Expensive god, that candy boy is now 11, which isn’t what this submit is about, however a reminder that you just have been all proper. After I first had Charlie, all you mothers earlier than me stated it will go by so quick, and whereas I knew you have been proper (it’s the common sentiment) I’m nonetheless shocked that he’s going to be in junior excessive subsequent yr (she writes whereas crying on a aircraft). Immediately’s submit isn’t about how a lot I really like my youngsters (an excessive amount of to say) nor how determined I’m to maintain constructing my reference to them earlier than they go away for school (8 years left and YOU BET I’M NOT SQUANDERING THEM), however about their rooms that I’ve designed over time. You see, my thesis is unsurprising – that like selecting their outfits or Halloween costumes, child rooms are a lot simpler to design than youngsters’ rooms (as proven by way of these photographs). That is extra of a present and inform, with maybe some new insights for you long-time weblog readers (thanks, all the time, thanks).
Glendale Home
Charlie’s Nursery – 2015
Yr one, with the cutest wallpaper that I do know he might need not preferred endlessly, however my goodness it was so excellent for this room – mild and ethereal, graphic, huge pops of shade. A stable design that has dated fairly nicely, for those who ask me. Positive, it’d scream 2013, however not in a approach that I don’t like; it feels virtually time-capsule-y.
A reminder that you should use a classic dresser as a altering desk – I’ve so many movies of Brian making Charlie snigger on this dresser.
Birdie’s First Nursery – 2016
Certainly one of my all-time favourite rooms ever — to each stare at and be in. This home (mid-century in Glendale) was so particular, and stylistically I used to be actually aligned with it (it was so mild and brilliant with enormous pops of shade all through). That classic rocker (shout out to MidcenturyLA) and the daybed (from Elsie Inexperienced) have been epic. And whereas this white fluffy rug may appear impractical, it was simply so unbelievably tender and we nonetheless have it on the mountain home in our bed room (far much less white, nevertheless it unusually aged very well, simply seems to be extra taupe now LOL).
The X and O art work items by Jane Denton are on the mountain home (visitor room) and are simply so candy. However the tree wallpaper mural is my favourite – I do know we’ve seen it quite a bit, however in the suitable house, it actually works and packs an enormous punch.
The completely happy house
Charlie’s Room – 2017
This model of this room is properly designed, however I by no means actually LOVED it. Completely cute, and most issues in it are effective, however simply didn’t really feel like me (and certain not Charlie both, however he was 3-4 after we moved in right here). TBH, I needed to pull it collectively actually quick for our Actual Easy function and Goal, who was my major sponsor on the time, who wished me to make use of as a lot Goal as doable (which I used to be completely happy to do, nevertheless it felt a bit pulled collectively relatively than designed).
I believe that was when Pillowfort had simply launched (their in-house child model) and was so cute. I nonetheless have all these classic paint-by-numbers and need so badly that I hadn’t framed them in black (wooden or white would have been higher) as a result of I’ve wished to make use of them time and again, however the harshness of the black frames all the time made them not work.
Birdie’s Second Nursery – 2017
One other favourite of mine — however as a substitute of a inexperienced tree mural, I opted for this pink one. What I believe I by no means wrote about is that the previous plaster partitions couldn’t maintain the load of the blackout curtains very simply, and so they have been all the time an issue. We tried reinforcing them behind the partitions, nevertheless it was an enormous previous drawback (I truthfully don’t bear in mind how we mounted them or if we did something in any respect moreover attempting to watch out).
However these rooms simply scream a lot nostalgia to me — once I had two toddlers. However Brian was gone usually at night time doing performs and the enterprise was unmanageably busy (in ways in which I’d by no means need to publicly complain about, however let’s simply say I “shower-cried” usually). Life modified fairly abruptly after that, what with lockdown, then the transfer up right here to Portland, and I can fortunately say that the years of overwhelm are in my previous. Now I simply miss when the youngsters have been that younger – they have been such exhausting years, however my god they have been so freaking cute and enjoyable and their obsession with me may by no means get previous. I’m simply so completely happy to have so many photographs and movies of these years (and time on the mountain home, which felt like we may simply be us 4 each weekend, away from the chaos of town).
I all the time questioned if I shouldn’t have achieved a wallpaper within the toilet AND her bed room, however TBH they have been each cute (and since hers was a mural, perhaps that’s okay?). That loo had no pure mild (I want I had put in a skylight), so it wanted some motion on the partitions to not really feel lifeless.
The Mountain Home
Bear in mind the years when the youngsters shared a king mattress? Effectively, that’s not the way it began…
Mountain Home Shared Bed room – 2019
How cute is that safari tent? An enormous shout-out to Emily Bowser and Julie for figuring that every one out. And the explanation for that huge white headboard was that it housed the mechanism for the steam bathe (I imagine), which we didn’t know we needed to construct an area for till the home was all laid out.
The factor about rock partitions is that they’re extra of an invite to play. The children definitely received use out of it whereas doing different video games (conflict, fort constructing, and so on), nevertheless it’s not like they’ve mountaineering classes. I’d 100% do it once more, and it simply made the room so cute and enjoyable.
I really like that their vainness of their present toilet was their dresser right here:)
A Refresh of the Children’ Room within the Mountain Home – 2019
So right here is the place it received bizarre – when the youngsters have been 3 and 5 we did so many household studying classes at night time that we ended up shoving the dual beds collectively so we may learn them the identical e-book as a household. So I figured I’d redesign it to make it look good, which I did. They shared a king mattress for all of COVID, with me usually sleeping in the course of them till I transferred myself at midnight (one thing I usually nonetheless do, however not on goal).
Los Feliz Shared Bed room – 2020
In the meantime, since they liked sharing the bed room on the mountain home, we realized additionally they slept so a lot better. So Elliot began sleeping on the ground of Charlie’s room in LA, thus me redesigning his room to have two twin beds. I began this course of earlier than lockdown however didn’t end until we would have liked to promote the home, and I wished each room to be “completed”. So the youngsters solely slept in right here one or two nights, proper earlier than we moved to Oregon (which was so bizarre to them TBH).
Additionally whereas I liked that polka dotted comforter, the youngsters HATED it – they didn’t just like the textural distinction and in the course of the night time they thought it had bugs throughout it (the polka dots) so I whereas I hoarded them for some time, they have been fairly impractical and really unpopular in my home.
The Farmhouse
We moved into this home when the youngsters have been 7 and 9 – full-blown kids now. I’ve one child who needs to revamp her room each day, and the opposite who actually doesn’t need it to be touched – he loves it.
Charlie’s Bed room – 2023 + Up to date Headboard – 2023
This room doesn’t really feel completed to me, nevertheless it’s actually exhausting for me to get motivated to consider it when he loves it a lot. Just lately, he stated that he needs curtains as a result of he thinks it’s exhausting to get up when the blackout shades work so nicely. So we’d do this in order that the pure mild can wake them up through the yr (however not in the summertime when the solar will get up at 5 am up right here).
Its such a tween bed room – half child, half determined to be a teen. The inexperienced bookcase is now in his closet changed by his digital drum set. The large spherical couch scenario is ideal for sleepovers (for now).
All he needs are an increasing number of posters throughout his partitions (identical with Elliot now), and let’s simply say we’re not aligned. There are such a lot of Minecraft or online game memes that he needs that I simply don’t get (however I enable, clearly, wanting him to have full expression). I attempted to clarify the “Rodeo” print to them time and again and they’re like “what?” – clearly my poster preferences are completely different than Gen Alpha. Though he does love the crimson crab one by David Shrigley as a result of it has to do with gaming 🙂
Proper now that stuffy closet (which was only for the shoot) is the place all of his garments are and I want I had achieved drawers so badly. We simply have bins that get tremendous messy. And at the moment, his desk is stuffed with a lot organized chaos, like all 11-year-old. The collections are uncontrolled, in such a cute approach.
Birdie’s Bed room – 2023
I just lately wrote about Elliot’s room and the way she already thinks that her wallpaper is simply too younger for her 🙂 It’s such a cute room, although!!
UGH I simply can’t along with her rising up.
Hear, although she identifies as a tween now (at 9), this room is so objectively her, and we designed it collectively. Proper now she needs to be a designer with me when she grows up (in addition to a baker, musician, and artist) and he or she even has my vocabulary, speaking about “peppering pops of shade” across the room. I imply…
Birdie’s Closet Reveal – 2024
These scallop stickers are nonetheless so intelligent and reasonably priced. You chilly body out doorways or home windows or use them as ceiling trim. They arrive in a billion colours and sizes, FTW.
Article Mattress Replace – 2024
We just lately switched out her creaky classic mattress for this stable one from Article, which is total so a lot better. And as you’ll be able to see, she is including to her assortment of posters as nicely.
Effectively, that was enjoyable for me (if not so unhappy – they’re getting older). Fairly the reminder of how quick life is 🙂 Concerning their rooms, from right here on out, I’m letting them take the lead – in the event that they need to have interaction in any kind of design of their rooms or change something, of COURSE I’ll be the primary one to boost my hand and assist. Seeing them care about their type is tremendous enjoyable and I believe pure contemplating they’ve heard me speak about it a lot over time. Thanks for listening 🙂
Opening Picture Credit: Photograph by David Tsay | From: Charlie’s Circus-Themed Nursery
