HOME TOUR

Just a few months ago we finally got the playroom built-ins installed. Long on my wishlist, I had wanted built-ins in this room since the day we moved in. But that wasn’t in the budget or high on the priority list. We settled initially for IKEA modular bookcases and then upgraded to Land of Nod (now Crate Kids). As the kids got bigger and new babies joined the family we realized we really did need a better organization system. I met with my cabinet maker back in January of this year. It got delayed because of COVID and they were finally installed in May. Slowly we’ve been decorating the shelves and organizing the toys. Here’s a look at some current playroom updates.

Rooms are always revolving doors. They change with the seasons and the kid’s ages and interests. But I sure do love this room right now. I also love that these built-ins will transcend all of that, just like the Woods wallpaper by Cole & Son in taupe that’s still going strong, five years later. Here it is in black and equally beautiful. The walls are BM Paperwhite, the prettiest faintest greige that goes beautifully with the wallpaper. And someday, when this isn’t a playroom anymore (cue mom sobbing), it will be a pretty sweet tv room or library space / grown-up retreat. It’ll be a sad day when the time comes to take down these adorable alphabet cards.

There’s still some things I’d like to do. I’m on the hunt for a new ceiling light and looking at flush mounts at the moment. I’d rather the sconces be what your eye sees and right now I feel like the hangy downy pendant light is in the way. It was a budget find at World Market when we first moved in but the time has come to upgrade that.

I’m also a sucker for all the beautiful kids kitchens out there. I made over our IKEA one when Cade was a baby and the door has now been ripped off twice and is hanging on for dear life. Now that we have a daughter who loves it, I’m thinking I might upgrade to a different one. Maybe that will be a Christmas gift next year.

METAL WALL LETTERS

“Once upon the last day of a golden summer.” It’s the opening line of the sweetest Winnie the Pooh movie and is magical to me. It sums up that feeling of childhood and the remarkable creativity that can come when life is unhindered by woes and sad things. Handmade in Brooklyn, NY these fully customizable metal letters make a beautiful addition to a play space.

BUILT INS

Let’s chat more about these built-ins. I designed them, sketching out my vision for Jim at JD Millworks in Ashland, Ma. He took my sketch and translated that into plans. I love Jim and his work is perfection every time. We used JD Millworks for the custom cabinetry in our kitchen. See those lines underneath the baseboard at the bottom? Those are sneaky drawers that you can kick with your toe. They are perfect for puzzles. The stain is custom. You can get the cremone bolts hardware here and they are beautiful. The sconces terrified me when they first came in. Upon first glance the wicker shade felt so orange. But now that they are installed I like them. Still orange-toned but they work.

DETAILS AT A GLANCE

Wallpaper: Woods by Cole & Son in Taupe/white, similar here

Rug: Lulu & Georgia

Play Kitchen: An IKEA hack (I added marble contact paper to the top, painted the bottom BM Chelsea Grey, spray painted hardware gold)

Built-ins: Custom by JD Millworks

Cremone Bolts: Signature Hardware

Built-In Sconce: McGee & Co

Blue Storage Bins: Serena & Lily

Globes: Vintage (Etsy or eBay)

Framed Pendant Flag: Slightly Choppy

Alphabet Cards: Etsy (hung with mini clothespins on cotton twine)

Bookshelves: Potterybarn (ours are 4′ long)

Book Bins: Vintage crate from Etsy (we added castor wheels)

Dollhouse: Plan Toys

Ceiling Pendant: World Market

Chair: Wayfair

Wood Stump side table: Originally from Etsy but similar here

Bench: Target, similar here

Stripe Under Bench Baskets: Container Store (no longer available), similar here

Triangle Climber: Lily and River

Zebra Head

Lion Head

Fox Head

Woven Blinds: Budget Blinds

Blue pillow on Chair: Shoppe Amber Interiors, similar here, and here, and here

I hope you’ve enjoyed these playroom updates and a closer glimpse at the new built-ins, photographed beautifully by Ruth Eileen Photography. I’ll keep you updated on the flush mount lighting options that I’m pondering and you can help me decide.