Among the Guests: A soulful Oxford cottage shaped by instinct, history and heart

When Hayden and Will Guest saw a vacant little cottage on Buchanan Avenue with vines growing in the windows, they saw nothing but potential. It was old, originally built in 1940, but the age was appealing to them, and they knew they could make it their own. They purchased the 1,400-square-foot home in 2012 and did a full renovation. They kept the original, quaint floor plan, which featured two bedrooms and one bathroom, but added a small 250-square-foot addition to the home, including a master closet and an additional bathroom.

Over the years, the home has continued to evolve and grow with them. The addition of a small swimming pool created a backyard oasis that makes you forget you’re just a few blocks from the bustle of the Square. During their first renovation, they painted the home white with gray trim, but it’s now a rich black, setting the tone for the moody and eclectic space that lies within.

Then in 2023, the Guests tackled a second renovation, which encompassed enclosing the side porch, adding a large new den off the back of the house, and a powder room. The second renovation expanded the home to 2,300 square feet and improved its functionality. During that renovation, they also raised all the doorways, an idea that Hayden attributes to her husband, Will. They brought in reclaimed vintage doors to fill the new larger openings, keeping with Hayden’s philosophy that old is always better than new.

“Old stuff is just more interesting to me,” she says. “I like unusual things and I will always choose weird over practical. I appreciate old, flawed pieces that have a story to tell. I want my rugs to be tattered and my canvases to be torn. I love texture and appreciate most things that have an organic feel; I get that from my naturalist mom.”

Hayden grew up in Marigold, Mississippi, but has called Oxford home for 25 years. Her mom, Becky Hiter, lives in Taylor, Mississippi and is a retired art teacher and artist. Becky’s art is among the many personal pieces that fill Hayden and Will’s home.

“I am very visual. I think this is probably due to my exposure to art from a young age.”

Will, a realtor, is detail-oriented and meticulous and has been intricately involved in their renovation projects as well. The home is a combination of their two visions and personalities. Their home is filled with unique and collected pieces, the kind that feel like they have stories to tell and have lived many lives before landing on Buchanan Avenue. Even what is new has been carefully curated and considered to fit with the age of their home and the overall vibe of the space.

For example, Hayden selected exposed hinges on some of the custom cabinetry in her kitchen, a nod to a more vintage style than what most people opt for today. She loves living finishes like unlacquered brass that will patina and age over time. Hayden is also an avid art collector, and her walls are filled with unique and eclectic pieces.

“I buy art that makes me feel something. It is not about who the artist is or the value for me.”

In a home where so much is special, it would be hard to choose a favorite, but Hayden says if she had to choose a favorite spot, she’d probably pick a spot that pays homage to her mom.

“I love the corner in my den that houses a charcoal drawing my mom did years ago, it’s hanging above a quirky little Danish chair. Something about this spot feels homey to me,” she says.

Adding to the inviting nature of the cozy cottage floor plan, the Guest home is rich with color and texture.

“I tend to like warm colors on the floors, so I typically end up with cool colors on my walls.”

The side porch, which was enclosed in 2023, now features a tonal combination of green paint on the walls and trim. She doesn’t shy away from color, and the many vintage rugs that fill the space are rich with color.

The home’s original living room features the original fireplace. Originally a simple brick fireplace, they added pink zellige tile to the surround. Zellige tile is filled with character and imperfections, which is exactly what Hayden loves about it. The funky, unexpected color works perfectly in the space. Filled with vintage furniture, that living room now serves as the entry to the home and sets the tone for the whole house. Hayden says probably 90% of the items in her home are old.

From that front room, you can see into their dining room, which is wallpapered in a moody black-and-white floral paper, set off by a glass chandelier. A collection of vintage chairs around a round table keeps the space from feeling too fussy or fancy, just inviting and perfect for conversation.

Their new living room, added in the 2023 addition, is a light-filled room featuring great views of the backyard, but centers around custom-built-ins flanking a fireplace framed out with a vintage mantle. After a long search for the perfect mantle, Hayden knew she loved the shape of this one, but it was painted hot pink when she found it. She spent weeks stripping off layers of paint to reveal the treasure below. A cozy sherpa vintage sectional fills the room with comfortable seating, under a leggy, modern, but mid-century-inspired light fixture.

When asked where inspiration comes from, Hayden says:

“I have saved images for decades; first from magazines and books, then Pinterest and design blogs when those were all the rage, and now of course, Instagram. There are so many creative people out there curating spaces—it’s sort of a bottomless pit of inspiration.”

The Guests love to travel and find lots of inspiration and treasures on their trips.

“I always come back home after a trip feeling inspired in some way. I like for my space to be a collection of things that I love. Achieving that just takes time, and I think you have to embrace the imperfections along the way.”

Sometimes, hobbies turn into passions, and after years of collecting and curating for her own home, Hayden’s hobby has turned into a job.

“After our second renovation, I was at the Round Top Antique Fair in Texas, shopping with friends and sort of had an epiphany that I needed to somehow make this into my job.”

Shortly after that trip, Hayden launched her antique and vintage business called The Lounging Hound, named after her constant sidekick and now mascot, her beagle, Piper.

The Lounging Hound is located right next to Taylor Grocery in downtown Taylor, Mississippi.

“I share a studio space with my talented friend Nicole, the owner and designer of Niett Metals. It’s sort of a non-traditional, appointment-only shop, but if I am not out treasure hunting, I can meet people there anytime,” she says.

In addition to her studio space, you can find her posting inspiration photos—like the ones she spent years saving for herself—on The Lounging Hound Instagram @the_lounging_hound, or shop her many eclectic finds there as well.

Her style can be described as eclectic, but when it comes to design rules, Hayden trusts her instincts.

“I get asked what my style is constantly, and I have no idea how to answer other than I buy what I like and I trust my gut. I am a mixer and I don’t follow any sort of design rules; it’s more about a feeling for me. I think if you consistently buy things you love, it will all end up working together.”