Before + Afters: Southern Guesthouse
This might be THE most dramatic transformation we’ve ever tackled!
The homeowners had just purchased a historic home-turned-lawyers-office. Their dream? Convert it into a residential short term rental. They own a wedding venue around the corner, so it made sense to create a fabulous guesthouse for their wedding families. (and any other groups who want to stay, of course!)
The place was enormous. And, let’s be honest, it had seen better days.
But these rockstar owners were ready to get their hands dirty and DO THE THING.
Vision
The owners had a good idea of what they liked. They sent over several inspiration photos they’d collected and a color palette they loved.
My mission was to take their style and turn it into a short term rental that would attract guests from all over.
We crafted a game plan for this 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom beauty. Over the next 6 months, the owners tackled the renovations, checking in with us along the way.
Then came our part- furnishing!
Ready to see some jaw-dropping before and afters?
Let’s kick things off with a few of the bedrooms.
Bedrooms
Don’t you just LOVE the dingy carpet and “boob” lights? (as we call them) But take a look at the same rooms now.
First up, the Eucalyptus Suite. The old fireplace transformed into a stunning backdrop for the bed. Add in a gorgeous light fixture and oversized artwork and now it’s a real showstopper!
Next is the Oak Canopy Suite. With its angled wall and a branch light fixture, it gave us cozy, canopy vibes.
The Magnolia Suite was fun to design! We went bold with one of the palette's stronger colors on the focal wall (paint: Sherwin Williams Storm Cloud) and then softened the look with sage green curtains and delicate botanical prints. The rug tied all the colors together beautifully.
Bathrooms
We gotta spend a hot minute on these bathrooms because, well, these changes are astounding.
Honestly, were these turquoise and yellow linoleum countertops and flooring actually “IN” at one point? As a Gen X-er, it’s hard to believe. Almost EVERYTHING in these bathrooms had to go. No inch went untouched.
But just look at these afters.
Oak Canopy: Convincing Virginia homeowners to paint historic red brick is no easy feat. I totally get it—once you paint it, there's no going back. But this white-washed brick? It's timeless and will adapt to any future style changes.
Magnolia Suite: I wanted to keep a vanity space under the window but to save on costs, we opted for a standard vanity and added a chic glass vanity table. We carried the bold bedroom color into the bathroom for a cohesive look, plus it creates a striking focal wall! (With a window and a large mirror reflecting light, you can totally get away with a darker color in the bathroom.)
The other 2 bathrooms underwent major renovations.
Downstairs Bath: The owners removed the old cabinetry below the window to add a gorgeous tile shower. I love floating shelves above toilets to give guests easy access to towels. We swapped out the single wall sconce for a multi-light vanity fixture and kept the walls and cabinetry white. Now, this bathroom is bright and inviting.
Eucalyptus: The homeowners were geniuses for converting the old storage room into a 4th bathroom with a tile shower. (The more bathrooms in a short term rental, the better, right?) To deal with the awkward off-centered window and vanity, we installed a wall-mounted swivel mirror that perfectly fills the corner and balances the space.
The Kitchen + Breakfast Nook
This kitchen was practically begging for an update! To make it feel spacious for larger groups, we removed all the top cabinets and replaced them with open shelving, instantly making the space feel more open and airy.
The lower cabinets got a fresh coat of paint and new hardware, we swapped out the countertops for sleek stone, and a coat of white paint brightened everything up beautifully.
Breakfast Nook: The owners installed built-in seating around the walls. As a designer, my challenge was to marry the dark wood beams in the ceiling with the light natural wood of the benches. I decided to match the table to the beams and then create a collage of charcuterie boards to bring all the different shades of wood together.
Fun fact: With the name “All Belong,” I like to incorporate an element of diversity into each design project, and this wall collage is that touch!
Living Room
More dingy carpet and dark brick.
Neutralizing the walls and white-washing the brick made the space fresh and inviting. Then we added a curved couch, a ping pong table, a huge TV, and plenty of games to create a fun gathering room that everyone can enjoy!
Dining Room
From a lawyers’ office with fluorescent lighting to an intimate dining space for 16…
The Biggest Transformations
As if those makeovers weren’t crazy good, we’re saving the best for last!
Normally, the mention of red carpet conjures up the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. But that wasn’t the case with THIS red carpet. We turned the odd wall angles to our advantage, creating the perfect alcove for a toddler bed. This room went from circus to sophisticated!
Kids’ Secret Playroom: I’m a believer in using every bit of space to enhance the guest experience. And since this hallway storage closet had a kid-sized door opening, so we turned it into a “kids only” lounge!
How do you think Southern Guesthouse turned out? Wanna see even MORE of it, like the hot tub and beauty bar?
Click here to see the whole house and book your stay direct with us!