Home Tour With A Twist: The Boys' Rooms

 Hello there!!! Welcome to our Home Tour with a Twist, bedroom edition.  As I've taken you through the rest of our home, you've probably noticed that besides paint... it's a total blank slate.  Well, the boys' rooms are a  tad more taken care of.  You'll notice, that although I love the boys' rooms, there is no design savvy.    We'll start in Little Bear's room and I'll explain.

When you come in through the door you can see LB's crib.  I've placed it at an angle because I love the look of it that way.  When Munchkin was born, hubby and I (mostly me) picked the Kidsline Zanzibar theme.  Everything is Zanzibar.... everything.   Me being the (mostly) practical person that I am (I do have my moments of splurging) everything we used for Munchkin's baby nursery passed down to Little Bear... lol, along with clothes, toys, books, and everything else.  Poor kid... maybe one day he'll get his own things. 

These are LB's crib necessities: his blanket, boppy, pillow pet, pacifier (which stays in the crib) and a Curious George (not pictured).  I know it looks crowded, but that is the only way to get him to sleep.  Can you see the teeth marks from both my little teething babies.

The corner behind the crib is where I hide all the baby things we're not using... until I get a chance to move them to the basement.

I know this picture is horrible... but I couldn't get a better shot and I wanted to show you the window between the glider and crib. 

 In the corner across from the crib is the glider and dresser/ changing table combo.  I've spent many many late nights and early mornings soothing little ones in this glider.   It has a small ottoman, but I have two little dare devils who like to use it like a cannon or in some other dangerous way... so off to the closet it went.

Both my boys at this age enjoy pulling the clothes out of the drawers!

Little Bear is also really into opening and closing doors... it's amazing he hasn't pinched his fingers yet.

Once I stop using the top to change millions of diapers I would like to add a shelf.   For now I'm afraid of bumped heads.

The closed door is the closet (check it out all organized here).  The open door is the bathroom.  Yes... all the bedrooms in my house have a bathroom... awesome for convenience... not so awesome for the person who cleans.  Anyhow, I don't keep too many toys in the kids' rooms which makes keeping them neat pretty easy.  One of those bins has small toys, and the other books.  The wall stickers have been used in 3 different rooms.  We first used them in our other house for Munchkin.  When we moved, the cheapo that I am peeled them off and put them on the wall in Munchkin's new room, and when Little Bear arrived I peeled those suckers off again and re-stuck them in here.  So if you wondering if they are worth the money... Yes!!

This is Little Bear's bathroom.  I say Little Bear's only cause it's in his room, but I only use this one for both boys.  I keep Munchkin's locked; A. so he won't go in there and do crazy things that 2 year olds do, and B.  I can't keep up with all the cleaning, and I really don't think a 2 yr old needs a bathroom of his own.

 So much for Munchkin cleaning up bath toys after bath time!

All their little bathroom needs and things are kept in the medicine cabinet where only I can reach.  

Munchkin's Room is all decked out in Circa sports from Target.  I made a deal with hubby that if I could have Zanzibar when he was a baby (hubby wanted a sports nursery) then his next room could be sports. So here it is.  

Munchkin's room is pretty much identical to Little Bear's.  One wall with windows across from the closet and bathroom.  Here's his closet if you want to check it out.  I didn't take pics of the windows because of the glare (like in Little Bear's room).  I also forgot to do pics of Munchkin's bathroom but it's painted light blue and has Target's Ducky theme going on.

I took this pic standing in front of his dresser.

We skipped getting a toddler bed because I figured he'd only use it for a year or two and we'd be buying another anyway.  

The boys fooling around... seconds later there was a huge fight over that pillow pet that happens to be Munchkin's.

The Munchkin's dresser and bedroom door.

On the corner next to the dresser are Munchkin's books.  I need to find a better system.  I'm thinking Ikea spice racks... but I've been seeing some other cute and inexpensive book storage ideas... so I'm holding out.

 So as you can see we used absolutely no design skills for these rooms.  Everything is completely store bought and designed.  Well my friends, that is about to change.   No not the entire rooms, but I'd like to add some personal touches to each room.  

The plan for both these rooms:

Add name art on the walls (Munchkin's in bright red)

Find some fun art for them, and ways to display their own art.

I want to hang different sports balls from the ceiling in Munchkin's room (over the reading corner), and perhaps some stuffed jungle animals in LB's room.

Add shelving over both boys' dressers for small details and family pics.

I also want to get door signs for both boys.

What Are your ideas?  Seen any good reading nooks around?

Here's the rest of the home tour room by room if you want to check it out.

The Mudroom

The Laundry Room

The Kitchen

The Family Room

The Living and Dining Rooms

The Office and Playroom

Home Tour With A Twist: The Office and Playroom

Welcome Back to my Home Tour With a Twist Series.  There will be links to the previous stops on the tour at the end.  Today I will wrap up the first level of our home.  We will stop by the office and revisit the playroom.  I have lots of ideas and projects in mind for both rooms.  Let's take a look.

The Office

This room is our home office.  Mostly the hubby uses this space when he works from home or when he's researching something (he's addicted to google searches just like me).   I have also allowed Munchkin to use the computer for Starfall.com (excellent reading and letter resource, I used to use it in my classroom).  Any how it's painted the same Clary Sage as the kitchen.  It's located to the right of the family room.

When I met my husband he had this same desk but it was literally covered in papers and clutter.  It's been fun helping him to get organized.  Yes it does have moments of messiness still, but it's much easier to clean up when everything has a specific place to go.

We bought the Billy Bookcase from Ikea shortly after we moved in.  Both of us have always wanted an in home library so that's the look we were going for.  We have been slowly adding to our book collection and hope to all the shelves filled at some point.  I love that we still have room to expand it if we need to.

The left wall is a total blank slate.  I'd like to add some inspirational quotes or framed posters, as well as our degrees on the wall.  To keep it fun I also want to add some of Munchkin's and Little Bear's framed art.  I've been stalking pinterest and I've found some super cute ideas.

The back wall is also a blank slate... (what's new? this is my big ol' empty house we're talking about).  At some point I'd like to add a homework area for the boys, but I know that will be a long way off.  I also considered a futon or set of chairs.  Don't ask why the radio is there.  it's probably something he's had since college and he can't let go... smh.  I think I've mentioned before that hubby is a pack rat.  The amount of storage in this house has saved us from quite a few arguments.  One day it will disappear into the basement where it will continue to collect dust and not be used.

The Plan Summarized:

Find some great inspirational quotes, and some great frames at the thrift shop.

Decide on a cute art project for the boys that they can both handle and will compliment the space.

Find the floor plan of the house and frame it... I just think that will be cool.

Actually take my degrees out of the envelope and add them to the wall, sheesh I worked really hard for them!

I need your help!  

What should I do with that back wall where the radio is?  Beside losing the radio, I'm all over that.

The Playroom, Welcome Back 

I swear my house isn't as dark as it seems!

If you walk out of the office and go through the living room, you'll come to the playroom.  I am soooooo glad we have this room (there aren't enough o's to express this), it helps to keep my home clean, no... it keeps my home clean.  Technically it's called the conservatory, but who actually says that?   I have a few friends in our development with similar floor plans, some use it as a grown-up playroom complete with stocked bar and pool table.  Some use it as the family hang out room.  My husband actually thought it was going to be his man cave, you can see how that turned out.  I originally posted about my playroom here, but I thought I'd show it again since I have kind of rearranged it, and I have some cool ideas for the space (at least cool in my head, ever wonder why things don't come out as awesome as your imagination dreamed it would?).

From the doorway, the left side is all about play and fun.  I decided to take the pics as is.  Clean playrooms are fun to look at, but mine only stays magazine clean while there are no children in it.  It still gets messy since I've organized, but it's so much easier to clean up and easier to get Munchkin to help.  He loves looking at the pictures and playing the match game.  I know I need to get tons more storage, but if you haven't already realized I don't spend money like crazy.  I save or pick up things little by little, which is why you may notice some of the trofast bins chillin on the floor, the entire Ikea trofast system will have to wait.

FYI, the Triple Fun ExerSaucer is awesome we've used it since Little Bear was about 4 months old, and both boys love it.  It's growing with them so it's totally worth the money.

He loves that train whistle, and what's funny is that he can't quite make it work yet.

See the books up there.  They will be finding a new home once I get my reading nook in order.

I added some fun art and a thrift store clock up on the wall.  The art is finger paint made with corn syrup and kool-aid packets.  It makes a cool shiny product once it dries, but be careful, in humid weather it will start to drip even after it has "dried".

The opposite side of the playroom is my school area.  I try my hardest to get the boys to keep cars and trucks out of that area, mostly in vain.  Ideally I would like to get some type of furniture divider.  It'd have to be low so there was no risk of falling over.  I just think a more concrete line or division will help the boys understand the difference between the two sides.

This is my art area, I moved the easel to this side of the room but I feel like it's missing something.   I use the wall here to hang their art and on the floor are puzzles.  I want the boys to have easy access to them, but it doesn't look so hot.

On the middle wall (where the alphabet is hanging) you can see that we're up to letter x in Tot School.  I have this cool idea to add some painted cookie sheets on the lower part of the wall for a cool magnetic center.  Again, in my head it's an awesome idea... I'm still working out some kinks like how to hang them and what colors to paint them.  I know I want to stick to a red and blue color scheme but still wondering if I want the cookie sheets all one color or some type of pattern.

This corner is my attempt at a reading zone.  I want to add a tree behind the rocker, and do some cool letter art on the wall.  I also want to cover the pillows and chair with some kind of fabric to make them match.   I saw a cool inexpensive way to display books thanks to Jen at iHeart Organizing.  Can't wait to do this project, but again can't decide how to do the colors or precisely where to put the spice book racks.

The old TV sits on the floor because I'm afraid to put it on a stand and the boys knock it over.  Sometimes they play in here without me, so this space needs to stay very toddler friendly.  They usually watch Baby Einstein videos here, but i'm sure before I know it they'll be asking for some sort of video games.   One day when they are older they will get an upgrade, but for now this works fine for them.  My husband and I are in agreement that they will not be getting TV's in their rooms.

So here is my summarized plan:

Add some letter art for each section of the room - CREATE, EXPLORE, LEARN...  Wooden letters can get expensive so I'm devising a thrifty plan.  I'll let you know what I come up with... but I'm leaning toward cardboard.

Cover the pillows and rockers with fabric.

Add painted cookie sheets for magnet fun.

Purchase some more storage at some point, including a room divider.

Create a fun letter tree in the reading corner.

Help Me Please!  

I'm still trying to figure out what my art area needs... right now it's basically just the easel and the Elmo table.  Keep in mind, Munchkin is 2 1/2 and Little Bear is 1.  Art supplies CAN NOT be kept with in their reach.  I just feel like it needs something.

Well, thanks for reading and your help.  I can't wait to get started on these spaces.  Next we'll go upstairs and check out the bedrooms.

Here's the rest of the home tour room by room if you want to check it out.

The Mudroom

The Laundry Room

The Kitchen

The Family Room

The Living and Dining Rooms

Home Tour With A Twist: The Museums

Welcome back! I hope you have enjoyed, and offered suggestions;)on the rest of the home tour. If you're new to my home tour with a twist, check out my explanation here.

Today I'd like to share with you what my husband and I call the museums since we very rarely use these rooms.  When my husband and I first bought our home it was builder white.   Thanks to hours and hours of watching HGTV we were very open to color on the walls. We did a bit of design cheating and visited a model home at a nearby development similar to ours. Mostly we just noted some design ideas, then we came to the living room. Take a look, please note... this is not our house.

I love all the little details... but they will have to wait in our home due to the little hands.

We loved the deep chocolate on the walls with the contrasting bright white below the chair rail... So we copied... lol.   We decided to paint the tray ceiling gold, although you can't quite tell in the pics. I plan on using the leftover gold to paint stripes in the powder room.  Here is our actual Dining Room and Living Room, we have a long way to go, but I'm ready to get down to decorating business.

The Dining Room

lol... see my little pumpkin center piece.

Screaming for a vignette!  I couldn't figure out where else to put the huge vase, so there it sits.  The mirror and lamps came from Hobby Lobby during their 50% off sale.  Is it me, or are they always running a 50% off sale?

My favorite part of this room, we added them a few months ago.  The pics do them no justice.

We did add a little family portrait wall.  Each year we'll switch the pics out.  I'm thinking I'll make a little scrapbook of the pics from years past.  Anyway, we added curtains that I'm in love with... Once again you can't tell from the pics but there are stripes with tans, golds, and shades of an iridescent tealish sageish (my own words) color that matches the lamps.  Love love love them.  When we chose furniture I was adamant about not getting a china cabinet even though hubby kind of wanted one.  I had dreams of a really cool vignette of some sort.  You see it's empty, except for that sad empty vase.  I would really like to tackle this project, but I think I'm going to hold off until after the holidays. 

The Plan: 

 I hope to add some kind of cool center piece bringing all those colors together, still parusing Pinterest for ideas.   Maybe those decorative balls.  What do you think?  I'd love to do a whole table setting, but with the little hands that live with me... It's just not going to happen anytime soon.

The Living Room

Across from the Dining Room is our Living Room.  Not much living goes on in here.  Everyone that comes over says how it'd be such a great space for reading and sipping wine.  Alas, when I get a chance to put my feet up... It's in the family room in front of the TV.  Anyway, as the littles get older I'll add some things to the table tops.

The doors lead right into the playroom we are VERY blessed to have.

These are the tables that were in the family room, but they were not only magnets for little heads but they were becoming expensive teethers for Little Bear.

This wall needs something! Just not sure what.

The Plan: 

I saw a super cool idea for wall art made from pizza boxes, I will attempt something of that nature. Also, hubby and I will be adding some wainscoting below the chair rail in here and in the dining room.

The Foyer

Our Living and Dining rooms are separated by our foyer. lol... this is the first home I've lived in that had such a formal entry way.  This entry is only used for guest, or if I want to sit on the porch with the boys.   The foyer is huge and it screams for a little table or something, but the boys drive trucks, cars, and walkers (and anything else they can physically move) through here so adding any nice tables or stands is out of the question... But some day.

The Plan: 

I have absolutely no idea what to do here.  I like symmetry (notice the matching living room and dining room?) but I think it'd be over kill to have two tables here.  Maybe I need to get over it... who's knows?Help please!

So thanks for stopping by again. I appreciate all suggestions. Want to see more, here is the rest of my Home Tour With A Twist

The Laundry Room

The Mudroom and Powder Room

The Kitchen

The Family Room

Next on the tour is our home office and the playroom re-visited.

Linking to:
A Bowl Full Of Lemons

Home Tour With A Twist: Family Room

Hello, and welcome to the 3rd installment of my Home Tour With a Twist (I've got a half sleeping 1 year old on my chest so this will have to be quick).  This is my Family Room as you enter from the kitchen.

Upon looking at the floor you will usually see two littles playing with cars and trucks (even though they have a huge play room full of toys).

Anyway... back to the tour.  I recently decorated my mantle for Fall.   Up until about a week ago, it looked like this.  Yes those would be Christmas candles from 2010.  Even in it's previous state it looked really bland (and lets not even go there about the red candles).  

Anyway, I picked up some gourds and little pumpkins from Walmart, painted them a mixture of burnt almond paint (it's whats on the walls) and white, as well as sage (it's on the walls in the kitchen).  I added some scented pine cones, and there you go.  I love it, and the pine cones smell delightful.  I know scale wise I need something much bigger, but for now it will have to do.

This is the view as you come in through the foyer.  My husband and I can't decide what to do with the space over the fire place.  I would like to add some trim work, or maybe a huge mirror.  I think hubby wants to place a huge family portrait.  I don't think I'm feeling that idea.  In the future we will probably add custom window treatments... but that will be a costly project... so it will wait.

We used to have a wooden coffee table and end table in here, but it proved to be a hazard to little heads that always seemed to find corners.  The set now lives in the living room which is next on the tour.

When you look from the foyer, to the left you'll see the back staircase.  I have dreams of either some iron art, or a gallery of pics.  What do you think?

It looks like the couch is pushed against the in this pic, but there is actually a walk way, that's been blocked by the pack in play... probably one of the boys did that.

My Plan:  

Aside from adding some decor on the walls, I want to add a large basket for blankets (or some snuggies).  Two story great rooms look nice (to me), but they are pretty darn hard to keep warm in the winter.  I also want to add a nice pop of color, I'm hoping to do this with pillows on the couch.  

Any ideas?  I'd love to hear them.

Want to see more?  Here is the rest of my Home Tour With a Twist.

The Mudroom and Powder Room

The Kitchen

The Laundry Room

Mission Mudroom: Organized Closet

Here's my first update on my mudroom.  Last week I began my Home Tour With a Twist in my Mudroom.  I received some awesome ideas, and had quite a few sleepless nights imagining all the possibilities.  Anyway, I started with the closet, because if you remember it was horrendous, and I knew I could do it with out spending a dime.  Take a look.

Remember this...

Now take a look at this...

And this...

How'd I do it? Here's my step by step process.

1. I emptied everything out. It will seem like a bigger mess, but that's okay. The stuff ended up all over my kitchen table and counters. See!

2. I painted the closet. I guess I didn't have to, (my husband claims he can't even tell the difference... Men..) but I wanted a fresh look.  I mixed together some leftover white with some leftover sage and got to work.  My buddy Blue kept me company.

3. I Decided what was allowed in the closet and where it would go. This took a bit of time, so I kind of left the mess, started dinner and thought about it. Then I shopped around my house for a few things.

I came up with this: Shoes, Bags, Umbrellas, and Coats/Jackets only.  I only put often worn shoes down here, my hubby got the most space as you can see in the pic.  I typically wear sneakers out, and so do the boys, so we didn't need much space.  On the top shelf I placed two white bins (1).  One bin has my husband's shoe shinning things (its been in the closet)... I found another bin just like it in my craft room and put the boys shoes in it. I just consolidated the items it had into another box so I could snag it for the this closet.  The shelves (2) actually came from Munchkins room.   I used to keep his books on it but I think serves a better purpose here and I have other plans for his books.  I haven't gotten a chance to get an umbrella stand, so for now they are just leaning against or hooked to the shelf (3).

 The other side is where I have hung all jackets and coats.  On the top shelf (which you can barely see) are all the bags, and the floor is where my husband keeps his gym bag, when it's not in use.  Later this week I will be adding a rail of hooks on the mudroom wall and I'll hang the bags there.  The gym bag will get a new home on the top shelf.  My goal is to get everything off the floor.

and I almost forgot... I added a small basket to the powder room (thanks Latoya!).

Things are coming along nicely.  I'll be posting another room on my home tour soon, so check back... I'm loving all the great tips.

Linking to:
A Bowl Full Of Lemons.
iheartorganizing