What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Posted: August 1st, 2009 | Author: ab | Tags: , , , , ,
Before

Before

My 5 year old child (she is actually 14 but that hurts to admit) is going to high school in a few weeks, so I decided she needed an all new big girl room design for her new big girl life. She went to a 3-week camp in mid-July, at which point Vince and I began working furiously to paint, refinish the floors, and redecorate her room. The whole thing was a big surprise, so I spent the last 3 weeks being alternately excited about the whole thing, and nervous that she would hate it. She didn’t. A lot.

Before

Before

Admittedly, these are some awful before pictures (I had already started slinging stuff around, and the bed was originally against the opposite wall), but you get the idea. The walls/floor are the biggest improvements. They were in pretty bad shape.

I got most of the furniture at Ikea. Accessories/rugs are from various sources — Crate & Barrel, Urban Outfitters, eBay, thrifted.

After

After

After

After

After

After

More pictures on Flickr.

35 Comments on “What I Did On My Summer Vacation”

  1. 1 Benita said at 11:45 PM on August 1st, 2009:

    Ok, this officially makes me want to redo every room in my house.

  2. 2 ab said at 12:18 AM on August 2nd, 2009:

    Ok, whatever, your house is awesome in every way.

  3. 3 Elissa said at 4:59 AM on August 2nd, 2009:

    Wow! This is fantastic. Your daughter is one lucky girl. I’d be super-happy with this room and I am in my (late) twenties!

  4. 4 tara said at 8:29 AM on August 2nd, 2009:

    Now I thought that this was an amazing room when I saw it on Flickr, but seeing the before shots make it even more kickass. Great vision. Beautifully done.

  5. 5 sunny said at 9:21 AM on August 2nd, 2009:

    I love it! It’s soooo beautiful!
    Has she seen it yet?

    The colors..the accessories..that BED….. gorgeous! all of it!

  6. 6 Page said at 1:47 AM on August 3rd, 2009:

    As usual, ABsolutely fabulous (yes, pun intended. What??). I would have killed for this as a teen. Hell, I’d take it now, in a heartbeat.

  7. 7 jive turkey said at 8:28 AM on August 3rd, 2009:

    This is awesome! She must have FLIPPED OUT.

    Also, I was inspired by your kitchen photos & suggested to my husband that we paint our kitchen cabinets white, and he looked at me like I was insane. He doesn’t understaaaaaaaand!

  8. 8 hannah said at 8:36 AM on August 3rd, 2009:

    will you be my mom?

  9. 9 Joannne said at 12:44 PM on August 3rd, 2009:

    Why don’t you have a show on HGTV?

  10. 10 boredmando said at 6:16 PM on August 3rd, 2009:

    Love this! I really need some shelving in my place. I think I need to hit up IKEA.

  11. 11 The Deco Detective said at 9:34 AM on August 4th, 2009:

    Yay, you’ve blogged! And what a blog entry. If your daughter decides she doesn’t want to live in that room after all, may I move in, please?
    I also wondered if it was ok with you if I put some photos from the makeover on my blog. I’ll link back to you, of course (plus I understand if you say no)!

  12. 12 julie said at 1:27 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    That lighting fixture is AAAAAmazing. Can you share where you scored that!? So bold…love it!

    We have LACK shelves…they will work forever!

  13. 13 jones said at 1:53 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    seriously good room. would love to know if you’ve found the *perfect* white paint . . .

  14. 14 ab said at 2:03 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    @julie: The fixture came with the house! I did spray it black; it was a sad rust color.

    @jones: Yes, it’s my favorite white: Benjamin Moore Super White. It’s also the color of my kitchen, and all of our trim.

  15. 15 jackie said at 3:30 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    fabulous!

  16. 16 Carolyn said at 6:59 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    Saw this on AT. It is fabulous! I’m inspired to do something similar for my teen. Can I ask where the pillows with the initials are from?

  17. 17 anh-minh said at 7:36 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    If I go away for a month will you come over and re-do my entire house? Pretty please?

    Brilliant makeover!

  18. 18 Terri said at 10:05 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    This is a lovely room. Would you please tell me where the shades came from? Thank You!

  19. 19 Cher said at 10:05 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    Beautiful room. Where did you get those shades?

  20. 20 erin said at 10:59 PM on August 4th, 2009:

    this is lovely! i found this through apartment therapy… your daughter is very lucky to have a mom who would do this for her! i’m 25 and this is looking better than my room!

  21. 21 Carrie said at 9:27 AM on August 5th, 2009:

    I can be there to pick up your cast off bed and wardrobe before lunch. hehehe

  22. 22 brooke said at 1:53 PM on August 5th, 2009:

    Please share where you found your shades! I’m looking for that exact style in black/white. Thanks!

  23. 23 ab said at 2:01 PM on August 5th, 2009:

    Hi ladies. The shades are from PB Teen.

  24. 24 Brooke said at 2:47 PM on August 5th, 2009:

    Thanks, ab! I swear I’d been all over that site looking, but there they are! Thanks so much! And fabulous job on the room makeover! I’m helping out my niece (she’s 14) on her room makeover and we’re going with mostly white with black/pink accents! Thanks for the inspiration!

  25. 25 Lynnette said at 7:58 PM on August 5th, 2009:

    I love the graphic black and white letter pillows on either side of the bed!!! I MUST have them - where did you find them?

    Love this look - so fresh and inspiring … you did a beautiful job.

  26. 26 ab said at 10:07 AM on August 6th, 2009:

    Pillowcases here: http://www.lushlampshades.co.uk/index.php?page=13

    They spell out “LOVE.”

  27. 27 yoonso said at 10:29 PM on August 6th, 2009:

    absolutely wonderful job. Can I share the source of bed? It is the one that I look for.

  28. 28 Sara said at 8:00 AM on August 7th, 2009:

    I am 31 & I would live here. When she goes to college, call me! Actually, this is exactly what I am looking to do to my bedroom. She is one super lucky lady. Good luck in high school! You did an amazing job.

  29. 29 CC said at 10:09 PM on August 7th, 2009:

    Wait, your 5 year old child is going to high school…

    Is that a typo or are you the mother of a genius?

  30. 30 Kira said at 9:58 PM on August 8th, 2009:

    Wonderful job. Where did you get the desk lamps?? They’re gorgeous!

  31. 31 Naushin said at 9:39 AM on August 9th, 2009:

    Beautiful! Seriously, I’m 30 and I want that room!

  32. 32 Brittany said at 9:33 AM on August 10th, 2009:

    WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE FLOOR CUSHIONS?? THEY ARE FABULOUS AND SILVER HOW ORIGINAL!

  33. 33 jessimarie33 said at 11:53 AM on August 12th, 2009:

    Love it! What a lucky daughter!!

  34. 34 simplygrove said at 1:07 AM on August 13th, 2009:

    Love everything that you have done!! I posted your daughters room here…http://simplygrove.blogspot.com/2009/08/cutest-of-them-all.html

  35. 35 Linda said at 3:08 AM on August 13th, 2009:

    Does anyone know where the letter cushions on the bed come from?