4 4. This delightful and highly functional structure serves as a guest house, workout space, pool house and garage. It is complete with a bedroom, full bath and refrigerator, 4 visitors plenty of room to enjoy an giving extended stay without feeling cramped in the main residence, which is a southern cottagestyle home located in one of Lexington’s older neighborhoods.
5. The living space for guests is located upstairs and includes this dressing area and ceramic tile fireplace. The imaginative sink was repurposed from a delicate light blue glass bowl in the shape of a flower, and the countertop is constructed from carefully arranged broken tiles.
Designing a successful guest home can be challenging, especially when space is at a premium. The best designs are both functional and comfortable, providing ample seating, sleeping and dining areas, using careful furniture placement to create division and maximize available space. CABIN HIDEAWAY This Louisville-area cabin is located just 50 yards from the main house, but it enjoys complete privacy thanks to a thick stand of evergreens. It is positioned on a slight rise to catch the western and southwestern breezes, which makes the porch a very comfortable place to sit and enjoy the quiet rural setting. At 620 square feet, it is equipped with everything guests need to enjoy complete autonomy from the main residence, including a full bath and kitchenette. Belinda Smith of Finishing Effects worked with the homeowner on the interior design, which incorporates a variety of items collected while she worked on a cattle ranch in New Mexico. They made smart use of the cabin’s large open design via 3 careful furniture placement and the use of area rugs to create a sense of division. The cabin has hosted a variety of guests throughout the years, including the homeowner’s daughter, who recently used it to record a collaborative album with a musician from northern Kentucky. Southland Log Homes provided the original logs, but David
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6. A four-poster queen bed and nearby sofa can easily sleep a family of three, and a separate crib is readily available for infants. The two hanging pendant lights have separate switches, making them ideal for reading.
Musselman helped with the final design and Tom Roach assisted in the carpentry to make the most of this space. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE This charming structure serves a variety of functions and is an example of creativity at its finest. Located behind a southern cottage-style home in one of Lexington’s older neighborhoods, the structure was designed to complement the main residence and includes a guest house, workout space, pool house, office and twocar garage. The shake roof, dormer windows and lightly stained beadboard ceiling are evidence of the homeowners’ attention to detail, and the heated pool provides a luxurious place for guests to enjoy a midnight swim. A hammock completes the perfect picture of an urban backyard oasis, while a bubble glass block wall in the full bath provides added visual interest. Impressively, the homeowners designed the building and the pool themselves, making the most out of a very limited space. Their efforts successfully turned this tiny backyard into a magnificent retreat for friends and family, who can now come and go with ease.