Names: Jane (5) and Mae (1)
Location: Providence, RI
Division: Shared Room
Room Size: 99 square feet
Tip for Living Small with Kids: You really don't need anything other than books, blocks and craft supplies. They tend to just play and climb all over whatever is in the house anyway. Plus kids really only want to be outside (rooms are for sleeping!) (continued below...)
We don't have a playroom. The house is a play space—a living space for all of us. We keep a few, nice simple "toys" in each room—books, blocks, balls, crayons. They play wherever we are, and with only a few choices, they actually play and get really creative (not overwhelmed).
Kids and their interests grow so fast. I think it is silly to spend too much on things that they will outgrow in their rooms. We have tried to invest in furniture, artwork etc. that can grow with them. For some things that we think they may grow tired of, we don't bother framing them (alphabet cards, barbie drawings).
Biggest Design Challenge in this Room: The girls started with their own rooms (we have 2, 11x9 rooms), but a few months after the baby (Mae) was born, my oldest (Jane) wanted to move into her room (Jane is scared of sleeping alone). So we tried it—first with just a mattress on the floor. Once we knew it worked, we moved her whole bed. It is a tight fit, but it works! And it has allowed us a guest room back (or my studio). When Mae is out of her crib we plan to get the Oeuf (no joke) bunk beds. The challenge was that nothing was planned. It's very mismatched, but I think that is why it looks so nice.
Favorite Thing About This Room: It has a lot of personal touches and do-it-yourself projects. A pink quilt my sister made, a green bear my aunt made from my Dad's sweater (after he passed away), a few Etsy Paris items (my oldest goes to a French school), books from my childhood, a photo of the girl's great grandmother's dance recital (from the 1920's), name plaques, etc. I also painted frames for some pages from a Tasha Tudor book from my childhood—the pages were about the month of May (for my daughter Mae) over her crib. I also like the combination of old and new things, as well as decorative styles.
Thanks for your entry Heather and good luck!
What's at stake? Bragging rights AND $1500 worth of gift certificates from Oeuf!
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beautiful room!
can i ask you where you got that dresser from?
Very nice room, and a shared one at that! Looks so serene. I completely agree with keeping things to a minimum.
What a gorgeous, sweet and non-pink room for two little girls. Love all of your details and elements: the rug, the curtains, the dresser and bunny on the dresser. And how lucky rare you to have the Oeuf bed?? Good luck and great job!
aww you guys are sweet--thank you--especially since the room is cobbled together and not done! (need a wall color maybe)...the dresser is from bungalow 5....not the cheapest but I got a friend to buy it for me direct (to the trade-half off)...and I really LOVE it. The drawers pull out like a die-cut. Its lovely.
Beautiful! I had a map of Paris (my name) hanging in my room when I was a baby. I still have it, and treasure it.
Neighbors! I teach in Providence, living nearby. I love this room. Not all bright primary colors. Thanks for sharing!
Soft & sophisticated, but a little cold for my taste. It'd be lovely for a grownup though!
I was thinking it looked cold in these photos! I think its much cozier in person, but its not done...what should I add? I've been pondering the wall color.
Love the rug! Any chance you'd share were it's from?
rug is thomas paul-from design public..was in our dining room but got too dirty...so now in girls room...its really great quality.
BEautiful rug!
Wow, wow, wow. I love every square inch. From the Waldorf doll, to the map, to the colors, the sheets--everything. What are the beautiful set of hardbound books on the dresser?
Ugh, and by "what are the set," I mean "what is the set!"
My kids love being inside, their rooms and the house! Every kid is so different. The room is so peaceful, looks like a lovely place to curl up with a book.
Maybe eventually my kids will like being inside--what is your secret? lets see--the doll is from hazeldolls (providence ladies) on etsy..they are great and worked with me to make it look like my daughter. The sheets are ploverorganic. Marisa there is awesome and they sometimes have half off sample sales. The books are from Anthropologie-i think called Penguin childrens classics? I got them around the holidays...they might still have them. We also have about 12 of the adult classics. I think if you search amazon you can find the adult ones (something like New Penguin Classics)? They are all designed by the same woman. My 5 yr old and I just started reading chapter books (me reading to her)...I am in search of a vintage-y light pink wallpaper for the back wall..if anyone has any ideas. I would like to make the room slightly less "blah" but still peaceful.
oh and I forgot--we might sell the oeuf twin bed when we get bunks....even though we love it. Its NOT the new trundle model though...bummer I know.
Beautiful calming room - although I see it's still in it's transformation stage.
Can't wait for the update and the vintage-y wall paper addition sounds amazing...
The rug is unbelievable and the balance is great. But I sense that there is a playroom elsewhere ;)
xo. ella from #56
What is the wall color? It's very peaceful.
i think the wall color is pratt and lambert cadet grey....but it might be benjamen moore stingray...they are both close...i think I am going to change it slightly...
oh and ella #56 your room is so cute! and i swear there is not a playroom, but I will say they never play in here (for now) has to be about the fact that I really really need them to SLEEP in here ; ) this room is pretty absent of "toys"
I love this space, and the colors you've used. I love the idea of a pink wallpaper accent, too! Try looking at oliostudio in their wallpaper section, or wanelo.com...both are quick, easy ways to browse through a lot of various papers available. PS.. I was thrilled to see that bibitty's alphabet cards were used here as well! Thank you for finding them a spot in this lovely space!