I finally have one area of the house ready to show - our little play area. The living room is short and wide and naturally separated into two spaces by the front door (which you can't see from the road because of all of the pine trees so everyone comes in the back door anyway, but that's another chapter in the book of this quirky house), so we decided to make half of it into a play area for the kids.
This is the best before picture I have of the area, taken when we looked at the place the second time.
And the afters....
The Entire Area - the rug was a clearance deal from Target. I almost paid as much to ship it as I paid for the rug, but still a great deal and covering up as much of the nasty carpet as possible is a must!
The bookshelves - both were pieces we had before. The white one is actually one from Ryan's childhood and I painted it white. It was a dark blue, about the same color as the corner chair in the overview pic above. I considered keeping it the same color, but after we put up our white bookcase in the living room, we liked the white so much that we decided everything that could possibly be turned white should be painted.
My one splurge for the room was a set of Trofast toy storage units from Ikea. I knew that if I were going to have most of the toys that close to the living room and dining area that I would need them to be easy to put away and then not seen when they are put away. My favorite drawer is full of a set of vintage wood blocks I found a couple of months ago.
My wonderful Mom came two weeks before we moved and helped make the curtains. I was lucky enough to have that ribbon in my stash - a roll I bough when our local Hancock's went out of business. The top is just white muslin and the bottom is Alexander Henry's Traffic Jam. The chair is another great thrift find, bought for a whopping $2.25. I had planned to put it in the bathroom to sit on when bathing the boys, but it didn't fit, so I thought it added a little something here. I will probably make a cushion for it, but there are so many sewing projects right now that it's on the backburner.
The top shelf of the bookcase is a mini-office space - a vintage aluminum pan I picked up a while back and filled with envelopes, staples, tape, and all those things that the boys love to play with but we can never find if we let them. The two bread pans are for mail and bills.
And a bit of decor...the top print is from Candace at Sparkle Power and the bottom is from John W. Golden and both were hanging in other areas of our previous place. The globe is thrifted - does it count as vintage becuase it still has the USSR on it? We bought it as a family a week or two before we moved. You'll see as I show you more of the house that there is a bit of a geography/map theme.
I'm quite pleased with it. I'll probably add a few more things - maybe some pennant banners over the windows and possibly more artwork, but overall I'm liking the looks and it seems to be functioning well for the boys and for me.
I'm quite pleased with it. I'll probably add a few more things - maybe some pennant banners over the windows and possibly more artwork, but overall I'm liking the looks and it seems to be functioning well for the boys and for me.
Oh, it is so lovely! I can't believe how much light the white curtains and furniture add and the punches of color are fantastic! The curtains make the room!
Posted by: Beth | June 16, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Oh, I'm so jealous! We really would love to have a room like that...
Posted by: Tammy | June 16, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Wow! What an improvement. From drab to cheery!
Posted by: Chistina J. | June 16, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Awesome! That really is nice panelling and I love the windows.
Posted by: Cayenne | June 16, 2009 at 05:30 PM
You are what I wanted to be when I grow up! Everything looks amazing!!!!
Posted by: julia | June 16, 2009 at 07:36 PM
It is adorable! What a great room for all of you.
Posted by: stephanie | June 16, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Soooo fantastic. I love it. It is cheerful, functional, and whimsical.
Posted by: Alison | June 16, 2009 at 09:02 PM
It hardly even looks like the same house already. :-)
Posted by: Sarah | June 17, 2009 at 06:17 AM
I need you to come decorate my house! I've been here for a year now and NOTHING is where I want it or styled how I want it. (Not to mention painted how I want it.)
I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE! If anyone could pull it off I knew it'd be you. SOOOOOOO cute!!!!
PS- I just found out that we are going out of town for the 4th with Justin's fam. They are last minute planners. Bummer.
Posted by: Missy | June 17, 2009 at 08:07 AM
It just goes to show that a bit of creativity can go a long way. Great job!
Posted by: Phoebe | June 17, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I like it a lot. You are pretty amazing at decorating.
Posted by: Karen | June 17, 2009 at 06:36 PM
so much brighter!! I love this - what a fabulous transformation!! a wonderful space to play and create! :)
Posted by: alexandra | June 18, 2009 at 07:33 AM
I love how you brightened the room up with so much white! What a happy place to play and create!!
Posted by: natasha | June 19, 2009 at 06:15 AM
LOVE it!! You've really done a great job. I still have so much to do to my new place, you're putting me to shame.
I really love the rug, the thrifted chair and those vintage pans as office organizers! That's just inspired. I was looking for a way to do that very thing, now I know where to start. Thanks so much for the inspiration!!
Posted by: isew | June 19, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Congratulations on being featured on apartment therapy!!! That's pretty awesome. I love that blog and when I saw the before and then the after I totally got excited for you! Great job again. I thought I already commented that but I guess not.
Posted by: angela | June 19, 2009 at 05:01 PM
It really looks great Jessi! I can't believe how much your touch has lightened the place up!
Posted by: Penny | June 21, 2009 at 01:15 PM
amazing! you are one talented lady- love it.
Posted by: Aida | June 22, 2009 at 10:31 AM
love it!
Posted by: Garin | June 22, 2009 at 04:21 PM