Welcoming Guests
Hi friends and happy Friday! The last couple of days I’ve been busy preparing our home (and kitchen) for family that will be staying with us through the Thanksgiving holiday. Whenever you invite people to your home, whether it’s for an evening or an extended stay, I believe you can show you care for them by taking pride in your home and creating a welcoming, relaxing environment for them to retreat to.
When people travel and arrive at my house, I love to have something yummy cooking on the stove so they can smell the aroma when they walk in the door, then fill their bellies, which are likely hungry from traveling. If it’s not necessarily meal time, I’ll at least put out a meat and cheese tray or something to nibble on. Our guests arrived at dinnertime, so a simple chili and cornbread were served, followed by homemade peanut butter cups for dessert. You don’t have to make a big, elaborate meal, just something that tastes good. I often think the simpler the better because simple tends to put you and your guests at ease.
In the guest bedroom, I made sure to deep clean everything, put fresh sheets and pillows on the bed, and added some magazines and fresh flowers.
The guest bath was also cleaned spic and span, given fresh towels/washcloths, new toiletries, and a few gerber daisies. Over the next few days, I’ll continue to change the water and replace the flowers when they start to wilt.
Hope you have a great weekend!
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Hi Megan! We are in the process of redoing our dining room, and I think we picked a similar color paint (ours is a light gray called Horizon.) Would you mind sharing the source for your dining room rug in the first picture? I am looking for natural fiber, and this one looks like the perfect light color (not too golden like most of them are!) Thanks and have a great time with your guests. xo
Hi Annie! That rug is an indoor/outdoor rug from HomeDecorators.com. I think it's from the Martha Stewart collection, but I'm not 100% certain.
I usually prefer to stay at hotels when visiting family, but I would totally stay at your place… looks great and welcoming!
I know- I like hotels too! 🙂
What a great hostess you are. I'm sure you're guest will feel right at home. I love the idea of adding fresh flowers and magazines to the guest room. Enjoy the holiday!
I would love to stay at your house, it's like a bed and breakfast or something, it seriously has that kind of vibe and beauty to it!
So sweet!!
So pretty. Can I come and visit too? 🙂
I love fresh flowers for guest and added a few special touches to the guest room. It's always fun to sneak in their room before bedtime too and turn down their bed and put a little piece of wrapped chocolate on their and they feel like they are staying at the Ritz-Carlton 🙂 I've never thought about cooking before the come for the aroma. Love that idea.
What an amazing way to greet your guests! I love the idea of using fresh flowers and good smelling foods!
Oh my gosh can I come stay?! I try to do something fresh in the guest room; either flowers or branches from the yard in this tall vase I have. Chili and cornbread is such an easy one to make too. Great idea!
The chili was so good- I just used one of those kits from the grocery store and we had barley any leftovers.
Looks very Inviting!
From one perfectionist to another, how do you deal with the extra mess guests bring? I love hosting but I find myself getting anxious when I see a mess build up.
Great question- these guests are super tidy, so I haven't had to deal with any messes. I would have to just remind myself that my goal is to make my guests comfortable and hope they pick up after themselves. Or when they offer to help, accept it!
I'm on my way!!!! Everything looks so pretty! And funny, I've never been to your house when something was simmering on the stove 😉
Ah! LOL!!! 🙂
Everything looks so warm and inviting. I find myself doing some of the same things for when my youngest comes home for the holidays from college. While not expected, it is always a nice surprise for her.
On another note…I know you have the Ben Ourain rug from PB. We purchased one for our Master Bedroom recently. Did yours shed something awful at first? Hoping it subsides like they say it will. How do you vaccum/clean yours? I know the tag said NOT to use the beater bar.
Hi Lauren, I don't recall our rug shedding that much. We have it in our master sitting room now and I haven't done anything to clean it because it doesn't get barely any traffic.
Would you mind sharing the paint color in your dining room?! Love it!
Your house is gorgeous and homey. I was curious as to where you bought the little round, metal table in the guest bedroom? Thanks a bunch and Happy Thanksgiving.