Mary-Kate’s New Room

Mary-Kate is the 9 year-old daughter of a Sarah, a good friend of mine. This sophisticated fourth-grader was ready for a change to her personal space. She’s a girl after my own heart because she has always understood the importance of decorating a room that’s uniquely one’s own. By that I mean, no theme rooms covered in Disney characters.

Mary-Kate’s Room “Before”

Her before look was terrific - a Lilly Pulitzer style that was bright and cheerful. But Mary-Kate’s mom sells marked-down Lilly at an online shop. So she sees it everyday and got bored; she wanted something that set her apart. And let’s face it, when it comes to kids defining who they are it’s (a) very important to them, and (b) changes often, and (c) is best defined by the space they inhabit.

This means that parents should be prepared for change within reasonable limits. Start with basic furniture that can carry off different looks. Look for bargains and shop carefully for things you know won’t be around forever. Finally, take a tip from Mary-Kate’s Mom. Once your child has really outgrown something, try selling it on Craig’s List. (I’ve had success with this, too).

Mary-Kate’s room: “after”

Mary-Kate designed the room’s basic look by herself. “I wanted a more modern look,” she said. “So I picked out black and green for the colors.” She chose a bright green paint for the walls - Chopped Chive, from Ace Hardware.

Sarah sold her old furniture on Craig’s list and bought a more contemporary daybed from West Elm. It’s covered in a polka dot duvet cover from PB Teen. The toss pillows, floor lamp and art hanging to the right of the bed are all from Target. The area rug is from Lowe’s - what a fantastic find. Sarah is a woman who knows where to find a bargain. She amazes me.

Sarah’s best trick is the art hanging to the left of the bed. She took a white frame she already had and used gift wrap for the artwork. (Sarah, you need to start your own blog. Call it Design on a Penny!)

The Parson’s desk is another find from West Elm. White is a good choice for a girl growing into her teenage years. It’s a good basic that will take her through high school. The shelves and desk chair are from IKEA.

Now for the best part - the window treatment. Sarah has a fantastic seamstress who made up this Roman shade with Mary-Kate’s monogram in the valance. I think that’s such a great idea. Matching pillows tie the look together. The fabric and ribbon are JoAnn Fabrics. They were very inexpensive and you don’t need a lot of yardage with this type of shade. I love that monogram.

Mary-Kate, you did a great job on your first decorating job. I love the color choices and the way all the patterns work together. I can’t wait to see your next project.

• Posted by Jennifer at 2:38 pm
• Tagged: Design Ideas, Kids & Teens