We’re excited to share the finished photos of the two compact but mighty bonus sleeping nooks in the duplex, along with images and details of two of the hardest-working storage areas: the hallway linen closet and the locked owner’s closet that guests don’t access. These little nooks and closets pull a lot of weight for the rental, so we wanted to show how they came together.
Because each side of the duplex already includes two larger bedrooms with closets and dressers, we designed these extra spaces as “bonus sleeping nooks.” They’re a common feature in Cape Charles and other beach towns and they comply with building and rental codes here (we even have an annual rental inspection). They’re intended as cozy spots for extra guests during short stays and include practical comforts like a ceiling fan, light-blocking blinds, a sound machine, and wall sconces you can switch on and off without getting out of bed.
These nooks aren’t meant for year-round living, but for a week-long beach vacation—where guests spend most of their time out and just need a comfortable place to sleep—they work perfectly. We focused on making them cozy, comfortable, and visually interesting, with removable murals providing much of the personality in each space.
During planning, we considered many layouts—bunks, two twins, a trundle, one large bed, even a Murphy bed. After a public poll, two side-by-side twin beds were the clear favorite. Twin beds are a practical, adult-friendly choice (easier to climb into than bunks), and they can be pushed together when a larger sleeping surface is needed, which adds versatility.
A trundle option received fewer votes—likely because many guests prefer not to share a bed or climb over someone at night. A single large bed received even fewer votes, probably because other bedrooms already offer queen beds and people appreciated a room where individuals could sleep separately.
When you enter a nook, a pocket door saves space by not swinging into the room. We installed a shallow wall shelf with baskets for vertical storage—great for kids’ pajamas, favorite books, or a few items of clothing. The shelving is only 9″ deep, so it doesn’t feel intrusive and still leaves room at the foot of the bed for a suitcase.
If the shelf storage isn’t enough, there’s a large, mostly empty linen closet just outside the sleeping nook—literally one step away. It’s stocked with guest towels and extra linens, plus a high chair and a Pack ’N Play for families with infants. We intentionally left the lower half free for guests to store suitcases or overflow items.
One clever storage trick: we keep the high chair legs organized and visible using labeled 3″ PVC pipe couplings secured in a corner of the closet. That way the legs aren’t lost on a high shelf and are easy for guests or cleaners to grab.
The linen closet also holds extra bath towels (each bedroom has a set waiting on the bed), Pack ’N Play sheets, an iron, a hairdryer, and a first aid kit. We used a label maker to clearly mark bins and shelves, which helps guests find what they need and helps our cleaning crew restock quickly and correctly between stays. We even note helpful instructions—one bin is labeled “use gray washcloths for makeup removal” because cleaners reported light-colored washcloths getting stained by makeup.
We also photograph amenities like the high chair and Pack ’N Play and include those images in the listing so potential guests see them immediately instead of having to read fine print. The Pack ’N Play fits neatly between the double closets in the main bedrooms and can be placed in other spots as needed.
The most heavily used storage spaces are our locked owner’s closets located under the stairs by the TVs. Renters can’t access these; they hold supplies our cleaning crew needs to flip each side of the duplex efficiently. We stock bulk refills of hand soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dish detergent, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash to avoid last-minute runs.
Because the owner’s closets are compact, we added wire shelving on the back of the door for small items like coffee supplies, tea bags, extra light bulbs, bathroom spray, and small trash bags. A tall plastic garage shelving unit—split across the two closets thanks to a sloped ceiling—holds toilet paper, paper towels, kitchen trash bags, and spare linens. These extras help prevent panic during tight turnover windows when quick replacements might be needed.
Some readers may be surprised by the breadth of items we supply, but offerings vary by region. In some areas, renters bring their own sheets and towels, while here it’s common for hosts to provide them. The locked owner’s closet also contains access to the tankless water heater and HVAC system, and we keep a hidden key available for service technicians so they can perform repairs without the owners present.
That wraps up the last few finished interior spots in the duplex. We’re planning a video walk-through to show how everything flows together and will be photographing the back patios soon—those makeovers exceeded our expectations. Fingers crossed for good weather so we can share those photos ASAP.
P.S. You can view the other finished rooms in the duplex—two kitchens, the front and back of the house, four other bedrooms, six bathrooms, two living and dining rooms, and two mudroom/laundry rooms—along with the renovation process in the duplex category on our site. It’s nearly two years of updates across about twenty posts.
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