Hey there! A couple weeks ago I was sharing a ‘then & now’ tour of our home now versus when HGTV mag came to shoot it two years ago! We ended on a sad note with the boys’ mattresses on the floor:
I promised I’d be back to share it when we were finished! To recap, I sold the old bunkbeds since they were rather bulky for this small room. Over the past few years I have learned a lot about scale and making the most out of the square footage we have. In the bedrooms, especially our itty-bitty kids’ rooms, that means pieces that take up a smaller footprint. With smaller, more streamlined pieces, and A LOT of playing around with arrangement, I think I nailed down a room that feels open and flows well for the way our sons use it. Let’s look around!
Colin REALLY wanted to keep the birch tree wall, which was A-OKAY with me. I love that wall and am glad they haven’t outgrown it yet! To tie this room into our home, I wanted to include similar color tones that we have elsewhere. The ochre curtains are a nearly identical shade to Shire’s quilt, and warm up the space similar to the camel leather we have peppered around our living room and master bedroom.
I was completely lost as to what to do about bedding. I didn’t want white OR a color. Hah! I turned to CStudio Home to see what they had and knew as soon as I saw these quilts that we had a home run!
The Dash Reversible Quilt is beige on one side, and a denim-y gray on the other. I paired it with the Studio Sham in ‘Lake’, a dusty aqua blue. And one can never have too many fresh white sheets! I used the Percale Sheet Set in White shown here!
I’ve always wanted to use this petite wooden cabinet between the beds but with our old separated bunks we just couldn’t make it fit! I found this cutie at a yard sale with Cate a few years ago for pocket change. It’s definitely nice to have some hidden storage in a kids’ room! All our kids are huge collectors - they see potential in absolutely everything! Rocks, leftover party confetti, deflated balloons, ribbon from Christmas gifts….and they actually use these things in their daily play! Even still, it’s nice to not have to see it.
Across from the beds we’ve got three sets of 3-shelf bookshelves I found at Walmart for $17 each. I almost jumped on the IKEA Billy 3-set bookshelves that are identical, but am so glad to have found a cheaper option! By themselves, these bookshelves are nothing to write home about. But three in a row makes a stronger statement in a space, (see how I used the Billy set in this home office)
While the colors used in this space are deep and saturated, I didn’t use many - when I use strong colors in a room I try to keep the palette limited to just a few. In here I used navy, rust and mustard/ochre. So while the room is colorful, the consistency keeps it relaxed and peaceful. Cate does SUCH a good job of using color in her home, and if you look closely, you’ll see that she emphasizes just a few colors and the rest is neutral. I’ve definitely been inspired by her to make some bolder statements, while maintaining a laid back, minimal vibe.
To keep toys and books separate I use various storage pieces, like these green metal ammo containers I found at an antique store a few years ago. Basically anything with high edges can be toy storage - it’s a great way to think beyond the basic storage cubes that slide into cubbies!
That’s a wrap! This space has seen a lot over the 8+ years we’ve lived here and these walls have loads of stories to tell already. (It started off as our twins’ nursery with two cribs on either side)! Every time I switch it up to meet the next chapter of life, I wonder about what that chapter will hold for us.
Thank you so much for coming by today!
