Home DecorA Stylish & Fun Office/Playroom March 14, 2016I’m so excited to really be getting started on our Office/Playroom! Last week, I talked about the layout and functionality and shared the overall design feel I was going for. Today, I’m going to share the mood boards for the room and some of the actual pieces we’ll be using. One thing I discovered quickly with trying to plan out this room was how much we needed for it. A comfy rug was a must and we have no extra rugs. And then all of the kids’ stuff! This is the first real room I’ve designed for a kid. I did her nursery, but really didn’t know what a kid needed and now want to change it some in this new house. I thought about having Chris build some things, but this room is a rush job. We need this functional and fun space to spend our days in, so I’ve decided to do the room now with budget-friendly finds wherever possible. I’m so excited to be working with Wayfair on this room. Since I posted about being more budget-friendly in my room designs (sponsored or not), Wayfair has quickly become one of my go-to sources. They have items for any budget and a lot of the items below that I’m going to use are really reasonable, but still fit the style I was going for. Reasonable and not compromising on style is my always my goal. Wayfair also has a lot of Daily Deals, so you can find items on great sales. Let’s get started with the base. As y’all know from last week’s post, I was picturing a lot of color in here and I really wanted to go with a Moroccan-inspired style. Like the one seen in this picture below, I really wanted to use a boucherouite rug. {via} I’ve wanted a boucherouite rug forever, but they can be really pricey. I searched and searched knowing it would be perfect for this room. They’re really colorful, so it could be a good inspiration piece for the room and I could pull the rest of the colors from it. But they’re also shaggy and comfortable. So what’s the problem? They can be really expensive. It’s hard to find a big one too. So instead of a big boucherouite in the room that I absolutely couldn’t afford, I’m going with some layered rugs. 1. Bleached Jute Rug | 2. Boucherouite Rug | 3. Boucherouite Rug After a lot of searching and being disappointed by very expensive rugs, I came across these two smaller ones. When I found these, they were both well-under $300 and are about 4 x 6″. I know one of those is more expensive now…..when you find something on sale that you love, buy it because the sales go off and the prices fluctuate. I learned that through these items! The bleached jute will cover basically the whole room and I’ll put the two statement rugs under her table and chairs and under the teepee to minimize tripping. Once I found these two colorful inspiration rugs, it was easier to plan the rest of the room design. Here are some of other design elements I’ll be bringing in: Blue Wildflower Wallpaper | 2. Red Marbled Lamps | 3. Flamingo Photograph | 4. Sputnik style Light Fixture | 5. Sheer Blush Curtians | 6. Kantha Blanket for Lounging | 7. Comfy Plum Desk Chair | 8. Leather Moroccan Pouf Oh my gosh, I want this room done now!!! All of the colors and patterns, oh my! The room is all white, so I’m going to add a focal wall with the blue floral wallpaper. I wanted to use floral wallpaper so badly in this house, but hubby hates wallpaper and flowers. But we agreed this was one place it would be okay to bring it in. I went with blue because I realize this room could one day be a playroom to a little boy as well as Rosie. I didn’t want everything to be pink and girly, especially something a bit more permanent like the wallpaper. I’m pulling the other colors out of the rug. I have loved Kantha blankets forever and this colorful one really fit with the colors for the room and it’ll be nice to have it in there for lounging under. I’m ALWAYS covered up under a blanket, even in summer. For the curtains, I’ll hopefully be going with barely there blush fabric. I’m picturing it a little sheer with texture, but I still have to find the fabric to make these. I told y’all these lamps might be appearing somewhere else after getting them for the living room. And here they are! The Moroccan pouf was a necessity since we aren’t having any adult lounge chairs. I’m going to use poufs and floor pillows to make it comfy for adults to play with her in here. And can we talk about those flamingos for a second??? I’m obsessed with flamingos lately for Rosie. I knew I wanted a big flamingo picture in here and this one is perfect for the design because their feathers bring in blush, pink, and red. Something about them just feels so fun and feminine. I also love how this photo is girly, but the nature of the photograph appeals to me too rather than a more child-like art print. And I love the starburst/sputnik style light fixture. It just feels creative and fun to me and I’ve always wanted to use one of these somewhere. And here’s some of the kids’ items we’ll be bringing in: 1. Lace Teepee | 2. Bookshelf/Toy Storage | 3. Kids’ Writing Table | 4. XO Kids’ Chairs | 5. Vintage-style Kids’ Kitchen Rosie got the lace teepee for her birthday, so the colors and style of it were the first inspiration for the room. I’ll be layering one of the rugs under it and I already love how the colors will play off of its’ pom pom garlands. I’ll be doing two of these bookshelf storage pieces against the wallpapered focal wall, side-by-side to create a long storage console. I love how they have a bookshelf on top for office things and easily accessible bins on the bottom for Rosie’s toys. And at $80 each, they’re a great price! Years ago, I saw a little modern table and chair set for kids and ever since have pictured getting it for my babes. I love this modern writing table and I especially love the blush XO chairs with it. So sweet! I had a fit over these rabbit ear Oeuf chairs, but $210 for two chairs for a little kid? No in the budget. These sweet XO chairs are $65 for two! And last of all, the play kitchen. I’ve long-dreamed of giving my little girl a play kitchen one day. I’ve always drooled over the amazing play kitchens from Pottery Barn, but y’all, $500 for that is not in the budget. These little ones from KidKraft are so sweet. I love the vintage feel and at $105 (they’re on a big sale right now!), you can’t beat it. Plus they come in a variety of colors. There’s a big glimpse at where we’re headed! Everything’s ordered and is started to come in now. I’m dying to start putting the room together! I still have some details to figure out and smaller things to round up, but this is the big chunk. I’ll share some progress as it starts coming together!
Jenn says March 14, 2016 at 10:24 am Love all the beautiful colors!! Just a heads up, we have that bleached rug- make sure you REALLY shake it out and vacuum it a ton before you put it in, there is so much DIRT! We are still finding DIRT when we have to move the rug- drives me crazy! π Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:29 am Jenn, thanks so much for the advice! We had a jute rug before and there was so much sand it was crazy! We’re vacuuming it really well π Reply
Austin says March 14, 2016 at 11:15 am This is a perfect example of why I love you! There is NO WAY I would have ever been able to/thought to pull all these different items together, but you did, and you make it look so effortless. Can’t wait to see it installed and complete (I know you can’t, either). Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:34 am Hahaha, thanks so much Austin! You’re so sweet and that means so much! I’m so excited for this room π Reply
Missie says March 14, 2016 at 11:27 am My girls had a kid craft kitchen and it held up so well! They used it regularly for 7 years, and it moved to 2 houses. After they’d outgrown it, I sold it on Craigslist because it still had a ton of life in it! Your Rosie is going to love it! Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:33 am Oh that makes me so happy, Missie! It looks so sweet, but it’s so much cheaper I was hoping it would hold up over time! Reply
Lila says March 14, 2016 at 11:44 am I love your artful use of pattern and texture! Look forward to your posts each week and how it inspires me to be a little more daring in my own decorating. Can’t wait to see the finished product! Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:33 am Thanks so much, Lila! This one is definitely the most out there I’ve done, but I’m so excited about it! Reply
Cheryl Russell says March 14, 2016 at 4:31 pm Love the little kitchen and table/chair set. I have a granddaughter just a few months older than Rosie and she needs such things at grandma’s house. ? Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:32 am Thanks so much, Cheryl! Ofcourse she does haha…my parents do have a kids table and my nephew loves sitting at it! I’m sure Rosie will too soon π Reply
Carol @ CAD INTERIORS says March 14, 2016 at 11:07 pm This is going to be such a fun, happy, and vibrant room! Perfect for an office/playroom combination. Can’t wait to see the final results! Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:32 am Thanks so much, Carol! I can’t wait either π It’s going to be my favorite room in the house! Reply
Anita says March 15, 2016 at 9:03 am What an amazing room that will be!! Love all your choices. I love the Moroccan rugs too. I found a similar one, different pattern, at RugsUSA and love the pattern and bold colors. Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:31 am Thanks so much, Anita! I think I might know which one you’re talking about from Rugs USA – I actually considered it for this room! It’s awesome π Reply
Julie says March 17, 2016 at 8:58 am Girlfriend, although this is not my personal style, I’ll say you’ve done a super job with pairing the unexpected to create a collected, lived in, comfortable, colorful, inspirational haven. So…KUDOS for that! But seriously…you have GOT to ditch that sputnik light fixture. PLEASE! I know it’s not my house but when you show the reveal, if sputnik is hanging from the ceiling, I may actually shed tears! There are waaaay too many other options. It doesn’t look classic or timeless and actually makes the other pieces look too kitschy. It cheapens the overall look. I Love your work and overall attitude! Such a breath of fresh air. But for real girl, the light fixture. Say buh bye! Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:31 am OH wow, Julie, I have to say this comment made me so sad! I do appreciate your sweet compliments, but I actually really love the light. I wasn’t going for classic or timeless in here, but I wanted fun! I’ve wanted to use one of these forever and I love its’ copper finish. Hope the reveal doesn’t make you cry π Reply
julie says March 22, 2016 at 9:38 pm OH NO, don’t you dare cry, sweet Lindsay!! I am very sarcastic. While I don’t really like the fixture, I absolutely LOVE your work. Girlfriend, I just want to hug you! You own your design…embrace it…and LOVE it…don’t let some strange blog stalker lady make you blink an eye ;). i forget that my tone isn’t clear and can be taken the wrong way in the written form. I thought my comment was clever and witty but instead it came across as me being a mean girl…and I’m anything but :). I still don’t like the light. But who cares? March on WhiteBuffalo…March on… Reply
Becky in 'Bama says March 22, 2016 at 11:32 am Just seeing this post today, and a little ‘grandmotherly’ advice. Save your money on the ‘tee pee.’ I’ve raised a daughter and five grandchildren – and we tried the tee pee/tent on her and all of them. It’s fun for about a day and then it becomes a nuisance and a tripping hazard for everyone else. Most children would rather ‘make a tent’ using a sheet, old bedspread or blanket thrown across two chairs and play and rebuild when it falls, etc… and at the end of the day you can take it down and have the floor space and then the next week they can build another tent. It’s the adventure and creativity of the building that is the fun for the kids – because they may stay under or in it for about five minutes, and then in the summer you can move the fun of building a tent out of doors. PLUS save the whole tent thing until she is at least 3 or 4 years of age. AND while many children do enjoy the kitchen set up, you are wise to spend less because she may not be interested in the play kitchen and then you are stuck with it as well. HINT let your friends buy a kitchen set for their little girls and let Rosie play with it when she visits them…look at the $$ you saved (plus it’s a trial run to see if she likes it). I bought all these for my daughter when she was a child – and guess what – she wanted to play out of doors on scooters, bicycles, big wheels – she had ZERO interest in all the dolls, Barbies, etc… take it slowly and see what Rosie really enjoys. You will save tons of cash and save yourself hurt feelings. Reply
Lindsay says March 22, 2016 at 11:37 am Thanks for your advice, Becky! I really appreciate it π My parents actually bought the teepee for Rosie in January for her birthday and so far, she loves it! She crawls into it and plays and reads. I’m sure she’ll still love outside though! Reply
Becky in 'Bama says March 22, 2016 at 11:44 am you are very fortunate then. Yes, we grandparents love to buy fun things for our grandchildren (including myself on that!). She is such a beauty and I know she will love spending time with you in the playroom/office. AND don’t feel guilty about the gate. There’s a reason they are called safety gates – it’s for her safety and your sanity. Mom’s are special but at times you need a little help since you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. LOL and those little ones can be real escape artists when you turn your head for a minute! Reply
Shauna says April 6, 2016 at 6:26 pm Loving all the color! That flamingo print is perfect! I may need to get that for the beach cottage! π Reply