for staying a while

The guest bedroom is neutral by design. Soft whites, warm woods, clean lines. A traditional base—crown molding, high baseboards, the curve of old window frames—anchored with minimalist furniture that doesn’t compete, just complements.

What gives it depth are the photographs: a small collection of black-and-white portraits of West Indian women from the 1910s. Their presence is both calm and commanding. Each one holds your gaze without asking for it. They live quietly on the walls, but you feel them as soon as you enter the room.

I like that the space doesn’t insist too loudly on anything. It’s just prepared. A made bed, a small carafe of water, light filtering in at the right hour. Depending on who’s visiting, I’ll change the books on the console. This week: Black Flora, a celebration of Black florists and their work with flowers, and Live Beautiful, a book I always come back to when thinking about how style and soul can live in the same room.

The guest room is about comfort, yes—but also about offering something considered. A space that speaks without clutter. That holds quiet, and history, and beauty all at once.

—L