Monday, July 30, 2012

More Girly Bedrooms

Inspired by the ideas for the design of Bela's bedroom, I found this link to 33 Wonderful Girls Rooms. Here are my favorites and what I like about each of them.

1) The upholstered headboard would be so cozy for reading bedtime stories. 2) The coral pattern of the fabric on the headboard is timeless, and the color (also coral) is unique. 3) The rice paper lanterns over the bed are an inexpensive way to create some visual interest.


1) I'm a sucker for sleigh beds.The curved lines of this one are especially nice. 2) The purple canopy over the bed evokes the feeling of sleeping in a tent, and I like the added strings of pom poms for additional texture and color. 3) The outgrown princess costumes have been hung on the wall for display, adding to the overall fairy tale theme of the room.

1) The drapes are hung higher than the window for a grander look. 2) Either the wallpaper has been matched to the fabric of the window shade or the walls were covered in fabric. Regardless it creates a unified look in a small space. 3) The little window seat and the wall canopy over the bed create little nooks within the room.

This last photo, however, is my very favorite room. If it had been mine when I was a little girl, wild horses would not have been able to drag me out of there. Can't you just imagine running up and down those stairs?!


Which room do you like best? What do you wish your bedroom had been like when you were a little girl? Let me know in the comments!






Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Room Fit for My Princess


I've been staying awake during Bela's bedtime by imagining her bedroom re-decorated. She is turning six in September, and while she's still very much a little girl, the design I imagine is a little bit sophisticated.

Love this family-friendly house (4 kids under age 7!!!)
The above photo is from a Better Homes & Gardens featured house. The family has four children under age 7. Their little girl's bedroom has been designed to grow with her. The white walls and carpeting visually expand the space. 

Space is an issue in Bela's bedroom. It's pretty tiny at 10x10. Furthermore, there is not much wall space. One wall is dominated by her closet, another by the door and a large china cabinet that belonged to my dad's mother, and a third by a large window (which is actually two windows in one frame). The fourth wall has only one smaller window

Part of my plan is to make fabric-covered window shades for all three windows and cover the larger set of windows with drapes. There are two options, depending on Bela's color choice for the room.


1.  Pink
and
Shades                           Drapes

2.  Purple
and
Shades                           Drapes

The fabric samples above are all from Fabric.com. The drapery rod will be painted some wild color to coordinate with the fabric. The current plan is to use the long rod from Bela's closet, adding brackets and finials to match. Then I'll replace it in her closet with a rod that is closer to her height.

colorful curtain rods- what a great idea

  
Because the window is large, I am considering doing a valance, and I like the idea of using the contrasting fabric that is on the shade. We'll see, though. It would be an exaggeration to say I am a novice seamstress. I have never sewn anything.

I'd like to center Bela's bed in front of the big window, and I would really like to swap out what she has now for a daybed. I found the perfect one on Craig's List a few weeks ago for $75. It was black and had a low profile. The effect was sleek sophistication. Of course it was picked up in a snap, so here are a few choices I found online shopping:

HEMNES Daybed frame with 3 drawers IKEA Sofa, single bed, bed for two and storage in one piece of furniture. 
Hemnes Daybed from IKEA 

This one is currently on sale for $319, regularly priced $399. I like that it has drawers below for toy storage. And I think it is the one in the inspiration picture above.


Greek Key Daybed from Overstock.com

The second choice is more graphic but probably not as comfortable. It definitely does not have the storage space of the IKEA bed. And, it costs $200 more.

REGOLIT Floor lamp, bow IKEA Suitable for use above a coffee table; does not have to be ceiling mounted but is connected to an ordinary wall socket.

The Regolit Floor Lamp from IKEA

To give us some light for reading bedtime stories, there is this great floor lamp that could be placed in the corner of Bela's bedroom to hang over her bed.

Now that she is going into first grade, Bela has been asking for a desk in her bedroom. Here is the Whitney writing desk and hutch, a very cute choice from Pottery Barn Kids. The turned legs give it a more feminine look. I also like the color. However, at a base price of $259 (and another $99 for the hutch)--on sale!--I think this one is out of our price range.

 Whitney Writing Desk & Hutch

We will add some cute little flower hooks on the wall near a mirror that hangs at Bela's eye level. These will hold necklaces, bracelets, and hair supplies. None of which have a good place in her room now. At $12.95 each I will not likely have as many as in the photo.

  Flower Hang Ups
Land of Nod

Finally, in another corner of Bela's room, I will make a little reading nook. There is already a canopy hanging in the corner. To make it into a special place, we'll use a pouf or circle pillow inside the canopy. Then hang some little shelves on the wall to display her favorite books. Both pillows are from Etsy.

20" diameter round Pillow-Pouf Cover (Funda de cojín redondo 50cm). Amy Butler (Soul Blossoms) and Patricia Bravo fabrics. Double Piping  OR  Honey Bun Pouf



Great way to store books. The books become like artwork in a kids room. So cute.
Source: Daffodil Design

Now to set the budget, acquire all the stuff, and put it together! Do you think she'll like it??

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

House Hunters & House Beautiful

One more quick post because tonight on HGTV's House Hunters a former MSU football player and his wife (also named Carrie!) are searching for a home in East Lansing. Check it out at 10 p.m. 

 
One of the East Lansing houses from tonight's episode of House Hunters

Also, the July/August issue of House Beautiful magazine features designers' laundry rooms. The magazine is asking today for submissions of regular folks' beautiful laundry rooms. Upload your pics via their Facebook page, and while there, check out the pretty submission by Laurie Chattin-Jones.


My laundry room is still a work in progress, but I am very inspired by her photo. I love the colors and patterns. And the prettier the room, the more likely I am to spend time in it. Even if it's time spent folding laundry...

Will you be tuning in to House Hunters tonight? I can't wait to see if I recognize any of the houses!

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