Thank goodness I took photos of the playroom after we finished giving it a makeover with the new board and batten a couple months ago. That clean and serene scene you see here didn’t last very long! The kids went right to work, breaking it in.
After my 8-year old daughter Lily had a playdate with her friend Olivia recently, I saw they had taped a sign to the playroom door that said, Monkey Town. I wondered what that meant, so I ventured inside to find out.
Lily and Olivia showed me around, explaining that it’s a giant zoo, but the monkeys are in charge. Oh, and they have dinosaurs, too (cool!).
Here’s the Giraffe and Elephant House (made by my son Jake for his little sister several years ago and played with almost every day since):
Next to the giraffes and elephants is a special section of the zoo called “Party Village,” and this dinosaur is the mayor:
The King of the Monkeys surveys his kingdom from the pink ottoman and keeps a close eye on everything going on around him:
The “Barrel of Monkeys” are now swinging from a string attached to the two light fixtures (Lily says “It’s a monkey swing–you swing from monkey to monkey to monkey!”).
Lest you think my house is always put together, neat and clean, here’s proof that monkeys occasionally take over. And elephants and tigers and dinosaurs, too.
Lily doesn’t seem the least bit concerned, though. She says they’re (mostly) friendly, so we can all live together in peace.
In case you missed it: Playroom Makeover with Board and Batten.
You know, strangely I think it looks even better with all the toys thrown around the room! (Perhaps they are all in the right colors?! Ha!) Just looks like a very happy place. Someday when I have nothing better to do I’ll post a photo of our yet to be touched with any care playroom, yikes!!
Janell
.-= Janell Beals´s last blog ..DIY Bamboo Light Fixture – Good Enough To Hang =-.
This room looks so adorable with the monkey business! Happiness exudes!
.-= amy@maisondecor´s last blog ..A Romantic Hooked Rug =-.
lol, it never takes kids long to break in a room. I think you did a beautiful job with the room, it looks very colorful and inviting.
I love it looking lived in and loved!!
LOVE it! I’m so glad that she’s using the room and enjoying it… there’s nothing worse than a house that isn’t lived in. I’ve been in plenty of houses where the parents would never let the kids be kids and it was just sad. Now, of course, you still have to clean it all up when you’re finished… I mean it can’t be a giant mess all the time… but that’s a great lesson for children to learn, how to have fun and the responsibility of cleaning up.
.-= MissCaron´s last blog ..Seawatch =-.
A play room with character(s). I recall fondly the imaginitive play of both my children and the way their imaginations often filled up the formerly tidy space with Play ideas. It has proven to be among the best decorating imprint my memory offers. Kudos to the space that inspires!
Julia!
This is just too cute! Lovely!
Very creative!!! 
The playroom is just perfect! It’s super fun, comfort and bright! What a fantastic job!
And the kids are great too!
This is inspiring…
Luciane, From HomeBunch.com
Perfect, I mean after all, it is a PLAYROOM right, it is NOT the living room
It looks like it is getting a lot of use, and after all, isn’t that the purpose of our homes?
I love this! Kids always amaze me with their imaginative play. Now THAT looks more like the playroom at my house! Thanks for sharing this cute story!
.-= Courtney @ nesting instincts´s last blog ..master bedroom makeoverfor free! =-.
Ha! Looks familiar. Beautiful clean room reduced to rubble by a playdate.
What is it about board and batten that automatically makes a room look neat and clean??
I love it, great colors for a playroom.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Save the date- November 6- Holiday Open House =-.
That is EXACTLY how a playroom should look!
Oh to be a child again… When your first instinct is to throw everything on the floor!
.-= The Stucco Bungalow´s last blog ..Another Spray Paint A Chandelier Blog Post =-.
What a blessing to have a playroom! I think it’s great how the toys match the room.
I just love your playroom, EITHER way!
It looks like the kids really enjoy it too, which is the important thing.
.-= pk @ Room Remix´s last blog ..Whats behind the sofa =-.
Keeping it real…love it!
How wonderful to have a room dedicated to children at play, makes for happy kids and happy parents!
I think that last little monkey named Lily is adorable!
.-= Pat´s last blog ..Unpacking my Luggage =-.
I have to admit, she is my favorite monkey.
thanks for sharing you REAL life…your kids have your creative eye.
Thanks for sharing – I love it! The creativity at this age never ceases to amaze me. Your room looks much better this way!
.-= Vanessa@Decor Happy´s last blog ..Steven- Chris and I Go Way Back! =-.
Love it! I also like you much better now
. Now we have more in common!!!! LOL.
I have the EXACT same ottoman but since pink wasnt really in my colorscheme anymore I whipped up a little slip cover for it! So if you ever decide you want a change, head over to my link for a quick how-to!!
Oh and I LOOOOVE the choice of lamps in that room!!
http://temporary-nest.blogspot.com/2010/03/cover-it-up.html
.-= Gina at Temporary Nest´s last blog ..Hello- Beautiful! =-.
That’s fun–thanks, Gina! -Julia
In my house we call the play area “Crazy Town”. There are several neighbourhoods, Barbie Boulevard, Littlest Pet Shop Crescent, Webkinz World, and a miscellaneous area that Olivia calls “Anything Goes Town Square”.
In the beginning I made myself crazy picking up the toys every night then I remembered how my Mom would let me take over an entire corner of her living room with my Barbie mansion, and it had a lot of square inch-age. She never complained about how much space I consumed, she just wanted me to be happy. I now embrace my daughters Crazy Town. I figure in a few years she’ll be out of the toy phase of her life and on to bigger things. Childhood goes sooo quickly, they should enjoy it while they can. There will be lots of tidy rooms in our homes when they go to college. (Tear, sniff.)
It looks like an episode of Toy Story! I love it.
Looks like a playroom should…played in. What a beautiful space for them to do just that;) Oh and you should see our playroom right now. Holy cow!!!
.-= Becky @ Farmgirl Paints´s last blog ..One giant mess =-.
Julia I love it it is absolutely adorable monkeys and all!!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
.-= Karena´s last blog ..Luxurious 300 Giveaway from Metis Linens =-.
I’m with Janell! As GORG as it is all cleaned up, the monkeys, and Mayor Dino really give it that ‘pop’ it needs *wink* after all, it’s a playroom! So delighted to get a peek at your ‘real’ life and your kids’ creativity. Love this post!
xo
Kate
This is just about the cutest thing ever! I actually prefer the room in its monkeyed state, I think that is the way it is meant to look! And I adore that little house your son made for his little sis, so sweet.
.-= hip hip gin gin´s last blog ..Hello There! =-.
Cute!! Princesses and fairies take over the playroom at our house. They have houses and dance floors made from blocks all over the room. I love creative play, however messy it is!!
.-= LuxuriousLife´s last blog ..Tickled Pink =-.
I like it messy too! And I used to have the same cardboard blocks when I was little. My sister and I would build a ‘drive thru’ McDonald’s out of them.
.-= liz @ bon temps beignet´s last blog ..Happy Halloweenie! Free & Easy Halloween Cards =-.
I think a good description for this picture would be “aftermath” LOL. I too love their imaginitive play. And I am highly impressed that the bookshelf remains untouched! My boys would have everything pulled out and dumped on the ground and flung the books all over the room. Our playroom looks like this except is cars and trucks strewn everywhere! I have all of the components now to get the backgrounds in place and you are inspiring me to get it done!
.-= jana´s last blog ..Go-To Cake =-.
Oh that is too adorable!!! I love that kind of creativity in children! Good for them, and good for you for documenting that kind of fun!
.-= pollydove´s last blog ..Drumsticks one way or another =-.
Awww…. it looks so happy and I don’t believe any one really has a clean-all-the-time home anyway. (At least that is what I tell myself to feel better!)
.-= Alycia´s last blog ..My Halloween and Fall Decor =-.
I don’t think it’s possible to make that playroom look bad, no matter how big the mess…it’s just too cute!
I feel so much better about my house now. : )
How cute! I love the room and I love seeing that it is getting used the way it was designed to be!! How fabulous, and Lily is soooo pretty, what a sweetie.
Nancy xo
.-= Nancy@marcusdesign´s last blog ..a very sweet penthouse suite =-.
Julia,
I love your playroom and somehow missed when you posted about finishing it. Could you tell me where you found that gorgeous aqua lamp on the little green dresser? I have been looking for the perfect lamps for months and when I saw yours I loved it.
Thanks!
Target!
This makes me smile. I wish I had some monkeys!!
.-= Love Where You Live´s last blog ..Architecturally Designed Dog Houses -Bow-WOW!! =-.
Adorable, mess and all! The best time of my life were when my two children were little and still “under my wings”.
So, cute! I think it actually looks better with the monkeys, etc. Home isn’t home without a little crazy.
Thanks for sharing your great photos.
.-= Kelly, Arte Styling´s last blog ..Color in the Neighborhood =-.
FABULOUS! Tell your kids that I think they should win an award for their creativity!
Ingenious design, and I love the the placement of all the accessories…. absolute
PERFECTION!
That’s awesome. Long live the candy driven crazed monkeys!
.-= Juju at Tales of Whimsy…´s last blog ..I want to read that- An Unexpected Mystery & Fairytale =-.
Now that is what a playroom makeover is all about! Such a fun space to play in!
LOL what a doll and I love her imagination !!! Julia when my daughter was little for some reason only known to her she called those monkeys…Dinkies….she was only four and I thought it too cute so I didn’t correct her. So to this day they are Dinkies to us…. some things just stick….thanks for the memory !!!
All the best,
Kathy
So. Dang. Cute.
Enjoy the mess. My house is clean now, but empty. Wish I could rewind to “Wildsville” with my four boys again.
Great looking playroom. I love the special touches. The mess doesn’t bother me at all, because isn’t a playroom made for messes? That’s where kids go and play with their toys.
As lovely as the playroom was when it was just finished, it’s even more beautiful now with signs of life, imagination and old-fashioned play taking over. I truly wish more magazines had at least some controlled signs of childhood in them – aka a dose of real life!
.-= Lori-Anne´s last blog ..Taking Comfort in the Familiar =-.
Your children are so creative! And I love that you have allowed some “fun” decorating in your home-I decided after my house burned that life was too short to have too serious of a home! =) I like that the kids can feel a part of it too!
.-= Josanne´s last blog ..A Poem =-.
I love it, Julia!!! It looks lived in and enjoyed.
I love it when bloggers show us their “real” rooms. Your kids are so cute and creative!
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Willow House Giveaway from Southern Fried Gal =-.
How creative is she? Adorable too. What a great playroom, I love the green lamps!
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Not Your Mommas Pumpkin! =-.
Adorable! What great imaginations. The room simply invites fun…great job.
now this is my kind of playroom. brings back fond memories of the years we had a basement & my friends & i created ‘fort town’ with the pool table, the sheets, and my toys. Its wonderful to see that childhood imagination, unfettered by the faux imagination of TV cartoons & videos, lives on. I can’t decide what my favorite is–the Dino Mayor or the Monkey King surveying all from the ottoman or the Swinging Monkeys. what you did to make over the room is great, this makes it awesome.
The after-after looks even better – your very own Jumanji! The giraffe house bday present is one I’ll be demanding of my own brother next year — beyond belief adorable.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Nice girls don’t =-.
Hilarious and so darn cute! I think our kids would get along well. I recognize many of those toys – Littlest Pet Shop – ugh – more like Biggest Mess Pet Shop.
I think your playroom looks fantastic with the monkeys & giraffes & elephants & dinosaurs! It’s fun, it’s playful, it’s colourful, it’s creative… it’s the perfect place for your kids and their friends to express themselves and let their minds run free
Didn’t we all have a barrel of monkeys when we were kids?
Kelly
.-= Kelly @ JAX does design´s last blog ..Design reflections- Decorating with mirrors =-.
What a wonderful post! I remember when my kids would do this in the playroom. One time they turned an upside down coffee table wrapped in plastic wrap into a fish acquarium!
This is too cute! One of my favorite posts yet. I guess we have all been forgetting one important factor when we critique the decor of different rooms – which species of toy will be inhabiting it once it’s decorated! LOL!
By the way, the dinosaur mayor = HILARIOUS!
.-= Kate (Little Beach Bum)´s last blog ..Quote of the Day =-.
DARLING. Your kids are so cute and creative! The room is fantastic too – love the brights. The monkeys are the perfect compliment
-SF
P.S. I’m hosting a Marc Jacobs jewelry give away – I hope you’ll stop by! http://sfair.blogspot.com/2010/10/marc-jacobs-give-away.html
.-= Sanity Fair´s last blog ..WELLY WONDERFUL =-.
This made me smile. The playroom looks fantastic in use, I love the monkey zoo! It’s nice to see when a room is so thoroughly enjoyed, that’s what makes a house a home. Clearly Lily takes after her mother when it comes to both style and creativity. I still can’t get over how bright and cheery your playroom is. Mission success!
.-= Bre´s last blog ..Q & A with BB- Smoothing it Over with Exfoliants =-.
Totally charming Julia! Real life is best!! Xx Lynn
.-= Decor Arts Now´s last blog ..October 22- 2010- Foodie Friday- Salmon Baked in Foil =-.
Julia, this is beyond adorable! How creative! And I was thinking that they’destroyed the room; quite the opposite — the girls simply ‘embellished’ it! Looks like the playroom is serving its purpose very well :- )
And — just for the record — Lily is ADORABLE! What a cutie-pie!
I’m glad to see Lily is just as creative as her Kindergarten teacher remembers her to be! Again, the finished playroom is just lovely!
.-= Kristen @ JoyfullyThriving´s last blog ..Printable Links I Like =-.
that is so fab – she takes after her moms creativity
best le
.-= le@thirdontheright´s last blog ..Bring me some roses and a cabbage too =-.
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