Malcolm’s “Fit for a Gentleman” Room
Child: Malcolm (4)
Location: Oakville, Ontario
Room size: 10′ x 12′
Canadian designer, painter, and blogger Christine Dovey is constantly on a quest for the perfect score for her nearly perfect home. Yet she keeps perfection just out of reach, because what will she do when she’s done? Oh, perhaps she will take care of her three (soon to be four!) children. There’s that, too. Take a peek here into how this rather feminine designer changed course when decorating her son’s room
We so enjoy following along on her blog, Bijou and Boheme, as Christine scours the ends of the Earth (and the internet) looking for the next addition to her home.
How would you describe the look and feel of this room: I like to think of the room as antique naval library meets colonial safari.
What is your favorite piece or element? My favourite piece in the room is the life sized poster of my Malcolm.
I love the large art in this room! Was it difficult to find a printer for the photograph? Who made the painting? Printing the photograph was actually really easy — I took the image file to Kinkos and 40 minutes later, had the giant print in hand…very inexpensive too! The painting was originally an IKEA image of dye floating underwater…I took some blue acrylic paint and covered the exisiting image for a more one-of-a-kind look that fit the colour scheme of the space.
Do you have a proudest DIY? This is a toss up between the upcylced IKEA Malm dresser and IKEA canvas that I hand painted.
What was the biggest challenge decorating this room? My biggest challenge with this room was the size . . . it’s a small room and I wanted to maintain the floor space that was there when my little guy was still in a crib. Finding the antique bed that had an evenly sized headboard and footboard, allowed me to have the bed tuck right up by the wall and centered under the window.
What do your friends say about the room? I think my friends are surprised that I put a boy’s room together. My style is usually very feminine so this was definitely more of a challenge to think in boy terms. 😉 The room is not typically ‘boyish’ though and / or themey so it’s a bit unexpected I would say.
I love how you were able to marry vintage pieces from different eras with modern textiles. Do you have any design advice for parents creating a room for their child? I try to incorporate a mix of high & low, vintage & modern in every space I create. When putting a room together, I’d tell people to not limit themselves to one genre or style. Instead, decide on a scheme and then just look for those pieces that you truly love. If you only buy what really speaks to you, it will find a way to all work together and make for a space that’s visually interesting and unique. I always try to create rooms that feel curated and collected, rather than decorated.
If money were no object, what’s your dream source: 1st Dibs, hands down.
Sources of Note:
• Paint – The wall colour is a custom mix I had made…I simply asked for a white with the tiniest hint of pale blue. The trim is Benjamin Moore Old Navy.
• Bed – Turner Chapel Antiques
• Sofa, Dresser, large canvas, shelf – IKEA
• Artwork – vintage boats, deer – Petits et Jolis; giraffe poster Debbie Carlos
• Bench – Petits et Jolis
• Rug – Target
• Bedding – West Elm
• Pillows – Ruby Lane and Etsy
• Chandelier – Sam the Chandelier Man
Thank you Christine! I love this: “If you only buy what really speaks to you, it will find a way to all work together and make for a space that’s visually interesting and unique.” Please visit Christine’s site, Bijou and Boheme, where she blogs about all things lovely.
(Images: Christine Dovey)
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