Wood Wall Feature? I think YES!!

Ahhhhhh... Funky Friday is FINALLY upon us!! I like to take inspiration from anyplace that I can get it, and this segment is specifically devoted to that. The last couple of weeks I have been looking very heavily at wood. Antonio (the Design Star winner on season 4) was my main inspiration for trying to bring some wood into any room possible in my house.

Wood can excite all of the senses at once, which is PERFECT for little boys that are active and want to see, do, and create everything! When seeing a wood installation in a room it immediately creates a visual interest, it makes you want to touch it, it can also create a wonderfully soft aroma (I'll be using cedar), and it makes ME think of home. Having grown up in Washington state has given me a special appreciation for the richness, warmth, and glow that wood can bring to a room. These two funky wood installations are my inspirations this week:

 Photo courtesy of HGTV.com

 Photo courtesy of Craft1945

Curious to see where I take these inspirations?? I have decided to take the warmth, lighting, and life from these inspirations into my sons room. He has an alcove in his room that I will be turning into a reading nook with a cedar wall feature. I will free up some much needed floor and room space by doing away with his large bulky bookcase and bringing the shelving RIGHT into the cedar wall. Here is what his current room configuration looks like:

Keeping the following layout in mind let me show you a few REAL LIFE pictures from his room... YES, I could have cleaned everything up and had it looking so nice and pretty for my little blog post, but then you wouldn't see the REAL LIFE of how his room really is!! Don't get your judgment hat out too quickly: WE JUST CLEANED IT 3 DAYS AGO!!

His room is very cramped and uninviting!!

At least he's been using the sanitizing wipes!!

His desk is way too bulky for this room!!

 

 

 

 

So, here's the game plan:

I'm going to eliminate the bookcase AND desk, move the bed to a large blank wall which will make his bed run parallel to the window, remove window treatments, install cedar wood planks in the window alcove and the small wall within the alcove, install built-in shelves within the new planking on the small wall in the alcove, run 95" drapes along entire alcove so that it creates a nice little reading nook, add lots of visual interest with paint, and cut down, paint, and install this ugly table top as a desk (the flip out "wing" will be perfect for adding working space when it's needed, but then putting it away when it's not):

As you can see, it's just been gathering dust: I'm going to put it to good use!!

Recessed lighting will eventually be installed in the alcove to highlight this awesome feature, but that's a few months away. I'm just not wanting to climb in the attic any time soon!! It's going to be a lot of work, but it will be well worth it!! You have to be curious about how it's all going to work out... I know I am!! 

Hanging Book Display & Window Bulletin Board

If you're anything like me organization is a huge problem. I love organizing my life and staying organized, but other not-so-adult-like-munchkins in my home just don't see things the same way. I haven't made this one yet, but the second I get a hold of a sewing machine it is going to be the first thing that I make!! I found this tutorial from "Penny Carnival" which can help to keep all of the little books cleaned up and let the kids have easier access to them. Hopefully this will help make organizing all of the little books around your house easier for you AND your munchkins!!

What kind of blog host would I be if I only included something for the kids?! Every mom wants a little something for herself too!! This great tutorial that I found over at "The Feminist Housewife"  is PERFECT for a small entry way. A simple old window pane was created into a magnetic bulletin and cork board. This would be perfect in my entry by our garage. I am constantly writing notes for my husband on paper and throwing it on the floor in front of the door so that he sees it when he walks in the door. This is exactly what I need. The backing board was painted with three layers of magnetic paint so it would also be perfect for hanging the kids artwork! One substitution that could be used instead of painting so many layers of magnetic paint would be to use a piece of metal that can be picked up from any hardware store, paint it with a primer, then add a cute pattern as your top coat, like these stripes:

As soon as I make my versions of these I will post them!! I am dying to make them and get MYSELF and my munchkins more organized!!

Happy Humpday Help!