Boy Room Makeover: Week 3

I’m getting so excited because this boy’s room is ALMOST finished!  I’m a little late this week with the post about it because I kept trying to get one more thing done in it before showing what I have been up to.  I really love how the room is coming together.  It is looking just like I imagined.

I started off this week working on re-framing the black and white cowboy prints in the room.  We picked them up years ago when we lived in Texas at the Texas State Fair.  Somehow these prints have made their way into every room he has had since he was a little guy.  I either love them, or, I am super cheap and find a way to make them always work.  It may be both.  They were in a very rustic frame that had a real weathered wood look to them.  I was able to pick up the two black frames on sale at Michael’s for a grand total of $40.  The matting already included in the frame was just the right size, so it was such an easy project that only took me a few minutes to complete.  Low cost + Little time= My adoration!

I also worked on a really fun project using Sharpies.  I wanted to do something on a pair of white plates.  I happened to stumble across some really neat plates at T.J. Maxx for $5 a piece and new they would be perfect.  Now, when I say stumble I mean I went to Dollar Tree, Kohls, and WalMart before “stumbling” into T.J. Maxx.  I ended up creating a silhouette plate for each of my boys and did one of the dog as well.  This was such an easy project.  Simply take a profile picture of your subject, print it on card stock, cut it out, trace, and fill in with Sharpie.  To make it safe to wash in the future, bake the plate in a 325 degree oven for about 25 minutes.  I love how the raised bumps naturally create a frame around the plate.

I popped into Marshall’s looking for a small side table for his room and struck out.  But, I ran across this neat little wooden box for $10 and new immediately it needed his monogram.

At home, I went into my word processing program and created a monogram with his initials.

Again, I printed it on card stock and cut it out.  Pulling out my Sharpie once again, I traced around the letters and then filled them in.

This boy loves books and really likes to go to antique malls with me and search for treasures.  I don’t think he has ever visited one and not found something he loved.  I wanted him to have room to display his treasures in his room which called for a new bookcase.  Rather than go vertical I decided I wanted something lower and wider.  I had specific dimensions in mind which made a custom piece the only option.  My dad was fantastic and whipped together this simple bookcase in one afternoon for me.

Here it is before I painted it.  He literally finished it that afternoon and by evening I was painting.  I can tell you, I am not the most patient person.  I like to see results and when a project is nearing the end I am usually racing to the finish line because I’m so excited to see the final room. Anyone else like that?  I am always envious of people who can take their sweet time and never feel anxious.

I think it turned out great.  I had, and am still having, a lot of fun styling it to make it look just right.  It isn’t quite there because something needs to be hanging above it in the room and I have a few options in mind.  Here is a sneak peek.

You can probably tell from the picture that he likes collecting dogs and antique pulleys.  It has been fun placing them around the room.  The final accomplishment this week was deciding on bedding.  He wanted to keep his comforter that he has had for several years.  Luckily, it is the right shade of red.  Really I just had to pull in a new set of sheets and sew the pillows and bed skirt.  I found the “Plus” sheet set at Target for under $15 for a twin set.  I love how bright and white they are and with the little plus signs on the sheet set in black it just pulls it all together.

See me back here next week for the full reveal!  I can’t wait for you to see how everything turned out.  When he walked in his room today he said “it’s cool”, which in 13 year boy language means I knocked it out of the park.  I read every single comment.  Please let me know what you think.

Nancy