Considering how long it has taken me to complete even a “mini” makeover in my son’s room, one might think that the walls would be gilded with gold and that the bed is now floating suspended from the ceiling.
Sheesh!
I have a confession to make though. This makeover actually began last summer!
Picture me hanging my head in DIY shame.
I’m going to blame my son though, OK?
That is why we have kids right? So we can blame them for things.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who appreciates this wonderful bonus to parenting!
I’ve mentioned before that he is somewhat “change” resistant.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who appreciates this wonderful bonus to parenting!
I’ve mentioned before that he is somewhat “change” resistant.
So, it did take some time to convince him to let me freshen things up a bit.
But, once he realized that I wanted his room to reflect his interests and hobbies, he was all over it!
My son is a budding “engineer” and I really wanted to capture the spirit of that in his room and yet still hold onto some of the vintage elements.
My son is a budding “engineer” and I really wanted to capture the spirit of that in his room and yet still hold onto some of the vintage elements.
Here is the very messy BEFORE
And here it is AFTER the mini-makeover.
Same wall color, same bedding and some of the same decor but with a much lighter, brighter feel!
You can see the window treatments are new and you might remember that I trimmed them out with
Duct Tape just to add a fun little pop of color.
You can see the window treatments are new and you might remember that I trimmed them out with
Duct Tape just to add a fun little pop of color.
Waaaaaaayyyy back last summer, I realized that he needed a desk in his room but I wasn’t quite sure how to squeeze one into the space. So I took his bookcase from this…
…to this!
It’s a “deskcase”….errr…a “bookdesk”…ummm… a “desk/bookcase”??
Whatever you want to call it, it works!
By simply attaching a piece of plywood to one of the shelves and adding legs to the end, it became a wonderful way to maximize the space. I also had a piece of plexi-glass cut to size so that he can put photos underneath and keep the surface clean.
Last summer we also switched out the original “boob” light for this new fixture.
It looks a lot like the Depot Ceiling light from Pottery Barn kids
but I found it at a local store for half the price! Yes!
I also scored this wonderfully chippy headboard for $5.
While most of the wall decor was changed, I just couldn’t take this piece down.
It was painted by my father-in-law for our son soon after he was born.
It is so special to all of us and we wouldn’t dream of not having it in his room!
I did however make some other changes to the walls.
The golf paintings simply had to go and so did this little red table which obviously wasn’t functioning well for my son and all of his “treasures”.
In their place, I found this awesome “Gears” clock and since my boy is a lover of all things mechanical I knew it would be perfect!
I also purchased this bookshelf to use as a night-stand and for more storage.
Yes, that is a Lego radio with an alarm clock “brick” stacked on top!
Yes, that is a Lego radio with an alarm clock “brick” stacked on top!
Isn’t this just so cool?
And I was absolutely ecstatic when I spotted this little box at TJ Maxx with the gears on top.
It was just the perfect finishing touch!
Of course, my son took it as an excuse to find more random things on the playground, put them in his pocket and then bring them home to live in his new “treasure” box.
Please tell me my kid isn’t the only one to do that!
Last week I shared with you probably the most dramatic transformation in this room.
The armoire got a face-lift thanks to Miss Annie Sloan and her magical paint and it made a tremendous impact on the look and feel of the space.
And don’t forget my Work Lights turned Gallery Lights which show off my mad photography skills!
Who knows? Maybe my “mother-boards as art” pictures will be famous someday!
Who knows? Maybe my “mother-boards as art” pictures will be famous someday!
And in case you are wondering where all the toys are hiding in this room.
Some were tossed out into the hallway so that I could take these photos and some are stored in his closet.
But, his Legos (which are what he plays with the most) are all stored in this rack of plastic bins.
We ended up sorting them all by color so that it was easier to find pieces.
We gave up keeping the Lego sets together a long time ago!
Some were tossed out into the hallway so that I could take these photos and some are stored in his closet.
But, his Legos (which are what he plays with the most) are all stored in this rack of plastic bins.
We ended up sorting them all by color so that it was easier to find pieces.
We gave up keeping the Lego sets together a long time ago!
Now, I wanted to give my son the chance to put his own “stamp” on his room too.
So, we created this fun little piece of art.
I took a leftover scrap of plywood and gave it a coat of copper spray paint.
Then we just started nailing and gluing some of the components of the electronics that he has taken apart to the plywood. We had soooo much fun doing this together!
So, we created this fun little piece of art.
I took a leftover scrap of plywood and gave it a coat of copper spray paint.
Then we just started nailing and gluing some of the components of the electronics that he has taken apart to the plywood. We had soooo much fun doing this together!
We hung it on the wall using chain link in an oiled bronze finish.
My boy was just so thrilled when he saw it up there and I have a feeling it will be something he treasures forever. I know I will!
I couldn’t bring myself to update the photos in these frames.
They are just so sweet and perfectly capture my precious boy in all of his wonderful 4-year-old-ness.
That was almost 5 years ago…sigh…
They are just so sweet and perfectly capture my precious boy in all of his wonderful 4-year-old-ness.
That was almost 5 years ago…sigh…
This room may have taken awhile to get it’s mini-makeover.
But, I had so much fun figuring out how to freshen it up and capture the spirit of my boy without spending very much money.
I think I did all right…don’t you?
But, I had so much fun figuring out how to freshen it up and capture the spirit of my boy without spending very much money.
I think I did all right…don’t you?
Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today,
It looks great…and I LOVE how you made the desk!! I’m storing that idea away for sure.
Inspiring and thrifty too! will get me moving to do my youngest daughters room this summer!
Love the little changes that you made! 🙂
FABULOUS, Vanessa!!! I always say, when the timing is right, it will get done. And look how special a project it turned out to be. So cool. I love how involved your son was in all of it. Plus, the room looks amazing.
xoxo
lynn
The little changes look fabulous!!!
XO
Kristin
Awesome! You did a fabulous job. I think my favorite is the gears clock, such a cool find!
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
I think it looks fabulous! What personal touches too. Love the painting over his bed, very sweet and special.
Looks absolutely fabulous!!!
I think you did real good Vanessa! It’s the little changes that give a room a whole new look! Love your son’s artwork, I see a degree in engineering in the future!
Praise God and thank the Lord…… I feel better now. My son’s room re-do was started last August. He’s now got a cool dresser and painted walls, but that is it. That must be the mini part of his makeover, and I need to get moving on the maxi.
~Bliss~
His room is so cute. I love the desk case!!
So funny. I thought the painting was a new addition to the room and I actually thought it was what made it. So good thing you kept it there!
It looks great. Yes that is one of the perks of having kids! I still blame mine even though they are adults…..hehe!!
Have a great week.
I think you did more than all right, Vanessa! Great job and I love that you let him have input on it. Cool clock! If I had known you back when, when my hubby had an electronics repair shop, I could have sent you some of those boards and gears and things from old tvs, vcrs, and such. You could always move that picture your father-in-law did to another room with those two golf pictures you moved. I think they would make a great vignette on a wall all together.
Very nice, very real! And I’d call the bookcase desk a study carrel — doesn’t that sound professional?!
Enjoy your day!
Suzanne @ princapecos.blogspot.com
Love the room Vanessa! Our grandson is a blessed little boy!
Mom
My son is 9 years old and he would love to have a room just like this one! I guess his favorite part would be the electronic components art! He loves to open things up to see what’s inside! I might need to do something like that with the pieces I have around the house!
Lovely transformation!
I love how the room turned out! I am working on my 8 year old’s room at the moment and it can be so hard when they start to have opinions! The desk is a great idea and I must get some of that Anne Sloan paint! Great job!
-Shelley
The ‘mini’ looks great! Love the desk area! But my favorite is the ‘wall art’ of all the mechanical thingys! Just too cute!
Vanessa, I just love the mini-makeover. You did a great job in there. I will have to say that I think that picture is the perfect launching point for the whole room. I see all the colors in the picture repeated in the room. How special is that. Love all you extra special LITTLE touches in there, too. xo Diana
This room looks great! Love the desk-case! Very detailed! Bet you got lots of ‘cool mom’ points!!! Great job:)
Barbara @ Chase the Star
Awesome Idea! Love it! Great job girl!
Melody
One Chatty Chic
Vanessa, this room is just so much fun! Lots of “boy stuff” to keep things interesting. I really like the project you created with all the electronic/mechanical parts! Boys like to tear things apart and don’t always get the parts back into the original- so what better way to utilize them? LOL
And yes, the gear clock is similar to the one I showed! We saw oodles and oodles of them throughout a lot of showrooms. Industrial is still HOT! 🙂 Sue
You did a really great job. That Lego clock is awesome…my son would love it. He’s a Lego-addict. That’s a great way to store the extra pieces. I love that you took his interests into account. Makes the room so personal and fun.
It’s WONDERFUL, Vanessa. Really wonderful. I’m proud of how you made it reflective of him and all the things he likes–yet it still looks great!
Someday I need to write a post that shows all of Lee’s Legos. For now, let’s just say that your storage bins might hold 1/10 of the Legos we own. I can hardly believe I wrote that–but it’s the truth! Oh, my word.
Great job!
Your son’s room turned out wonderful…I so love the way you transformed the bookcase into a study area with that desk addition…what a great idea…I am sure he is so thrilled with his new room….fantastic job Vanessa…
Such a great room, Vanessa! The deskcase/bookdesk remains one of my faves! I love golf prints and, again, I LOVE the painted armoire! What a lucky little fella! Well done, Mama!
This room looks great! My boys need room makeovers too – thanks for the inspiration to get going on them!
Jo-Anna
fabulous! i just love the art made of electrical innards!! guess i’ll have to pin it!!
its look wonderfull. I like the “gears” clocks, it’s a perfect fit with the overall room decor.
Hi, Vanessa! What a wonderful boys room! I’d feel like we did a mini makeover in just cleaning my son’s room! How they collect so much stuff is beyond me! That painting is priceless and love the gears.
There are so many things in this room I just love. Especially that Desk Book Case! That is genius. You should call it a Beskdase. Just to keep things interesting.
My son would so happily move into this room, I love the details, the gears on the wall, so clever! I bet your son is loving it. Now the question is, will it always stay this clean? Great work! -K
Your sons room turned out so great! I love it! The mechancial gears clock and the printed circuit board art is so great for a boys room too. Love the bedding and the new desk you made for him as well. And no, your son is not the only one who collects things in his pocket to bring home and save. Mine does it all the time! Mostly it’s stuff with dirt caked on it that he found somewhere and I’m afraid to touch! Ha!
You did a fantastic job!! I bet your son loves his new room. I love the picture above his bed, and I wouldn’t remove it either.
Oh my goodness, what a great room, I absolutely love it. You are so creative, well done! Have a great day! xo ~Liz
This is something I must do….my sons is in need for an update. Love every detail.
Wow! It may be a mini makeover but the transformation is big! I love all of the attention to detail – super cool projects! I love the furniture (the armoire is gorgeous), your clever desk creation, the lighting, the art! So fun!
I have always thought that the hardest room in the world to decorate is the room of a boy who has outgrown the “little boy” room. You did a FABULOUS job! My favorite parts are the gears on the wall and his electronic masterpiece.
Rooms should tell a story about the one who lives in them. This definitely does, and I really love it.
What a cute room! I love the gears on the wall. I love the desk added to the bookcase. And I want that light fixture!
I think you did fabulously! It was worth the wait and I love the sentimental painting and how the colors all work.
I think you did more than all right. It’s fantastic. I think the clamp lights on the wall are brilliant! I saw them recently on someones open cabinets in a kitchen. I just may have to get a few and figure something out. Hope all is well with you and Heather. Hope you have a great weekend too…Ann
Amazing!!! I love every inch of it…our boys sound a lot alike 🙂 Laurel
Your sons room is so much fun Vanessa! You have inspired me to fish up the boys room and share sometime soon. Thanx force owing to the party!
Honestly, if we can’t redo our kid’s rooms, whose can we do? Our neighbors? I love it, the gears clocks and the circuit-board-art are my particular favorites. He is so lucky to have a mom (and an aunt) like you.
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
What a fun room (and your son is a doll)!!
Love the lighting, the $5 headboard (score!), that dresser, the desk/shelf (I may have to steal that), and especially the fun gear artwork (how fun to do a project together).
I’m with you – what good is having kids if we can’t blame them on occasion!
Kelly
Absolutely PERFECT! This was a HUGE Makeover and I L.O.V.E. it!!! Featuring you this weekend! XO, Aimee
Vanessa, I know this is an old post, but this bookshelf/desk idea is PERFECT for us. I’d really love to know the measurement of the desk part itself. How far out is it from the shelf? Where did you get the legs?
Please respond if able. Thank you so much!