La-Z-Boy Design Stories: Guest Sleep Cabin Makeover in Quebec

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If you’ve ever visited Quebec, you’ll know there is a lot of greenery, especially outside the Gatineau region. These green spaces offer a nice and quiet environment for peace, relaxation and being one with nature.

If you’ve owned a cottage, you know what that’s like. This is the case with our latest design story. Michelle MacLellan, the interior designer for our La-Z-Boy Hunt Club location, helped a client recently with a guest cottage space that is just as cozy and relaxing as a regular-sized home.

“It is the right size space for anyone to stay in for a weekend getaway,” she says.

What did she do to the space, and how did she make it look as stunning as it does?

In This Article…

1. About The Project
2. The Interior Design Process
3. Furniture & Accessories Chosen
4. End Result

About The Project

Our story began four years ago when the client initially contacted the Hunt Club location to help furnish their main cottage space. Although this location was outside the Ottawa and Kingston areas, our team decided to take on the challenge since we've served customers in Gatineau before.

Happy with how their main cottage turned out, the customers contacted us again to design their guest cabin.

Michelle decided to take on this project and furnish the space with a modern organic guest area.

“The customer has a very modern taste in her design so I thought it would be a great idea to blend that with the woodland area that the cottage is situated in,” Michelle says.

Along with the modern design elements Michelle wanted to bring, the client also wanted the area to be multifunctional.

The photos below are what the space looked like before La-Z-Boy came in to freshen up the space and after...

Before...

After!

To learn more about how this project came to life, keep reading to learn about the design process.

The Interior Design Process

According to Michelle, picking out furniture was a bit easier for this particular project, since the space was already furnished. “I took some inspiration from the previous project and tried to incorporate modern elements in this space as well,” she said.

Though the room was small, its open-concept design gave Michelle plenty of space to work with. She used area rugs to ground and define different sections, helping to create distinct focal points within the space.

Her approach was to blend modern elements with natural materials, creating a stylish yet organic guest room. To do this, she took heavy inspiration from the large window that showed off a lot of greenery. Most of the furniture has a noticeable bias towards a window view, including the sleeping area.

She used a lot of neutral tones to help emphasize the green accents outside, to help draw people towards the view of the window. “You’ll notice a lot of the pillows and throws are beige with minimal colouring; it’s done for a reason,” she says. Other than wood accents, there are not many colours in this guest room

Speaking of wood, Michelle thought adding different tones of wood and plant life would create a more modern organic feel, as well as create layering within the space.

She complemented the room's design with streamlined, low-profile furniture, which perfectly suited the modern organic aesthetic. To enhance functionality, Michelle added two Maeve swivel chairs in the center, allowing guests to stay engaged in the space without needing to get up.

Furniture & Accessories Chosen

Within the modern organic guest room cottage, you will notice four main areas of interest. There’s a living area, a coffee table and stool area, a treadmill next to one of the windows, and a sleeping area.

Each space has its use with guests being able to jump from one to the other without needing to go to the main cottage home for much. 

The living area is conveniently located near the largest window in the room, so guests can enjoy the greenery without needing to get up and look out. This area consists of a three-seater sofa, which is a popular frame called the Meyer. 

The Maeve Chairs are also in the space, which Michelle believes is the ideal modern chair for this project since they have low backs and do not obstruct any views when standing up. These chairs are also paired with two ottomans that provide storage, enhancing the multifunctional demand.

As for lighting, Michelle chose two lamps that paired well together. Her initial idea was for her to add two end tables in between the Meyer, but there wasn't enough space for two. So, she found a great slim floor lamp to help with mood lighting.

As for the upholstery, Michelle chose neutral pillows with simple patterns to not veer eyes too far away from the window view.

In the coffee area, Michelle recommended adding a coffee bar so that guests wouldn’t need to go to the main cottage area for coffee. There is also a bistro-style sitting area with rattan bar stools and a slim dark oak dining table. 

Michelle notes that these elements create more texture in the space for a dynamic appeal. She chose the sizing to match not only a coffee setting but also a place where people could set up a laptop if they wanted to work.

When it came down to the treadmill placement, the client had initially this fitness machine in the corner where the coffee area now resides. Michelle decided to change the spot of the treadmill so users could now view out of the window for a more visual appeal when working out. 

“Not only can they look at the gorgeous view, but they can also now watch television if they want to,” she says.

Lastly, the sleeping area encapsulates a king-size bed with two simple nightstands that hold table lamps for task lighting. There are also two low-sitting benches so that they do not obstruct the view of the space. 

Michelle also chose the same type of area rug as the living so that they complimented each other well.

End Result

As you can see from the before and after photos, Michelle turned what was once an already great space, into an even better one. “All it took was a little organic touches here and there and the rest is history,” she says.

After this experience, Michelle’s clients are once again excited to have worked with La-Z-Boy and would not miss an opportunity to work with another designer in the future. 

Michelle even notes how excited the client is to use the space to themself. “I think they even said they like this area even more than their main cottage,” she happily exclaims.

What's Next?

After finishing off this project, Michelle hopes that this guest cottage becomes well-loved. “It seems to be already but I hope a lot of people get to see this lovely hidden gem,” she says.

Now that you have seen what La-Z-Boy can come up with, how do you think they would do in your space? 

If you enjoy the look of any of the furniture pieces showcased, take a look at our Design Program, so you can get a chance to become a design story today! You could work with Michelle at our Hunt Club location if you’re looking to furnish your living space!

Feel free to take advantage of these interior design services by coming into any of our furniture stores in Ottawa or Kingston, or by booking an appointment online. 

If you’re interested in seeing more design stories, take a look at some more by clicking this link. To learn more about La-Z-Boy as a whole, take a look at this comprehensive Furniture Guide.

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