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A Starting Point for the Second Nursery

April 25, 2012

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This morning, after breakfast, I told Greta she was going to help me do one of her favorite things–clean up!  We went upstairs and opened the door to that third upstairs bedroom that we haven’t touched or used (other than to store our stuff) since we moved in over a year ago.  It was quite a mess:

You can tell from Greta’s face how excited she was to be in this room.  It has a baby lock on the door so I am not even sure she knew this room existed (did you?).  Since we aren’t certain when we will be blessed with another baby (more on that here), we have decided to turn this room into something we can use right now. Our first thought was a playroom, but to be honest–every room is a playroom for Greta.  Also, she doesn’t have that many actual toys.  Her idea of fun is trying Chris’s shoes, “washing” the dishes, drawing or even moving objects from room to room.  In almost every living space, we have a few things for her, like blocks or books, but we keep every area Greta-friendly and she seems happy with the arrangement.  All that to say, this room isn’t going to be a playroom, but *drumroll* my studio (!!)–for now, anyway.

This morning, the room was filled with outgrown clothes, boxes, mattresses and decor items that we aren’t using right now.  After a few hours, we had it all organized and cleaned out:

What a sight, eh? I figured this was the best time to snap some official “before” photos of the space since this is as cleaned out as it has ever been.  Plus, we wouldn’t want to forget all the stenciling and pink that will be covered up soon.

The room is almost identical to Greta’s room before we renovated it.  The corner shelves, the stenciled border, the light fixture and curtain…thing.  Unfortunately, these walls are in worse shape.  In some places it almost looks like they were shot with a BB gun or something.  Nothing a little spackle and paint won’t fix.
Speaking of paint, I am excited to decide on a color.  I want to keep it light, because I’ll be doing a lot of photographing in this room, but also something that is inspiring since this will be my creative center of sorts–and I am forcing myself to step away from gray–at least on the walls.
It’s hard to believe this room is in our house, right?  It’s also hard to think all of the rooms in our home used to look like this.  We are excited to bring this one up to par and finally make it a beautiful, usable space.  Who’s with me!?
Anyone else have a space that is just for them?  I have promised not to hog this room entirely (we have plans to add a little something for Greta, too) and I also promise not to call it a “mom-cave.”  Ugh.

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What do you think?

  1. Ann says:

    This week is “National Infertility Awareness Week.” I, too, struggled.

    http://realconversationsbetweenfriends.blogspot.com/2012/04/again.html

    Glad you are doing something fun with the room while you wait!

  2. Eek! You definitely need a studio. Your too talented and you need a room to let it all out! So excited for this one.

  3. How classy! A studio! I could never have a studio on carpet. And I’m sure you’re not desperately holding onto the muave wall to wall there…Hey quick question, have the prior home owners ever seen your blog? Dahhh that’d be so hard to swallow if I were them, lol. Just like “WOW that used to be my house, look how UNBELIEVABLY good that looks, and I could not think of ONE of those ideas.” Lol and all the horrific before pictures, “WOW, I LIVED in that…”

  4. love it!!! so excited to see your progress! i am also very curious to see what you decide for wall color. i have told myself that i have to use some other shade than grey on more than one of our rooms and i am stumped…completely.

  5. Janecmetcalf says:

    can’t WAIT to see what you do with it.

  6. Stefanie Bell says:

    I’m SO sorry to hear about your trial with getting pregnant. Isn’t life crazy.. we all have these different trials and one day it will all make sense. Your in my prayers. But.. I’m SO EXCITED to see what you do with this room! I’m so like you, grey is my number 1 choice and I need to be brave and step away from it!

  7. Jessie McKinley says:

    Isn’t it so rewarding to clean out a disastrous room and make it something useful?? We just cleaned out one of our basement rooms the other day and I feel like our house is suddenly bigger! Have fun choosing colors + planning. I have no doubt it will look amazing!

  8. Totally agree, Jessie. I have been hauling my paints and canvases to the dining room for a year. It’s like we just added an addition the house. Woohooo!!

  9. Hahaha! How will I ever part with it!?

  10. Erin says:

    Ooo, a studio — so exciting! Can’t wait to see your color choice since I need a gray intervention myself. Can’t wait to see the rest of it, too. But are you sure you want to ditch those valances? They really add a certain something :) he he…

  11. bonnie says:

    How fun for you Julia! Can’t wait to see how you transform it!

  12. Patty says:

    You don’t give enough attention to the BOTTOM stencils! Ugh! I’ve never seen that in a room before. Baseboard stencils. Ewwww!
    I love the idea of this becoming your studio. You need it. And deserve it.
    What’s that light switch cover of?

  13. meaganbriggs3 says:

    Yesssssssss! You deserve it!!!!!

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