Justin's New Room

My sister-in-law, Kaki, is great with redoing furniture. Back in August she did a post about Justin's room - there are before and after shots of some of the Roundtop furniture that she gave a face lift to. I knew that I would quickly follow on her heels with a post of my own. As we can all see, that was not the case. But since this is the final post I have to do before being completely up-to-date, I feel so happy just to get it done. Back in the middle of August, I had a 30th birthday weekend to attend out-of-town and Derek had a wedding for an old Rice basketball buddy in New Jersey. So my parents got Justin a few days early and I completely cleaned out his old nursery, as well as the guest bedroom. We made a few switches with furniture, and I put away burp cloths, receiving blankets, and other various things that really shouldn't be in a room with a 3 year old, don't you think? When you have the space, you sometimes zone out on what you are actually storing there.

I had asked Derek before I had even thought about what to do for a big boy room, and he said he wanted a subtle sports theme. I was surprised - I would have thought that my humble, athletic husband would want anything but. So I was in search for a subtle theme. With the help of Kaki's creative hand, as well as family and friends with little touches, we finally finished the switch. It was very refreshing to change over casually and in a laid back fashion. Another reason why I am thankful for God's timing!

First up, a piece from my aunt Joannie that used to hang in my cousin Grant's room. It was a brown piece of wood that got transformed into the navy and orange theme I had going on. Justin's walls were already blue, so we didn't have to do a paint job. Horray! The bat is one of the bats that Derek used in the minors. Don't worry - we know not to play with it in the house. And Justin's Rice and Baylor hats both hang proudly off the hooks. Pottery Barn Kids has a similar piece, so I was pumped to get a freebie!


This end table was another cheapy find from Roundtop. The bottom drawer was a little short, so we just took it out completely. Kaki had to do all sorts of things to the top, that can read about on her post. The bottom drawer now holds the prayer bucket, aka the William and Sonoma cookie cutter container from Kaki. Hey, it was sports' themed, and it fit perfectly. The lamp stand was a "trophy" from Target - shaped like a trophy. And the lamp shade I stumbled upon at PBK outlet. And no room is complete without a trusty noisemaker....


I had seen this vintage chicken magnet tray in Roundtop but decided to pass. As I was finishing Justin's room, I wanted a magnet board. I pulled out my card from Roundtop and contacted the dealer, who said she only had 4 of these trays left. One week later and I had my custom-colored tray ready for his room. I have since changed this out to hold artwork from last year that tie in with the current season, thus being Halloween and pumpkins right now. These were just the photos I had lying around awaiting the big photo album task that awaited me.

The tray came with pegs to hang things with as well as vintage milk bottle labels as magnets.


The bed has been around since January, and Justin has been sleeping in it since April. I took the JTM letters from his nursery, painted the JT navy, and reused these puppies once again. Still trying to pull the JT into the repertoire - he is destined for those initials. And the basketball pillow I found at PBK on sale - it matched the room and was a sports ball. Do you like those bed rails - don't fall out, little man! They make me laugh but we leave them up nonetheless.


I kept this saying up from his nursery. If someone had not tried to be so fancy with the photography then you might be able to read it. It's from Pinocchio, and a purchase from Roundtop a few years ago: "To become a real boy you must prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish". Truth be told, you need Jesus Christ, but don't worry, I'm on it!


PBK put this chair slip cover on sale and I was all over it. It took the place of the glider, and we snuggle on this to read books before naptime and bedtime.


Shannon Brown found these puppies for me at Target after we had looked around at these cute yet pricey other options. Cannot tell you how many Targets I went to to complete the set.


This dresser got a redo from Kaki after bargaining with this little old woman at Roundtop. I kept some of the airplane theme that Justin had in his nursery. Fitting since his grandfather was in the Airforce for 20 years. I actually didn't take that photo - I bought it at his school auction back in February and he is obsessed with that photo. Maybe because he looks like a cool dude.


And I absolutely love this bookcase, that actually has wheels on it (easy to move!) and was in a classroom at some point. The back f it is bead board and the baskets remind me of a locker feel. Of course, the books are put together in certain feel or category by yours truly, but Justin keeps up with the organization just like his momma. Notice the digital clock - we taught him how to tell time with this (in a sense). He knows when it is 6:30 am (six and three as he calls it) so he can come out of his room to "wake up" for the day. This early bird is awake at 5:30 a lot of times, but he plays quickly in his room until the designated time. For all you complaining about waking up before 7am every now and then...well...count your blessings...


Right above his door is a cross that had the colors and the ball theme. And notice what is right under it - yes, the spanking spoon. No better irony than a cross and a spanking spoon just inches from it. As I tell Justin, "I love you too much, just like Jesus loved us so much, to allow you to disobey me".


Here's the best I could do from standing in the middle of the room to get as wide of an angle photo with my lens.


At least I have another project finished. Now on to trying to sleep in until after 7am....