One Room Challenge!

Can you just feel the excitement?! It's One Room Challenge time! For those of you who are not familiar with the phenomenon that is the ORC, it is a semi-annual design lovefest, featuring 20 talented interior designers/bloggers/DIY enthusiasts on Wednesdays, owned and operated by Linda of Calling It Home, who sweetly/smartly invited link-up participants in Fall 2013. Think of us Thursday participants as the "farm team"--some of my favorites from last year are in the official program this year.

So I had hinted at what I was going to be doing here and here. That's not a hint? That's straight up telling you my plan, you say? Well, whatever. :) Today, let's talk about my inspiration for my daughter's bedroom.

Before we begin, let me tell you a bit about her. Bela Simone is 8.5 years old. She loves My Little Pony, plans to be a teacher when she grows up, and has the best laugh of anyone I know. Before she was born my son (who was three at the time) wanted to name her "Bunny Milkshake." The two of them spend nearly half their lives at their dad's house and the other half (my favorite) with my husband and me. Our houses are basically across the street from each other, in two different but similar neighborhoods. His house is a mid-century modern ranch and ours is a mid-century modern split-level, which we moved into a little over a year ago to be closer to school.  

I want Bela's bedroom to feel pretty; to be a space that when she is an adult she thinks back on with fondness and pride; and for her to always always feels like this was a labor of love.

We are starting with this duvet cover.  If you are on the fence about splurging on higher-quality bedding for a child, I urge you to just do it. This is such nice bedding; the old design rule about the closer to your skin, the better the quality of textiles is true. However, the colors and pattern have limited where our design can go...

My very unsatisfying plan for a long time was to just paint the walls a color that coordinated with what is in the duvet cover. Until I saw this room. 


via

Agent Carter. She was the girlfriend of Captain America and is now on her own in NYC after World War II. I adore the girly floral wallpaper, the built-in shelves, and the daybed with sconces.

I have also always wanted to create a canopy like the one in this room by Albert Hadley.

Autumn Clemons

Or, this one by ORC participant Autumn Clemons.

And with lots of special touches like this closet by Julia Ryan.

Julia Ryan

So, as much for you all as it is to keep my thoughts organized, here's the plan:

1. Buy wallpaper (fingers crossed my local store has it since it's sold out online) and pre-cut moldings from Home Depot. Figure out how to get the wallpaper on the wall. Add moldings. Answer whether I will need paint.
2. Buy enough pompom trim for drapes, bedskirt, and bulletin board.
3. Find best price on Parsons desk and get it ordered.
4. Probably order some neon feathers. Make a little arts & crafts project with my sweet Boo-Boo.
5. Pick up a few more poster frames and ribbon.
6. Source drapes and valance in acceptable colorway.
7. Design layout for gallery wall.
8. Decide if we want sheers or will try to patch roller shade.
9. New light fixture?? Sconces??
10. Is there room for the blue & pink chair from last spring's ORC?
11. Pick up some other little items and style like crazy!

It's really not that much to do. The basics are in place, and with the exception of the desk, all of the furniture has already been purchased. But there is some DIY involved and that's not particularly my jam. 

We also only have six now five weeks--reveal coming May 7! I hope you will follow along. :) Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin