It is hard to design a room when you have an idea of what you want it to look like, and the toddler has a totally different vision. Mine was antique fire trucks. Just like his old room in the old house. We would put up the board and batten, and paint it the same navy color that we had before. It would look amazing.
He wanted Cars. The End.
So, because I am a kind and loving mother, I let him have some of what he wanted. Not all but some. And in the end, it is super cute.
So lets start with the before, shall we?
Love it. Two doorways, wood paneling and fluorescent lighting. Awesome.
And that carpet. So nasty.
So we ripped down the wood paneling, tore out the carpet, and ripped out that ugly desk and lighting. We closed off the doorway that lead to the kitchen, and the closet was sacrificed to the bathroom.
It is hard to see from the picture, but can you see the lines that go down the wall? Those are nail holes. Big nail holes. Apparently, whoever put up the paneling was so in love with it, they assumed it would live forever. So they put big fat nails in the wall, essentially ruining it. Fabulous.
Now, use your imagination for a second. Imagine that the hard drive containing all my "during" pictures did not get dropped and broken, and that you are seeing someone mud the entire wall. The process of skim coating basically muds and sands the entire wall, so you are left with a much smoother surface in which to paint.
Got the vision? Good. Let's move on.
The bright blue wall was not my first choice. But quite frankly, the room is very small. So blue and "hot green", as the boy calls it, makes it not seem so cramped in there. The bed is full of friends. My children are hoarders of stuffed animals. If you can look closely, there is a purple Figment from Disney World with a tutu sitting front and center. I assure you, that was not bought for him.
The fire trucks and pictures still have a prominent place. Someday maybe we can do that room again.
The closet, light, hooks on the wall, and rug are all from Ikea, as are the little storage containers that are under the bed. Let me tell you, I will be a happy, happy girl the day I do not have to drive 500 miles for an Ikea. Which, for anybody who is counting, should be approximately 18-20 months from now. Cue the angels singing, folks. That will be a good day.
He has a puppy quilt that great grandma made him which is his bedspread. It must have been in the wash. It tends to alternate with Lightening McQueen.
Anyway, the closet is super cute and just his size for now. So it works for us. The pictures on the wall are the antique fire trucks. And you can see in this picture now, what you have yet to see in any picture of our house.
Baseboard. Take a minute. Appreciate it.
More on that another day.
And the changing table turned dresser because we (sniff, sniff) are all done with diapers at this house. In case anyone cares, my brother insists I stole this from him. I assure you, if he ever gets around to having kids, it will be dropped off at his house the moment he announces it. Until then, it is needed to hold pajamas.
His toy box that is currently empty. Someday soon, I would like to make a cushion for the top of the toy box. Maybe something in green. The tractors and barn just sit on top, because it would be a pain to put them away all the time. Great Grandpa found the barn at a garage sale, and repainted it all up for him.
And of course, Mickey and the firefighter made it to the room. I looked long and hard for this print. He'll be hanging up for a long time.
We may be doing a redo of this room very soon. We are planning to build him a new bed, and take out the rocking chair. On my next trip to Ikea, which is very soon (yay!) I plan to get him some more pieces that match his furniture.
I like this little room, even if it is tiny. It holds everything we need it to. It is bright and cherry, just like the 2 year old who inhabits it. And if this tiny house has taught me anything, it is that we don't need so much stuff around anymore.
That's it for this edition. The little people are destroying something as we speak, I am sure. More soon...
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