Brandy Ink

The Bedroom Makeover

So, almost a year ago now, I showed you these paint swatches for my bedroom that I was in the midst of re-designing and I promised you photos of the new bedroom in the weeks to follow. But, the photos never came... and the truth is, I finished the bedroom (well, except for the headboard) and to me, the headboard is kinda like the focal point of the room. So, I never felt like the room was photo worthy because of the headboard (that is still not finished).

Where is the headboard? Umm.... well, I was refinishing my old one but after a few coats of paint, realized that it chipped off if anyone even sneezed, so I now have to painfully remove this paint which isn't as easy as you might think. To make a long story short, it has turned into a furniture refinishing NIGHTMARE and I've been putting it off like the plague for almost a year now.

Am I ever going to finish the headboard? Probably. Is it going to be anytime soon? Probably not. So, I'm ready to share my bedroom and if any of you wonder why I don't have a headboard... stay tuned for headboard progress or lack there of.

Okay, so here's the reveal...

 I started off wanting a BLACK and WHITE bedroom but somehow my favorite color TEAL, creeped in and I'm totally good with that because that color looks much better on my wall then it did on my 1994 Grand-am.As you walk into the room, you will see (above left) the fingerprints of myself, Grady, Keiryn and Kienna. It was a fun family night project that we did and a sweet reminder of my three favorite people. You will also see (to the right) some 2x3 foot canvas prints of all of us. The photo on the top is one that I took, and the bottom photo was taken by the talented Natalie Santano. I got these canvases made at Costco online. Aren't they beautiful?Above my bed is a painting that I did. You can read about it here. My bed is dressed with sheets that Grady gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago and some inexpensive bedding from Winners because I was never able to find bedding that I was completely in love with so I just bought cheap stuff until I could find something that made my heart sing.

Next, you might remember me posting about a new chair I bought. Read the post here. I put this sketch of it on my blog and received comments and emails mocking it. Here's the sketch.

Regardless of the mockery I STILL LOVE THIS CHAIR and here it is in real life:

This chair makes me happy and Grady loves it too. We call it our horny chair. Ha.

Next is my full-wall of IKEA closets. SO AWESOME. They took an entire week to assemble and Grady and I almost killed each other putting them together, but well worth it. Every time I look at my closet I smile. Then theres my bathroom with my black and white shower curtain that I love (because I love anything absent of color). And my Kal Barteski painting and cool (but very useless) globe. The dresser is also something that I refinished but I haven't finished it either so stay tuned for progress on that as well. Decorating is something I really enjoy doing and I'm thinking I should blog about the rest of my house. Anyone interested?

The Polka-dot Room!

My daughter Keiryn turned SEVEN on Sunday. Wow. Time really does fly. I've been promising her a new room ever since we moved into this house three years ago... but never seem to get around to doing it so I promised her for her birthday this year that she'd get it! Her only request: polka dots.

Thank goodness a friend of mine caught wind of this and gave me this lovely comforter (that her own kids rejected) to start off the room. It provided me with a color palette and some inspiration. I searched high and low and all over the country for a cool light fixture for her room. I wanted anything with polka-dots or bright colors but couldn't find what I was looking for, so I ended up using my creative juices to create this mobile polka-dot sort of thingy to hang off her existing light. It's pretty cool...
And she loved it...

TARGET came to my rescue when I found polka-dot decals in their bedroom isle. Phew. I was not loving the idea of painting polka-dots on the walls so this was perfect! The Pluto painting was her Christmas gift from me because at the time, she was completely obsessed with Pluto. Since then she's found new obsessions but the painting still means a lot to her and how could it not? It's got her name in it and that's so COOL when you've seven! The painting below it is one that my good friend Nancy Pridham did for her. Keiryn had a circus themed bedroom as a baby and it fit perfectly and still does with this bright and colorful new theme. I couldn't leave out the portraits of her because she's just too darn cute and it was a good use of space between her two big windows and the perfect compliment to her polka-dot theme.

When Keiyrn's daddy died, I had to give away her puppy Copper who you see pictured left. He was just way too much work. I did this painting when we still had him and I'm glad I did because it's the perfect reminder of a dog that was loved but way too busy and hyper for any single mom to handle. Pictured right is one of my most favorite paintings ever by James McDowell. That man really has talent and Keiryn adores this piece, as do I. 

Above her night stand is a print we purchased in Disneyland of her favorite ride: Small World. And below that is a photo of her and her sister walking with her daddy in the clouds. I often read the verse to her when I tuck her in at night as a reminder her of how much her daddy loves her even if it's from the sky.

I had to get zebra in the room somehow... but I resisted the urge for making a zebra matte and stuck with the polka-dot theme. Pretty cute.

This was her standing in her door way on birthday morning... waiting for the reveal...

This was her when she opened her eyes....

And as you can see... she is having no troubles adjusting to her new room. She told me that she thinks she's the luckiest kid in the world and I would agree with her. She also told me that her room feels like an art gallery and I would agree with her on that too. She's one lucky kid to have such a great collection of art and things that are dear to her.

 

Happy 7th birthday Keiryn! I love you honey... and I'm so happy you love your new polka-dot bedroom. You deserve it ;)