Friday, December 24, 2010

teen room re-do finished!

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

I completed my daughter's bedroom update yesterday. It all started just a few weeks ago as just talk, really. You know how it starts.. "wouldn't it be fun to...". And now, 21 days later, I've transformed Ellie's room from her little girl space into to a room that will take her through her high school years. Normally, this time of year, I'm busy making biscotti to give to family, friends, and neighbors or knitting this or that for Christmas gifts. I have yet to make one cookie or even look at yarn. But, it's been a joyful time just the same. I love how it turned out.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

Tomorrow, Ellie will finally be able to roam the house and garage freely and I'll be able to keep doors open. It's going to be wonderful! But, most wonderful will be seeing her open the door to her new space and watching her discover all the changes that have taken place.

While her room has changed, it's a space reflective of who she is and what she loves. Ellie holds her past dearly in her heart; each Toot and Puddle book from earlier years, a ballet mailing from when we went to see the NYC Ballet (now framed and on her wall) and her love of Snoopy. And, so much more. Her dresser drawers are lined with lavender scented paper, her bed pillows are arranged just how she's always imagined they should be, and she has a large desk loaded with storage.

I love the challenge of form and function. I love to listen to what a client tells me of what they love about a space and what doesn't work, and find the place where the way a room is used completely works with how it looks and feels. So, here's the rest of the space and Happy Holidays to all the readers of Muraca Design Notebook!

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

teen room re-do middle space (part 2)

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

I hadn't planned on posting a middle space (part 2) but here we are. Ellie's room re-do is coming along. I had set a deadline to finish by yesterday. Not finished. An unexpected return trip to Northern Virginia to replace a damaged dresser did yield a few more elements, but didn't help the design schedule. Although the room is taking shape from when I started two weeks ago, still much to do.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

The desk is half done with the shelving up on the sides. What used to be a closet with 2 big doors, is now taking shape as a built-in desk. The desk top is to come next, spanning the length of the back wall at 92". Decorative shelving will go up in the center space with magnetic boards under the first shelf.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

My design goal was to have 3 areas: desk space, bed space, and chair/hang-out space. Taking the closet and re-working storage, allowed for better use of space. Still to come is a round mirror over the dresser, filling shelving cubes, and finding fabric to cover the ottoman.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

The wardrobe will need door curtains (fabric still to find) and the dressing mirror needs to be hung. The original furniture hardware was changed out in keeping with the house door hardware.

Our cat, Henry, was relieved to be allowed in Ellie's room. He's missed posting himself at one of his favorite bird watching spots. I'll be glad to have open doors again. There's been much instruction for Ellie: don't go up stairs for an hour, don't go in the garage, don't go on my blog. Next post: finished room, open doors, and all tools put away.. until the next project. Next project: Ellie's bathroom.

teen room re-do (middle space)

I took apart my daughter's bedroom a few nights ago. This is the room she's known for the past 5 plus years. We've talked about updating her childhood room many, many times since she's entered middle school. She would show me drawings and ideas worked out with paper and colored pencil or inspirations from PB Teen. She's kept files and folders. Ultimately, it left her feeling uneasy and uprooted. Will a new space still feel like home? She wasn't sure.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

Ellie was ready this time.

There is something sacred about saying goodbye to what is and what will not be again. We live in our rooms, in our homes. It is in these spaces that we remember moments. It is where time passes and where the mundane tasks of every day life become a past that has quickly slipped by. Re-decorating a room of a child, dismantling of what is familiar, is recognizing this passage. Nothing stays the same. Ellie is ready for her next passage, away from what has been familiar to her as a child and ready to embrace all the changes to come.

And so, on to the fun of the design process.

It begins with getting thoughts on paper.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

The process then moves to layout software for scale and furniture sizes. This is also where the lighting plan is created.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

A trip to Northern Virginia (with my super, helpful husband) produced the final pieces need for the project.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

I'm most thrilled with taking the closet doors off and opening the room even more. There will be a wardrobe and a dresser to store clothes. Inside the closet, I've painted an accent color. The color carries over to the same wall for, what will become, the hang-out zone.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

Lots more to finish up. I love the middle space in design, when everything on paper, samples pull together and tested, begin to come together and the room takes shape. More to come.

Below are inspirations of desks made from closet space. Enjoy!