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FEATURE / INTERIOR DESIGN > > > > > > > > > > > > MAKE YOUR GUESTS LOVE
With a successful career in the hospitality design sector, Samantha Johnson is a leading British designer with a stunning portfolio of immaculate high-end residential homes, beautiful holiday havens, inviting work spaces and boutique hotels. Here are her 7 simple tips to designing the perfect guest suite.
A
fter working for leading agen- cies, Buckinghamshire based designer Samantha Johnson decided to specialise in in-
terior design and has run her successful design company for over 18 years. She is a regular media commentator on interior design trends. So, what makes a guest bedroom
that visitors will love from the moment they step inside? Remember they will be expecting to feel relaxed and pampered; therefore your design should appeal to all the senses. Don’t forget the sense of smell – from a linen spray or freshly cut flowers; it’s those added personal touches that will make their stay with you extra special.
1. Bed and bedding A well-made bed should be the main
feature in your luxury guest bedroom. Start with a good quality mattress and furnish it with high-thread-count cotton linen sheets that have been freshly laundered and firmly tucked.
Sheets
should be white and the best you can afford. Then add a thick duvet and 2-3 plump feather pillows. An extra blanket is an added touch for those cold winter nights and a soft headboard will be much appreciated by your guests. Perhaps add a hot water bottle in a pretty cover too?!
2. Bathroom Your bathroom should look clean
and fresh so it’s best to keep the design simple and functional but that doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish too. Obviously, tiled and vinyl floors are practical and easy to keep clean. Stick to neutral wall tiles and provide space near the sink for guests to put their toiletry bag. Be sure to provide your guests
with a large bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth set out on the bed or in the bathroom. A fluffy robe for your guest to use during their stay is a luxurious touch. Stock some bathroom necessities
for your guests - make sure you provide a few travel-sized essentials. Hang a small magnifying mirror to
provide a spot for touching up makeup or putting on jewellery.
3. Lighting The ambience of your guest room
is vital and it’s important to give your visitors different options too. Think about the various areas in the room and how it should be lit. Dimmers are a great touch and bedside lamps are a must. Free-standing lights in the room will add interest and it’s a good idea to light artwork with wall lights if you can.
4. Furniture Ideally, you should provide your
guests with a wardrobe and chest of drawers for storing their belongings during their stay. If you don’t have space for a wardrobe then a simple rail or hooks on the wall will provide a place to hang clothes. Additional space to store luggage is great too. Of course, your bed should have two side tables, and a comfortable chair to sit and read in if you have the space. Do allow a long dressing mirror
somewhere in the room even if it is on the back of a cupboard.
5. TV / music / Wi-Fi access Just like scents, sounds have a way
of evoking emotion and sometimes it is nice to offer a place where guests can listen to their music via a small portable speaker or an iPod dock. Make sure the
Wi-Fi code is somewhere visible so that your guests don’t need to ask for it and this could be framed on the wall.
6. Décor / Soft furnishings Remember everyone has different
tastes when it comes to décor so it’s worth keeping the room relatively neutral – that doesn’t mean bland! Introduce contrasting textures in your soft furnishings to create a high-end look on a relatively low budget. Wallpaper will add interest and detail (vinyl wallpapers
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