The Perfect Guest Room
Tuesday 9th October 2007 by Georgie Coleridge Cole
What’s the criteria for a great hostess? Homemade bread awaiting you at breakfast time; a drink in your hand before you’ve stepped through the door; a dinner party of ten organised to coincide with your stay...
 In my mind it’s none of these. No, what really makes a stay memorable and a hostess notable is a comfortable guest room.
Forget the freshly baked bread (Poilane  does it just as well and with nothing like the hassle), the secret to success is a spare room that’s welcoming, well equipped and comfortable.
A couple of comfortable single beds (for obvious reasons, far more versatile than a double if you only have one spare room), bedside tables
 and curtains (a heavy curtain will block out the light and ensure your guests enjoy a lie in - leaving you time to bake the bread!) form the foundations and it’s then down to you to put your own personal touch on things.
Some pointers when creating the perfect guest room:
 Whether you opt for sheets or a duvet, splash out on fine linen and towels for your guest room; fine linen gets better with age and there’s nothing better than slipping into it. Visit Josephine Home or Cologne & Cotton .
A bedspread is an absolute must. They look smart and they provide extra warmth. Be sure to scatter a few cushions on top.
Equip beside tables with matching lamps and a low watt light bulb. Bottled water and a glass are a must. But most important of all is fresh flowers. Save sculpted arrangements for the hall, in the guest room you want handpicked fresh from the garden – or an arrangement that that looks like it is.
 If your guests are just staying for the weekend, they won’t want to unpack but they will want plenty of space to put things; suitcase stands, a low chest or trunk, end of bed stool or an armchair in the corner of the room will do the job well.
Visit the Dormy House , select the item you want and then either choose a fabric (of which they have a vast selection) or get them to cover it with your own.
If you’re hoping that your guests will slip up stairs for a post tea pre dinner nap then fill their room with tempting reading fodder. The latest Hello Magazine, Tatler or anything equally as light hearted will keep them well occupied.
 A magazine trug (pictured, Country Cream) will keep the latest issue neatly stored.
Carole Bamford of Daylesford Organic is often referred to as one of the best hostess’ around.
Friends say she anticipates everything you might need during your stay from post cards to scribble on (hers show pictures of the family’s enormous estate – something fun or pretty will do) to having one of her staff switch on an electric blanket whilst you’re at dinner if it’s a bit nippy.
 If you’re struggling to get the staff(!) then you can always pop up in between courses and switch one on yourself.
From there on the possibilities are endless, but a hot water bottle on the back of the door, a hair dryer (forgetting to bring one is such a bore), a sewing kit, mini bottles of shampoo etc (travel sizes are dinky and perfect for spare rooms) will all score you brownie points in the good hostess and the perfect guest room stakes.
|
