week 1: one room challenge

it's here...the very first week and first time for me in this challenge!  how very exciting and nerve-wracking as well.  for those who've not heard of this challenge, linda at calling it home has created a creative/interior designer magnet in the blogosphere (link on her name will give more info.)  there are really great designers lined up and some newbies like me.  each thursday visit me here to see my progress and you can also peak at what some of the other designers are doing here.        

 

for my room, i hemmed and hawed and have so many rooms needing attention; i nearly needed some meds to decide!  focusing on one room and one room only was a challenge in itself for moi.  in the end I chose my daughter, alexandra's room.  we moved in last july, so in all honesty it should be done by now but life just happens (at least this is my story).  working with a teen (my own) has taught me how to a. breathe deeply and b. remember teens have lots of biological things going on inside.   

 

her bedroom vision was a harry potter meets edgy, computer geek vibe (she built her own computer and is a budding youtube videographer).  she chose the orange and white bedding set from ikea to start, and wanted to keep her childhood bed, nightstand and chest of drawers (good for me as the budget is tight for this room).  her collection of posters she also requested to keep as well.  did you the word posters make you cringe like me?  yep, my challenge is using posters.  maybe i'll decoupage them or try something totally unconventional.       

 

this is my vision for her space...I call it traditional meets modern jungle funk...

 

the whole area was painted light peach which didn't work for this space.  we painted it in benjamin moore's chantilly lace in a matte finish.   i really love the pure white look and matte finish it gives. 

the entry to the teen dungeon...aka a refinished basement. 

a collection of horse memorabilia on the chest of drawers will be updated since her riding/horse days are done.  the italian ladder back chair(s) were from my dining set when we lived in the country.  they were snagged when we moved to use in her room to fill the large space and...

 as desk/gaming chairs for her and a friend too. 

that's a harry potter poster above her bed (the glare makes it difficult to see).  there's the ikea bedding she loves so much.  a keeper for sure, unless i want to go to war. 

 books on the floor.  the bookshelf hasn't been put together yet.  these need a home. 

 the unfinished bookshelf, also from ikea.  needs books and styling. 

the lamp we bought shortly after moving in, she and i both fell in love with the style and color; and the inside of the lampshade is gold!  too cool.   

 

my plan:

• add lots of textures, pillows and add a rug or two to make the room come together.  alex wants a reading chair...she reads a lot.  so, there will be a reading area, a computer area and her sleeping area.  somehow, i need to make all this work in one space.
• find another desk, the one she uses now is just too small for her and the space...and, do it on a small budget...fun, fun, fun! 
• add some storage bins or some sort of storage for her gaming/video making accessories, programs, disc and such.  seeing this stuff out literally makes me have a panic attack...not so pretty.
• frame the harry potter print or make it look like a piece of art!  right now, it's in a poster frame; i just bought them on a whim to get something hanging on her walls.
• find a chair, one that is large enough for her to lay and hang her legs over the side while reading and writing (she writes novels too). 
• put the bookshelf together, add her books and style it
• if there's any money left, find a new desk chair or add slipcovers to the ladder back chairs. 

there you have it...in black and white...dana