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Wow, I went on a month long hiatus there, February was not good to us and we’ve been a house of germs, but I have also managed to decorate three new spaces (with two more in the pipeline!), so I thought I’d re-pop my blogging cherry with a makeover piece. Last time I sat down at the computer to write it was about makeover plans for Ted’s new bedroom (you can read more about my thought process here) . You may remember that my son Ted needed a bigger space to put things like a single bed (I know! The demands of young people these days!). The room is now complete and Ted has been sleeping in it for a few weeks, and I’m happy to report that as far as he’s concerned it’s the best room ever(!). Which is a relief as this space was a total rethink on the last and I poured heart and soul into trying to make it right for him.

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The colours
My brief had been to create a vintage space that could grow with him inspired by a Wes Anderson palette and the various interests Ted has. I always look to Farrow & Ball for initial paint inspiration and found the perfect complimentary shades for our palette. The colours we chose (together) were Oval Room Blue for the main walls, Skimmed Milk White for the ceiling, Dead Salmon for the picture rail, and Green Blue for the rest of the woodwork. I am so pleased with these shades, in combination these mid-range hues feel just dreamy and the Oval Room Blue on the main walls takes on a particularly opalescent quality in the afternoon light, especially when the sun casts its light on the chimney breast wall.

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The Furniture
We already owned the central light for Ted’s room (the classic Sinnerlig designed by Isle Crawford for Ikea) and I bought the rattan bed during the Black Friday sale period from La Redoute. So much furniture designed for kids is made of plastic, I guess it’s a practical choice, but I knew in Ted’s new space I wanted to focus on more natural materials with items that are made to last. We needed a chair which would pull the elements I had in mind together, but also something that felt like a bit of a showstopper and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to find something which completely filled this brief with the Bermuda chair from The Rattan Company. I knew before it arrived that I was more than a little jealous of this piece, and it’s really taking some will power not to keep imagining it in our bedroom or the living room(!). It matches beautifully next to the marble and wood chest of drawers from Atkin & Thyme that was kindly gifted in Ted’s last bedroom. All the furniture in here is built to last, investment pieces which I don’t anticipate will age quickly or feel out dated. They are also all made of natural materials so they should weather the knocks and bumps of age within their patina really well.

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Wall decoration

Alongside the solar system from Stick Stay on the wall behind Teds bed (this was his first thought on how he wanted his space to feel and I’m so glad I found such a stylish version in these hand painted designs), Ted had a lot of input on his walls. We agreed on dressing up items and animals, taking note of his love of adventure, sport and games and also the fact that he’s really into the Wes Anderson adaptation of Fantastic Mr Fox at the moment, so those were our jump points. Adding vintage and crafted items was an important element for me as I wanted Teds room to feel a little homespun and less predictable than many of the kids spaces I looked at online.

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I started with the items on his chimney breast, this is the busiest part of his room and purposefully so. I bought the fox mask, the bear badge and the fish headdress, followed by the fox tie embroidery. We already owned the framed raccoon cushion and deer card and I dotted a few or Teds favourite trinkets on the mantle, alongside his new Oyoy striped vase which is fun writ large. On the adjacent wall I picked up a pair of vintage badminton rackets and placed them as the focal point between an Ash illustration from Fantastic Mr Fox and a geological print of England & Wales (both Etsy purchases), and on the other side a Keith Haring Dog print I selected when I worked with King & McGaw last year. The other walls are empty to allow the space to breath, apart from above the book cabinet where I have bought a Fine Little Day skiers print. Incidentally, if you look past the bookcase through the door in the picture below, you will see a peep of how the upstairs hallway is looking post makeover.

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Storage

I love versatile storage in kids spaces, great big imposing storage systems for kids are an overbearing utilitarian eyesore to my mind, so often really ugly, so I have always opted for a selection of stylish large and small bags from Scandinavian brands. All of the bags you see pictured were kindly gifted by online Scandinavian kids lifestyle store Scandiborn. I have also bought a book cupboard for Ted, he had massively outgrown the children’s bookcase I bought him from Great Little Trading co in his last bedroom. I didn’t want anything too traditional looking and I wanted something made of wood that could have a multipurpose (the shelves which can be placed at different heights also house things like scalectric), so we bought an Ivar cabinet from Ikea and attached legs I bought online from pretty pegs.

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Textiles.

The last big consideration for Ted’s room was the textiles. I sanded and stained the floor four years ago when decorating the space as a study and I really like the dark wood floors, but the room needed a large comfy rug that Ted could sit on whilst playing endless games of lego. Inevitably, with children, the rug will not be immune to occasional spills or muddy paws, but I’m a design blogger and I didn’t want a kid friendly eye sore! Step in Amara who kindly provided me with a rug from my favourite Scandinavian brand (full stop) Ferm Living, who’s Way rug is not only monochrome (all rugs in our house are a combination of black, white, or grey) but it’s also washable (hooray!). Which just leaves the bedding, I bought some inexpensive cotton sheets from La Redoute which fitted our adventure theme with teepee’s and trees, and we were very kindly gifted a special set in burnt orange the Caramel Dots bedding (above) by Oyoy. I also bought Ted a yellow striped blanket for winter nights, and a Wolf throw from Donna Wilson simply to look nice (the cat is very keen on it!).

And that’s it, my little five year old adventurers new space. He’s so happy in here, and the huge built in victorian cupboard which I’ve wallpapered and painted inside is a wonderfully cavernous dumping ground for toys that can be brought in and out on whim. What do you think? I’d love to hear in the comments below. Full Source details listed at end of piece, but if I have missed anything off that you’d like to know the source of, please let me know.

 

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Items Used in Makeover: 

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