Turquoise Playroom

Today it's time to reveal the boys' turquoise playroom.  This isn't it.  This is the inspiration image I took from a magazine. I have seen it published twice and I can't source it for the life of me!  I think it was originally in Veranda. If anyone knows please tell me so I can credit the designer.  Architecturally, my room is similar.  It's very small and also a pass through, as this room appears to be.

I call this room the Children's library, but that has never really stuck.  Everyone else calls it the Lego room, but I hate Legos* and refuse to give them that honor.  I hope my design is a good example of how to use an inspiration room.  It should be just that... INSPIRATION!  I can't stand it when a person on HGTV says, "We are going to show you exactly how to copy this room". Why would you want to live in someone else's room?  If a client shows me her perfect room, I get the vibe and start with that.  I don't try to source the exact sofa and fabric.  And now... for more amateur photography.

You go up the (leopard carpeted) stairs, and on the right you have the Children's Library.  You can see the little boys' bedroom through the silly little door.  People think I'm crazy for having a white sofa, but it's slip covered and I only have to wash it every other month or so.  The blanket protects it from dirty boys and dogs who brush up against it walking past.  I'm the only one who ever sits there.  The boys usually kneel on the carpet to build their Lego creations.

 The sofa is from Pottery Barn. The coffee table is from Wisteria.  The pillows, blanket and "Exlore" art are all from World Market.

I bought this antique Mexican paper mache horse on e-bay years ago, and it's one of my favorite possessions.  The tail is really horse hair and the ears are leather.  It reminds me of my dad's childhood in rural Mexico.  My husband uses this sweet little sculpture as a metaphor for wasting money, as in, "Well hey, at least it's not a paper mache horse".  I have no idea what he's trying to say.

I keep several cozy throws in the basket, and the little drawers in the back wall have sheets for the sofa.  We have visitors at least once a month. 

This was my attempt at a panorama image of both shelves.  My father in law built them for me. For your viewing pleasure, admire the missing trim on the bottom left.  So quaint. Oh! But while you're in the neighborhood... the top suitcase was carried by Dan's great grandma from Italy. It traveled through Ellis Island, all the way to Winnemucca Nevada when his Grandma was just two years old. It's another favorite thing in this room.  I have a lot of favorite things.  Curtains from Serena and Lily.

 I want living plants in every room, but this room is just too dark to keep anything alive.  I usually cut something from the yard or bring home flowers from the grocery store for in here.

I painted that little bird in Puerta Vallarta when I was nine!  I can't believe it's survived for twenty years. (ha ha) There is also a little pewter plate that my brother gave me for Christmas when we were in college.  I found this bookcase on Craigslist.  The seller thought it was from the early sixties, it belonged to her mother.  I just love it.  Seriously, Reno Craigslist is THE BEST. I had to take a break from the KonMari Method when it came to books.  They don't all "Spark Joy", but it's important for children to be exposed to ideas and culture in the home.  Since I have almost nothing in common with my kids (where did they come from?) I can't predict what will interest them in the future, so I can't edit my library.  Do I sound defensive?

The French doors leading to the balcony over the back yard.  Our house is on the East slope of Mt. Rose, so the sun sets over the back of the house very early.  It's nice in the summer when we want to eat outside after a hot day and it is already cool by the early evening.

I have two darling teenage nieces.  When one of them is visiting, they come up to this room and set up camp... for as long as a month at a time!  They make a huge mess and I love every second of it.  It always surprises me that they like sleeping here on the couch because there really isn't privacy, but they both just love this room.  It makes me so happy to be able to open my home for people who appreciate my efforts and can tell I love them.

Speaking of vintage shopping in Reno... this velvet tufted, caned settee was SIXTEEN dollars at GoodWill.  Turquoise and olive are one of my favorite color combos.  This little print was in Paolo's nursery.  I had no intention of using it in this house, but I really like it here.  I broke my own "only original art" rule for this piece.

 *Legos.  A necessary evil.  I keep them for all the right reasons (creative play, fine motor development), but I really keep them because it's the only non-screen related activity that keeps my sweet young men calm in the house.  If you don't have little boys, I'll explain the true horror of my situation. They build primarily weapons and means of transportation.  You can say, "LEGOS STAY IN THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY!  OK, the Lego room, you know what I mean."  But they will build a space ship... and be totally absorbed in that world, and start running around the house flying it... but then there is a crash! and the spaceship explodes! Literally.  Legos everywhere.

Every three months or so I confiscate the Legos for a detox.  This Lego cleanse lasts until Legos cease to materialize in my home.  I can hide "all" the Legos, but within a few days, the boys have found enough under rugs, in the sofa cushions and in the air ducts to return to their constructive/destructive ways.  I continue to confiscate their creations until we have a couple of Lego-free days and I am confident all the Legos have been picked up.  Then, under threats like, "I will throw away every Lego that leaves this room!" and promises of "We will keep them on the table", the cycle continues. And that is why I hate Legos. 

P.S.  The little golden beaked doorstop from Anthropologie.