Custom Play Room Part 1

You know, I am so glad that you are reading my blog. See, I am the queen of starting lots of projects but finishing very few! But now that I am writing on this blog and I know you will be checking up on me, maybe that will hold me accountable! Or at least that thought sounds good!

So here is one of several "current" projects I am working on...the Play Room. Now that Syd is older and can take advantage of the space to use her toys, etc. I am finally getting serious about decorating it.

Here is what the room usually looks like. Not much design going on, other than the design of dogs snoozing on the floor and random toys strewn about! (shhh..lets not tell any of my clients that my house isn't perfect!)

Here is the good news...creating a custom look in any room is less complicated than you might think. The key is to find something that you love, an inspiration piece. I can't do anything in my own house until I find my inspiration piece. Case in point, we have lived here for 5 years and I am just now getting serious about decorating this space. In this instance, it was a chocolate and cream polka dot fabric that I found while I was supposed to be searching for fabric for my living room. (Umm...I totally broke Foxy Roxy's number one rule about Fabric Shopping, we can address that problem later!).

Ok, back on task. The chocolate and cream polka dot fabric became my inspiration. I immediately fell in love with it! I didn't know how I was going to use it, I just knew I had to have it! Remember an inspiration can be an object, a color, a fabric or even a person. (click here for the first post about inspirations) Once you have found your inspiration you simply need to bring it alive!

In decorating, there are no magic wands to wave or strict sets of rules to follow. The only rule is not to be ruled by rules!

In other words, don't think too much, sometimes in our attempt to be perfect and follow the so called "rules" we can lose our creativeness. We were all given special talents and a unique set of likes and dislikes and that is what design is all about! Finding your inspiration and committing to it!

I decided to commit to using the fabric in the room and my first idea was to create a table skirt for a tea table. Instead of purchasing a generic white round children's table, I wanted to give the piece a more custom look. Fabric always adds texture and richness to a room. Here is what I came up with:
Then I just took it a bit farther to add some flare!

I played up the color scheme using pink and brown tulle and flowers. See how the peonies mimic the size and feel of the polka dots? Doesn't it just look scrumptious? If you answered no, then it must just be that my picture taking skills need help, cause I promise in person it is to die for!

I am not done with the room by any means, but I am off to a good start. I have been inspired and I made my first move! Creating a custom look is all about inspiration, texture, color and layering. Oh, we have so much to talk about, I can't wait.

Stay tuned for more on the playroom. And I can't wait to hear more about what inspires you! If chocolate and cream polka dot fabric doesn't get you going in the morning, what does?