. We only had a guest room in the last childhood home my family lived in. My grandmothers both visited us when I as a child and would stay for more than a day or two so we needed a place where they could retreat when they wanted to nap or rest or call it a day. My parents only visited this house once before they became uncomfortable traveling. I doubt my mom will ever return and don’t know if Paul’s will either but we have the room, if they can come!!
Have I told you how much I love this series? Yes, I thought so… Your guest room looks so welcoming. Ours is always ready for guests, but this year with Queensland borders closed (for most of the year) we’ve had no one to stay. They are, however, now reopen & we’re ready.
So glad you are enjoying this Where Bloggers Live series. It has been great fun participating in the series with these lovely ladies. I keep our bedding clean and linens ready for guests but never have anyone just pop in. Especially this year!! Hoping the with 2021, we can begin to travel and have visitors again.
Love love love the colors! Those curtains are so fun and pretty. I like the eclectic vibe. And keeping your daughters’ toys is so very sweet.
When Iris sees this room…
Thank you, Daenel. I think the bright colors are fun, too!!
Love these so much. Looks Love these so much.
Thank you!!
Such a cozy room! I love all the elephants. I also totally remember that National Geographic cover. Your daughter did a great job recreating it.
Thank you, Danielle. Have decided elephants are some of my favorite animals.
Thank you, Danielle. Have decided elephants are some of my favorite animals.
Thank you for opening your home to us, Leslie. This guest room is very inviting, and I love the mix of international decorations. If it weren’t for COVID, I might head down there now to get away from the snow, and of course, to visit with you. We have a guest room in our current full-time home that resembles a storage room with a bed in it. But in our new southern Utah home, we have two perfectly lovely guest rooms just waiting for you. Take your pick! We won’t even make you do any chores.
Thank you for coming by, Christie. Wow, I would love to take you up on a visit!! We could play in the snow then come back down here to El Paso to warm up.
Such a lovely room! We were excited to finally have a guest room in our new house but no-one has used it yet, and they can’t now that the bed has been moved up against the wall to turn it into what we thought would be a temporary home office for my husband, haha! Since we both work from home and I take a LOT of conference calls he moved to the spare room so it’s more quiet for him working and I get the home office instead! It’s further away from where the kids play too for him, haha!
Hope that you are having a great week! It’s a wet and stormy one here, summer rains have arrived!
Wow, I didn’t realize you were both working from home these days!! That must get crazy. Paul was working from home for a few months and it was nice but it was also a little hard at times to do things I needed to do because he was on conference calls a lot. We all won’t know how to act if life EVER returns to the normal of 2019!!
I would kind of like to take one of the guest rooms and make it a craft room. But there isn’t enough room in either for my desk and a guest bed. Hmmm, I don’t think!! Might need to make some measurements!!
What a gorgeous guest room! I love all the elephants!
Thank you!! It seems elephants are favorites with everyone.
Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your space! I have an unused bedroom where I have stashed Christmas presents too. My grandson wanted to play hide and seek this weekend but I had to make sure he didn’t go into that room! Make sure all of your elephants in your elephant room are facing East! 😉
I have done a mental inventory of the direction my elephants are facing but need to do a physical inventory to double check we are all facing east!!
Your guest room is so cute and welcoming! Love the elephant theme and the colors!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Looks like everyone likes the elephants!! Who knew? Thank you!!
Hi Leslie – I always enjoy the little peeks you give us into your home. This is certainly an eclectic room – but also really warm and welcoming. Our guest bedroom doubles as the snoring room – where one of us will de-bunk to if the husband is snoring too loudly or the wife is heat surging all over the place. It’s nice to have a spare bedroom for many reasons!
Hi Leanne, yes I am glad to have the extra room our house provides. It was just the right size when we bought it and is just the right size when we have company. In between, I keep it clean but shut the doors to the extra rooms except to put something away in them. My upstairs guest room is my fashion haus where I take pictures of the outfits I am wearing. But sure as I get the light kit out and set up the good camera in there, I have to take it all down because someone is coming for a visit!!
What a awesome guest room you have! All of the elephants are my favorite!