Emma's Big Girl Room | "Real" Furniture

After living in our house for a year and a half, Emma's room is finally furnished and complete.  I have to admit that Mike really pushed me to get to it, and make some decisions.  I had kept putting it off - after all, her room was completely fine.  She had a great upholstered headboard we bought last year... but that was it.  I was searching for the perfect pine dresser for her and an antique bedside table.   The search takes a while, I would tell him.  He reminded me that if I waited too long, she might have even more opinions than she does now : ).                                                    After much searching, I found the perfect pine chest of drawers that was petite in stature, with porcelain knobs and a price tag that would've put it at one of the most expensive items in our home.  And it was going to go in her closet (since her room is so small, and her closet is so big).  I just couldn't do it!  I showed it to Mike to help me with my decision and he was baffled at the price, and the fact that the drawers didn't easily slide in and out... which meant they would never be shut/always be messy.  He appreciates antiques, and items with a history, but we discussed that we wanted Emma's room to feel comfortable and easy.  Adding investment antiques that don't function perfectly (but gave me the "look" I was going for), wasn't the right decision.  

I set out on a search for a new set of furniture that would have a classic, whimsical and nostalgic feel.      I typically don't consider matching furniture sets.  Too predictable, too matchy-matchy.  However, in a room that is usually strewn with dolls, skirts, socks, shoes, toys and toys and toys... I started to think that maybe simple was best.

The hunt was so simple.  On the recommendation from my sister who recently heard that a Jenny Lind collection that was once at Land Of Nod, was now available at Target - my decision was done.  You might remember that Emma had a Jenny Lind style crib from Pottery Barn in her nursery.  It was the perfect mix of nostalgia and whimsy.

Jenny Lind Furniture Collection at Target, this is not sponsored : )

I am so impressed with the quality.  It is solid wood.  It is heavy.  The paint color is a perfect soft, creamy white.  It was delivered in about a week and a half.

I accessorized with the pine finish I was looking for in the antiques, which added just enough charm and primitive feel, in an un-rickety way.  

I have a decorating color philosophy.   I also think that any color or tone, should be repeated 3 times to make a space feel right.  In Emma's room, the colors are Cream/White, Pink, Gold, Medium Brown and Black, each of those are repeated in a few places throughout the room.   

I used natural linen on the two roman shades, and on the lamp shade.  Matching shades and windows is a great place to find continuity in a room.   There are gold accents in the wreath, the gold stars and her "E" that sits over her silhouette.  We used various shades of pink - the palest on the field of the wallpaper, then brought out the brighter rosette from her wallpaper on the embroidery on her bed.  The black and white from her silhouette is echoed in another set on the other side of her room and in the black hardware on cream doors.  The antique pine wood finish is used in the lamp, in the frame, and soon to be on a stool that will go with her mini vanity table... as soon as I find one : )

The pale pink velvet pillow ($28) from the Valentines Collection is the perfect finishing touch for her room.  Puppy finds it very cozy.  Emma uses it as her pillow every night, too : )

I wallpapered the room with help from my Mom.  I LOVE this sweet paper.  You can see more details on that adventure, here.

I added roman shades to her windows from my all time favorite roman shade resource - Home Depot. You might remember that I used them in an ivory linen in our bedroom and bathroom.  For her room, I chose a natural linen, in a fine weave called "Oxford Jute."  You can find it here.  The price starts at about $125 each - a great price for a custom shade.  The quality is superb.  We are getting ready to order these same shades in this same fabric for our hearth room and dining.

I found these little mini potted flowers at Trader Joe's.  They are the sweetest thing.

This perfume bottle is one of Emma's most prized possessions : )   See that tiny cupcake?  From her calico critters bakery.

We are big on house shoes around here.  They are well used and well loved.

I took these photos while Emma was at school one morning, giving me time to get everything just how I wanted it - which hardly ever happens, so I indulged myself.

This same collection has been around since she was a baby and still are all loved and played with... usually as spectators or pupils.

The silhouettes are from Pottery Barn Kids.  I decided to keep the artwork very simple in her room for now, since it is usually pretty busy with toys and "things."  Everywhere.

Sometimes the littlest things make the biggest impression - just as these stars have.  They are Emma's favorite, and mine, too.

In her closet, you can see that I chose a simple, white dresser - Caroline Pottery Barn Kids.  I still think about that sweet pine dresser, though... maybe someday : ). Meanwhile, Emma loves having a big girl dresser to keep her clothes in. 

In full disclosure, on a recent trip to Target she loved this "aqua" blue reading lamp and just had to have it for her room.  I think it is sweet she is excited about her decor and compromised with her.   It does add a nice juxtaposition touch of contemporary.  It is also a hint at her progressing style - she continues to wear most of the items that I pick out, then adds 2-3 hair bows in crazy colors or a bright pink sparkly skirt.  

She is completely delighted with her big girl room, and is constantly adding her personal touch : )  

Emma's Pink Mini Flower Wallpaper | Thanks Mom!

Up until about 30 years ago my Pops (grandpa) owned Schriefer Flooring Co. in Lexington Mo.  They carried carpet, wallpaper, paint, and other decorating supplies - all housed in the charming small town downtown in an old brick building with a pressed tin ceiling (now a tea room).  My Mom worked in the store after college and did some wallpaper hanging for their clients and her friends.

When I told her I planned to have Emma's room papered in a pink floral she insisted - we can do it!  I had received a bid for $500, which seemed like a little too much, for something we could take care of in a day's work.  So, the weekend before Mother's Day, we went to it.  During our long (very long) day, we did discuss many times if we still thought it was worth it.  At 6pm on that Sunday night we weren't quite sure!  The next day when I went over to take these photos it seemed totally worth it.

It was a long day, but in the end it was fun to do together.  Emma "helped" us brush on paste, and when we made a tiny mistake here and there, we reminded Emma (and ourselves) that we were hanging it with love : )  So much our of house had been taken care of by the pros that it felt great to get in there and do something ourselves - make a beautiful, pink flower room that Emma loves.   I should also mentioned that it was a big family work day - my Dad and Mike built our fence while we were papering... talk about a big day!  We got so much done thanks to their help.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

I think I've made a final decision... Which is different from any of the original three I shared. I love that this one has a soft pink background with little pink flowers. In the entire room, I think it will be perfectly sweet and subtle, and grow with her... For at least 7-10 years, please!

A photo posted by JennySteffensHobick (@jennysteffenshobick) on Apr 23, 2015 at 7:08pm PDT

Here is the Insta post that I shared when I found "the" paper.  After hunting and hunting in fancy wallpaper stores and on fancy wallpaper websites, I realized that I wanted something that felt a little older.   Maybe even something that looked like it had belonged in the house in the 40's or 50's when it was built.  Something sweet.  And pink, of course.  I landed at Sherwin Williams browsing through books.  After looking at fancy papers ($70-90/roll) I was thrilled to find that this paper was $18/roll and everything I was looking for.

Sherwin Williams

Manufacturer: Patton Wallcoverings
Book Name: P CHOICE BASIX PETITE PRINTS
Pattern Number: PR33848
Color: PINK/MAUVE/ROSE

As always, it is hard to get a photo of the true color in a room like this with natural light and the chandelier competing.   I just love all of the nooks in Emma's room.  I think rooms with dormered windows were meant for floral wallpaper!  

  I really didn't want to touch her room at all - I wanted it to be like a time capsule of her baby room.  It feels very much the same as it did before, but now with very sweet pink flowers.

This is a photo of the paper still drying - you can see it is a little wet in places.  From the hall it just reads pale pink, you can barely see the pattern, which I think will be great for helping it grow with her.

This is the new fixture for her room, a 3 Arm Brass Chandelier from Sandwich Lanterns on Cape Cod.  I love the unlaqured finish and classic design.  I may add shades...?

 Last year for Mother's Day, I made this Inspiration Board for Emma's new room.  I'm still working from the same board, but probably adding a bit more of a big girl feel.  Amazing what a year does : )

I'm still looking for a pine dresser - I found one that is perfect, but will need to wait a little bit before I pull the trigger.



This is the photo in the left corner was the inspiration for papering her room.  The print I selected is much more subtle, but I hope it still lends the same charming effect.

After our long day of papering (and saving money!), I rewarded us with doing some bedding shopping for Emma's new room.  Just like in the photo, I pulled the deep pink out of the wallpaper to use on her bed.


I picked this duvet cover from Pottery Barn - white with an embroidered pink border.  I also did a white sham with pink monogram, but picked a different pattern.  The color is a little more muted in person - just a true pink.  (I didn't order the bright patterned quilt and shams shown here.)

I actually found it on the PBTeen site, because I couldn't find the colors I was looking for at PB Kids.  I always forget to check there, but they have great options.

*This is not PB sponsored - though I wish ; )

Tomorrow is MOVE IN DAY.  Yeah!  Forgive me if it is quiet for a couple of days - be sure to follow our move in progress on Instagram! 

Emma's Big Girl Room Inspiration Board

It's that time.  Time for Emma to have her own big girl room.  I know what you're thinking - aren't you in the middle of remodeling your house?  Yes, we are, well, sort of.  We are very, very close.  We've hit some delays.  (Inevitable, I've been told.)  It looks like construction is still a couple of months away at this point.  Groan. 

While we're still waiting to get the final tweaks back from the architect (going on 3 weeks now...), I got antsy.  We've been living in our house for a year and a half now, in limbo.  We don't want to fix anything or fix anything up, because we're getting ready to rip it all out.  It is really starting to drive me crazy - the trim that needs touching up, the light fixtures that are broken, the floors that need refinishing... all of the little things here and there that continue to add up, are driving me a little crazy.  It is my nature to fix things.  I love fixing things. 

Mike asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day.  My answer, to decorate Emma's room.  I spent Mother's Day running around town, pinning (here) and gathering bedding and inspiration.  Finally, a house project! 

It wasn't until last week that I finally decided to have Emma's room stay Emma's room even after construction has completed.  We'd debated moving her into our old room, but I just love her room, for her.  It is small, cozy with nooks and crannies, and a huge closet that doubles as a secret play area.

I want her "new" room to feel very collected and layered, with a touch of feminine and fairytale whimsy.  I love the photo in the upper left corner of the floral wallpaper, but, I'm taking that idea and applying it to the bedding I selected (right corner).  It is from Pottery Barn Kids - white fabric with a rosy/brown woodland fairytale print.  I also bought the white ruffle sheets pictured here. 

I'm planning a wall gallery of framed prints, sketches and blank frames to display her own artwork.  I am working on collecting the prints now.  So far, I have the vintage Winnie the Pooh illustrations I bought from the Brimfield Antique Show two years ago.  Mr. Darcy's favorite toy is his Pooh Bear, and seeing these illustrations remind me of Emma and D for some reason : )  I also have some classic nursery rhyme book pages to frame, and her sillouette cutout.  I've been looking all over for a gallery wall that is exactly what I have in mind, but I haven't been able to find one that I love.  I know they have been done, and done again, which makes me a little hesitant, but I think I have a great vision for it... fingers crossed.

I am waiting on furniture for now - but still hunting.  I'd love a real, old farmhouse pine chest of drawers.  I think I'd like it to be a reproduction so the drawers work nicely, though.  Anyone have an idea of where to start?  I haven't decided on a bed, either... maybe upholstered?  Maybe stripped down pine? 

  

This is Emma's room as it stands now (more details here in the original reveal post) the one and only room that will not be effected by the construction, because I love everything about it.   I love the paint color on the walls that we painted when we moved in - Pristine, by Benjamin Moore.  The trim is painted in Navajo White - giving a very subtle tone-on-tone look to the room.  Both are very creamy colors. 

The color palette, as you can see from the inspiration board above, is staying basically the same.  I'm adding some more patterns and layers.

Emma's Room | Soft Pink & Ivory Room with Holiday Touches

Emma's 1st nursery, as you may recall, was painted powder blue with ivory and charcoal grey accents.  I had full intentions of painting her new room a very similar shade, but something was pulling me in the pink direction...  I guess it was Emma!

Now that we know her sweet little personality, she really seems like a pink girl (as her closet confirms).  I had the room painted Ben Moore Pristine.  It is found amongst the "Whites" and is more of a cream with pink/peach undertones.  In Emma's very small room, the painted walls feed off of each other and enhance the color to feel perfectly pink.  I'm soooo glad we didn't go with a more saturated hue.  A re-paint would definitely be in order.

Walls : Ben Moore Pristine, Flat
Trim : Navajo White, Satin
Ceiling : Bone White at 50%

We kept most of the elements of her first room, including the ivory slipcovered rocker from Pottery Barn Kids.  My Mom made the quilt for me about 6 years ago. 

Emma's little buddies - the lamb from Pottery Barn Kids and the Sheep Blah Blah Doll Mike's mom bought for her during their stay at Blackberry Farm.

The pink dot curtains are from Pottery Barn Kids, as well as her lamb rocking "horse."  I had a Martha Stewart carpet (style : Olana, color : Bone Folder) from the Home Depot cut to fit her room with a 6" border around the room to show the wood floor.   I also had one cut for our bedroom and runners for the and hallway.



Notice the lamb theme still continues... from the blue room to the pink room!



More buddies - Jelly Cat dolls and a Blah Blah rattle.  You might remember this Blah Blah rattle is what originally inspired the room's design... until I changed it.



Lots of baskets filled with toys... my #1 organizational tip for keeping things "neat," although I've given up on trying to make the house look perfect every moment of the day.  The baskets do make picking up really easy... I'm sure there are socks and pj's and who knows what else also stuffed in the basket.  It is the equivalent of "under the bed" cleaning...



We keep a basket of Emma's books by the big chair for story time.

Here is another view of the room that shows her little tree in the dormer.

This was one of the trees that I used for the Home Depot Style Challenge.  I spray painted the urn navajo white to make the trim in her room.

I decorated it with my Hallmark Mary's Angels collection.

Every year it is our family tradition for the God Parents to give their God Children ornaments. 

My Godmother/Aunt Phyllis gave me the Angels - and I still love them.  My Mom officially handed them over to me this year.  

My sister, one of Emma's godparents, has continued the tradition and started giving Emma an angel ornament each year from the same Hallmark collection.

 Emma is checking them out... I think this shot was immediately followed by a dropped ornament.

This is the first one I received - the original "Mary."  I think she looks a little like Emma!




 These Emma photos hang in a line above her rocking chair - all pics from 4 - 6 mos.

We are stilling using the blanket chest as a changing table as we did in her first room.  It will eventually get replaced with a chest of drawers when Emma needs more storage.  Speaking of storage - did I mention that Emma has a giant closet?  In the future, I hope to transform it into a whimsical tiny play room.

I made this memory board to hang above her changing table.  It is covered in the same fabric as her curtains.   DIY to follow!  Her and Mr. Darcy's 2nd set of stockings are hung above the changing table with care...

Speaking of Mr...  he's confused - where all of the toys are that are usually covering the floor!?

If you'd like to tour the rest of our house, visit this link!