The Step-By-Step Process I Used To Design This Unique Arlington Guest Suite

This is the final headboard/night stands!

This space is a testament to thoughtful collaboration and innovative design. Every element—from the custom furniture to the reimagined headboard—was meticulously crafted to reflect a harmonious blend of form and function. Working closely with my client and a team of skilled contractors, we transformed an old cabinet into a unique headboard paired with integrated bedside tables.

The genius of the design lies in its seamless integration along the wall. Our talented woodworkers repurposed the cabinet’s storage, converting it into a refined linen closet, while preserving the original doors on the far sides to serve as elegant nightstands. Sanded to a smooth finish and stained in a rich walnut hue, the headboard effortlessly complements the platform bed and walnut-accented picture ledges adorning the wall.

This is what we started with.

Originally part of a ten-year-old second-story addition—where the primary bedroom and a combined bathroom/laundry were created—the space down the hall was once an art studio with an unfinished, roughed-in bathroom. Last year, with careful planning alongside our architect and contractors, we transformed the art studio by bisecting it to form a new, inviting guest room with a dedicated bathroom, complete with a custom closet and a skylight above the bed.

Thoughtful touches abound: leather pulls replace metal ones to ensure safety without compromising style, and the nightstands now feature sleek, side-mounted reading lamps that free up surface space. The skylight is equipped with motorized blinds and a custom light-blocker, ensuring a serene, darkened environment for a restful sleep.

Using the back of the cabinets they created the headboard and storage doors

We chose a beautiful and soft rug that blended nicely with the warm wood tones in the room.

talk about a custom fit!

Here is the view as you walk into the room with the new bathroom to the right.

My client wanted a reading chair in this space, so we created a little reading nook next to the winow.

My client is an artist and it is very important to her that the rooms in the house are filled with art.

Here’s an example of her artwork

This is the bathroom attached to the guest room

This project stands out as a truly collaborative journey, and my client is overjoyed with the result. Guests consistently remark on how the space—its bespoke bed, refined storage, and serene ambiance—exudes both warmth and sophistication. It’s a win for everyone, and a design narrative I’m incredibly proud to share.