Playroom Storage

I would love for my playroom to look like these, but here's the problem: my kids' toys aren't all cute, little matching wooden toys that look cute sprawled all over the floor. Trust me, I've tried to buy all cute toys, but it just hasn't happened. Obviously, I am obsessed with organization and baskets, so I love the idea of baskets (labeled, of course), but let's be honest...the ugliest toys are also the biggest.  I think the solution is a combination of baskets and built-ins with doors.  Yes, that is my plan to hide toys.  Now to find a solution for the millions of Legos we have.  

image source unknown

image from Architectural Digest

image from Traditional Home

Just a Touch of Paint

I'm definitely a sucker for an all white room, but there's no denying the complete and utter awesomeness of the paint in these rooms. I mean, really, how yummy is that lilac in the first picture, the bold stripes in the second, and don't even get me started on the ceiling in the last.  I love them all, especially the lilac. And, of course I would need the couch to go with it. And obviously, the windows...

image from Bloomingville

image from Daily Dream Decor

image from Design Sponge

Fave Kids' Spaces

Kids' spaces are so much fun to design. It's kind of like dressing a little one--everything is just so much cuter when it's mini-sized (except for mini candy bars, or "fun" size as they are so incorrectly labeled).  Plus, kids wear anything you put on them and have no opinions about the interior design of their rooms…at least in our house.  I know that's not always the case. Anyway, these are some of my current faves.  I love a space that is sophisticated and whimsical all at the same time.

image from Penelope Home

image from Seth Smoot

image from The Glow

Playrooms & and Adventures at Ikea

I'm kind of giddy. We went to Ikea, and we got the goods: 12 frames for my b&w gallery wall (and a few extras, of course). Someone in this family is going to have a good Saturday, and it's not going to be Mr. Hubs. You see, he'll be the one hanging said frames, and well, he hates it it's not his favorite thing to do.

We almost didn't make it to Ikea, and we probably shouldn't have gone. Stella said that her tummy hurt, so we decided to stay home. After I finally convinced her to eat something, she suddenly felt better, and said, "Let's go somewhere." So, off we went. We made it to Ikea, but about 10 minutes into shopping, her tummy hurt again, and off to the bathroom she went. Let's repeat that about 10 more times, and throw in the fact that she still hates public restrooms, got nervous, and overshot her pee pee onto her panties. Long story short, we got everything we needed, but one of us left without any underwear. On a semi-related note, check out these adorable kids' spaces, where there are no automatic flushers involved and kids wear underwear.

image from Apartment Therapy

image from Decor Pad

image from Family Fun

Favorite Kids' Spaces

In our new place, we have a small playroom. I would LOVE to do a fun design in the room, but since we may only be here for a year, the room is last on the list. Hopefully, we'll have a playroom again...and hopefully, our kid(s) will be young enough to need a playroom by the time that happens! I kind of love having a room to put all of Stella's toys in--a room where I can just shut the door if I don't like the way it looks. So, yes, I am a fan of playrooms, the ONLY, teeny, tiny problem is that Stella doesn't really like to go down there and play...just a little bit of an issue.

image from Architectural Digest

image from PB Kids

image from Lifestyle Etc.

Mini Me | Mini Furniture (That You Will Die Over.)

There's nothing like having a toddler to point out things you must say all too often. The other day, I was sitting on the couch eating a snack.  Stella said, "Mommy, I don't think that's such a good idea." Jeremy then piped in and told her that only grown-ups can eat on the furniture. He must not know that that rule is every bit as much for him as it is for Stella. I'm really the only one who should have that kind of privilege. I promise, I'm only basing this rule on past experience(s), and if I'm being honest, Stella should probably blame Jeremy for ruining it for the both of them. Just sayin.' 

Check out these so-freaking-cute-I-am-dying-and-even-made-Mr. Hubs-get-out-of-bed-to-look-at pieces of kids' furniture. Do you realize they are mini?! The chair, the sectional, the table and chairs--all of them! They are SO cute, but if that $300 pink chevron mini chair was mine, that dog would NOT get to sit there. I mean really, I don't even know if Stella would get to sit there, and definitely not Jeremy...

Little Slipper Chair (Pink) from Land of Nod

Sausalito 3-Piece Sectional Sofa from Pottery Barn Kids

Vintage Schoolhouse Large Play Table from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child

Displaying Children's Books with Picture Ledges

I have wanted to create a book wall for quite some time. We found out we were moving over a year ago, so I thought I might save our walls from additional holes and save Mr. Hubs from patching said additional holes. Plus, it's kind of a need-to-live-close-to-an-Ikea project, because that's where I would buy the ledges. I'm a huge advocate of being able to see book covers. It's the (retired) second grade teacher in me, but let's be honest, it also looks super cute. I can't wait to do this in our next place. 

P.S. I also want the stripes, but we'll save that little bit of good news after Mr. Hubs finishes his boards and gets in a few rounds of golf. Timing is everything.

image from Elizabeth Sullivan Design via House & Home

image from Jones Design Company

image from Sydney Morning Herald

This is How it's Done | Playrooms

So, you know I'm kind of on the fence about playrooms, right? On one hand, I love the idea of a space designated for play, toys, and creativity. On the other hand, it seems like an invitation for a giant, never-ending mess. But, back to the first hand, look at these amaze-balls rooms! They are so bright and beautiful and fun.  And how fun would it be to design one of these bad boys? I may have just talked myself into a playroom. Now, I just need some supplies: colorful accessories, storage, a bright, brilliant  rug, and a great table for creating. And an actual playroom. And a house. Oh, and by the time any of this happens, I may need to borrow some kids. 

image from Land of Nod

image from Sloan Mauran via Decor Pad

image from Piccolina Designs

Teepees...Still in Love

I thought that I had just posted on teepees, so I looked it up. That was back in July. What? Where has the time gone? And, why is it that when I'm exercising 30 minutes seems like two years, but seven months seems like nothing. Go figure. Anywho, I am still in love with teepees, and guess what? They look kind of easy to make (as in easy enough that I would watch Mr. Hubs do it). They are so adorable and not too cutesy that they would be annoying left out in a room. I really just love everything about them...and everything about that striped room. Amaze-balls. All I need is some wood, rope, fabric...and a house. I'm totally on it.

image from The Handmade Home

image from Remodelista

image from Refinery 29

Honey, I Shrunk the House

Stella has accrued more stuff, and I swear, it feels like our house has shrunk to 100 square feet. We're not even toy crazy over here, but as she has gotten bigger, so have her toys. I would LOVE one of these crazy adorable closet/under the stairs playhouses. Aren't they to die for? Plus, I could just shove all of her toys in there and shut the door. Well, actually I could never do that. It gives me anxiety just thinking about it. It would have to be organized. It would definitely have to be organized. Maybe someday when we're all done with residency, fellowship, and school debt, we'll have one of these, and Stella can play house with her American Girl dolls all day long. She'll still think that's fun when she's sixteen, right? 

image from Hickman Design Associates

image from Mossy

image from All Things Heart and Home

Tepee? Yes Please.

What's your take on playrooms? Yay or nay? I love, love, love a cute playroom, and it's a good place to go a little over the top with design choices. (I mean, really, where else is it okay to put a tepee? I'm so in love with these!) I like the idea of a playroom providing a place for all of the toys and eliminating toys in the bedrooms and other rooms. The one thing I'm not sure of is the potential amount of toys and disorganization that may occur. In other words, are they an open invitation for giant messes? I get anxiety just thinking about it. I suppose I would just have to do a lot of organizing, which kind of sounds more like a playroom for me rather than for my kids. Hmmmm, maybe I do want an organizing room playroom, after all.

image from The Beautiful Soup

image from Design Traveller

image from Design Traveller

[color kreyv]: Neon

I know, I know. Those of us who rocked the layered scrunched socks (alternating on each foot if you were really cool), crimped, side pony tails, and the shirt clips are thinking, "I INVENTED neon!" It's so back in, and I love it. I'm actually sporting a neon green sweater as I write this (sans the shirt clip). I know. I'm rad like that. Let's be honest, neon is the only thing that should come back from the eighties. You in?

image from Chic Cheap Nursery

image from Shelter Pop

image from Apartment Therapy

Shelving, Shelving, Shelving

If there's no room behind closed doors, leave it out for the world to see (in a nice, pretty way, of course)! Shelving is the ultimate organization tool.  First of all, if anything is going to be on open shelving, you're going to keep it organized.  Second of all, it frees up a TON of cupboard space for things that are not so pretty.  And third of all, it's pretty and practical.  That doesn't always happen.  I say when something is pretty AND practical, you should probably go with it! (Speaking of practical, isn't the image from The Container Store genius? I love that the bottom shelf doubles as a desk!)

image from Kitchen Building

image from The Container Store via Ohdeedoh

image from Decor Pad

image from Ohdeedoh

[kreyv of the day]

image from Trad Home | Jeff Andrews

[so cheap, so easy]: Activity Wall

We're loving this, right? I don't know about your kids, but Stella loves playing with magnets, and quite frankly, I would love to have them off of my fridge and dishwasher! (More accurately, I would love to have them out from under my fridge and dishwasher where she likes to hide them.)

image from Girl in Air

I looked into the price of this, and you can get an 8'x3' sheet for under $18 at any home improvement store. It is called galvanized steel ribbed roof panel and can just be screwed into drywall. I've also done similar projects with sheets of sheet metal. I love the cool, industrial look of this, not to mention the "cheap and easy" of it all!

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Themed Playrooms

Did you have a playroom when you were little? I did, but it didn't last long. It had yellow shag carpet. Beautiful, bright, yellow shag carpet. (You know I think "yellow is nice.") My parents remodeled the room when I was about seven, and that was the end of the playroom. The yellow shag was replaced by a gray plush carpet, and the room was then referred to as "the gray room." Very original, right?

I'm not sure why the playroom went away, but it was probably better that way. I know you won't be surprised when I tell you this, but I liked having my toys in my own room. You see, I took very good care of my toys, and I didn't just have random dolls, I had complete sets. I had every Rainbow Bright, tons of Barbies, the complete She-Ra set including the castle(girl version of He-Man, dumb names by the way) , My Little Ponies, Cabbage Patch Dolls, and tons of other dolls and accessories. I kept them all in perfect condition. And then, when I was fifteen, I sold them all at a yard sale for a cheerleading fundraiser. I'm sure I totally got ripped off. My mom still regrets letting me do it. But, alas, they are long gone as is that yellow shag carpet. (Sigh.)

image from Job Fair Home Guides & Tips

image from Expresif

image from Adam's Blankie