Install day always starts the same way: furniture wrapped within an inch of its life, dust covers everywhere, and me trying to see the finished room before it exists yet. This one was worth the wait. Behind the desk sits a 1940s Italian dry bar, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, the piece that ended up setting the tone for the entire room.

Atlanta interior designer Sarah Bowman breaks down three design rules worth breaking, no matter what stage of life you're in.

With Thanksgiving next week, you might be realizing that guests are arriving soon and your "guest room" is actually a storage room with a bed shoved in the corner. Or worse: you've got a perfectly decorated guest room that looks magazine-ready but feels about as welcoming as a hotel lobby. Most guest rooms fall into one of two camps—neglected afterthoughts or over-styled spaces that feel untouchable. Here's how to create a guest room that actually makes people feel welcome.