Happy Saturday, friends!
I know we had a giveaway scheduled yesterday, but there’s some last minute things to work out…so you’ll be the first to know when it’s time!
We have big plans to work on (and I hope–mostly finish) the farmhouse table for the dining room today, touch up paint on the paneling & built ins, which would mean we are getting very close to the reveal! I cannot wait to show you just how different it looks!
So, you know me, as one project closes…
Another begins. This one will hopefully be a little less work, and I’m looking forward to some fluff makeovers…you know, ones that don’t involve us ripping moulding down, and building (and painting) 10 foot tall bookcases.
It’s time for Ava’s and Gray’s rooms to have minor makeovers.
For Gray, it’s a matter of better organization that will grow with him. You know what I mean…I hate to get rid of the train table, but if he hasn’t used it in a year, well, it’s time to go. He’ll need a desk one day or another table that he can actually get his legs under. His room will be spruced up with a new (less space-hogging headboard), fabrics, and space planning. More on that later…
For Ava, I’ve been pulling together some inspiration for her big-girl room. I’ll be honest. I’ve loved every second of the pink coma we’ve been in. She was my first girl, and it was painstakingly sweet to see her surrounded by all that soft pink.
It’s been fun, but it’s time for a little change.
You can see in the picture above the drapes my mom made for her room…they are lovely, and they are staying. So is the rug you see.
But again, it’s time to space plan…to rethink storage to accommodate more of her toys, dress up stuff, etc.
I can’t wait.
Here’s a very rough mood board I threw together last night…and this is no handmade home mood board. If you want real inspiration, head over to my bud’s place! But this one will do for now, as I add more or take away, and the board itself isn’t the project, so I’m okay with it being imperfect, right?
Want to hear some of my random design thoughts on this one? I think this post is as much for me as it is for you.
I chose this room as my major inspiration for a few reasons:
- I love the overall feel–it’s elegant, but not stuffy, and not overdone. Comfy elegance.
- The drapes remind me so very much of Ava’s, and I love the play of color between the pink and gray (ish) walls.
- The bedding looks so luxurious and ridiculously female. I love it all piled high, pillows overflowing.
- I love the paint treatment on the bed.
- I like the idea of bringing in some architectural element–wood on the walls, trim like shown above, etc.
I’m thinking I’ll paint the walls a pale, barely-there gray, kind of like this Sherwin Williams color–Ice Cube. I love the idea of a pale gray wall playing the backdrop to Ava’s full pink drapes.
The whole room’s design came about with a quilt. Matt’s grandmother sewed us a beautiful quilt when we were married, and I know it will be perfect at the foot of her bed.
Speaking of her bed…
I still have my queen-size wrought iron bed I grew up in, and I think we’ll bring that in…I just need to touch up some of the shiny brass and it’ll be as good as new.
I think we’ll have a blank canvas of white bedding to build upon. I’m dying for small explosions of color, pattern, and texture and we will need to balance some of that with white and simplicity.
amy butler floral, aqua, dandelion, layla grace burlap/crochet pillow, yellow, graphic
Here are some of my favorites…and I mean, I love them. I just can see a pile of throw pillows on the bed atop the white spread and vintage-inspired quilt. I can envision a couple of floor pillows to serve as a play area…point being I’m thrilled about bringing in lots of pattern to give A a small ray of sunshine.
Speaking of fabric, isn’t this wall of hoops incredibly cool???
We’ll keep her Dash & Albert Sienna Rose rug…man that thing has held up to a toddler well!
The rest of her furnishings are white, and quite simple in lines. Some will stay, but her changing table/dresser will probably go to give us a little more room for storage.
And her vanity is getting a makeover soon.
I love the idea of word art in her room. I want my kiddos to be inspired to live, to dream, to do hard things, and I want to surround them with words that encourage them.
One final touch will be the poms I had hanging at her birthday party. I love the coral pink and orange…just like the awesome collection you see above from under the sycamore.
And just think, this all started with a quilt.
Gorgeous inspiration Shaunna!! I follow you on Pinterest and have seen all your pins for Ava’s room – soo sweet! Can’t wait for the dining room reveal AND Ava’s room. Have a great weekend. : )
Here’s the link to a few pins I’ve done of little girl rooms. I’m pretty sure there’s a couple you’ll love!
http://pinterest.com/catie/girls-rooms/
~ Catie
Thanks, Catie! I’ll check them out!
shaunna
Love to see the evolution of your idea. Sort of the design version of Miller’s writing
We’re in the throws of the addition still but paint is on the horizon for the babes’ room first. Hope mine turns out as pretty as yours is bound to.
Oh, I’m sure it will!! It’s so much fun, isn’t it? Creating a little space all their own… Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
shaunna
Love your inspiration. What fun to do a little girls room. Wish mine was little again so I could redo her room. Can’t wait to see the reveal of the dining room.
I know! I’m realizing they are growing up WAY too fast, so I’m wanting to make their rooms work a little better for them.
shaunna
Working on a VERY similar big girl room for my girl who is just about Ava’s age! Yay!
http://ambiancedecorlive.blogspot.com/2011/08/p-is-for-princess.html
Just saw it…it’s gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by!
shaunna
Love all the ideas- it will be fun to watch it come together
Thanks so much, Beth!
shaunna
Oh Shaunna,
What a lovely..lovely post. Textures, colors and patterns to feast upon. Ava’s room is going to be gorgeous!
Janet xox
Thanks, Janet! I’m super excited to have all that color and pattern in there…in a subtle way. It’ll be something quite different than the rest of our home.
shaunna
Gorgeous! A Big Girl’s DREAM room, and I can a gal still liking it for a long, long time or until her Mama gets the itch to tweak it all up!
Thanks, Deb! That’s such a sweet thing to say…I’m certainly looking forward to hanging out in there!
shaunna
Gorgeous room Shaunna, love it.
Thanks, Martha!!
shaunna
Gorgeous! I love the art . I remember art my mom had when my brother and sister and I were growin up… It said “please be patient with me. God isn’t finished with me yet!” kids inges what they read.
Thanks Shannon! That’s good to know…I fully believe it, too.
shaunna
LOVE it! Funny, I have 2 of the same fabrics — the AB floral and the dandelion for my daughter’s next makeover. I love both, but the AB fabric won’t match the new PB teen duvet I bought.
LOVE the gray paint as well…I am thinking of doing the same thing. I’ve have to check out the paint color you are doing as well.
Your energy level kills me! I need some!
Well thanks, Kacey! And I don’t have that great supply of energy…I just kind of piddle until it’s done. That’s why it takes us a couple of months for a major room makeover…we’re in no hurry. lol Thanks for stopping by!
shaunna
i love everything about every inspiration picture that you posted….i have seen ashley’s daybed before and i love it. it is in my pinterest file….those embroidery frames with the fabric are a great art statement and really cheap to do too!!
is that your quilt in the last picture? i love the tanya whelan fabrics ( i covet them but i don’t know how to quilt). i can’t wait to see her room completed. it is going to be gorgeous!!
hugs, cindy
Drool, drool, drool… LOVE these ideas! Especially love the Amy Butler Poppies fabric, I just purchased a load of it for the line of baby bedding I’m starting
Can’t wait to see how her room turns out!
Fun! It’s all going to look so great! Can’t wait to see it.
When I was prenant I felt certain I was having a girl. I had an entire girl nursery planned in my head and it was all inspired by that Amy Butler floral fabric.
Of course, when I had my 20 week ultra sound I was shocked to hear I was having a boy! So i had to start from scratch on a totally different nursery idea.
I still have a scrap of it in my fabric collection and I still love it so it was fun to see it on your mood board for Ava’s room! Maybe I’ll get to use it one day too, if I ever have a girl!
Love the inspiration photo and the quilt/throw pillows–can’t wait to see it when its finished!
It’s going to be darling! I love the curtains your mom made and I’m so glad you’re keeping them. I can’t wait to see the finished dining room. Lisa~
That quilt is GORGEOUS. I love love love how it uses really fun and colorful modern prints to create a classic quilt. I think that creating a room out of it is an ahhhmazing idea! oh and also that rug has been on my wish list since my daughter was born! It’s so pretty and girly
And that wall of hoops is to die for, what a unique and affordable way to create art!
As always I can’t wait to see how the room turns out! I know it will be fab!
I had to laugh out loud at how many of the same photos we have tucked away for inspiration. I’m working on both my girls’ rooms right now, and that photo of the girl sitting on her bed has been my #1 inspiration for a couple years now. It’s so girly and cozy. I love it!
I’m looking forward to seeing how your daughter’s room comes together
Did you have a source for the que sera sera artwork I clicked on the link but can’t find the print?
Thanks Tania
I love the pink art dream big print…what is that source? Thanks
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Great ideas – love how you put it all together.
We just finished my daughters room. Take a look at it here:
http://sistersplayinghouse.blogspot.com/2012/01/ellies-room-gray-girls-room.html
Just started following you too. Interested to read your posts.
love it