Blaine's Room Makeover

I'm not a designer. I'm new at decorating. This was the first time I painted a room. I learned a lot. And I'm happy with it. The thing I'm happiest with is that I learned that you can use what you have and make something great without having to spend much. This is my nod to yard-saling, inheriting, refurbishing, making do, waxing creative, and remembering that a kid's room should fit a kid.

It started with a bed. A Deseret Industries (Utah's Goodwill) special that we brought from that glorious state. I outfitted it with my mix-matched bedding from college (why this girly girl chose blue pin-striped sheets is still a mystery). Then one day I got the idea to have Blaine paint a canvas for his headboard. That's his original work, which fact I love.

Next we acquired this desk from my friend, Jessie's yard sale. Taylor sanded off the old scribblings and refinished it. Above it we hung a great picture and quote of Blaine's great-great-grandfather, N. Eldon Tanner, from whom he gets his middle name. The vintage books are from here and there, and tickle me unceasingly. The colors on the Babar book inspired the paint colors on the headboard and...

also inspired the colors for this pennant banner that I made last week. I am obsessed with pennant banners. They are the easiest things ever to make and cute up a space instantly.

As it was all coming together, I remembered this great red trunk I had picked up from a friend a few years ago. It was housing all of my missionary mementos, which I relocated. It now serves as a little ottoman at the foot of the bed and holds...

...blankets, stuffed animals, and sometimes Rog.




My sister-in-law Melissa gave us this little shelf that she was getting rid of (if you know Melis, she is always getting rid of something!), which made a great little bedside bookshelf for Blaine.

Fab wooden abacus courtesy of Nana Cookie (via PBK) and lawnmower courtesty of Aunt Sherri (via IKEA). Can't say enough about our love for good, solid, classic wooden toys (how many junky broken plastic toys have I had to perform superglue surgery on?!)


We were thrilled to inherit this dresser from Taylor's parents. He refinished it the same color as the desk. The painting is a James Christensen of Jonah in the whale, courtesy of my sister, Kathryn. It's a greatie. Love all his work. The dresser is great for holding all of Blaine's clothes, and also for holding Rog.

I have left the opposite wall completely blank, as I am anticipating moving Rog's crib into this room within the next couple of months. It will go against that wall, and then we can decorate accordingly. It's funny. I always pictured myself decorating sweet, pink, girly rooms, but I've loved creating this little space for my boys. They are loving it.