Finally A Bedroom Reveal--Tween Boy Room Makeover

It seems as though life zooms past you in the blink of an eye. One day you're sleep-deprived from cradling a baby boy for hours and the next thing you know, you're showing that same boy how to use a combination lock to prepare him for middle school lockers.  What was once a room fit for a 6 year-old is not for an 11 year-old and I had to make a change.

Before pictures of his room...

My son's room used to be perfect for the dragon lover he once was.  He had dragon curtains, dragon artwork, and even a stuffed one on the curtain rod!  However, as he grew older, he spent less and less time in his dragon cave and on his 11th birthday, he said the dragons had to go!  So I made plans to make his room over completely.  *We hired out to have his room painted and the plank wall installed.

The biggest obstacle was breaking up the blue, so I came up with the idea of putting laminate wood flooring on one of his walls. Best.idea.EVER!  No staining required!  The panels have different shades of brown which brought the right amount of darkness and dimension to his small room.

After pictures pictures of Caleb's room...

Adding a cork board was a great addition because my son needed a place for messages or cards.  Behind his door was a good place for him, and an even better place for his books that I put in a metal crate.  I attached a drawer cup pull with glue to keep all his push pins off the floor! 

His closet doors were the biggest nuisance because they got dirty very easily!  No extra coat of paint fixed the constant staining, but a finish of black chalkboard paint did.  Not only does it give texture, but my son can write down important dates or reminders without hassle.

I decided to add a few quotes to his doors by using a chalk pen. I was able to stencil in words without erasing over and over again.

I added a set of decorative pulls to his closet doors.

He needed a spot for his friends to sit.  I added this chair purchased from the thrift store.  I stained it darker then added a small pillow.

Inexpensive artwork from Etsy.

The older my son has gotten, the more involved he became with gaming.  So, I killed 2 birds with 1 stone by using his dresser that I painted over with Annie Sloan chalk paint as an entertainment center as well.

The light-bulb shaped lamp is one of his favorite additions.

A small wooden box to hold a few of his personal items.

Meet Myrtle the Turtle!

I wanted to add some fun to his room.  I painted his small side table a cheerful color; Rainforest Green by Glidden Paints.  I also changed out the knob for nicer look.  I love the addition of this accent color.

A spot for his loose change

Painting his surfaces over gave his room more color without anything clashing.  His room is dark and rustic, yet light and airy.  It's the perfect combination for my son!  Adding eclectic art pieces brought life to his walls and changing his bedding brought the whole room together.

I played with texture by adding baskets and a tasseled rug.  The banana fiber stool provides an extra seat.

I made the pom pom fringe pillow for him, but purchased the other from?  You guessed it...Etsy!

His gallery wall is filled with a few pieces of meaningful art.

I kept the old school desk and made it more mature by adding rustic colored pencils and a globe. The details really make a difference!

Re-doing my son's room was more emotional than expected because I realized he won't be my little baby anymore and his toes won't be so cute after a few years!  Donating his old stuff and painting over the things he's had since he was a small child made me tear up, but I know it's for the better.  He needed a more mature room.  It took me almost a year to finish his room, but I decided to take my time decorating and put together a room I knew my son would love.

Thanks so much for hanging with me!

Source List

Bedding- Land of Nod and Target for his sheets.

Curtains-Land of Nod, finial too

Decorative Pillows-Land of Nod, Etsy

Light Bulb Lamp-PB Teen 

Decorative Pulls-Chinese Brass Hardware

Decorative Pull-Hobby Lobby

Wood Frames-Ikea

Artwork-Etsy, Antique Market

Laser Cut Paper Art-Kate's Paperie inspired by this post

Chalk-holder-Ebay inspired by this post

Jute Rug-Rugs Usa

Banana Fiber Stool-Ikea

Decorative Tree Plate-West Elm

Chevron Pillow-West Elm

Wood Colored Pencils-Marshalls

Globe-Thrifted

Turtle-Hobby Lobby

Small Silver Clock-Pottery Barn

Candle-Target

Natural Fiber Basket-Thrifted

Wall Color-Martha Stewart's Winter's Day matched to Behr paint

Fruit and Cream

I don't know if this goes for anyone else, but the hotter the weather gets, the colder and more refreshing my food is.  In the summer I start to crave ice cream, water ice, and MILKSHAKES! Unhealthy, I know, but those are my go-to foods for the hotter months.  So, I decided to switch up the normal craving and made a fruit and cream salad.

Using the season's fruit and a homemade whipped cream is the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness to curb my sweet tooth.  I used to dislike kiwi, but having it in a fruit salad is perfect!  And leftovers get even better when they settle in the fridge with their own juices and sugars.  It's like a fruity ice cream without the guilt and crazy sugar high!

My children love it too!  My son is particularly picky with desserts and salads, but he loved it so much that he got seconds. It's a light, refreshing treat that cools you down in the sweltering heat and it's sweet enough to ease the craving for sugary sweets! 

Ingredients- Fruit 
fresh blueberries 
fresh strawberries (cut into slices)
fresh blackberries 
kiwi (skin removed and cut into slices)
sliced almonds for garnish (optional)

Ingredients- Cream
1 cup heavy cream 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar 

In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form.  Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form.  Be sure not to over beat.  Cover and refrigerate.  

Directions
Wash fruit and slice strawberries and kiwi.  Throw all fruit in a bowl and toss with a little sugar.  Set covered bowl of fruit in fridge for about an hour to chill.  Remove from fridge and top with cream and sliced almonds.  Enjoy!  Refrigerate any left overs.

Slate Cheese Board

I'm sure you've seen them around--rustic slate-boards used for creating a beautiful cheese display.

Well, lately I've become obsessed with them and wanted to create my own.  They are perfect to have around for entertaining and would make a great hostess gift too!

After stopping in Ikea last week, I stumbled upon a pallet full of tiles not yet priced in the As-Is section of the store.  The employees weren't sure if they were for sale, but allowed me to purchase a couple for only a buck fifty each!  Imagine my cheesy grin!!

Once home, I washed them down well and gave them a coating of food safe mineral oil.  To prevent the greasy oils in the cheese and bread from staining the tile, I added a few pieces of brown paper for protection.  Turns out that it doesn't look too bad!  I really like the look of slate gray on brown.

I wrote in the name of each cheese using my favorite chalk pen. I got lucky and spelled "Monterey" right on the first try ha!

I've seen many different cheese platters and displays, but I love the slate boards best.  It's such a great color and is very versatile, making it simple to accessorize with cheeses and breads.  This purchase was such a steal, I cannot wait to pull this out for a party or small get-together!  

Pretty Awesome Deal Alert at Jo-Ann's

Hey Guys!  Just wanted to pop in real quick to say hello and to share with you some fabric at a great price.

While out shopping with a friend, I came across a huge remnant sale at Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts.  Each remnant was priced great at just $2.  My head was spinning with ideas! 

Measuring 17" square, the fabric would be perfect for pillow covers.

Or if you're not interested in sewing, they would make pretty decorative tea towels to use in your kitchen. 

I usually keep a tea towel draped over the oven handle.

The edges are finished with a nice clean seam to avoid fraying and should wash up great!

If you're not sure how to use them, I came across a great link with a bunch of simple projects.

And if you're a food blogger, the fabric would be great to use while staging your pictures.

So while you're out and about this week be sure to stop by Jo-Anns and pickup some creativity!



P.S. I am in no way affiliated with Jo-Ann's just passing along a great deal!