Names and ages: Biggest Brother (6), Big Brother (4), and Littlest Brother (2)
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Anyone who took the tour of Ashley's daughter's gorgeous nursery knows that this is a mom with absolutely amazing taste. But in the case of this room, shared by Ashley's three sons, her taste did not come into play. These little boys knew what they wanted. Planes. Orange. Not girly. And that's what Ashley delivered.
If you visit Ashley's beautiful blog, Under the Sycamore, you'll see that she has a wonderful eye for design that marries clean, contemporary lines with subtle feminine touches. While this room has many subtle touches, you'd be hard pressed to find anything remotely feminine – and that's just what Ashley's boys wanted.
Despite the fact that, by Ashley's own admission, her sons' design opinions were not always her own, she delivered spectacular results that would thrill any non-girly kid. In our opinion, that's the sign of a great designer. And more important, it's the sign of a great parent.
Inspiration: My boys. They wanted an orange room with airplanes and nothing girly. They had lots of ideas for what they wanted and we compromised to make it work for all of us.
Favorite Element: The poster from Simply Create. It is a combination of artwork from each of the boys. Each boy made a handprint, a watercolor painting and a family portrait. I love how it shows so much about who they are right now. It is timeless to me.
Biggest Challenge: Working with my four- and six-year-olds. They had strong opinions on what they wanted and what they did not want! It was also challenging to get motivated to work on the room. Since I was trying to work with the boys on a "boy" room instead of decorating in my usual style, I found it hard to just get it done.
What Friends Say: I think a lot of people are surprised that we have three boys in a fairly small room... and all their clothes, too. (The room is 10 feet by 13 feet.) Several friends have commented on all the details of the room, too. I think those closest to us feel like it reflects the personalities of my boys.
Proudest DIY: It isn't the most creative DIY, but for someone that doesn't really sew I am pretty proud of the curtains I made to hide the dressers! I also thought the idea of using Happy Tape to dress up cheap roller shades was a pretty good one!
Best Advice: Remember who you are decorating for. This room is not for me or my friends or the design community. It is for three little boys who love the color orange and airplanes.
I think sometimes adults create rooms for kids that are more pleasing for adults than they are for kids. I didn't want a room that screamed "this is for small kids," but I also didn't want a room that didn't reflect my boys. I don't really like transportation (planes, cars, trains, etc.) in rooms, but that is what the boys wanted. The boys don't have a say in the decor of the rest of the house, but this is their room, so they had a big say. I think that is important.
The clipboards on the wall are also a place for them to have freedom to display whatever they want. Usually it is pictures, but they have also had artwork, birthday invitations, notes from friends and stickers.
Dream Source: A dream source for a boys room would be a company that makes indestructible, un-scratchable everything. It'd be great to find a company that makes bunk beds that can make themselves – tucking those sheets and blankets in is hard work! While we're at it I'd love a company that makes sheets that can easily go from the bed to hanging forts and back to the bed without so much work.
Resources:
Beds: Ikea
Polka dot sheets: Target (discontinued)
Orange blankets: Pottery Barn Kids
Curtain: Made from Ikea fabric, white shower curtain in "newsprint" fabric
Shades: Roller shades from Lowes, Happy Tape on the bottom
Paper airplane decals: UpperCase Living
Custom "retrospective" artwork: Simply Create
Pendant lamp: Ikea
3-Piece Airplane painting: I made this with a paint pen. I don't really like it, but there are other things I want to do before messing with it again.
(Thanks, Ashley!)
Images: Ashley Ann Photography
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I love this room! I am wondering what the source on the "pallet" bed. I am looking to put something like this in our playroom. Thanks!
It's odd to have Not-Girly be the descriptor when the room is for boys, no?
I was actually expecting a girls' room.
@patrick: In the interview, Ashley says that her boys specifically asked for a "not girly" room, hence the title.
sfitzy, it looks like the ikea tolga
Thanks sara j. Much appreciated!
I've been waiting to see this over here. One of the most thoughtful, charming rooms I've seen online. Well done, Ashley!
Another great room design by Ashley. Your boys have great taste!
What a lovely room design. Having boy/girl twins it makes decorating for him hard at times. http://thecitycradle.com Amazing inspiration! Thanks.
love this room! would have loved to have it when i was a little girl!
Great room! Would you mind sharing the paint color? I am picking a gray for my daughter's room and having a very hard time.
Kerryjewell....I wish I could share the paint color! I need to do some touch ups, but I stupidly threw the paint can away. I did get several samples and taped them to the wall. Some looked purple....I went with the one that looked the most gray (without other color hues).
Anyone know where the rug is from? I have seen it before, but can't recall where.
where's the bed... bench from?
MrsVioletleigh & Roxtarchic...both are from Ikea
mrsvioletleigh, the rug is a transportation rug from IKEA, which is in the children's section with the toys. We have one at our house, and they run around $10-12 if I remember correctly. Hope that helps.
The polka dots boys bedding is a little bit girly....the colors coordinate fantastically, though....love the orange accent.
I would have loved this when I was a kid too. :)
Thanks so much.... really great room!
I would love to learn more about the mobile featured at the end of the slideshow. Is it a DIY? I'm hoping to put together a nice room for boys as well.
Love it!!esp. the pics on clipboard idea. I also have those orange dotted throw pillow covers (from Target) in my son's nursery!
oneurbanmom - the mobile is just paper airplanes hung by fishing line. I used hot glue to attach the fishing line to the airplanes and dabbed a tiny bit to the ceiling. The planes are made out of different colors of cardstock paper. I just made up the airplane folds as I went.
Kind of surprised a designer can't recall a paint color. Seems like it would be an important part of the planning/design process.
@obleak1
Remembering the paint color is probably an important part of the design process, but I am not a designer...just a mom with 4 little ones that enjoys making their room a space they like...I have way too much to learn to ever consider myself a designer!
Definitely not girly and still stylish! I looooove the airplane drawing. I want it! I think everything about the room flows together so nicely. Finally a boys room that doesn't have green, blue and red! I wouldn't change a thing.
I agree, I want the airplane drawing too! I <3 everything about this room. I loove the bunk bed, it would go in my boys room much better than the wood ikea one they have, but I still like the one we have. Great job, Ashley!
Ashley, you are the BEST. It is weird how most of the rooms/project I am drawn to on Apt Therapy end up being yours...
This is absolutely fantastic. Major kid-room inspiration. Thank you for sharing!
where is big the orange polka dot pillow (on couch thingy) from?
Between the nursery and this room, you need to come visit me asap! My house is crying out for your expertise!