Maggies big girl room (and Mayzie)

As you may well know, or not know, my sister in law Julie has lived with us for the last 4 years or so.  So, Maggie and Max have always shared a room.  When Mayzie came along, things got a bit tighter, but we were making it work with her sharing Auntie Julies room.  But this July, it just became time to say goodbye to Julie and allow our kids to have a bit more space to grow. Though we miss Julie, we know that it was the thing that needed to happen.

So, with the room vacated, I could now let my decorating "diva" come out and make something fun and pretty for Maggie (and Mayzie) to share.  Now, I'll be honest. I had a total vision of what I was going to do in this room, over a year ago.  With time, budget and laziness a factor, I had to pair that vision down.  Then, there was an opinionated 6 year old to contend with as well.  I mean really, who said she was allowed to have a say here.  But, after I firmly nixed her desire for an all pink room with unicorns and fairies, I figured I'd better at least let her have SOME (albeit tiny) say in what her room looked like.  I tried to gently "guide" her in what she wanted.

I kept putting the project off for several weeks because I just could NOT find a paint color that I liked.  I had originally thought some form of coral, or a very muted shade of rose/pink.  When I finally found one I thought might work, I got a sample jar and promptly painted a giant square.  Maggie didn't see it until the next morning, at which time her immediate response was "Nuh uh! NO WAY!"  Phew, at least I tried for a pinkish, and she didn't like it.  Thankfully, I LOVE the blog Better After and on it I'd seen a room makeover for another 6 year old and the wall color was really pretty.  I contacted that blog owner and asked the wall color.  She graciously replied.  So, Behr Balmy Seas it was.

I woke up randomly one morning and said, THIS IS IT! I started working and could not be bothered with the realities of life until it was finished, 3 days later.   But, you guys, I couldn't be happier with the results.  I love the color, Maggie loves the color.  I got to incorporate pinks, purple and orange accents, because who knew....everything goes with aqua, as it turns out.  On this same blog, I loved how the woman had painted this adorable, whimsicle tree on the wall.  I wanted that too.  I also "thought" that she'd installed flower knobs so things could hang on said tree.  I went full throttle for those knobs, only to discover, upon closer inspection of her pictures, they weren't knobs, but silk flowers or something.  BUT I was doing the knobs.  Anyway, let me just show you in pictures the befores and afters.

For the record, I'm typing this up on Jeres computer, and it's an apple, and I've never done it on here, and I get confused wtih the picture situation, so let's all hold a good thought this turns out.

Anywho......


BEFORE:

 After Maggie moved into the room, before the redo, she felt the bed was the perfect place to display every stuffed animal that EVER was.

 I absolutely ADORE this built in area.  There is SO much storage.  But it was sort of a catchall.

Proof of my attempt at rosie/pink. And one cute baby photo bombing.
 

Lets face it, bed in the corner = hard to make, but a lot of "play" room.

 

 

 

 

Now, as this has proven to be RIDICULOUSLY difficult and confusing, the pictures on this stupid apple computer, I shall move on to the after and hope for the best.

AFTER:

A shot from the hallway, best I can get in a small space.  No worries, we shall be covering all walls, and details.  That fabulous brown dresser I inherited out of my Grandpas house, I love it so.  I love the bed in the middle, not only for the ease of making it, but because it gives symmetry to the room.

Let's talk bedding.  I found this on Amazon, and I actually love it.  It was my one real concession to Maggie.  She gets pink, purple and flowers here.  But really, all the colors work so well.  I'll be honest...in my "perfect" world, her bedding would be a giant fluff of white and ruffles to fit with the soft and historical business that is happening on the side of her bed.  BUT, I really am happy with this.  It only cost $79.00 for the whole set, which included the two decorative pillows as well.  I should also mention that the fabulous old iron bed frame came from a friends Grandmas sale, I scored it for only $50.00 last fall.  I lurve it so.

 Just a view from the door of the "history" wall.  I just love this.  Also, I chose to give Mayzie and Maggie each their own distinctive M's.  This is Mayzies.

A view of the whole wall.  It includes Maggie and Mayzies blessing dress, my moms baby bonnet, bib, pinnafore and a doilie, all tatted or crocheted for her by her grandmothers. When my Mom gave me these "treasures" I immediately saw them framed and in some romantic little room.  This isn't totally how my vision was, but I still love it.  It makes me happy to be displaying and preserving such beautiful pieces of my families history.  I had all of these frames but 2 just laying in my garage, waiting for the day to use them.  I painted them all white. The two oval frames were awesome finds at Joanns, 60% off, and IKEA, just cheap! I'd like to add a vinyl quote along the bottom at some point that talks about family, heirlooms, history, something.

 Mayzies M is just a $5.00 cardboard 3d thing from Joanns that I painted white and glued some rickrack and flowers to.  Then I thought it'd be cool to finish her name in the corner, so I had Jere write it on there.  He has the BEST handwriting!

 
This frame was around a giant corkboard that I ripped out and put up on the wall by Maggies desk.  It's a super cheap/crappy frame, but it was the perfect size to go around the dress hanging on the flower.  I absolutely love hanging frames around 3d objects.  And this particular look makes me happy.

 I LOVE this little pinnafore, especially because it happens to be in a corally/orangeish color, which ties in so perfectly!!

  My Moms sweet bonnet.  I won't bore you with ALL the framed things, but just a taste of what is up there.  And how simple it was to do!

 For Maggies "M" I knew I wanted something fancy and grand looking.  I went to IKEA and got this frame for $29.00 and then enlisted the help of a neighbor friend to cut me this vinyl M. I applied it straight to the glass, which frankly is a bit nerve wracking, to get it just right.  It's not, it's crooked, but it's ok and I still love the way it looks.  You'll be "shocked" to know that Maggie was so upset, because Mayzie had a decorated M and hers was just boring.  FOR REALS?  I went out of my way to make hers fancy looking and yet, not what she thought was cool. Oh well, I still love it.

 Found this perfect and darling lamp at Target, to bring in the hot pink color and it was only $20.00.  The polka dotted jewelry box on the dresser was at Home Goods for $6.00.

As mentioned, I adore this built in.  It was one of my favorite features when we bought the house.  I literally ripped that cork out of an already framed cork board that Julie left behind.  I glued and nailed it into place and then just threw up a few of Maggies things.  I LOVE the little decorative bin on the first shelf, it has all the fabulous colors, coral, purple, aqua and pink.  Found that at Target for like 8 bucks.  I can now shove all of Maggies stuffed animals into the drawers and there is TONS of space in the cupboards above for anything and everything else we need to store, and or get out of the way for photo ops.  You know.

The closet wall was the perfect place to put the tiny kitchen, which still gets used regularly, and to throw in a splash of yellow with that antique mirror that I bought at a sale for a mere 10 bucks last Spring. Also, let us note the cute flying pink vinyl bird.  I got a set of 5 for $2.99 on Amazon.  They make their appearance around the room.

 As I mentioned, I saw this on another blog.  But then, when I was looking for vinyls, I saw this, but in brown, and realized that other lady must have just copied it. Which, gratefully, I have artsy friends and my friend Lies'l just came and free handed this onto the wall for me, with crappy brushes I might add.  I love the whimsy and the fact that it takes up the whole wall. I even included a knob by the desk for Maggie to hang her backpack on.

 Let us note the happy bird sitting on the tree, and the other one flying away, into the air vent. And Mayzie gets to sleep peacefully under the silly tree.  I also love that my friend that made me that quilt on Mayzies bed musta been inspired, because it's aqua and pink.  

 So, I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up 7 glass drawer pulls, and they were half price, thank goodness.  I had NO IDEA how I was going to attach them to the wall, but darnit, I was gonna do it, no matter what.  I also stopped at JoAnns and bought these teeny little canvas' and some scrapbook paper and ribbon. The canvas' were on sell for 99 cents, AWESOME!  I cut the paper to size, printed out some pictures and also picked up some scrapbook accent pieces and created these little hanging pics for the tree.

 So anyway, I went to Home Depot and actually found helpful people.  These two workers opened up many a package of screws and plastic wall thingys to find the right fit.  I ended up getting those plastic anchors that you drill a hole, tap them in and then screw the object in.  They worked PERFECTLY!

 I love how they look, and the fact that there are happy little reminders to Maggie of her family.

 Ummm, so finally here...Maggie INSISTED that she have a picture "in" the tree, because she's a crazy monkey, and was wearing monkey pajamas.  Besides, it IS her room after all.  

Hopefully you've enjoyed the little tour of the room makeover.  It's still in that new stage, so it makes me happy every time I pass it.  Next up, a re do of Maxs room to make it more boyish, and ALL his.  I feel maps in my future, because he wants sports, and well, that's just too cliche.

Little girlies and pretty spaces,

Allyson