Aaahh, the room I have been waiting to show you for over a year!
Yes, it really did take that long to finish (actually, it’s not even quite done yet).
And, no, it was not supposed to take that long. Three months at the most. But you know how it is when you do all the work yourself. Somehow, it just dragged on and on.
I’ll start with some before photos. I must warn you, these are truly heinous. I think when you see them, you’ll understand why.
This little add-on room was used for storage, and we decided that it would make a really cute little nursery. It started off with the typical 70’s paneled walls (no insulation), tiled ceiling, ancient windows, concrete floor, and a door that was unusable.
And here’s what it looks like today, inspired by Layla’s reading room…
Some things that we (as in, the ever-so-handy hubs & I) did:
*Ripped out all the paneling and ceiling tiles.
*Installed new windows and repositioned them (had to also replace the siding on the outside of the room)
*Installed new insulation and drywall.
*Re-wired all the electrical.
*Installed carpet (the only room in our house with carpeting, and I must say, even though I like the look of wood floors better, this stuff is so freaking comfortable!)
*Installed beadboard and crown moulding on the ceiling.
The beadboard ceiling is my very favorite feature of the room. Since the ceiling is low and slanted, I wanted it to look like it used to be an old porch and thought the beadboard would really bring out some of the character of the room.
Totally LOVE.IT.
I painted 18″ stripes on the wall using Frogtape to tape off the edges (best stuff ever). The paint colors are Olympic Diamond Mine and Olympic Drifting Dune from Lowes.
Then I painted the lettering on the walls, inspired by the old song “His Eye is on the Sparrow”.
I wanted the room to have a natural, nature-inspired feel and wanted it to be as calm and serene as possible. I know that you’re “supposed” to have bold graphics and colors for a nursery to help with your child’s sensory development, but I was totally selfish and decided that the room would be about what I wanted (aren’t I a baaad mama??).
After all, after delivering a baby and hardly getting any sleep, I’d much prefer calmness and serenity, to bright colors and cartoon characters. Just my opinion.
Carry on.
I had painted this toy chest that I found at Goodwill a while ago. It fits into the room perfectly.
I sketched the tree on to the wall and painted it with acrylic craft paint.
I made the bumper cover using an old white quilted throw and some new green fabric that I sewed together. I also made the dust ruffle using a twin-size white dust ruffle and added the green fabric to the bottom to make it wider.
Almost everything in this room was thrifted or made by me. I found the tab-top Martha Stewart curtains at Goodwill and sewed brown fabric from WalMart to the bottom to make them longer. I used branches I found outside for the curtain rods, adding to the “natural” feel. And, they cost 0 dollars, which is always nice!
For now, Jack is using this room, while I turn his old room into a “big boy” room. Then, when the baby comes in November, this will be his/her room.
I’m still working on the wall that’s not shown, which houses a changing table and some organizational stuff. And hubs is installing a laundry chute…everytime I think of it I hear the angels singing. I am THAT excited!! I am not even kidding!!
The room is teensy-tiny, so it was hard to get good pictures, but you get the idea of what it looks like now. I am in love with it. And so glad to be (almost) done with it! It is a good feeling!
Now, onto Jack’s “big boy” room! I swear, I will never be finished with this house! And that makes me happy!
Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for Heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Verse 2:
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Verse 3:
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him,
From care He sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He cares for me.