Soft and Sweet Guest Room

Pastel colors, a collection of plates, and floral accessories galore make this space special.

For a bed that invites snuggling, pile on soft pillows, a cozy down comforter, and soothing colors. With a look this pretty, sweet dreams come easy.

The guest room in John and Marian Benton's Minden, Louisiana, home has a comfortable, lived-in personality that's ready for lucky visitors. Interior designers Cindy Ellett-Miciotto and Richard G. Clements helped Marian put together the look by using some things old (an antique French chandelier) and some things new (an iron bed, custom-made by a local craftsman). "The room has almost an ethereal quality of lightness yet also of warmth," Cindy says.

To get a similar look, start with the bed. The secret is in the layering, Cindy says. Use monochromatic fabrics that appear to have faded over time. A trick for getting the old look fast: Use a new fabric wrong-side up on upholstery or custom bedding, so it appears as if it's been washed again and again, Richard says. Arrange pillows in different sizes, and fold a duvet at the end of the bed.

Don't be afraid to fill the walls with pretty plates and mirrors. Cindy and Richard went all out with the arrangement above the bed. "You can take a standard 8-foot ceiling and hang pictures almost to the top of the wall. This gives the effect that the ceiling is taller because your eye is moving up and down," Richard says. -AMY BICKERS MERCER

Fancy the Look? Four Easy Tips

* Purchase old postcards or greeting cards at estate sales or flea markets, and frame them. Use old frames, or make new ones look like antiques by scuffing up the edges with sandpaper.

* Place heirloom baby clothes on pretty fabric-covered hangers, and display them inside shadow boxes. Hang them around the room as artwork.

* Soften the tops of nightstands or dressers with doilies, runners, or lace tablecloths you have on hand.

* Make the wall behind the bed really stand out. Hang mirrors, plates, and even sconces-you can have it all.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2006
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