My stepson (and my stepdaughter’s) rooms need some serious TLC. We haven’t really done anything to their rooms. Lot’s of hand-me-down and mixed matched things in their rooms. But it’s time to fix that and make their rooms a nice little retreat.
Here is his room as it is today.
And I am sorry–it was so hard to get a decent shot of the entire room. It’s kind of impossible. Really need a wide angled lens!
But lots of things will be happening in here. Besides the obvious like new fun paint, some storage pieces (think Expedit), new bedding and hopefully some small inexpensive tables and whatnot, first up, I’m going to do the one biggest wall behind his bed as a paneled wall. It will add a lot of architectural interest and detail. Plus the boy likes molding which I think is super cool. :)
I was inspired by the paneled wall Rambling Renovators did in their master bedroom. If you haven’t seen it, you must go check it out. Gorgeous!! And of course you all know I love Jenny’s paneled headboard which I highlighted the other day.
I drew up a really fancy sketch of my master plan.
I’m such the artist, right? :)
I am so excited to do this project though. See, I already got my MDF cut into strips last night.
Each sheet was $20 (are these even called sheets? If not, why do I call them sheets?). So for $40, this should add lots of drama to his room! I’ll be working on this today so wish me luck! I’ll keep you posted. :)
I have a few other things in mind for his room too that I will talk about as the room progresses. But he does want some chalkboard paint in there. :)
Paneled any walls lately? :)
And thanks for all the love on the beadboard bar everyone! Y’all are so sweet and we are so happy with it! :)
Big thanks to my sponsors–I love you all!
xxoo,
Decorchick!
Sounds awesome – can’t wait to see it when its done.
Oh how much do I love that your plan is sketched out in a colored paper book?? So great! haha
Wow! That room is in such contrast with the rest of your house. I can only imagine how much more welcoming those rooms will be once they are made a part of your home. I’m sure you’re stepchildren will feel so much more welcome as well.
Dede, I think your comment is rude and uncalled for. Emily opens her home in this, her online home, and she deserves respect. Making snide comments about her relationship with her stepchildren is especially hurtful and uncalled for. It takes time and money to make houses into homes and most people can’t do it overnight.
I must agree with Myra! Very rude. I moved into my home 8 years ago and I am still working on some of my rooms. It takes time and of course money.
I agree with Myra and Gina. That comment was insensitive. Some rooms do take longer and with kids, especially young teens, you work with them to make their rooms “theirs.” Please read your comment again and think how you would feel if it was directed to you. I certainly hope you didn’t mean it the way it came across.
WOW! How incredibly rude! I agree with Myra, Gina and Becki and I’d like to add I’m surprise he even let you in his room for the pictures! Love ya, Emily!
Sorry….didn’t mean to be anonymous!
Sounds like a great idea! Can’t wait to see the finished wall.
Sketching out on construction paper-you’re awesome! I really can’t wait to see how it turns out.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who draws my plans out like that. I may or may not have a sketch drawn on the side of a coloring sheet from my daughter’s my little pony coloring book :)
I can’t wait to see it!
I have been thinking about doing a paneled wall in our Baby Boy’s room…I am excited to see how yours turns out!
I sure struck a nerve with my original comment! Though it wasn’t meant to offend, I can see that it has…
Myra I never questioned Emily’s relationship with her stepchildren at all! I simply said that they will no doubt feel much more welcome when their rooms reflect the feel of the rest of the home. I stand by what I said and don’t believe that is offensive at all.
As far as money and time being an issue, that’s true, not many of us have tons of cash to spend these days. But from what I’ve seen on this very blog Emily can do much with little. I have no doubt this room with be just a nice as the rest of their home once these rooms are done.
As a stepmother myself for 25 years, I know how important it is to make your husbands children feel welcome, and having their rooms reflect the feel of the rest of the home is a great way to do that. Being the mother of a daughter who also had a stepmother, I know how sensitive children can be to being accepted into blended families. I don’t think there is much that is more important than creating a welcoming, warm home for all of our children! If your room is the one that in Emily’s own words is decorated with “hand-me-down and mixed matched things” and the rest of her home is stunning, how do you think children interpret that? Especially if the kids are old enough to know that decorating is something Emily loves and is good at.
Instead of thinking the worse when someone says something honest, why not take the words at face value. Those kids will feel much more welcome in those rooms, and that is not rude, but simply the truth!
Hi Dede, I understand what you are saying. The first comment did hurt my feelings I’ll admit, but I know what you are saying now. I should have decorated their rooms a long time ago, you’re right. Honestly, I had no idea what to do with their rooms though. I’ve had paint swatches on my stepdaughter’s room for months now. It wasn’t until I was recently inspired by the paneled walls I’ve been seeing that I decided to do it in one of their rooms and to get the decorating process started. Sometimes it takes a while before inspiration strikes, but I’m glad it finally did! :) And living in a 2-story home, I (selfishly) of course wanted the downstairs fixed up pretty because that’s what everyone sees. I should have taken into more consideration my stepkids and fixed up their rooms sooner. I haven’t really touched the whole upstairs. I did paint the game room and add B&B but that’s it. I was supposed to “finish” that room last July. But haven’t done anything to it!
I don’t think anything is wrong with having hand me down furniture as we have had several of those in our home. But, they do need to be fixed up, painted, and given new life so they can be enjoyed again. My daughter’s room is full of mixed match furniture that I bought off Craigslist before she was born.
So no worries–I just hope the kids do enjoy their new rooms and aren’t upset that we didn’t do anything sooner. But, a positive out of waiting would be that their rooms wouldn’t be half as cool 2 years ago, as they are gonna be now since I’ve been blogging and reading blogs. :)
Emily I’m so glad you heard what I was saying, because it was in no way meant to offend you or your friends.
Unlike Charlie Sheen, you truly can turn tin to gold where your home is concerned, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you do in the kids rooms. That is why though I’m probably twice your age and should have my own home figured out by now, I follow your blog to see what you’re making, improving, revamping, etc…
Homes don’t create themselves, it’s usually the women that love their families that tackle that. Good luck with it all, thanks for listening to what I was really saying, and again… I’m sure the kids will love it!
Did the hardware store cut your MDF into strips for you? I’ve got a few rooms that could use a neat little kick like that. And I like where you’re going with the chalkboard paint idea… My girls would freak. :)