The Big Girl Room

Oh, how we've been busy lately! In preparation for the new addition to our family this spring, we have been working on a very special space for our first born. We decided to keep our amazing nursery just the way it is- crib and all- for Henry (hoping to stretch the life of the mural painted by Mimmy a few more years), and prepare a toddler room for Audrey in lieu of a second nursery. 

Work has been underway in the room next door to the 'Baby Room' for a while now, and my oh my has it kept us busy! We decided to model the design for the room after the art and style of Rien Poortvliet found in The Book of the Sandman and the Alphabet of Sleep. We've moved furniture, covered and taped, primed and painted, and painted and painted and painted. It was a family effort, but I'm happy to report that with the help of Daddy, Gramps, Mimmy, and the generosity of our family on many levels, the Big Girl Room is to the point of substantial completion, and our Big Girl spent her first night in her toddler bed last night. Let's fondly look back over the whole project and process together...

Preparing the room... the "Before"

Ready to help Mama paint!

"Helping"

Primed and ready for color

The base wall color

Mimmy helping Mama with the special touches

Finished walls

Same day as painting, Gramps and Daddy put together and install Audrey's shelves

Next in the room: the Big Girl Bed

Then the table Mimmy and Pappy made, the chair Aunt KK painted, and the stools Mama covered

Finally, some vintage fabrics, a few things on the walls, and one happy Big Girl

We finished the major 'phase one' projects in Audrey's Big Girl room on Saturday, and Mama nested and worked to make it homey Sunday and Monday, and on Tuesday when fitted sheets were ready, we braced ourselves, closed up the Baby Room, and put Audrey to bed in her Big Girl Room for the first time. It took some adjustments on both our sides and a little bit of stubbornness, but Audrey slept in her toddler bed and woke up in a great mood the next morning. 

There is still so many things to make, refinish, build, sew, and tweak, but we're off to a great start, and Audrey really does love her Gnome-ish homey new room!