Have you ever made plans to redecorate one room in your house, only to get inspired to do something to a different space altogether? My poor bedroom has been waiting for years to get some attention. I totally planned to give it some this summer. But then I innocently stepped foot into Home Goods last week and spotted this little green dresser. It called my name. Alas, I had no place to put it.
It was such a bargain, I bought it anyway. And when I got home, I realized it would work perfectly with the blue glass lamp I loved that was sitting neglected in the basement. And those two together would be perfect in the playroom. Too bad there wasn’t room for them. But if I moved Lily’s kitchen set down to the basement…and then moved the TV cabinet to the other wall, and got some new shelves that fit in the space where the TV used to be…well, it just might work!
I spent the day reorganizing toys and trying to figure out a new furniture layout for the room. I liked it, but then I thought, geez, those white walls sure are boring. They need something. Out came the blue tape, and I started playing with another idea:
Can you guess where I’m going with this?
I’ve been wanting to try a board and batten treatment for a long time, and this seemed like the perfect room for it. We painted the wall above it “Limeade” (Valspar) and a glossy white beneath. Now Dave is hanging the strips of wood. Here’s how one corner looks so far:
We’ll have to caulk and paint it when he’s done. Then buy new shelves. Pillows. Window treatments. Light fixtures. And a whole bunch of other stuff. That green dresser is turning out to be a lot more expensive than I imagined! But in the end I think we’ll have a playroom that’s much better suited for my kids, who have grown up a lot since we moved in.
My poor bedroom, on the other hand, will have to wait a little longer…
*UPDATE: Click Here to see how the playroom turned out!*
Hi Julia!
Love your site! Our playroom is painted the same shade of green!! Love it. The dresser is so sweet. If something speaks to you, you should always buy it. It will find its place.
Would love to have you visit my site: henriettas-house.blogspot.com.
I’m converting half of my garage into a photography studio. I can’t wait to get the dividing wall up and finished. I so want to get things organized for the fall portrait season! Love your playroom! Looks great.
.-= desiree´s last blog ..Bathroom Remodels from Cottages, Tudors and Ranches =-.
LOVE the green dresser!!! And the new board and batten, too!
.-= Trish @TheOldPostRoad´s last blog ..I’m Torn =-.
I love that green dresser and can’t wait to see it unfold. One thing always leads to another doesn’t it? I am working on my bedroom…but of course I have decor ADD so I am actually working on the playroom, loft and family room at the same time. HA!
.-= Infarrantly Creative´s last blog ..Thrifting With the Chick =-.
Oh, this looks wonderful! The green dresser is fabulous and the lamp! Oh, you’re good.
Be a sweetie,
shelia
.-= Shelia´s last blog ..I’ve Been a Busy Gal!! =-.
Oh wow, I love that board treatment. Will have to file this idea away for sure. Can’t wait too see the completed room.
And the green dresser is adorable.
.-= Emily A. Clark´s last blog ..Thanks to Layers of Meaning =-.
Awesome! Love the green dresser & you
Happy summer-
XOXO
.-= BeachBrights´s last blog ..My Ideal House =-.
Hi Julia,
I could not have passed up that green dresser either, I love that shade of green! Great minds think alike as I have that same glass lamp from Target. It looks awesome on the green dresser. I look forward to seeing the finished project:)
xo
LeAnn
.-= LeAnn´s last blog ..Estate sale/yard sales… =-.
Garsh it’s nice to get a look into your home and your mind at work. I would not, could not have passed up that green nightstand too ! True love. Can’t wait to see the end result!
xoxo
Kate
.-= Kate at Centsational Girl´s last blog ..Boy’s Room: Progress Report =-.
I too love the green dresser! Very nice!
My summer project is to redo both of my boys’ rooms. They are excited. Now to figure out what colors to paint… =)
.-= Vicki @ In The Sandbox Comic Strip´s last blog ..Golf Season is here!! =-.
Those walls are rockin’! Can hardly wait to see the finished product. Reinventing rooms is SUCH fun, isn’t it?!
.-= Sheila´s last blog ..Ax vs. axe =-.
It looks great so far! We’re actually working on completing our master bedroom, not to mention little things in other rooms. I also have plans for my craft area, the backyard, dining room… We’ll see how much actually gets done.
.-= Katie @ explanation required´s last blog ..Bunting Mania =-.
Sweet! I can’t wait to see it all decked out with those happy colors. This summer for me…well, the front porch, bathroom, back porch, parlor…..back yard…carriage house…Ugh!!! I’m not sure how much of that list will get done!!!
Have a gorgeous weekend, Julia!
: )
Julie M.
.-= The Little Red Shop´s last blog ..The Lights Are On… =-.
Love what you have done so far! That little green cupboard is gorgeous! Tracey xx
.-= Porchlight Interiors´s last blog ..Moorish Tiles! =-.
Wow! Beautiful so far Julia! I love the paneling you have put in, I am always in favor of wainscoting etc. where possible! My summer project is similar in that we are trying to do a wall of grid paneling in my dining room. I will be sure to post about it when it actually gets done!! It might be a little while yet though, you know how it is
.-= Nancy@marcusdesign´s last blog ..{what’s your style in one picture challenge} =-.
Julia,
I love what you have done with the playroom so far and can’t wait to see the finished project. You have great style, when it comes time to interior decorating.
Hi Julia so far everything looks wonderful can’t wait to see it finished you have a very stylish touch. I must tell you I have not been out shopping for anything for a while now due to health problems so everything I have bought in the last few years is been on the net so that gives me more time to think about what I’m going to buy and how its going to fit except for the computer desk which turned out to be a little too big for my sons bedroom and we have to move it to the spare room and turn that into a study when my husband gets the time to repaint it first of course now that will be a challenge – so must thank you guys for the inspiration…… Regards Esther from Sydney…. PS love the green dresser (I love the colour green)
I love it too! Great colors! I’m so glad you posted your pictures!
We call that the “if you give a moose a muffin” syndrom around here. The simplest project usually starts a domino effect that brings you to something you never planned on doing! (says the girl with the unfinished kitchen) This summer it’s all about the outside of our house because we spent the winter on a kitchen renovation and we need to be outside!
Love the playroom, love the board and batten and love, love that green dresser!
.-= rosie´s last blog ..Chores made simple (I hope) =-.
Where did you find the lamp? I simply just must have that lamp!
.-= Alva´s last blog .. =-.
Alva–
I found the lamp at Target a couple of months ago and had to have it. It didn’t work out in the space I planned for it, but I think it’s going to be perfect in the playroom. -Julia
Board and batten..who would have thunk it? What a great idea, and the whilte looks just as fresh and pretty as it could be! I’ve seen board and batten done before, but for some reason, I never think of it when doing my own home.
We would like to do a total gut job in the bathroom this year. What we would like to do and what actually happens can often be worlds apart…but that’s the plan!
.-= Pat´s last blog ..Soapy Surprise =-.
I LOVE it so far, Julia!!! That green dresser is fab, and the blue lamp is just too pretty.
Your board and batten is going to be amazing too. Can’t wait to see how it’s all put together. 
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: =-.
That’s so funny and true. I’ll do the same thing. Get inspired by one piece of fabric or artwork….maybe a pillow and in the end I’ll have spent so much trying to make it all fit:) Your little dresser is super cute and I love the trim work you are doing.
.-= Becky @ Farmgirl Paints´s last blog ..Follower free =-.
Love that little green chest. It’s perfect. And I know just what you mean about buying something that leads to something and something else.
I once bought a used Room & Board dresser for $350 in Columbus, Ohio and then realized I couldn’t get it in my car (my husband predicted this). We had been thinking about buying a pickup and so the next day we bought a used pickup for $12,000 and drove back over to Columbus (from Indy) to get it. Then at home, I realized that the dresser didn’t really fit into my unorganized guest room as I’d imagined. So…I redid the guest room. New carpet, new paint, new molding, several DIY projects and about $1,500 later… we have a new guest room!
It was actually worth every penny!
Thanks for another fun post.
.-= Lesley @ TheDesignFile´s last blog ..See this historic beauty and others on home tour =-.
Love what you have done to the room so far! It’s going to look great.
I also have to get our playroom organized and finished, then there’s my daughter’s room, my bedroom, livingroom…not enough time or money!
.-= Vanessa@decor happy´s last blog ..What’s Your Style in One Picture? =-.
I just found 15 yards of a brown zebra print to recover a sofa for our den – it was only $4 per yard!! I never would have picked it out had it not been such a good deal. I had planned to go more neutral on the sofa so I could jazz things up with pillows. Now I’m at a loss. I feel like I always saw animal prints everywhere I looked, but now I can’t find it anywhere. Do I just pick an accent color and use it for pillows, etc. The room is a blank slate now – the only thing that will stay are the bamboo blinds on the windows.
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..McIver’s Catch at the Lake =-.
Wow, this looks SO cute! I love the bright, happy colors and can’t wait to see the rest of it!
.-= Kelli´s last blog ..Tuesday Truth #16 – Gonna get my groupie on =-.
That is going to be a fun room! I want to try board and batten too! Is it difficult?
.-= Our Nifty Notebook´s last blog ..Summer Break =-.
Dave says it’s a little easier than hanging crown molding because you aren’t dealing with so many angles. And it’s definitely cheaper than going the beadboard route because we didn’t have to buy as much material. We had Lowe’s cut the MDF board into strips for us to make the job a little easier on our end.
I think it took us longer just to figure out where to hang it than anything. We kept playing with different spacing between the strips of wood to figure out what looked best, and which configuration would avoid the most outlets, etc. And then trying to decide how to frame out the window and closet were a little tricky, too. Definitely something you can do yourself, though! -Julia
Love all of it! And I had to laugh; I can’t tell you the number of times I have seen something I absolutely loved, spontaneously picked it up and then spent hours and money making it work! But isn’t that what being passionate about what you are doing is all about?! My children are all grown (the youngest is in high school) but one thing that I love that I did in my playroom closet is that I had my little guy dip his hands in paint and make handprints all over the wall. Back then the colors were a lime green and sky blue. Now when I open the closet, I have a wonderful reminder of that sweet little boy! The only problem I am going to have is if I move! Someone is going to have to cut at least one of them out of the wall so I can frame it and take it with me!
I really like your board and batten treatment on the walls. It looks really good. Next week my husband and I are buying out first house. So we are going to be doing a lot of projects around the house! Goodbye spare time. I will miss you.
I have read countless times in decorating books and magazines that one must decorate one’s own bedroom FIRST — make it your haven, retreat, whatever.
HA! I always think … clearly the author doesn’t have children. I think it’s much more normal to leave your own room as the “orphan” of your decorating schemes — there’s always next summer! The green chest is charming, and I love the wall treatment — beautiful.
Cass
.-= Cass at That Old House´s last blog ..Fish and Frogs and Fruit and Fur . . . =-.
I cannot wait to see the finished playroom. <3 <3 <3 the little green dresser and the glass lamp, and I have always been a sucker for board and batten! Fun fun stuff going on in that room. Thanks for sharing.
Julia –
This is so funny – I just did a post yesterday on my blog about the addiction that is Home Goods – too funny!
But to answer your question – we’re working like dogs to renovate our laundry room. You can see our progress on my blog (link above). We’ve just installed some of the cork flooring and love it!!! Still have a ways to go, but it’s exciting!
xoxo,
Lindsay
.-= Lindsay@Tell’er All About It´s last blog ..Fun Finds: Home Goods strikes again! =-.
Love that green! How fun!
Kitchen renovation is just about wrapped up, but now I’m itching to repaint…just about everything. And there’s a mudroom that needs to be added… and the basement needs some help (since we destroyed it while wiring for the kitchen). After 40+ days of the kitchen… I think I’ll take a break for a few weeks (ok days)… but I think the mudroom addition will be next!
.-= Shannon @ It’s All B&S´s last blog ..Kitchen Renovation: How It Came To Be =-.
I love the green and white combination. The best is ahead of you! You got me dreaming of picking out shelves and pillows. TGIF!
Arlene
Latest blogRepurposed Life
Can’t wait to see it!
I live in a rental, so I don’t want to put too much money or effort into it, but something I absolutely cannot live with any longer is the blue and pink tile EVERYWHERE in the bathroom. We’re going to paint it white to bring a fresh look and add some light since there are no windows.
.-= Samantha´s last blog ..Master Cleanse: Day 3…So far, so good =-.
It looks so good! I love the change, and can’t wait to see the finished product!
.-= Melanie Beth´s last blog ..Mason jars reused =-.
Clever wall treatment! Looks great. And that IS a find from Home Goods. I ADORE that store. Always something fun to find…
Happy Friday!
.-= Kelly, Arte Styling´s last blog ..Vern Yip Gives Mayo a Makeover =-.
Isn’t it fun to play? For example, I watched The Secret Life of Bees and loved their yellow kitchen with white trim and red gingham accessories. So what do I do? I grab the leftover yellow paint from the upstairs hall and start painting my white kitchen walls yellow! I love it!
I LOVE the little green chest of drawers. Good choice!
What an inspiring little dresser! I think I need a find like that. We’ve been in our townhouse almost three years now, and still haven’t made it ours completely. I, too, need to get our bedroom in order, but first our basement (actually our garage, but there’s no room for a car!) needs to be set in order so that’s #1 on the list! Good luck with the bedroom plans – or maybe you should just move into the playroom??
.-= Lori-Anne´s last blog ..Under Cover =-.
What a great start! Love the walls.
I am promising myself I’ll finish our bedroom this summer. ..
.-= Struggler´s last blog ..You’ll Either Love or Hate this Art =-.
I love the green chest and I can’t wait to see the finished room.
.-= Nichole´s last blog ..An Oldie, But A Goodie (kind of) =-.
Julia…this is going to turn out sooo cute! I love the molding treatment you are doing. Great colors, too. That’s what always happens to me…start out on one project and end up doing something totally different.
Gotta go where the inspiration takes you!
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Welcome to the 95th Tablescape Thursday! 3 Tablescapes, 1 Set of White China =-.
wow. Looking good!!! When you set out to make a few changes, you don’t while-away time thinking about it. I need to take your lead!
.-= Love Where You Live´s last blog ..A Few Great Decorating and Design Ideas =-.
Hooray for you! Sometimes we over-think things and miss out on some creative fun(work?)! Jeez, I’m inspired!
LOVE the green dresser! This is my new favorite color, I painted my laundry room this color & have slowly been adding it here & there around the rest of the house. LOVE it!!
.-= Holly Conner´s last blog ..the 1st of many i’m sure… =-.
HI Julia! I love the beginnings of your project! It looks wonderful so far…and that green dresser…yes I hear it calling your name! How wonderful for you. I love projects…especially when they are done!!! Big smile.
Blessings,
Debbie
It’s just delicious! I’ve made a few “innocent” purchases like that myself. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the room comes together! Thanks for the sneak peek.
.-= Courtney @ Nesting Instincts´s last blog ..friday’s fab finds: tickled pink =-.
remember your “which house would you buy” poll? we didn’t go with the tudor fixer upper but a ‘totally 80′s’ fixer upper a few houses down. it needs nothing structurally just some lipstick and rouge. and a new kitchen
i’m having a b.y.o.r. party- bring your own roller!!
cute dresser….how is it that a “really good deal” becomes a “really expensive project” no matter how hard you try?!!
Love the boards as well…look forward to seeing it finished!
.-= The Summer Kitchen Girls´s last blog .."Consider Yourself StarKist" Shadows =-.
Looking good, Julia! Can’t wait to see it all put together. B&B in da house!!!!
.-= angela | the painted house´s last blog ..Daddy =-.
It’s funny but I was in Home Goods last week too and saw this very same dresser. I too had no where to put it but just like you it called my name. It took me a few minutes to decide between this fresh delicious green or the sunny intense yellow one. The yellow one came home with me. I’m just waiting for it to tell me where it wants to live. Love yours and what you are doing with it!
Looks awesome! Wish we had a designated playroom…maybe one day we’ll transform the attic
TGIF!
.-= Aleksandra´s last blog ..Blue Calla Facebook Giveaway! =-.
Hi, Julia! Your kids have indeed grown since I first met them (and you) but the new playroom looks perfect for them. We are still working on our basement. We have drywall up and walls painted, so just need to put baseboards up, ceiling tiles in and get carpet. Did I say “just”?
.-= Kristen @ JoyfullyThriving´s last blog ..Slimfast Coupon =-.
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