being a great guest and being a great host are both on my mind. we’ve just enjoyed several nights of my parent’s masterful hospitality on the brogden road. meanwhile, back in atlanta, the finer details of guest spaces over on stovall street are coming into focus. i’m not sure if it’s god or the devil who dwells in the details, but i’m sure that mastery of detail makes for great hospitality.

a super mattress. clear desk space. a place to sit down. thoughtful lighting. room to unpack. spotlessness. the basics of a guest room are pretty simple. remember a pleasant hotel stay and you’ll have a good checklist. but how to kick it up a notch? the answer lies with empathy and close observation.

lesson 55 (host): pack a suitcase and spend a night or two in your own guest room. there’s really no other way to nail the details. is the bedside lamp in just the right place? does the floor squeak? do the doors latch properly? great hosts sweat the small stuff.

lesson 56 (guest): if you’re staying more than one night, unpack your suitcase. it’s nicer in several ways. digging through suitcases is no fun. hanging up your clothing eases wrinkles. moving in helps you feel less transient.

lesson 57 (host): you can’t have too many shaker pegs. truly. there is no more simple, inexpensive way to make any bedroom better. mom has done this for decades, so imagine our delight when jb and i first checked into the casa camper. . .

. . . casa camper has, more fully than any hotel we’ve experienced, anticipated our every need. the rooms are simple, verging on stripped down, but not one moment of the guest experience has been neglected– and the rooms are lined their full length with a modern version of the shaker peg.

lesson 58 (host): a fresh guest room isn’t just about the linens. i’ve never once, not even for a one night visit, failed to find fresh flowers brightening the guest room mom has readied for me. she’s a masterful gardener and florist, but anyone can put a single bloom in a bud vase. that, a quick dusting and damp mop, along with a carafe of fresh water send subtle signals that the room is newly tended. less fragrant flowers (and a spritz of unscented febreeze) are good choices.

lesson 59 (guest): the best guests earn their keep without being asked. sing for your supper. wash dishes. leave your room tidy. strip the bed linens when you leave. don’t wait to be asked; do small things without even asking. hosts and guests do their tiny dance of not wanting to bother, but no host will truly object if you take out the garbage or refill the sugar bowl or play the guitar on the porch. again, empathy and observation are your best guides.

lesson 60 (hosts): don’t cut corners on guest beds. higher thread counts. freshly ironed sheets. a choice of blankets and duvet. pillows matter a lot. . .

. . . so joyce lee piles them high and mixes soft and firm ones. the guest house gets mismatched pillowcases, but in the main house, all the beds are made up in crisp white. . .

. . .which makes swapping out easier.

rule 61: a guest room isn’t a storage unit.  cut the clutter. provide empty drawers and plenty of hanging space. the tiny guest room on brogden road doubles as sewing room, but all those supplies and equipment are tucked behind the door. fewer knick knacks leave your guests room to empty their pockets.

what else? my friend kay is one of the greatest hostesses i know. she has a full kitchenette adjacent to her guest room, and stocks it with granola and fruit, tea and coffee. even without that space, a hot water kettle is a thoughtful guest room amenity. . .

. . .and it only takes a moment the night before to lay out breakfast things in the kitchen.

finally, remember to have fun. host lightly. don’t overplan the itinerary. leave time to sit on the porch, or take a walk together. keep the menu simple and let your guests help out in the kitchen. guests: don’t overstay, but also let go of the guilt. nothing’s more tedious than a constant apology for ‘bothering’.  keep your footprint light, but never miss a chance to just sit and visit.

while our stovall street guest spaces are still a little rough, it’s nice to imagine them full of family and old friends. . .

. . .we should be ready about april, with plenty of lessons we learned on the brogden road. y’all come.