The Weekenders

'Tis the season for eagerly anticipated (and sometimes unexpected) houseguests. I always think of summer much like that classic lemonade commercial--full of lazy afternoon naps on the porch. In reality, my summers are nothing like that. They are frenzied, calendar-clogged months. In addition to being ROIHS's high season for staging, it is also what I have come to call "vacation and wedding season".

On weekends when I am not attending a wedding (and some when I am) I often have the pleasure of having friends stay with me from out of town. As I write this, I have a friend from Europe staying with me, and the last two weekends in a row I myself have been a houseguest at friends' houses. This seasonal social schedule has been the case every summer, dating back to dorm days, and I learned early on that even with nothing but a futon and a sleeping bag, a good hostess can find little ways of making his/her guests comfortable and show them a great time.

Start with style: Aim for comfortable drama. This is where a lot of people veer off the proverbial tracks--if a guest room is all drama, it may create an impression, but it also often sets the tone for a very, um, formal visit; if a room is all comfort, it can take away from the fun of being on vacation and leave your guests wishing they'd just stayed in the comforts of their own home.

The key is in the balance. Start with one or two dramatic pieces, like this canopy bed, right, or a striking bath etagere. Then, surround it with comfy, cozy luxe fabrics in a rich yet passive color palette--nothing too bright or offensive. Focus on easy.

Budget Tip: If you are working with Mom and Dad's hand-me-downs and struggling to create a stylish space for guests, try this. Center the best, largest piece of art you own over the bed (or pull-out sofa), with a matching pair of lamps on either side to frame it. Old lamps? Switch out the shades for updated ones. Then use the softest sheets and towels you can find in either the color palette of that art or the neutral white-to-tan spectrum. Voila! Comfortable drama.


Keep a culinary cache:
* Ask about allergies & dietary needs ahead of time, but....
* Always keep a few classic condiments around. Nothing kills morning excitement faster than waking up to decaf coffee and splenda with no cream in sight.
* Prep the coffee maker so guests can hit the button on their own if they wake up first.
* Leave a few self-serve snacks around, like a bowl of nuts or fruit.
* Have paper napkins readily available.


No bath salts, please: Instead of covering the guest bath's countertops with foofy bath products that will only gather dust, think of what your guests really need.


* A basket under the sink with shampoo, conditioner, facial cleanser, makeup remover, toothpaste, a few pre-wrapped toothbrushes, q-tips, cotton balls, sunscreen, tylenol and hand lotion
* A blowdryer
* Air freshener
* Extra toilet paper
* Fresh bar soap in the shower (how welcoming!)
* Antibacterial hand soap
* A toilet plunger-gross, but a guest's saving grace in an emergency. Get one with a floor tray and keep it hidden.
* Stack towels on a stool or shelf so your guests know they're fresh. I always wonder how long towels on towel bars have been sitting there.
* Above all, a clean bathroom is a must.


Slumber Party: Stock your guest bedroom with the softest materials you can find and ask your guest what they need to achieve that elusive weekend necessity--a good night's sleep.

* Soft sheets--not itchy! I actually love Target's $20 jersey sheets more than any expensive hotel sheets I've ever slept on.
* An extra blanket
* A fan
* A lovely water pitcher and glass.
* Skip the decorative shams--some guests have a hard time knowing which are the "sleeping pillows" so keep it easy for them by using only sleep-able pillowcases. Double-row them and place one smaller throw pillow in front. Done.


Create a casa concierge: Nothing will keep 'em coming back for more like easy extras (nothing fussy!) Here, some of my faves I've found in friends' fabulous guest rooms.


* An "entertainment library" (mine's a dresser drawer) full of DVDs, CDs, books and magazines
* A street map of the area, along with maps/schedules of local transportation where appropriate
* A house key
* A luggage rack or bench that can substitute as one
* Unisex rubber flip-flops in a few sizes (6, 8,10, 12) for impromptu beach trips. Get them for $3 each at Old Navy. You'll get so much bang out of those bucks.
* A small tray for jewelry and keys
* Disposable cameras
* If you live in an urban area with parking restrictions, take the time to get a permanent visitor parking pass and make your guest's visits stress-free. Also keep a clamp jar with coins for meters.
* A notebook and pens
* A covered bulletin board to "sign" with a photo from their visit
* And my favorite all-time guest bait--a chic container of pretty candy, like pink jelly beans in a footed glass canister. You'll be an instant vacation destination!


Tip: Keep it all aesthetically pleasing yet accessible in an armoire like this Pottery Barn one, right. Just be sure to show your guests what's behind the doors! Unless they're snoopy, they'll never find it on their own.

On Sunday evening, what your guests will have appreciated is consideration, comfort and fun...not pretension. Don't spend so much time trying to impress your guests that you forget to think of what they will actually like. More than anything, they're coming to see you, so be sure to provide that above all else.


Have a great week (and weekend)!

Interior Design, Bedroom, by Erinn Valencich.

Anthropologie Canopy Bed: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=5782635763627682008&id=56501&parentid=LIVE_FURNITURE_BED_FRAMES&pushId=LIVE_FURNITURE_BED_FRAMES&popId=LIVE_FURNITURE&sortProperties=%2BmarketingPriority%2C-startDate&navCount=6&navAction=poppushpush&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=one

Interior Design, Bathroom, courtesy of dominomag.com. Photo by Jason Penney.

Old Navy Flip-flops: www.oldnavy.com

Pottery Barn Armoire: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p8332/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C20%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Carmoire&cm%5Fsrc=SCH