AT:Chicago reader Sa sent in photos of her son Theo's room - a perfect crowning touch to Kids Design month. We think Theo is super lucky to have such a cool room. From the lime green lamp, big blue chair and Chinese pj's to the J. Otto-style poster, we love it all.
More pictures and Sa's note below the jump:
"Dear editors,
I've been meaning to take some pictures of my toddler's room for your Kid's Month for some time now. We live on the top floor of a classic Chicago 1920's three flat. Theo's room is the middle bedroom and has a curved wall with two windows. Although the dresser, bed (converted recently from crib)and rug are from Ikea, I think the room avoids looking like it came from a big-box store.
The big poster is from MassMoca in N. Adams Mass.
The Moses basket that Theo spent the first four months of his life sleeping in is now a toy basket.
The mid-century blue upholstered chair was a find from a now defunct and sorely missed antique store (Brody) on Lincoln Ave here in chicago.
I also showed a view of the table in the kitchen where Theo likes to draw and sometimes eat lunch. I had Home Depot cut down the legs and then I sanded it and painted the top with chalkboard paint. The chair is one of four molded plywood prototypes I bought off ebay.
Theo loves his room and loves having some child-size chairs in other rooms of the apartment.
Thanks, Sa"
Thanks Sa and Theo!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Sa, that room looks like it gets really great light and I love that fantastic blue chair. Theo will surely enjoy reading books in it for years to come. What is the story behind his special outfit displayed above his dresser?
Where did you get the bench/bookshelf?
LOVE IT. Thanks for showing. Where did you get the globe?
Thanks Theo! Very, very nice. Good light. Good energy. I'd love to sit and play in that room, BUT PLEASE say whether there are more toys tucked away?! That room looks way too orderly! Granted I have 2 boys, but just keeping the influx of toys, art and junk from smothering the 2 of them is practically a full-time job. Maybe if you just have one child...
I will refer to these photos for inspiration though and continue to pitch, toss and give away.
Oh, and any creative ideas one has for creating a "Buzz Lightyear" (read: space influenced) bedroom for my 4 year old, please post! We're anti-licensed characters around here, but he saw a booklet in the paint aisle at Home Despot and wants a rocket in his room now. I can't stomach dark blue-ish purple and orange on every wall, so he'll have to settle for some suspended planets and glow-in-the-dark stars for starters, but any ideas for accessories, furniture or artwork would help me out. Lava lamps? Tin robots?
Thanks!
Hi all,
Thanks for writing.
Theo has some other toy depots in other rooms of the house, but he may not have the mountain of stuff that other kids seem to have.
The bookcase is unfinished pine and can be had from almost any futon store. I put the wheels on.
Globe came from a shop on Lincoln Ave, across from Modlife. Maybe it has 'Time' in the name.
In terms of Space theme room-you could do a project with your son making rockets ou tof tinfoil, construction paper and tin cans and then hang them from the ceiling or walls. I'd avoid going whole-hog on any theme because his interests will change over time.
Sa
*sa, it is a well thought-out room, in furniture adaptation as well as great use of color. Very often extatic parents go overboard with it in kids rooms, but you did just right amount of color. I love it that you put all the interesting things for Theo at his eye level.
And the chair definitely makes the room. What a fantastic find!
I love the blue chair - the color looks like a great cobalt blue!
Very nice - I have the same poster in my living room, and my daughter has the same bed - we have way more clutter here though!
RE: the rocket theme - maybe you could do some retro 50s rocket/space theme? with chrome lighting, maybe some silver paint on some small piece of furniture?
I would make any painting somewhat generic and abstract, so it doesn't make you crazy - don't copy buzz lightyear directly!
As one of Theo's grandfathers, I approve of this room.
Thanks for all the great Buzz input
Inspiration abounds here and I'll continue to keep my eyes peeled for achieving that "spacey" feel without overt scholcky-ness. I agree that my son's tastes will change over time and we need to be able to keep it fresh and appropriate.
I agree, too, with the comments on the lovely blue chair and the proper scale of items at boy-level in Theo's room. Thanks, too for sharing it!
Hi. i love this room! Great job! Just curious - where did you find the rainbow carpet?