After lots of hard work and what seemed like endless hours of shopping, tons of time working in the garage and sitting in front of my sewing machine, here it is - Sarah's dorm room, beginning with my idea folder....
I wrote more about my daughter Sarah here in my previous post.
Sarah told me I could to do anything to her dorm room except use those neon gaudy dorm room decorating items that are sold just about anywhere. And so, I decided Bohemian chic would be a way to infuse some happy colors without being too overwhelming or tacky.
My inspiration piece was a paper tablecloth I purchased from Party City (top left). I used it to decoupage a large trunk and the mini-frig.
I sketched out all of my ideas of the furniture I wanted to build...headboards and a kitchenette to hold their frig, microwave and even storage for pantry items.
I brought this idea folder everywhere I went and built on it as I found just the right fabrics and items to complete the look I was going for while trying to be as frugal as possible. Thrift stores, yard sales, fabric outlets, coupons, and clearance items were my best friends.
My ideas were flowing so fast I could hardly keep up with them. I started on this project 2 weeks before she moved in...yup, a little late I know! I felt like I was competing on HGTV'S Design Star, with short time limitations...and boy, was it stressful! I know I put more pressure on myself than anyone else. Sarah kept telling me, "Mom, relax, it doesn't all have to be done in two weeks". Well, I was on a mission.
Here it is, this is the view from the doorway, walking into the room. I searched high and low for just the right rug and this is what I came up with. There were some things that consumed literally hours and this was one of them. Most all of the rugs I liked were far too pricey. I'm not totally happy with this one, but it works.
Here is the furniture I built. It began with a few sketches, then a pile of lumber, and finally a little dorm room kitchenette!
Sarah is vegan, so I know she will be doing more cooking than most college students. This space is sure to get lots of use!
I even added to my power tool collection with this project. It was a must...I acquired a circular saw (Now, I have my eye on a table saw).
I built this piece in two separate sections to make transporting it easier. The right half and the left half. I built a top that sits on top of both pieces and added trim which I painted pink. I also built a bottom for both pieces to sit in, I added trim and of course, it had to have cute little legs!
I found an old picture frame at a thrift store, painted it and added it as trim around a chalk board section I painted on one side. Both sides are stenciled with a pretty damask design.
I decoupaged the mini-frig with the paper table cloth which matches the trunk. Sarah loved it! Notice the decorations hanging on the wall? Those are felt place-mats I found on clearance at Bed, Bath & Beyond. The cute little bird cage was a yard sale find.
I made double everything. I figured it had to match. Sarah's roommate is so sweet and easygoing, she, like my daughter, told me, "Whatever you want to do is fine with me".
I made two fabric covered photo boards and bought two butterfly type chairs. I made cloth covers for the chairs which can be taken off to wash. I made an elastic casing along the backs with an old Delta blanket. It worked perfectly!
The oval mirror hanging on the wall is a Goodwill store find. It's light weight and looked great after I spray painted it.
I pieced two different fabrics together to create a balance and added brown tassel trim. I sewed in sheer fabric along the bottom to welcome the sunlight in and make their room happy!
Sarah and her roommate, Elsavet, each had duvets for their beds. It seems obvious to make matching duvet covers. The tops are 11 strips of different fabrics quilted together with French seams. Yes, that was my first time making French seams. It took three times more sewing but the finished look is amazing! These took MUCH more time than I had ever imagined...after two entire days and much sleep deprivation (two all-nighters), they were complete, Whew!
I made two headboards out of one sheet of plywood. After drawing a pattern, I cut it out with my jigsaw then upholstered them with thick batting and material that looks like wicker. Brown trim added a more finished look.
I made pillows to match and a pendant banner with left over fabric scraps which we hung on the wall behind a cluster of three Chinese lanterns which hang from the ceiling.
The sad, sad part about that is when they came in to do the routine room check, they told them they couldn't have anything hanging from the ceiling or within 18 inches from the ceiling. So, they had to be removed :( Well, I have a plan....I'm on the lookout for a branch that curves over. I plan to make a stand for it, spray paint it and hang the globes from the branch. I'm not sure it will work but in my head I can see it. We'll see.
After giving the shades of two old lamps I found in our storage room a redo, they match the room perfectly! A little Fabric Mod Podge, funky material, and really cool wood bead trim did the trick.
This is Sarah's side. You can only see a glimpse of the chest under her bed. It too is Mod Podged with the same paper table cloth I used for the mini-frig. She uses the trunk to store all of her running paraphernalia.
One of Sarah's few requests was for a live plant in her room. Can you see her cute little plant on her desk? She has already added some pictures to her photo board. We hung the collage I made for her on the wall within the opening behind her desk. She said she wanted it there to be able to read it often.
Next to her desk, making our way out of the room, is this little letter and key holder. I got it at a yard sale and it was hideous looking. I spray painted it and used Mod Podge to adhere some pretty wrapping paper to it. With a few embellishments it matches and looks 100 times better!
Here is what I made to go on the outside of their door. I printed the girls names on pretty paper and inserted them into these pretty frames I found in Target's dollar section.
For the dry erase board, I drew a pattern onto thin wood, cut it out with my scroll saw, decoupaged it with the same pretty wrapping paper I used for the key holder and inserted a cheap dry erase board behind the opening. A few rhinestones and the pen holder glued on and I was done.
I'm not totally sure I totally achieved the Bohemian Chic look I was going for, but at least Sarah and Elisavet are happy with their room!
Now, Since I'm recuperating from the thyroid surgery I had last week. I have lots of time to paint. I'm making the art pieces to go in the girls' room over their beds. Here is the background of one of a set of 4 that will be hung on the wall in a cluster over Elisavet's bed. I have a larger one I'm working on which will go on the wall over Sarah's bed.
Blessings,
Debbie xo
I'm linking up with My friend Jennifer from Studio JRU for Sneak Peak Friday...take a jump over there to check out what others are doing in their studios.
