Let’s all join hands and sing “Raindrops & Rose Paint.” Yes, that’s a bad Sound of Music pun. Please forgive me, Julie Andrews. But just look at how festive Clara’s room is thanks to the addition of some bright raindrops that we painted on the wall and a watermelon pink closet door.
Remember when it used to look like this?
Well, it’s definitely looking pretty happy these days.
Although the door color is actually more true to life in this Instragram sneak peek that we shared yesterday (iPhone for the win). And the pink drops are easier to see in real life (they seem to hide in these pics for some reason).
How did we get there? Well, a whole bunch of photoshop-brainstorming here resulted in over 900 truly amazing comments and ideas from you guys. And then we shared all of our original photoshopped versions of the canopy wall with Clara as well as some new ones that we whipped up based on suggestions from you to see which ones she liked best. We never would have thought of all the things you guys came up with, and one that rolled in over and over again was the idea of putting the raindrops outside of the canopy instead of under it like we had originally done in this rendering (which was inspired by this this charming project).
We loved the idea of the canopy appearing to shelter Clara from the colorful little raindrops, so this new take on the raindrops was one of the extra ones that we photoshopped for her to see (along with some other fun ones involving constellations, some bold paint on that full wall behind the bed, a few different colors of paint on the closet door to the right of her bed, etc).
And let me tell you, Clara’s a decisive girl. After about 2.5 seconds she looked at them all and said “I like the raindrops on the wall outside but I want them to be pink and red and blue, and I want the door to be pink – but not light pink. DARK PINK!” Which led me to making this photoshopped image for “final approval” from Clara.
I’m obsessed with the door color that we ended up with, so Clara was right!
In short, she’s a decorating genius (along with you genius readers and all of your genius suggestions). The cutest thing of all is that when she saw me painting the raindrops she said “Wowwww! Mom I really like it real! Even better than the computer!” And when it was all done (including the pink door, which she incessantly reminded me about until it was done) she walked in and said “It’s….. truly magnificent!” It’s is a quote from one of her favorite books (Room On The Broom) and it had John and I rolling on the floor. Seriously, it was the sweetest moment and I wish we had thought to record it.
The raindrops are actually just painted right onto the wall using a simple cardboard stencil that I made. To make the template for it, I used an old page from an activity book that Clara had ripped out and tossed aside (waste not, want not) and folded it in half vertically and just cut a half-teardrop-ish shape from it and unfolded it. I liked the scale and it was nice and symmetrical since I used the folded technique, so I traced that onto the back of a cracker box and cut it out to create a cardboard template.
Then I brought my laptop into her room so I could reference my photoshopped placement of the drops (although I didn’t mimic it exactly) and just traced the cardboard shape directly onto the wall with a pencil, randomly staggering them around that wall. There was zero measuring involved since I didn’t want them to be perfectly placed (rain seems to fall more randomly than that anyway) so I just stood back and checked out the wall and sort of eyed everything as I went.
I assumed we’d have to run to the store for some $2.99 test pots of paint in pink, blue, and red as Clara requested – but I looked in the garage at what we had, and was thrilled to find an old dusty quart of blue paint leftover from a few years ago (the color is called Tranquil) and remembered that we had some pink leftover from Clara’s ceiling (Pink Cadillac) and there was also about half of a quart of a bold poppy-red color called Milano Red from a few years back (don’t even remember what we used that for!). But if you don’t have a paint hoarding problem like me, three test pots would do the job for under $9 – so either way this is a simple and low-budget update, especially since you can make your own stencil for it!
After digging those out, I shook them up, and popped the lids off all three of them, and just laid them out on the white dresser top in her room to see how the colors worked in there (it helped to see them on a white surface since the wall is white so it gave me a good idea of how they’d work together – although paint dries darker so I knew the light pink would show up more on the wall). One happy accident about finding all of these colors in the garage was that they all had varying intensities (see how the red is the boldest one and the blue is sort of the mid-tone and the pink is light and soft?) which I realize now in hindsight might have helped the whole project come out slightly less busy than if all three colors were super bold and sort of compete-y with each other.
I was sold, so I called John and Clara up to see them and they both gave me the thumbs up and left before I could put them to work (smart people), so I dove into filling all of my pencil-traced raindrops on the wall using a very small craft brush. I worked with one color at a time, doing all of the blue ones first (I consulted my photoshopped image but went rogue a few times if I thought a different color order would look better in some spots) and then moved onto the light pink ones and finished with the bold red ones.
Each color ended up needing two coats, so by the time I finished the red ones I went back in and did the second coat on the blue ones and then did the second coat on the pink and then the red. Total time spent tracing them onto the wall and painting = less than two hours. Oh and my favorites are the ones that drip into something (like the door frame or the canopy) just because their cut-off shape is so playful. It really does feel raindrop-esque in there now, and I’m so glad that Clara loves it as much as we do (she did admit that the red raindrops are her favorite, but she “likes them all mixed up like that because it’s like a rainbow”).
Then it was time to paint the door, so after holding up a bunch of swatches to try to find one that was slightly pinker and darker than the photoshopped image that Clara had otherwise signed off on, we headed to the store to grab a quart of the winning color: Cinco De Mayo. The hilarious thing about that color name is that I thought “since I have so much leftover paint that I can’t even remember in the garage, I should go through it to see if I have some of that color by some paint miracle” and I found one can that said Mardi Gras on it and totally did the happy dance and then my brain said “Cinco De Mayo and Mardi Gras are not the same paint color” (oddly enough they were kind of close except Mardi Gras was a little more neon).
So we ran to the store and bought a quart of Cinco De Mayo and it just took two coats (and a third pass of just touch ups) to get it done with a small foam roller and a small angled brush to get into the frames of the door (you can read more on door-painting here). We did both sides of the door just so that whether it’s open or closed there’s that pop of color over there.
Oh and to everyone who recommended painting that door, you were totally right! Initially I worried about the wall feeling unbalanced if we painted it, but the polka dot wall of curtains (there are four of them) to the left of the canopy seems to visually balance the bright door so it’s not an issue at all. I also worried it would look weird to have one colorful door in her room (that’s her closet door) while the door to her room (from the hallway) remains white, but it’s not a big deal in real life. I just had to get over my matchy-matchy thing (all of the doors in all of our houses have always been white)… but once I saw this one on Pinterest I was all over it. I’ve always wanted to make that closet feel like a little playhouse within the room for Clara, and the bold door is the first step to that.
Of course we still have a big blank spot over her bed (we think maybe hanging a white paper pendant might be fun, sort of like the lamp in the photoshopped version) and her room is still full of white walls everywhere else (we chose one of our favorite white paints). We can’t wait to hang some art, do some projects with Clara, and eventually get her crib outta there so we can have some fun with the wall where that lives. But it’s a whole lot happier with those raindrops and that colorful door in full effect.
What did you guys do this weekend? Any stencil making? Or door painting? How about cry-laughing when your three year old says “magnificent” – that might have been my favorite part.
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house? Just click on this button:
Shawna says
For under the canopy, how about making some tissue-paper Pom-Poms in coordinating wall raindrop paint colours?! That would be fun AND cheap! Like me! (Hey, now. Be nice.)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I love it.
xo
s
Vicky M says
That would be cute, I saw this the other day and thought of it when I read that you wanted to put something on the canopy. These are paper lanterns, but it would be cute if they were pom-poms like Shawna said.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/MTA1NDEyNDQ3NTAxNjI2ODU5fDEwLTA5MDVlNmM3MTY=/
Vicky says
I saw this the other day on pinterest while looking for ideas for my daughters room. She wants lime green (she showed me a highlighter like color)on the walls so I was trying to find some ideas for a compromise. LOL These are paper lanterns but Pom-poms would be cute too or maybe a mix of the two for different textures.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/MTA1NDEyNDQ3NTAxNjI2ODU5fDEwLTA5MDVlNmM3MTY=/
nancy @ owen's olivia says
Oh dear. I love this so much.
Laura says
I love the door! It just makes the room pop! You make me want to paint my doors fun colors!
Cara says
Love it. I liked the chandelier in the mock up. You know I’ve seen a vinyl wall decal of a chandelier somewhere… Target, maybe? That could be fun.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks a fun idea too!
xo
s
Katie says
Cute! We NEED a picture with the raindrops AND the awesome fairy lights now! :)
YoungHouseLove says
I can’t believe we forgot that shot! Soon I hope!
xo
s
Cynthia Fails says
Clara has a good eye! Lovin’ the raindrop motif and the door color is amazing. This may be one of my favorite rooms yet! I had the chance to hang out with my most awesome 5 y/o niece this weekend who graciously helped me craft the promo for my book.
http://youtu.be/E_GEUT5R0FA
I would love to hear your thoughts on it!
YoungHouseLove says
Really cute! Clara and I just watched it and she wanted to see it over and over again!
xo
s
Megan Poletti says
I love how decisive and descriptive Clara is. That video was adorable! I wish I had those kind of decision-making abilities! Sorry if this has been asked before, but — you mentioned you loved the raindrops that “ran into” the canopy or door frame. Did you just cut them off straight, or did you draw some sort of splash? I can’t tell from the photos. I’m just curious, really :)
YoungHouseLove says
I just cut them off against the line they hit, so the drop that would have gone under the canopy got cut off on a slant that follows the shape of the canopy, and the one that hits the doorframe just got cut flat when it hit the trim.
xo
s
Courtney says
How do you do it?!?! Nailed it. 100%
Cf Betcher says
My daughter asked for a purple door in our new house– now I have the courage to do it– thanks!
It would be so sweet to put house numbers on that door, if you want it to be a playhouse. If you lived at, say, 14 Whatsitsname St, you could put 14 1/2 on her door.
YoungHouseLove says
I love that idea!
xo
s
Jessica says
What about the Monrovian star you guys hung on your old porch? Might not be funky enough but since you have it already you could try it. I hung one in my sons room and just attached a dimmer switch to it he loves it.
YoungHouseLove says
I would love something like that! The ones we have are giant so I think Clara would hit her head on the spikey parts, but someone linked to a paper one at Ikea that looks awesome!
xo
s
Nicole says
So cute! I’d love to know more of Clara’s favorite books. I’m always looking for good children’s books for the nieces and nephews.
YoungHouseLove says
Let’s see, we love Secret Pizza Party, Dragons Love Tacos, Room On The Broom, Not An Ordinary Dragon, Knuffle Bunny and old Berenstain Bears Books (leftover from when I was a kid).
xo
s
Laurie says
Love it. Need an updated night time picture with the lights. Throw in some animals and it reminds me of a big top at the carnival at night.
Susan C says
Super random non decorating question…is that a hydro flask on your kitchen table at the end of your video with Clara? If so, how do you like it? I’m debating getting one but I can’t justify spending $20 on a water bottle.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a Klean Kanteen! We’ve had three for about 3 years and love them! So worth the money – we’ve probably used them a million times!
xo
s
Kari says
So beautiful! Perhaps the ubiquitous Ikea Knappa pendant lamp would be a fun addition under the canopy! It is really lightweight (I have it in my office hanging from binder clips off of the ugly floating ceiling panels!) and the “petals” kind of have a raindrop shape.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Kari! Sounds so pretty!
xo
s
Kristin says
I LOVE this! Perfect!
Kal says
Omg. This is amazing. Is 27 too old to do this in my bedroom too? Haha. I LOVE the door. Clara has some genius taste- just like her parents. ;) Looks amazing guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kal!
xo
s
Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs says
What a fun and whimsical space for Clara! :) I can only imagine the things she’ll create in there!
Karly says
You already had one colored door in your house (front door), you’re pros now at not having matchy doors :) It looks fabulous and I am pretty jealous of Clara’s room right now! Ask if she wants to trade :D
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah! That’s true! Totally forgot about the back of that door going blue too!
xo
s
Heather MacFeather says
I adore the door colour and love the rain drops on the outside. Collective design at its best!
Hilary says
Clara is right :) this is magnificent! I love the rain drops and the bright pink door. I’m pretty sure my room was that color pink when I was in high school. Looking back, that was a very bad color choice for all over the walls lol
julie says
absolutely adorable! what a fun room!
Jonia says
L.o.v.e. it! Seriously, you guys have done so many amazing projects, but I honestly have to say this one is my favourite. I’m really looking forward to seeing it with that paper lantern under the canopy. So very sweet. Well done!
Sarah @ Just The Bees Knees says
It looks fabulous!! The pink door gives the room the pop of color it needed, but didn’t know you needed until it was done! And that video cracks me up! My kids are the same way…impossible to get them to stay in one spot while trying to have a conversation! lol!
Angela says
Love it! I’m continuously amazed by your creativity.
Joseph says
I don’t know how it looks in person, and I guess if you’re in it with the light on it might not make a difference, but just looking at it in the picture the door seems to really mellow out the intense pink closet in comparison.
YoungHouseLove says
It totally does! Who would have thought (I worried it would intensify it) but it looks great! I still want my shaker shingles for her slanty roof but I like the pink walls now.
xo
s
PamGroom says
Excellent solution! I love what you chose for the wall. Do we have a budding decorator at the Petersik house? Perhaps Clara can weigh in on more projects. I like her taste!
Rebecca W says
OMG I looove how this all turned out – Clara’s got an eye for color! My oldest girl, Paige totally has that, too – I love how they don’t hem and haw like I do when making a design decision. Atta girls! I was thinking a hanging upside down umbrella would be cute…but I don’t know, is that bad luck to have one of those suckers open? In any event, the room looks awesome! And congrats on your latest project, Baby #2!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a fun idea too Rebecca!
xo
s
Designology Interiors says
Adorable! The pink door really balances it all out. When can Clara start writing for your blog?!? Maybe she will have her own blog soon. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
I think she’d love that, but it would look like this for now: “ahskjhkjh asdjhashdjk asdkhaskdjha Clara!” Haha!
xo
s
danielle says
you’re both geniuses and it sounds like you’ve got a third one coming up in the ranks (and a fourth, i suppose!). i LOVE clara’s room… i don’t know how you come up with this stuff, but i’m glad you do!
Louise says
Of course, now that you have raindrops the blank spot over the bed needs an “umbrella” to keep Clara dry ;)
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo
s
Allison says
Wow! That is beautiful! Clara is a lucky girl to have such creative parents!
Beth says
Sorry if you’ve answered this before but where did you find the big C pillow? My daughter would love that!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks! That was from joss & main. I think the brand is Happy Habitat but I’m not sure.
xo
s
Christine says
I love how Clara’s room has turned out! It surprises me how AWESOME the pink, red, orange, navy and light blue flow together so well. I never would have thought of combining a light pink ceiling, blue polkadot curtains, a dark pink door, and a blue rug…. but it all goes together so wonderfully!!!
Did you expect this color combination to work? Or did it just fall into place?
Great Inspiration for lots of color!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Christine! We totally just messed around to see what worked in there. Haha! I think since Clara’s favorite colors have been red and pink and blue for a while, we just added things in those colors as we went (she wanted the blue rug in there for example, and the pink and red pillows on her bed were leftover from her playroom where she picked those out). Then it wasn’t a surprise when she picked those colors for the raindrops (no idea why I didn’t think of not doing all the colors of the rainbow, but I love that she demanded it!). So it seemed to come together slowly with a lot of adapting and switching things up as we went.
xo
s
Lian says
I just love the results of Clara’s room and my daughter wants her room done in a similar way too. BTW, have you seen this tray? http://koromiko.com/collections/serveware/products/cloud-tray , you can serve her breakfast in bed with it or use it for a tea party.
YoungHouseLove says
So cute! I love it!
xo
s
emily says
Super cute!! Love the rain/umbrella connections of the last two posts.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I didn’t even think of that!!!! We’ve been on an umbrella/rain kick around here, huh?
xo
s
Ortisse says
I loooove it! And like Clara, the red ones are my favorite. Your lovely little girl really is a genius, the door color (and the drops color) is perfect!
Bev Dau says
Let Clara make all your design decisions from now on. She has TALENT. Her choice looked the best even though it didn’t sound the best (pink door??). Congrats. Maybe a scholarship to Parsons is in her future.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, that would be amazing. I took classes there in high school and I think I’d die of pride if she ever ended up there, even just for some on-the-side credits :)
xo
s
Diana says
This isn’t something I’d ever come up with but love how it turned out. I love those colors together too. Bravo!
Libby Boyle says
I love the final look. The raindrops around the canopy work so well. What a great little designer you’ve got there! Maybe she needs her own blog??
Courtney says
I am totally smitten with this! The color combination is really fresh and those raindrops with the canopy…so great!
susan says
I love this wall and Ah-mazing pink door. Clara’s room is so fun… I want to have a grown up room just like it. I love how nothing matches but blends and compliments. The pink door brought it all together.
Congratulations!
Michelle says
Loving the whimsy of having the raindrops outside the canopy
It was, dare I say it, magnificent haha
Monique says
Love the room! I also have to admit… in my job as a Toddler teacher, I get excited every October, because it means I get to pull Room on the Broom out of our extra book closet and read it all month long! I love that book, and can practically recite it by heart!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
I absolutely love it! I have to admit, I wasn’t totally sold on any of the under-the-canopy designs but this is just beautiful. Perfect! Clara has seriously good taste!
Jennae @ Green Your Decor says
I will have to ask your forgiveness in advance, because I am completely stealing this idea for the room that will become a shared nursery with my 8-year-old daughter. (I think the baby agrees, since she’s dancing in my belly as I write this)
We’re renters, and I swore I wasn’t going to paint another wall, but I LOVE this, and it’s the perfect way to incorporate color in that room without going overboard. So thank you for the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw have fun! We’d love to see pics!
xo
s
Stephanie says
This is so cute!! Clara must love it! I don’t know if anyone suggested it or if you’ve thought about it, but what do you think of adding a glow-in-the-dark paint coat on top of those raindrops? We have glow in the dark flowers on my daughter’s wall (she’s 2) and she really enjoys the “night light”… I know you have the canopy lights though – don’t know if both elements would compete…
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a fun idea!
xo
s
Natalie says
What brand is the Cinco de Mayo color? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s Benjamin Moore.
xo
s
Kimberly says
Beautiful room!
In light (pun totally intended) of Clara’s costume this Ikea hack might be perfect for her room! Of course, I’m sure you’d find a better way to dress it up :)
http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/10/stranne-jellyfish-lamp.html
Of course, a trip to Ikea doesn’t hurt, either!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! So much fun!
xo
s
Kathy S says
I love the raindrops! But it makes me sad too — I do not have flat walls and my attempts to do any designs on textured walls have been just horrible. Maybe someday you’ll do a post on how to decorate textured walls??
YoungHouseLove says
Anyone have tips for Kathy? I hear if you tape thinks off and run a bead of white paintable caulk around the tape to fill those craggy parts and then paint and remove the tape you might have a cleaner result, but have never tried it.
xo
s
Jess says
I absolutely love this room. Where did you get the daybed? I’m in the process of trying to combine a toddler and baby room. Eeek! A big sister/little brother room. It’s going to be a challenge.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Jess! It’s from West Elm about 7 years ago.
xo
s