bedroom makeover: nator edition

what shall i say about this young lady?  she is an old soul. lover of purple and blue. her temperament is classical.  her perfect day would be described as curling up with a good book or movie, while crocheting, on a rainy day.  of course, a lap-cat would be involved, too.

today is her birthday.  she looked up to the heavens and thanked god.  surely the rain must be a personal gift to her.  i think so.

she's now twelve.  and while i'm still trying to wrap my thoughts around that, my gracie {10 yrs old} decided to wear makeup to theater today... and had her first "stage" kiss.  if i'm being completely honest, my heart sank.  and other than in my computer, you will find me sobbing myself into a puddle.  at least on the inside.  {it's not a real kiss, hmama.  he's only kissing his thumbs. *repeat to self*}

i digress.

while nator {again, we never call her by that name} is quite easy to please, she has a specific taste.  it's not the obvious-flashy-girlie items on the shelf you'd expect a young lady to gravitate toward.  she repeatedly said that she would love a purple {secret} garden themed room.  i pinned things on pinterest, but my mind was reeling in place. 

gracie likes decor that pops and blings.  nator appreciates a calming purple.  i have to admit... purple has not always been my favorite color, but her new room has me thinking otherwise.

and as with gracie's room, you really can't appreciate the after until you've taken a gander at the before mess.  {she asked if i was going to embarrass her on the world wide web.  no, me?    then said - at least you have after pictures to show. *giggle*}  here goes...



keyboard next to the window. surrounded by stuff.  unmade queen-size bed.  surrounded by stuff.  many times piled high with clothes mom washed.  a free-standing mirror from my childhood.  surrounded by stuff.



bookshelf she once pulled books from as a baby.  surrounded by stuff.  several hand-painted canvases.  random wall art.  dresser from my childhood, housing an old tv - surrounded by... you guessed it, stuff.  noticing a theme here?  all enclosed in a faint lavender purple, topped with a glitter glaze.

since nator's room is 10x11, it housed the larger bed.  she is always the sweet hostess who gives up her room {that had to be cleaned beforehand} when guests from out-of-town sleep over.  but let's face it... that only happens once or twice a year.  it was really unfair to build gracie a loft bed and not nator... as much as she loves to play legos and paper-dolls on the floor.

so... after much deliberation, here is nator's room...

choosing from the olympic brand paints at lowe's, i went with palisade orchid.  the girls' ceilings are painted in blue silk, with white to help create clouds. 

under her loft, i gave my old desk {which was in gracie's room} a facelift, by replacing knobs, giving it a fresh coat of paint & poly, and re-covering the seat in a material adorned with birds and cages.  she loves birds.  

greenery {hobby lobby} to help with the garden theme.
turquoise sheet {wally-world} to create a tent underneath.


deep purple comforter {bed, bath and beyond}.  sheets {wally-world}.  bedside lamp {ikea}.  chandelier {ikea} - still needs shades.



*edit*  forgot to add the words i wrote on nator's wall -
i'll love you forever...
recognize that?  
i'll like you for always.
as long as i'm living my baby you'll be.

something we sing to each other.


she can use the seat at her desk, or turn it around to practice bach.

the shelves {ikea} are a work in progress, but give her plenty of room to add to her needlework, and book collection. plastic shelves {already owned} give her plenty of organization for legos.  she can slide these babies out onto the floor when she's ready to play with them.  have i mentioned my love of organization?  everything having a place?  hahhh...


she has always dreamed of having a library as big as belle's in the story of beauty and the beast - her favorite princess. i'd say we're off to a good start. 

 

piecing her lamp together {wally-world}, i decided to gift her the bird she swooned over in my bedroom.  it matched perfectly.  

as did the magnetic board {hobby lobby}, housing three little bird magnets.  the cutest!  dad built her a shelf to display her american girl dolls, as well.  her desk is the perfect hiding spot for all of her doll clothes, accessories, and smash book supplies.



her walls are adorned with a wonderful certificate from her first year participating in the music guild.  we plan to add to that.  

butterflies {from the garden section at hobby lobby} and framed book covers {printed at home}. {frames from tar-jet}



the opposite wall houses her dresser - another piece of mine when little.  it was given new knobs, fresh paint, & poly.



the wall is embellished with a small, whimsical tree, hand-painted in a darker shade.  vinyl birds {already owned} in turquoise, tying in the sheet hanging on the bed. 

there's an updated tv nator likes to watch, while playing legos and paper dolls. flowers, compliments of hobby lobby's half-off sale.

this afternoon, nator enjoyed lounging in her bed, listening to the rain, while watching a movie. this + theater = a perfect birthday, in her words.  there's no school on birthdays.  one of the many perks of homeschool.



as we continue to make our way around the room, we have a much more organized closet, our {already owned} room darkening curtain {bed, bath and beyond}, and bean bag.

oh, and a little sister... who enjoys waltzing in big sister's room at her leisure.  that's free.

the new rule: if you get something new, you have to get rid of something fairly equal in size.  "but does easter, birthday, and christmas count??"  and so it begins... ;)

hope you enjoyed the tour!  if you missed gracie's room, you can see it here.  if you are able to use any ideas from our rooms, be sure to let us know. we'd love to see your room reveals.

have a great weekend!