7 Inviting Guesthouses to Inspire Your Own

A lot of times when I'm cruising guesthouses on Houzz, I'm ready to move right into them forever. Clearly those designers and homeowners know how to make a space welcoming, whether it's overstuffed and traditional, sleek and contemporary or somewhere in between.

When designing a guesthouse, consider the creature comforts you enjoy at hotels from a cozy bed-and-breakfast in the country to the latest minimalist W Hotel hot spot in your favorite city. Here's how seven guesthouses invite extended stays.

1. Cozy Traditional Comfort in, Ojai, California

Every detail of Mary Steenburgen's and Ted Danson's guesthouse looks collected and personal, and is meant to inspire creativity and comfort.


Tip: Just like good innkeepers, good hosts leave plenty of favorite books and magazines out for guests to peruse.

Photos: See more of this inviting guesthouse


2. Transitional Cottage in Venice, California

A family of four moved into this cozy guest cottage on their property while they renovated the main house.


Tip: Open-plan layouts work very well in tight guesthouse spaces; in the case of this home, several walls were taken down to create one large, open kitchen and living room space.

Photos: See more of this hardworking guest cottage


3. Contemporary and Ecofriendly Barn in Santa Ynez, California

This unique barn has a light carbon footprint, incorporating an in-floor heating system, solar hot-water panels, passive cooling, reclaimed floors and beams, and more.


Tip: Create a unique experience for your guests. While this guesthouse is new construction, there are fun barn details incorporated throughout, like barn doors and unique sinks crafted from metal buckets.

Photos: See more sustainable elements in this guest barn

Check out another fabulous barn guesthouse


4. Colorful Guest House and Playroom in Scottsdale, Arizona

Punches of orange, green and turquoise amp up the fun in this family-friendly guesthouse. The playful place is a favorite spot for the family and their guests.


Tip: Create a guesthouse that serves double duty. When visitors aren't around at this one, the dining table turns into craft central, the living room becomes a lounge and a fire pole from the sleeping loft makes this the place to be for the kiddos as well as party guests.

Photos: See more


5. Ingenious Solutions for a Tight Space in Seattle

Sixty-eight square feet means you have to get clever with space — the bathroom here is a wet room; the Murphy bed operates on a garage door track and can also serve as booth seating.


Tip: If space in the guesthouse is tight, provide an outdoor lounge space.

Photos: See more hardworking details in this guesthouse


6. Vivid Eclectic Cottage on Vashon Island, Washington

These New York parents fell so hard for their daughter and her partner's Pacific Northwest property that they built their own guesthouse, leaving the design details up to the property owners. The result is a creative, colorful and comfortable home.


Tip: Outfit the guesthouse kitchen with the basics. In addition to china and utensils, it's great to have a few pots and pans, a strainer, mixing bowls, a coffeemaker and a teakettle for guests. Stock the pantry and refrigerator with staples like olive oil, salt and pepper, herbs, butter and beverages. If you're not a morning person, supply guests with breakfast food to have on their own. If there is not a kitchen in the guesthouse, a mini fridge, coffeemaker and basket of muffins are really nice touches.

Footnote: These guests loved the house so much that they moved in permanently.


Number 6 bonus: Be sure to check out the '70s Airstream trailer on the property that overflow guests enjoy.

Photos: See the rest of the colorful Salsa House (and inside the trailer)


7. Artist's contemporary compound in Granbury, Texas

Corrugated steel and local stone compose an updated take on the rural architecture of the region. Inside, guests enjoy the owner's original artwork.


Tip: When your guests are in a separate structure, it can be easy to forget they are there. Create connections between guesthouse outbuildings and the main house. The guest cabana on this property shares the fire pit with the main house, so guests and their hostess can meet up and warm up.

Photos: See the rest of this ranch-style art gallery compound

URL: 7 Inviting Guesthouses to Inspire Your Own http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-18392.html