The most recent and fun additions are:- Extra large world map, secured to the wall by my dad, my mom, and me. And a staple gun and some moulding and some nails. Still need to fill in the nail holes and paint the frame. This is one of my favorite projects ever. Since I don't do a lot of projects, that might not be saying much but still, I quite enjoy it. Side note, I don't make my kids do geography drills, or even encourage it. (other than hammering a gigantic map onto the wall, of course.) They just really like maps. Ida likes them because Theo likes them, and Theo likes them because he's funny and awesome.
- Bunting by Phoebe as a "window treatment." Free and fun! Thanks, Phoebe!
- Play stove and sink which I picked up at the thrift store for $3.93. I have only been looking for "the perfect" play kitchen for about 2 years now. I have hauled a few home from the thrift store which didn't end up working out. (fortunately I was able to re-sell them.) This one is just the kind I wanted and the kids love it. It's the old school kind like they have at Theo's preschool and, although it still needs some TLC and a good cleaning, I would have paid 10 times what I did pay, more really, even for this old battered one. New, they go for 20 times what I paid, and used, they're rare on Craiglist and never below $50. So that always feels good.
To do/get:
- New blinds. Theo and Ida broke them within a week of moving into this place, and now we can't open 2 of the 3 cellular blinds. So 2/3 of the window is now always covered by blinds. That's annoying.
-Rug. I don't love the carpet in this place, the feel or the look of it, but until the day I can install hardwood floors (which is probably...never), I would enjoy a nice 5x8 or even 8x10 plush rug in there.
- Anchor the bookcases to the wall. Yikes. Maybe I'll do that this weekend. I don't feel too stressed about it because they are positioned so that if the tall one fell, it would be blocked by the shorter ones.
- Fix the extremely ghetto lampshade rig I have going on the lamps. Let's just say it involves duct tape and a clothespin.
- Someday I might replace the mirrored closet doors which cover one entire wall. They either remind me of the St. George condos we used to rent in the 1980s, or they give me the urge to practice pliés. However, they do reflect a lot of light and make the room feel bigger. Hard to decide. For now, they're staying. They and the ratty old carpet.
I'll take more pics of the room soon...maybe once I get my dream rug. Or maybe before that since I don't know if I'll find the perfect rug any time soon, or ever. Actually I did find the perfect rug at Target, but with a prohibitive cost...maybe I'll watch the sales.
Want to come over and play? (I won't make you do geography with us)
I LOVE, LOVE that map! I want one in our playroom! Although Owen has no interest in maps, although I've never really shown him a map with the intention of making it interesting either. But, such a great idea.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I have thought, more then once, about calling you to see if you want to go to the pool but it is always like 2 minutes before I go and then I tell myself that it's too late. Anyway, since I can't seem to get my act together enough to call feel free to call up if you are ever in the mood to go!
I thought my addition of the clothes pin was quite ingenious!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think I would have thought I'd died and gone to heaven if I'd had such a playroom for my kids.
hey, i held the map up too!! for at least one side.
ReplyDeleteSeth and I will help install hardwood floors when you get around to it. It isn't too expensive if you get the wood from somewhere like Lumber Liquidators and do the labor yourself. It's actually really easy - I promise!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would suggest not getting rid of your closet doors. We trashed all of our closet doors in our town home when we moved it (they were ghetto metal from the 70s) and let me tell you, they are a PAIN to replace. My current project is painting 8 bi-fold doors and getting Seth to hang them. It sound easy, but its the little things that take the most time. If your closet doors are tolerable, I would seriously consider leaving them.
Funny...I've been thinking about a large map for our playroom too! Where did you get yours? I LOVE the way it is mounted...perfect!
ReplyDeleteI got the map on Ebay--do a search for "world map mural" or similar. There's map mural wallpaper too, which I considered. I wanted a vintage pull-down world & US map, in fact I still do and will get one one of these days, when I find it at the right price.
ReplyDeleteThis map isn't the best map I've ever seen but is a good price for its size ($50 laminated). The guy who sells them, actually makes them. I've found 2 spelling errors (Annopolis and Prince Edwark Island) which slightly bother me but not enough to dwell on it. Everything else looks pretty accurate.
I got the frame idea online somewhere and my dad made it happen--I picked out moulding at Home Depot, he cut it with a mitre box and saw, he stapled the map to the wall with a staple gun (after leveling it, and the leveling and stapling is at least a 3-person job IMO...4 with Hannah :), then he nailed the moulding on top.
Really not too much work or expense for the result. Thanks, Dad! And Mom and Hannah.
Good tip about the closet doors, Susan. I actually did get rid of one closet door already because it was a bi-fold in a really awkward area...replaced it with a curtain. I like the curtain look for myself; when we sell I'll have to deal with that choice. :)
ReplyDeleteI get swoony about the thought of wood floors in the bedrooms. Someday I also want to refinish the wood in the living room, which some not very smart person sanded against the grain, and also did a really sloppy job of cutting to fit around door jambs. But anyway...when we get there I will definitely give you a call!!
To clarify, the closet door I got rid of was in a different room, not the playroom. Every bedroom has mirrored closet doors, though...bi-fold in the 2 downstairs rooms and sliding in the master.
ReplyDeleteAnd also sliding mirrored closet doors in the master bathroom, while we're at it. My plan is to get rid of that bathroom closet altogether, someday hopefully not too far in the future...but now I am digressing.
So cute! Can't wait to see the rest of the pics.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the bunting and that you have a spot to use it..
I love the map! It makes it look so much fun and like a legit play room. Do they actually play in the play room? My kids don't!
ReplyDeleteI love maps, and have had many that get pulled down, ripped corners, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the frame idea and I think I will give it a try on a new set of maps I have (world and US)
I'm in love with your map! I'm going to start work on our playroom soon. Play rooms are so fun to think about. My kids love maps and I would love to try out this project.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your playroom before I go. It looks amazing. If lunch doesn't work I at least want to comes see your masterpiece.
ReplyDelete