Moving On Up

Last week Colton moved on up to a real big boy bed.  After the crib, down came the rail, and we had ourselves a toddler bed for just over a year.  Back in June during our SLEEPING DISASTER  we decided maybe he wasn't comfortable with a the small bed and small blankets.  I opted for a twin mattress on the floor first so he could get used to no security on the sides since his real bed would float between his windows.  His crib does convert to a full size, but for space reasons (ie toys), we will do a twin now full later.

I swear I brainstormed so many different bed options (mainly building this one from Ana White's plans).  Instead I opted for a cheap (ie FREE) option by repairing and painting on old white Robin bed from Ikea that used to be a daybed in our playroom in a navy blue.  I so wish I had before pictures and well as during pictures.  With very skeptical looks from Rusty, I decided to repair this one all by myself.  Apparently too many monkeys jumping on this bed over this years had caused the railing/screws for the famous ikea slat system to pull out.  Faux wood isn't the easiest to repair :)  In the end I did it!  No joke it took me 5 days though.  Probably 4 days longer than it would have taken Rusty.  I am proud, though, none the less.

One of the most exciting things about this transition is the use of the duvet I made for him when I made his crib bedding.  I was IN LOVE with the fabric from Hobby Lobby 4 years ago (before we even knew if was a boy!) and since they were clearancing it, it was purchase now in case of boy or miss out if it was a boy.  The cheapskate in me did NOT win this time.  Purchased all they had.  Made a crib skirt and a bumper for the crib and a full size duvet for later.  Yes, I banked on loving this thing for a long time.  What a win!  I still, nearly 4 years later, LOVE LOVE LOVE this fabric.  So versatile for a boy room for sure!

Colton is very proud of his bed telling me it is bigger bigger bigger like my bed.  Any concerns of him falling off are gone.  Sleeps like a champ in the center of the bed.

Something I never anticipated was seeing a lamp and a picture frame (albeit a frame with no picture yet) on a nightstand next to his bed would make him seem so much older.

Ignore the terrible pictures.  So much natural light comes through his windows (even with the blinds down) it makes an amateurs job difficult :)

Pinterest Playroom

Blah.  This is how I would describe our playroom.  With 7 years of just little girls, this room has always been feminine.  Now that both girls are in school all day, Colton is spending more and more time in here.  It was time to gender neutralize it!  I needed this room to not only be an attractive space for my daughters (9 & 7) and son (2 ½), but also be age appropriate for all 3.  This was not easy!

I forgot to take the picture before the dark purple sheers came down from the window and the VERY GIRLY art came down behind the bed, but here is the ugly and embarrassingly boring before:



Then I found this picture.  This became my starting point. 

Alphabet wall inspiration

Shortly after deciding on the alphabet wall (not yet knowing where all my letters would come from), I found these 3 fabrics from Hobby Lobby.  I also purchased a large US map and poster frame for the room.

Now began the task of tracking down all of my letters.  Some were easy- the O is a decorative life preserver, the T a cross made of horseshoes, and the I a metal traffic light (all 3 from HL).  My incredibly handy hubby cut me the A & Z out of scrap MDF we had out in our garage.  As for the rest, they were either unfinished wood from HL that I used acrylic paint on or I DIY’d them from other materials I had lying around (lots of scrapbook paper, old frames, metal wire, old wood artwork, vinyl etc).

The wall color is Silver Aluminum by Kwal and I adore the paint color so it stayed.  Although, if you don’t know this, I do have a paint addiction and am very willing to repaint anything and everything at anytime! 

I sewed new pillowcases and recovered existing throw pillows with my fabric. 

I then put the incredibly talented hubby back to the saw again for arched cornices.  Just for fun I have thrown in a pic of our redneck way of drawing the arch.

Funny thing is, I was convinced it was uneven.  I measured it (you know, to prove my point to Rusty) and what do you know- it was even!

Next up was covering the cornices.  NOT FUN!  I used spray adhesive for the batting.  That was easy.  Wrapping fabric around the arch, NOT SO EASY. 

Really happy with how it all turned out though! 

I plan to do something above the television with large pictures of each individual kiddo (either canvas or framed poster size prints).

Maybe next time I am bored I will pretty up this disaster (the closet)….

I am sharing over at Kristen's Creations, Savvy Southern Style, and Home Stories A to Z