Since we don’t have any excuse to decorate a little boy’s room, we live vicariously through friends and readers. Which is one of the reasons we’re excited to share Kat and Mitch’s awesome transformation of their son Ryder’s room. They not only did a bang-up job on the whole thing (and took on lots of DIY projects to keep it affordable) it was all inspired by a free bed they found. Here’s Kat’s letter:
We just finished my son’s room and we’re so proud of how it turned out. First things first, this is what this room looked like prior… well several years ago anyway when Ryder was a baby.
What made us decide it was time for a wee makeover was when I saw a metal bed in my neighbor’s burn pile one day. I didn’t want to put a new (to us) bed in a periwinkle room, so it was time for a change.
My husband did the pallet ceiling and I painted pretty much all the furniture in the room. The color we chose for the walls is Benjamin Moore Thunder. We had the swatch on the wall in our kitchen (actually it’s still there) and whenever someone comes over they give us a weird look when they see the words “BM Thunder” underneath the swatch. Funny. And yes, gross. Unless you don’t have a twisted mind like my friends and I.
The ceiling was a lot of time-consuming work but totally worth it and actually really not that difficult. And the best part is that Ryder loves it and can enjoy it for years to come. I know that pallet craft seems to be all the rage right now and may be just a fad, but it really does look cool.
The curtains and duvet cover I found at a thrift store literally days before the makeover was complete. I really didn’t think I’d be able to find anything second-handed. But wouldn’t ya know, a few days later I walked into a thrift store and found this duvet cover and two pillow shams for $3. It was the exact size I needed and it’s from Pottery Barn.
So we were able to makeover Ryder’s room on a very small budget. Actually the only things we bought new were the ceiling fan and a jelly jar sconce. Everything else came from thrift stores, auctions, or was given to us. I love the thrill of finding deals… there’s nothing like it!
Hope you like it! – Kat
You can see more pics and details about the makeover on Kat’s blog, where she’s got loads of links to the various projects that are peppered throughout the space (including this cool bookcase they retrofitted to match the ceiling). We’re so impressed with all of the thrifty finds she incorporated into the room. No wonder Ryder loves it! What’s your favorite part?
I’ve fallen in love with that pallet ceiling, absolutely amazing!
I completely agree.
LOVE!!
So cool! My boy’s room needs a re-do, and this is really inspirational. Nice work!
I love the last pic! Vintage finds like that are always awesome. And metal beds are my favorite.
love this. also, i never find thrift deals like that. never.
I love the bed! The ceiling is awesome, too!
I haven’t ever seen a pallet ceiling before. That’s pretty cool!
WOW! I LOVE it!
Ceiling is the best! WHOA.
oh my god, the pallet ceiling!! my arms are getting tired just looking at it, but is BEAUTIFUL. i love how the room is still playful but stylish. amazing job.
I love how they pulled all of the elements together from different places- making it a really unique room. Thanks for sharing!
When I was a kid, I used to imagine what it would be like if I could walk on the ceiling. This ceiling would be even cooler!
Brenda, oh my gosh! Your comment brought back such memories…I figured I was the only person in the world who, as a little girl, wished so badly I could walk on the ceiling!
I must be really missing the dirty joke here. Am i the only one?
“The color we chose for the walls is Benjamin Moore Thunder. We had the swatch on the wall in our kitchen (actually it’s still there) and whenever someone comes over they give us a weird look when they see the words “BM Thunder” underneath the swatch. Funny. And yes, gross. Unless you don’t have a twisted mind like my friends and I.”
BM = bowel movement. And a thunderous one = middle school gigglefest. You just aren’t immature enough. Haha. Take that as a compliment!
xo,
s
I love the textiles in the room. Very boy. But oh so sweet and cute.
That ceiling is ridiculous – in a wicked good way. Oh goodness. Looovee.
absolutely LOVE the ceiling!
I don’t get the bm thunder joke. #clueless
BM = bowel movement. Haha. And a thunderous one = hilarious. You just aren’t immature enough. Haha. That’s a good thing.
xo,
s
Love the ceilings!! Those the quilt, and the color scheme give it a real cottage-y feel!
hahah BM Thunder!!!! this room is awesome and the ceiling is amazing!!
HAHAHA. the sad part is that I am immature enough. Still didn’t get it.
Haha!
xo,
s
Love the pallet ceiling as well – never would have thought of that!
And maybe soon there will be a reason to decorate a little boy’s room…. Clara is two after all… ;)
Not quite ready yet- but someday hopefully!
xo,
s
That ceiling is A.MAZ.ING. Wow!
That blog is awesome! She also seems as obsessed with ceramic animals as Sherry (is that even possible??):
http://www.mapleleavessycamoretrees.com/2012/05/tale-of-horse-head-lamp.html
Thanks for posting their makeover!
Haha, you know I love that!
xo,
s
Love the ceiling!!!
My hat’s off to the husband who did such a fine detailed job on the ceiling. I’m impressed by the tight seams and pleasing random color arrangement of the board.
Good point! It’s such a clean job and the range of colors is so gorgeous!
xo,
s
Wow! I love it! I can’t wait to decorate my kids room (providing that Kev and I eventually are blessed with more than just the furry, four-legged, remote eating kind)!
PS. The bed I grew up with is identical to that one! We have it in our guest bedroom now :) We found it in an old, falling down barn and rescued it. The barn fell down that winter.
Aw, it was meant to be! You saved that bed just in time!
xo,
s
Wow that ceiling is simply fantastic!!! I love it!!
Did she get inspiration from Katie B? It looks like a really lovely “older kid” version of Will’s nursery. She did a great job, and I’m loving that ceiling along with everybody else.
Yes, I think she linked over to Katie at one point as inspiration over on her blog!
xo,
s
Hi. I was wondering how to get featured on your blog? Me and my husband created a wonderful nursery for our son with lots of DIY projects and such. It was tiny room in the apartment we are renting in the old house. If you can take a look at it it’ll be great. http://multiplyingourlove.tumblr.com/post/18957798010 I would really appreciate if you can share your opinion.
Marina xx
Aw, you did an amazing job! What a gorgeous room! We welcome all submissions for Reader Redesigns at [email protected]!
xo,
s
I love this! BEAUTIFUL job guys! And large buffalo check/gingham is also all the rage – im lovin it (not mcdonalds song tho)
that ceiling is now in my pinterest. love.
wow, that ceiling is amazing! and i love the wall color too.
LOVE the pallet ceiling omgosh, that’s definitely my favorite part of the room! “BM-thunder” lol…..my 15 months old nephew still has a tendency to do this in a projectile way to my brother and its hilarious.
I’m considering doing a pallet ceiling in my studies room….any recommendations for a beginner DIY-er like myself?
I would head over to her blog for all of their ceiling details! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Gorgeous ceiling!!! I love the whole room. What an adorable little boys room. Just so precious!!!
I LOVE beds like that – can’t believe the neighbors were going to toss it. I have one similar that I had powder-coated (I think that’s the right term) in white.
I love the before and after on this one! Excellent job.
I dig the ceiling and wall color. Nice choices.
Favorite part of the room design = The celing. Favorite part of the article = BM Thunder. I’m still laughing about that!
OBSESSED!! My house has popcorn ceilings in all of our upstairs bedrooms (gross) and so I keep sending my husband ideas (we’re going to need a team of his friends to help when we eventually get it done). He LOVES it and I think operation un-pop the popcorn is a go!
I’ve been a little skeptical of the safety of using pallets indoors ever since reading this article: http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/11264-why-we-should-not-be-using-pallets-in-our-interiors I love the look of the ceiling and all the other pallet crafts I’ve seen through Pinterest, but I’m not sure it’s worth the risk of bringing all that into your house, especially a child’s room. Just something to think about!
Oh yes, there are many heat treated pallets that are safe, so as long as you know how they’re treated and avoid the chemical ones you’re good! You can also seal them with a product like SafeCoat, which is also what can be used to seal lead paint!
xo,
s
Good to know! Thanks, Sherry!
Love the pallet roof! The whole transformation is beatiful. perfect little boys room.
EHH…NOTHIING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT. REALLY.
I am such a thrift store loser. I look ALL the time and am never able to find anything good that can be re-used. I think I live in an area that is full of people crazy about thrift-store shopping, and they manage to snag all the good stuff ASAP. :(
Love the ceiling and that they painted the armour to match the walls – the closeup made it look like a built-in and I had to scroll back up to check. Also wondering how the neighbor was planning to burn a metal bed? Don’t think I’d want to live next door to him.
That ceiling is too cool! I’m going to have to Pin it for future reference!
I think it’s great. I like everything, but I would have to say that I just love the overall feel of it. It’s boy, but it’s not some contrived, overly theme oriented type room like some boys have (like baseball decals on the wall, dinosaurs everywhere, etc). It looks genuine.
I don’t often see ceiling fans that I like, but I really like the one in this room.
Wow! My favorite besides the pallet ceiling (swoon) is the metal bicycle on top of the chest.
I love the whole room, but my favorite part is that it can grow with the child so that they don’t find themselves having to redo it in 5 years because he’s bored of whatever phase he was in when the room was done. Even the bedding can grow with him into his teen years. I know that is what we plan to do with our kids – talk about money saving!
Sherry, that’s useful information about some pallets being safe — hadn’t seen it anywhere else. Also about the SafeCoat. I’ll be less afraid of pallets now, not that I’m handy enough to DIY much of anything. I live vicariously through you guys.
Aw thanks Andrea! We’re definitely safety geeks so we did lots of pallet research when we heard about some of the potential dangers!
xo,
s
What a beautiful ceiling!! I am in love! If my future husband doesnt stop me I might try to do my whole house like that!… haha maybe not but at least a room!
Oh, I really love the bed frame and that ceiling. What a great space. It really has a good, old fashioned “boy” vibe. Well done!
Sherry, I had a dream and you were in it! You were… Ahem… In the family way ;) A sign I spend too much time thinking about the Petersik clan and your great DIY projects, I’m sure.
I’m behind on reading posts, so I will tell you here– LOVE those red adirondacks! Well worth the moola you paid! What a fun colorful space it’s becoming!
Aw thanks Karen! So funny about that dream! Definitely not prego, but you’d be amazed how many readers say they dream I am! Haha.
xo,
s