Curtains and Cushions

Since deciding to re-decorate the playroom I have been looking for the perfect curtains for the room.  I would normally paper a single wall with a feature wall paper but in this room I just didn’t have the spare wall to do this on.  One end had floor to ceiling shelving and the other end had a window.  Therefore I decided to use the window end of the room as my feature wall.  I began my hunt for the perfect curtains.  I came across a number of fabrics during my travels to Ikea which were really cool but I am no seamstress (Loath sowing actually) and no way can afford for them to be made.  Therefore I started to search the internet and stores in the area.  Found a couple of possibilities in M&S (A little on the expensive side) and Dunlin Mill ( right colour green but plain and stripy).

My search criteria was: Not plain, not stripes and no flowers.

I eventually came across some really cool retro designs which were affordable in Next Home.  They were a fabulous green with bold retro design leaves.  They also had a matching cushion that I just had to buy as well. 

Sofa Satisfaction.

 

Scanned the sofa showrooms and Internet looking for the right sofa for my ‘playroom’.  Most seemed to be too big for the room or too expensive as this project is being done on a budget.  The idea being that as and when we have enough money to buy a better sofa we will.

I eventually found the perfect looking bed settee online at ASDA Direct.  It was only £220.  Bargain I thought even if it is a bit cheap.  Unfortunately when I went to order it they had put the price up to £275.  Mmmm. I thought.  I see their cunning plan to put the price up so they can lower it for the January sales.  So as I was in no rush I waited about three weeks and sure enough the price went back down to £220.  I ordered the sofa and waited.  When I logged on and noticed a change in the status I rang to find out what was happening to the sofa and was told it was on its way and the delivery company would contact me.  Well they did at about 8pm one night to arrange delivery the following Monday between 7am and 9am.

It was delivered at 7:45am on the Monday which was great.

And it looks great.  I couldn’t be more satisfied.

Little Boxes...

     
After looking around at various shelving units I decided on this one from IKEA as it was the cheapest and at the moment we can’t afford anything better.  I would have liked to have got this in a light wood but unfortunately they do not make the unit in the wood only black or white.  I have also added some wooden boxes to give more storage and texture.  Can’t afford any more at the moment as they are quite expensive.

Also from IKEA.

Have to figure something out with all the cabling though as it detracts from the minimal look I am trying to achieve.

Let me know if you have any ideas.

Play Room - Lighting

Finally decided on the retro pendant light from IKEA.  Looks great.  Only thing was, a few days later I went to a retro shop called Hobo's in one of the Cardiff arcades and saw they had a number of original retro lamp shades hanging from the ceiling.  One of these was the same shade that my parents had in the hallway back in the seventies.  Only difference was that the shop one was pink and my parents was orange.  There hung my original inspiration.  Ace!


Original pendant light



New retro look

Play Room - Carpet is down...

The carpet has now been cut to fit the play room.  It will be fitted properly as soon as we have time.
We did have a bit of a panic when we unrolled the carpet and found there was a hole in the carpet.  Luckily when measured it was just on the edge of what we needed.

Phew.

The carpet is down awaiting the final fitting.

Play Room Task 3 – Carpet

Task 3 was the carpet.

I purchased the carpet by chance a month ago when I decided to pop into Carpet Right to check out the carpet prices.  I wanted the same carpet I had in the other bedrooms, a light beige wool Berber.  Unfortunately Carpet Right had discontinued the carpet I had previously bought but lucky for me they had the last remnant which was exactly the size I required for the room.  Yeh!  Bargain at only £60.

I then placed carpet grips around the room 1” from the wall.  I then cut out the underlay to fit the space within the grippers.

I am already now for may master Carpenter Pug to do the business and lay the carpet.

Watch this space…

Play Room Task 2 – Skirting & Door Frame

Task 2 was to paint the skirting and around the door frame.  I used a small bush (1/2”) to do next to an edge and then a larger one (2”) to do the main part of the skirting.

MY TIP would be to use the ‘quick dry’ gloss as you can wash your brushes out with water.  Check the side of the can to see if you can use water to clean brushes.  This is so much easier than using white spirit or turps which is incredibly messy.  If I can’t get this type of paint I just buy cheap brushes and throw them away afterwards.  Obviously this second method is not good for the environment, although IKEA do some good brushes made of natural materials.

Play Room Task 1 – Ceiling & Walls

After being unable to decide on a colour scheme for the room I felt the safest option was to go for white.

Task 1 was to paint the ceiling and walls.  I used Dulux white silk emulsion as I wanted the light to bounce around the room.  I also used a thick wool roller with a long handle.  It is much easier to paint the ceiling and walls with this.

Next I finished painting around the edges of the ceiling and walls.  I used a large brush (3”-4”) as it didn’t matter if I went over any edges.

Job done.

Welcome to the Play Room Project

My latest creative venture is interior design of my spare room.  This sounds very pretentious but I can assure you it is not.  I am the laziest person around and will take short cuts where ever I can.  Also this is on a budget of £400.

So here goes what can I get for £400 let us see...

This room has always been used as a playroom as the children have been growing up but now as they are in their teens I am redecorating the room to make it into a more adult play room with a TV, x-box, Wii, etc.

Everything has been removed from the room so it is completely empty of toys, books, cupboards, shelves, bean bags and the second hand carpet.