From House To Home

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Quietly tucked behind or beside a home, guest houses welcome visitors with their charm and privacy. While not common, their benefits are building their popularity, especially for homeowners in scenic areas and those with adult children.

Some homeowners are opting to build a guest house from scratch. Others are converting existing structures on their property or moving them from other locations, according to Paulette Satter, lead residential designer for BlueStone, an interior design firm based in North Dakota.

The guest house on her property is a converted cabin taken from a nearby resort. “We were looking for more room and didn’t want to add on,“ she says. “It gives me more sleep space…and privacy for everyone.“

Her grown children, their children, and other family and friends like to visit, especially during the summer. “I think after awhile most people get kind of ‘peopled out,‘“ says Satter, who is an associate member of ASID. “A guest house gives everyone a break.“

Often the decor of the guest house differs from the main home. Satter chose a nautical theme for hers. “I wanted the cabin to look like a seaside cabin from the East Coast,“ she says. “I wanted you to wake up and feel like you were near the water.“

The cabin’s walls and rafters were whitewashed. The floors were replaced. The palette originates from the periwinkle bedspread and plaid comforter. Bright fish and stars cover the nearby bunks. The table, chairs, and love seat, upholstered with antique tablecloths, are at one end of the guest house. Yellow boots and a bright umbrella stand are both accents and practical.
“To get to the main house, there are lots of stairs. So if it’s raining, these are handy,“ she says.

Satter’s sister PJ Cliff Overvold also has converted three existing structures—an office, a workshop, and a room behind the garage—into guest houses.

“With six grandchildren and four grand dogs that come to visit, she needed more room for everyone to have private space—for their sanity as well as hers,“ says Satter with a laugh.
The room behind the garage has become the bunkhouse. A new hitching post dons a saddle, blankets, and lasso to greet guests. Pendleton blankets in primary colors wrap the bunks in a western theme. Custom wall murals provide focal points.

One of her guest houses combines the North Woods with the family’s winter home in Florida. Named “North Captiva,“ this is where pine meets palm. Wicker furniture, tropical accessories, a log bed frame, and sheers create an airy repose.

They tied the guest houses together with a common outdoor gathering area. The one who chooses the oversized log chair with the colorful hat is the storyteller for the night.
Any of the guest houses could double as a quiet retreat when guests are not visiting. They are near the house, yet separate and filled with favorite things.   
   
PJ omitted sleeping space in her final guest house to create a totally feminine getaway, says Satter. The yellow Adirondack chair near the entrance introduces the yellow interior. Covered in solid and checkered chenille, the furniture is comfortable and cozy. Turquoise accents help make this the perfect haven for enjoying a quiet cup of tea or reading a good book, Satter notes.

Each of these guest houses incorporate comfortable bedding and seating, entertainment media, a small refrigerator, rocker, and coffee pot. Little kindnesses such as special soaps, shampoos, and toothpastes—things travelers might forget—finish the experience.

“Maybe a little note, fresh flowers, or cold bottled water in the refrigerator,“ says Satter. “It’s the little touches that make the difference.

“They know that you put some thought into their being your guest. They feel wanted.“