Hosting for the Holidays

November 25, 2024|By The Tim Barber Architects Team

The holidays are just around the corner, and with them comes the chaos of hosting family and friends. While welcoming loved ones into your home is a highlight of the season, it often brings a mix of joy and stress. But what if your home could provide guests comfort and privacy, without sacrificing yours? In this month’s blog post, we highlight a few guest accommodation strategies that maximize gracious convenience during the holidays.

Dual-Use Spaces

In the basement of a new Beverly Hills home, we created a versatile media room featuring a custom Murphy bed and adjacent closets; all hidden behind white oak doors. The room often serves as a gathering space for cocktails, game nights, and casual hangouts. When overnight visitors arrive, the queen-sized Murphy bed folds down to provide a comfortable, private sleeping area; while the built-in closets offer practical storage for guest belongings. A bar, kitchenette, and a private bathroom, make it fully self-contained when needed. This setup is ideal for the homeowners, who want a flexible space that accommodates visitors without the need for a permanent guest room.

Media Room Elevation
Concept image and elevation of the Murphy bed and closets, which appear as built-ins when not in use.
Media Room Closet Elevation
Elevation of one of the closets adjacent to the Murphy bed (left); and the completed closet (right).

Compact Closets

Built-in cabinets with a rod and shelving offer an efficient solution for storage in guest quarters, particularly when space is at a premium. For the guest bedroom in a recent renovation and addition project, custom cabinetry stands in for a traditional closet, maximizing the room’s square footage while still offering plenty of storage options. The shelving houses folded clothes, shoes, and accessories, while the rod offers just enough space to hang a few garments – striking a balance between functionality and space efficiency.

Guest Room Cabinets Elevation
Elevation of the guest room with cabinets for guest storage (left). View into the guest room, showing one of the completed cabinets (right).

Convenience Stations

Another feature we often recommend in or near guest rooms are small convenience stations – similar to what you may find in a hotel room. Incorporating these stations provide easy access to coffee, tea, or other beverages without the need to enter the main kitchen. Small additions like this offer a thoughtful, self-sufficient guest experience. For our homeowners, this setup also helps reduce the flow of traffic into the main living areas while preparing holiday meals.

Convenience Station Elevation
A rendering of a convenience station, currently being finalized for an in-progress project.

Shared (or not) Outdoor Space

For guests, outdoor spaces can offer both seclusion and connection. A private patio or balcony provides a peaceful retreat to enjoy a morning coffee or unwind after a day of activities.. Alternatively, shared access to the main outdoor living spaces – a courtyard, pergola, deck, or pool area – fosters togetherness over shared meals and outdoor play. 

27 Tim Barber Architects Classical Contemporary Pool And Yard
This Beverly Hills residence now features a contemporary pool house that doubles as a guest house, and shares access to the expansive pool, patios, and yard.
25 Side Entry Southern Colonial Residence Tim Barber Architects 1
In Atherton, we designed a new Greek Revival residence that includes a brick entry terrace for guests, and a private sitting area.
28 Rear Facade Tim Barber Architects Mediterranean Revival
Our work on this historic Mediterranean Revival residence in Los Angeles included restoring the private second-floor balcony, which is adjacent to a charming guest suite.

ADUs & MORE

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or guest houses are an increasingly popular request from our homeowners. When not hosting, these standalone structures serve multiple purposes: a pool house for summer (or in California, year-round) entertaining, a music room for practice, a quiet office for remote work, or a gym. With spaces serving dual functions, homeowners can accommodate both short-term guests and long-term needs without compromising valuable space or privacy in the main house.

Pool House And Pool
This new, petite pool house includes a vaulted sitting room, a fireplace surrounded by bookcases, a guest bedroom, and a full bath, all of which can be enjoyed with or without guests.

With innovative design choices, we can create a welcoming environment for guests while still preserving the flow and function of your home. Whether it’s optimizing space, enhancing hospitality, or offering both seclusion and connection, our team can help make your home holiday retreat. Contact us here to learn more.