{E-Decorating} C & A’s shared bedroom
I haven’t shared much of what I’ve been up to for a while, which really hasn’t been that exciting. A lot of garage plans and a few house remodel plans, but I have had a few decorating projects lately – and those are a lot cuter than foundation plans so here is a fun little shared bedroom that I did earlier in the year.
This room is for a toddler boy whose baby sister (who wasn’t born yet when I did this) would be sharing his bedroom. The goal was to create a calming, modern and fun sleeping space for the two of them to share. They have a bright and crazy playroom to corral their toys, so this room was supposed to be the opposite; a place to relax and sleep!
Here is the ‘Inspiration Board’ for the room:
The color scheme started with the floral print fabric that the mom wanted to use for the custom crib skirt she was going have sewn, which included some chocolate brown, taupe/gray and teal blue/green. I decided that both kids’ sides would have blue and brown, but the boy’s things would have an accent of apple green, and the girl’s side would use a little bit of pink as an accent. I chose a blue/gray for the walls, to act as a neutral but still read as a color. The room has tan carpet, so I chose a graphic rug (in a fun plaid) to mix up the patterns. We also added some pattern with chevron-trimmed curtains (which matched the custom crib bumper), some fun monster-print sheets for the boy and some typographic-modern prints on the wall to personalize the space.
That photo is basically an ‘inspirational’ page of photos for the concept for the room…along the way, tweaks are made and other choices might be ultimately decided on, but this is a small snapshot that I give the client for each project. I’ll also include any other idea-photos to help with the vision for the room. For instance, I attached these in an e-mail I sent to the mom:
…which were just camera phone shots from a book on nursery design.
In the final e-mail, I send a “Furniture & Accessory Schedule,” which includes photos, links, prices, colors, manufacturers’ SKU #’s and any other pertinent information the client needs to find and purchase my choices for their room. This way you can purchase the items right away or over time – it’s up to you! That’s because you DIY and put it together yourself. You can also follow my instructions to the ‘T’ or you can use my concept as inspiration to put your own touch on the room. And this is why, if you hire a designer or decorator for their “E-Decorating” services, they can be across the country from you or in the same town. Isn’t the internet amazing?!?! 
If you’re interested in hiring me for a ‘Flat Fee Design Package’ aka E-Decorating Services, feel free to e-mail me at lindsay @ lindsaychristensendesign.com (no spaces between the @ – trying to avoid spam, ha!) to get started! Or you can check out my packages and prices here. But remember – if you book a project with me anytime in August, I’m offering 20% off of all of my services!
Read More{E-Decorating} Trent & Brad’s Modern Boys’ Room
You might remember Tonya & Cody’s master bedroom board that I did — well they wanted more and had me design a board for their young sons’ shared room! And you know I love working on kid’s rooms!
Trent (almost 3!) and Brad (8 months) are the cutest little boys and have been moved together into a room of their own to share! Trent got a new “big boy bed” and Brad has been moved out of mommy and daddy’s room, and so Tonya wanted to put away the primary plastics, and create a fun, non-themey bedroom for her boys to create lots of memories in! It has to be kid-friendly, functional, and calming enough to not over-stimulate them — mom and dad need their rest, too!! Here is a collage of their room as it is today:
As Trent is well out of diapers, and Brad is getting bigger every day, we decided that it would be very impractical to go out and buy all new furniture for growing boys. Especially because Trent’s toddler bed is less than a year old, Brad only has a couple years of diapering left, and it is all in great shape. So all the furniture (glider and ottoman, toddler bed, crib, dresser and changing table) has to stay. Plus Tonya really likes both boys’ bedding, and that is where I started with the colors; green, blue, tan, cream and brown. I couldn’t help myself, though, and had to add a couple pops of orange for cheery fun, and to make the room feel less theme-y by adding an extra element. Plus orange is such a great color for fun little boys!
After discussing the room with Tonya, we decided that these were the needs for the room: paint, art, curtains, side table, seating, rug(s), lighting and accessories. Here is the plan that I came up with for the boys’ fun new bedroom! Here is the new floor plan with all of the new goodies:
As you can see, Trent’s bed has been moved to the opposite wall, and the glider and ottoman go where his toddler bed was. This will balance that far end of the room a little better, and create one side for Trent, and one side for Brad. Brad’s crib and changing table will both switch walls, and go on the wall where the dresser used to be. We’ll switch the dresser to the opposite wall (to Trent’s side), and add the new bookcase under the window on his side. We’re also giving him a side table and lamp next to his bed, and we’re adding some fun new seating (in washable twill covers) for both boys – what one has, the other will always have to have, too!
Here is the shopping list!
And here is how it all works together:
1. & 2. Paint: The colors I chose for the room are a blue/grey called Feather Gray, and a slightly lighter version called Iced Cube Silver, both by Benjamin Moore. My thoughts on this are to paint thick, floor to ceiling horizontal stripes with these all around the room. The room is actually pretty big, so if that is too large of a project, I would recommend only doing the stripes on the wall without a window (which would be on the right when you walk into the room). Keep the bright white on the trim and on the doors, and paint the ceiling a barely-there light green, such as Benjamin Moore’s Bavarian Cream.
3. These are large (12″ or larger) initial wall decals, in a sporty font, and there would be a few of them around the room in a color that is as close to Feather Gray as possible. We’d place them high and low — wherever you need to fill a space. You can find customized wall decals like this here.
4. To add a little ambiance lighting, and to get Trent excited to read on his own in bed, I’d add this plug-in wall lamp next to his bed, above his new side table. The “spider-web” cover is a safety feature on this children’s wall lamp.
5. You always want to encourage learning in children’s rooms, and that’s why I’ve added this Modern Alphabet Print to hang above the dresser – except I’d frame it in white instead of black. It has animal silhouettes for each letter in great colors, and the animal names are listed at the bottom of the print as well!
6. To add a little softness to the room (and some fun texture!!) I love to recommend FLOR tiles for a custom-shaped area rug. The room is a rectangle, but with the closet in there, it’s a fat “L” shape, and a FLOR rug would let you create any shape you want and fill the room as much as you want. This is the cowhide patterned Stampede rug in Taupe. So fun!! Especially for a Wyoming bedroom.
7. The window curtains need to be long and thick (to block out light for naps), so I chose some heavy grommet-top curtains in a fun orange color for some warm color contrast. They’re made of cotton sailcloth (durable and easy to clean, plus it adds great texture), and the color is Foxtail Orange.
8. You can always add the best patterns into a room with throw pillows – so this boudoir pillow would go in the glider, which has been moved to the corner. It is in a gray stripe, working with the painted stripes on the walls, and adding neutral color to the warm woods throughout the room. Stripes are always welcome in a boys’ bedroom!
9. And what boys don’t love cars? This vinyl wall decal would be a great addition to the entry area (on the wall by the door), giving a little edge to the jungle animals in the bedding.
10. A glider/rocker in a nursery is not complete without a lamp – great for late night feedings or rocking baby back to sleep, and this one is sleek, on a dimmer, and will look great with Trent’s new wall lamp.
11. Trent’s new side table next to his bed will be great as he grows – it’s a mini-locker in white, and I’m sure he will love storing his treasures in there!
12. I love these IKEA stools and extra seating or surfaces are always great – and now each brother gets their own stool for story time or playing with their friends (when Brad is old enough, of course!). Plus they are so inexpensive, durable and they come in great colors!
13. We thought that the boys could use a little extra book or toy storage, so I searched for something will multiple bins and that would match the rest of the wood in the room — these bins can be stacked as high as you want (be sure to attach them to the wall for safety, though!), and they can fit books, toys, baskets and totes and will make clean up a snap!
14. & 15. We all know that boys are rough & tumble, so some tough, toss-’em seating is a great place for the boys to crash and when crashing, you always want something soft like these bean bag chairs with washable twill covers in tan and orange. How fun, right?
I think that a children’s room is a great place for some whimsical art, and I added some, but Tonya already had these stick on children’s decals that matched her boys’ bedding (you can see it lining the room at the ceiling) – I think they would look great in a gridded pattern right above each boy’s bed, like the picture below (which is from Project Nursery).
And there you have Trent & Brad’s shared bedroom – I hope Tonya likes it as much as I do!! I think the color swap will make the room feel more cohesive, and the added color and sporty accessories will make the room feel less theme-like.
If you’d like your own E-decorating package for a room in your house, visit this page, this page, feel free to click on over to my Etsy shop, or e-mail me at lindsay @ lindsaychristensendesign . com to get started!
Read More{E-Decorating} Tonya & Cody's Wyoming Bedroom
Tonya and Cody asked for my help, ready to move the babies out of their room because they wanted an update to their bedroom (which is already an amazing room to work with) with some rustic modern style. They love neutral and natural colors and furnishings, but with some contemporary style. The bed and headboard, green chair and ottoman, black desk, rug, and black gun cabinet had to stay, while everything else was able to go, so I got right down to work to put a plan together. Tonya’s biggest issue was the bed. It really can only go on one wall (unless you get rid of the headboard — not happening according to Cody) because of the angles of the roof — something you don’t realize will be problematic until you live in the space. I’ll let the pictures do the talking!
Here are Tonya’s before pictures:
As you can see, the bones of the room (and rest of the house) is new and updated, so they wanted their decor to be calming and a restful space to enjoy away from the kids. The floorplan is a “U” shape surrounding their master bathroom, with a lot of difficult angles and tight spaces, so I had to focus on low furnishings and camouflaging to make use of wasted space.
Here is their new bedroom floor plan (click the photo to see it larger):
The main differences are that the desk will be to the left of the bed, the chair and ottoman will be in the entry, and the new furniture is around the walls. See more info. below!
And here is the plan I came up with:
And here is the color/material board breakdown:
- This room will be a palette of green, brown/blacks, creams and a little red in the existing rug and bathroom paint. This first color is the wall paint color, a soft, sagey (yet masculine) gray-green to coordinate with their existing green chair and ottoman, and ground the room in a nice, earthy color. It will also bring out the greens in the rug, and tone down some of the other main colors. If possible (but it will work either way) I would like the headboard and floor mirror to be stained a deep brown/black stain. This color is called Misty Air (OC-44) by Benjamin Moore.
- This is the ceiling and trim paint color, a nice warm cream that will soften up the ceiling angles and warm up the space. Sea Haze (2137-50) by Benjamin Moore.
- I chose to darken up the duvet with a nice chocolate brown organic set with lots of fluffy texture.
- These wall mirrors with java-colored shelves will add some sparkle (especially with a few candles flickering on them) and reflect the warmth of the ceiling. These (I chose them as a pair) will go on the flat wall on either side of the bathroom door, off the foot of the bed.
- I chose black grommet curtains for both windows to add some modern pop and to make sure to block out the view as the neighbor’s house is right out of the window behind their bed! This will also tie into the black desk, gun cabinet, and new brown/black furniture. They will have to be hemmed for the low window.
- To soften up the modern black curtains, I’d choose a double rod and add these graphic (yet rustic-patterned) sheers underneath. Layering always helps finish a room.
- Another great contemporary decor statement would be these block shelves, which come as a set, and will go above the existing desk. The desk will be moved to the left of the bed, on that same wall. The existing photographs and artwork (which is now on the floor and the gun cabinet) will go here, along with some candles or accessories that Tonya already owns.
- These black and white ikat print throw pillows will add more rustic, yet contemporary, charm to their bedroom while coordinating with the other patterns in the room.
- Tonya requested some natural textures and botanical touches, so these willow branches (maybe even 2 or 3 vase-fulls around the room) will add some height and camoflauge in those awkward spaces. So speaking of camoflauge and awkward spaces, the gun cabinet will be pushed away from the corner as far as it can go and turned 90 degrees (with the door facing the room), and the vase of willow branches will be placed in front of the door. Another spot that could use a vase of willow branches is in the opposite end of the “U”. Back there is a built-in countertop, sink and mini-fridge with a mirror above it. However, the slope of the ceiling is so sharp that unless you’re standing right next to the countertop, you can’t even stand in there.
- This is the vase that the willow branches will go in. Self-explanatory, right?
- What do all quiet work desks need? Why a nice little lamp! Again, the desk will be over to the side of the bed!
- This is a black and white woven throw, which would be a nice touch on the green chair and ottoman to make a new little reading nook. The reading nook will be located in the room’s entry, which is where the gun cabinet is located. This will also help to camoflauge the awkward corner that is left right there. (Note – this throw has already sold out!! So I’m substituting this organic version in natural or clay.)
- Tonya and Cody’s bedroom could definitely use a little more storage — so let’s cue the new dresser! The nice thing about this dresser is that it is low enough to fit under the angles of the ceiling, and it also will triple as a media cabinet (to hold her printer) and a changing table (which is what it technically is).
- I thought this console table with storage baskets would be a nice storage piece for right next to the entrance; a spot to drop change or watches, and it could store some books as it is right next to the reading nook.
- All reading nooks need some light, and I loved the shape of this floor lamp. Another piece that would camoflauge the gun cabinet with some height.
- As to not leave the other far wall bare, this black/brown bookcase will be laid horizontally underneath the low window in the room, providing storage and display space.
- This side table will add some more natural texture with its woven base, and a little sparkle with its glass top. These could be used in the reading nook, next to the armchair, or even against the bathroom wall (under the mirrors) off the end of the bed.
And there you have it! Tonya and Cody’s rustic modern bedroom, set in beautiful Wyoming! We can’t wait to see what they come up with!
If you’d like your own custom color/material board and e-decorating package, then visit this site or contact me to get started!
Read MoreNeed some interior design advice? A paint consultation?
If you head over to my “Flat Fee Design Consultation” page – and my website – you’ll notice a few changes. For a limited time, I’ve decided to lower my design fees as to build more of a portfolio!
So now is the time to act if you’re interested in some design advice. Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you’d like to get started!!
I can be reached by e-mail at lindsay@lindsaychristensendesign.com!
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About Me
I'm an interior designer and a draftsperson, but I live in the country. I like it that way. I'm also a firefighter's wife, mom to 2 cute kids, and a homeowner and I like that even better. But right after that is a pretty and affordable space...and I mean a REALLY affordable space. Because I believe good design can be for EVERYONE!
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