Playroom!

Welcome to Oliver's play space.  

I intended to wait until this room was complete to share, but I have no idea when that will be and for the sake of documentation, I'm posting it now. :)  I have tossed around several ideas for the wall above the train/play table, but haven't settled on anything yet.  I would really like to put some of Oliver's artwork on the walls, but unfortunately, the shape of this room makes anything on the walls without a shelf or other barrier too unsafe.  I may look into a decal instead.

This is the view when you walk into the room.  I have a better photo somewhere, but it took less time to take one with bad light than to look for the other one.

I originally made this bunting for O's birthday.  I really love it in here now!

My child is 100% boy.  He likes all things stereotypical for a boy.  Trucks galore.  Wheels and balls are also high on the list as are dogs and dirt.

I love this print, it was originally going to be in his nursery, which is why the colors are a little muted, but I decided not to use it in there after afterall.

This decal was also purchased for his nursery, but I couldn't find the right spot for it. 

We use the baskets both for storage and for keeping like toys together, such as music.  

The music basket and the car basket are favorites.

I realized when I was uploading pictures that all of the balls are green!  We do have a few blue ones too!

Just this week, Oliver has started to actually climb on these ride-on toys.  Before now he would just push them around - except for the plane, that one, he'd sit in front of and just watch the propeller spin. :)

This is the back view of the playroom.  The empty frame used to be downstairs and I moved it thinking I'd frame the elephant, but it didn't work and I just haven't moved it yet.  I plan to put a shelf in that same space for crayons, markers, other craft supplies.  There will also be either shelving or a small bookshelf on the wall under the elephant for things like paper, play-doh, etc... Of course all of this may change.  I haven't decided if I want this to be a space where he can play unattended when he's older (likely) or if we'll always be close - so the craft plans may change completely!

I just found out this book shelf has been discontinued and I am SO glad we bought it when we did.  

This was another piece I wanted for the nursery, but there just wasn't a good place for it there.

I LOVE this elephant.  It's an original painting and one I ordered from a sweet artist in Canada.  I was browsing through People.com's 'Babies' blog and saw a swag basket of items that celebrities received from some sort of function and a painting like this was in that grouping.  I contacted the artist and ordered one - I love that it ties in to the classic elephant silhouettes in the nursery and brings a playful splash of color to the playroom.  At some point I plan to make it stand out a little more, but not sure how yet.

The room overall is a little odd - it's the room above the garage, so the shape of it alone is a challenge - but it's 24' x 12' so it's a really good sized room.  It used to be the best sleeping room because it was the coolest in the summer and the warmest in the winter. 

I'm still not done with this space yet - the wall color is original from when we used this room as a guest room with two twin beds on either sides of the window.  I love the neutral green color and I think it works nicely, but I think I'd like something a little more fun.  I'm scouting Pinterest for ideas.  

The walls are also an issue - still trying to figure out what to do on some of them.  And the rug was purchased at Target, but it's not my favorite and I'd like something a little thicker and possibly bigger.  We could still use this one but have it rolled up and under the play table.  

We've talked about making this room a guest room, keeping the bookshelf in the back and having a reading corner/library area in the room.  I think we've settled on keeping it a playroom though.  Lighting is very difficult in this room because we didn't think to add an overhead light when we built the house.  That leaves us with only two options, lamps (which we do now) or having it re-wired (not appealing).

So that's the playroom - hope you'll come and play with us!