The Ultimate Guest Bedroom Transformation: Dueling DIY Gauntlet Update!

Hello, fellow DIY enthusiasts! It feels like an age since our last chat, though it’s only been about a week. My recent silence, however, has been profoundly well-earned. I’ve been channeling an immense amount of energy into creating a spectacular booth for Rust-Oleum at WorkbenchCon 2018 here in Atlanta, GA. The experience has been exhilarating yet utterly exhausting, and I’m looking forward to sharing more details about that adventure with you all very soon.

Today marks a special milestone in our ongoing Dueling DIY challenge. It’s update day! As promised when I first announced this exciting challenge at the beginning of February (a time that, thanks to my weary muscles, feels about eight years and twelve splinters ago), I’m here to bring you fully up-to-speed on all the exciting developments in my guest bedroom makeover. This friendly competition pits me against the incredibly talented Charlotte from At Charlotte’s House, and the stakes (and the motivation) are high!

The Dueling DIY Challenge: Igniting Our Renovation Spirit

For those new to the series, this Dueling DIY challenge serves as a powerful catalyst for both Charlotte and me to tackle rooms we might otherwise procrastinate on. We all have those spaces in our homes that fall to the bottom of the priority list, don’t we? For me, the guest bedroom has historically been one such area. The genius of Dueling DIY, as I’ve observed in past challenges, lies in the public accountability it creates. The sheer potential for someone to publicly call me out for binge-watching TV instead of making progress on my DIY projects is incredibly effective! I specifically asked Charlotte to co-host this guest room challenge because she also has a spare room in her house that she’s eager to transform. And so, here we are, embarking on this creative journey together.

We’re committed to providing bi-weekly updates here on our blogs, keeping you, our amazing readers, in the loop on every step of our progress. To offer an even more immersive experience, we’ll also be sharing a monthly vlog or video showcasing our room transformations on YouTube. This blend of written and visual content ensures you won’t miss a single detail of our creative struggles and triumphs.

Early Progress Amidst the Chaos: My Guest Room Gauntlet Begins

Despite my attention being significantly diverted by the demands of WorkbenchCon over the past two weeks, I am thrilled to report that I HAVE made tangible progress in the guest room. I imagine Charlotte might have secretly hoped I’d have nothing to share, perhaps believing my distractions would leave me behind. She even sent me a tantalizing sneak peek – what I can only assume is a chic new light fixture she’s acquired. She playfully teased me about it on her Instagram stories, which, unfortunately for you, expire every 24 hours. Therefore, I can’t share her playfully “smug face” here. Instead, I’ve opted for a different, equally expressive image of her below – just for fun, of course! 😉

Goodbye, “Boob Light”! Hello, Modern Ceiling Fan!

But as for my own progress? Remember that outdated “boob light” ceiling fixture I vowed to banish? Well, my new ceiling fan wasn’t just purchased – it’s officially installed! This seemingly small change has made an enormous impact, instantly elevating the room’s aesthetic from dreary to delightful.

Before:

Progress:

Is “Booyah!” even a phrase people still use? Regardless, it perfectly encapsulates my excitement! I’m sure if I’d gotten a few more hours of sleep last night, I might have coined something more clever. Please excuse the less-than-thrilling lighting in these progress photos; I haven’t had a chance to capture the room in its best light yet. And honestly, until the rest of the walls are painted and the Murphy bed build begins, the true “wow” factor will remain under wraps. Still, seeing that sleek, modern fan in place is a huge psychological win!

The Strategic Choice: A Murphy Bed for Ultimate Versatility

Speaking of the Murphy bed, this is a central element of my guest bedroom design, transforming a simple spare room into a highly functional, multi-purpose space. The hardware for this ingenious space-saving solution is expected to arrive very soon! This isn’t just any hardware; it includes everything needed for a seamless build: cabinet door hinges, precise slides for the slide-out shelves I’m incorporating, and even specialized jigs to help ensure perfect alignment during installation. I’ll be documenting the entire process, learning right alongside you all. So, if there are any particular details or steps of the Murphy bed installation that pique your curiosity, please let me know in the comments. Your questions will help shape the content of my upcoming posts, ensuring I cover exactly what you’re eager to learn.

This Murphy bed isn’t just about saving space; it’s about creating a truly versatile room. When not in use as a bedroom, it can effortlessly transition into a home office, a craft room, or a quiet reading nook. This flexibility is paramount in modern living, especially for homes that don’t have the luxury of dedicating an entire room solely to occasional guests. My vision is for the bed to integrate seamlessly into a custom built-in cabinetry system, making it virtually disappear when folded away and adding significant storage solutions to the room.

Painting the Canvas: Setting the Room’s Mood

But THAT’S NOT ALL the progress I have to share! I’ve also managed to paint a total of one wall. Ha! While it might sound like a small step, it’s a crucial one in establishing the room’s aesthetic foundation.

I painted the wall on the left, where the window is situated, in the same sophisticated color that will eventually adorn the built-in cabinetry housing the Murphy bed. My goal here is to create a seamless, integrated look on this half of the room, allowing the cabinetry to blend effortlessly with the wall. This intentional design choice will create a sense of spaciousness and tranquility. The other half of the room, in contrast, will be painted a soothing, earthy sage green – a color carefully chosen to evoke a sense of calm and nature. I fully expect to have those beautiful green walls completed within the next week, right after I catch up on some much-needed rest and attend to any lingering splinters from my recent projects!

This mood board really captures the essence of what I’m aiming for: a serene, functional, and inviting guest space that feels both stylish and comfortable. The blend of the muted cabinet color with the deeper sage green will create a harmonious palette, punctuated by natural textures and thoughtful details.

Innovative DIY: The Hanging Plant Curtain Rod

In addition to the painting and the exciting prospect of the Murphy bed, I have a brand-new DIY project coming your way soon! This clever little creation might initially appear to be a simple curtain rod, but it boasts a unique twist: I’ve incorporated a separate dowel rod specifically designed to hold hanging plants! My vision for this piece is quite vivid: these beautiful hanging plants will grow long and lush, gracefully draping down on both sides of the window. This will be beautifully complemented by the bright-but-filtered light that the sheer curtains, once installed, will provide. It’s a fantastic way to bring life, freshness, and a touch of biophilic design into the guest bedroom, enhancing its serene atmosphere.

This innovative curtain rod will not only serve its primary function of holding window treatments but will also double as a living art installation. Imagine waking up to the gentle sway of green foliage, bathed in natural light – it’s these thoughtful touches that transform a mere room into an inviting sanctuary for guests.

WorkbenchCon 2018: A Hub of Inspiration and Connection

So, that – in a nutshell, albeit an expanded one – is the initial wave of progress set to unfold in this guest space. The remainder of this week promises to be equally dynamic, as I’ll be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of WorkbenchCon with an incredible community of fellow bloggers and YouTubers. It’s an invaluable opportunity to soak up their collective knowledge, exchange ideas, and simply have some well-deserved fun. There’s a special joy in meeting friends in person whom you’ve primarily known through the digital realm, finally getting to say hello face-to-face. What makes it even more exciting is that Charlotte will also be attending! I’ll certainly keep you all posted if any noteworthy showdowns or collaborative moments between us occur. 😉

Join the Conversation: Share Your DIY Journey!

Now, I turn the question to you: What exciting projects have you been working on in your own homes? Is anyone else currently undertaking a guest room makeover, perhaps inspired by the idea of transforming a neglected space? I’d absolutely love to hear about your progress and aspirations!

If you’re participating in the Dueling DIY challenge – or even if you’re just independently renovating your guest room – please feel free to share a link to your own update in the comments below. It’s fantastic to see what everyone is creating, and we can all draw inspiration from each other’s journeys. And speaking of inspiration, be sure to head over to Charlotte’s blog to get the full scoop on what her guest room is looking like. The competition is heating up, and you won’t want to miss a single detail of either of our transformations!

Stay tuned for more updates, tips, and perhaps a few more “Booyahs” as we continue this incredible guest bedroom gauntlet!