Welcome to no man’s land, and but an area that has SO MUCH potential. We’ve solely had “hallways” on the high of stairs earlier than, not landings which can be nearly as large as a room. It’s such a stunning, inviting, gracious area to “land” (in concept) earlier than you head into one of many three bedrooms, the child’s shared lavatory, or the laundry closet. It’s a reasonably darn large area (with a brand new large Velux skylight that did wonders) that has develop into the upstairs “drop zone”. And also you all know what which means – she is MESSY, unorganized, and presently purposeless. Right here is the place we’re in the home:
It’s sufficiently big to have a whole lot of perform, however we have to reside in the home lengthy sufficient to know what that perform actually is. Our children are 7 and 9 and all dad and mom know that pursuits and subsequently practical wants change as quick as they age, actually maintaining us on our toes and requiring most issues to be versatile and in a position to work in different places ought to they not work right here. It’s a problem however one I don’t wish to rush fixing (and sure, we’re capturing the home in Might so rush I’ll :))
Three Years In the past…
As you’ll be able to see the touchdown had this 90s flooring (the bedrooms had unhealthy carpet with no hardwood flooring beneath) and we determined early on that that is the place we might “save” cash. We’d paint the touchdown flooring and stairs, add a harlequin sample or stencil sooner or later, and never spend the cash to re-floor the second flooring in any respect. What we didn’t notice is that this flooring was in unhealthy form, so as a substitute of portray it they really changed it with reasonably priced 2″ Douglas fir flooring (what was initially applicable to the age of the home). That is nice as a result of we had a greater product and we accepted it rapidly over the telephone. However had we thought of it extra we might have both A. Stained the brand new but generic wooden flooring a wooden tone, B. Painted the OG unhealthy flooring with none prep work so that you noticed the cracks, and so on which is a particular look that we like, or C. Put in additional of our lovely Zena flooring from downstairs. We initially made the choice to color it as a result of we hated this explicit “earlier than” wooden flooring, not as a result of we actually wished painted wooden flooring if that makes any sense. Every little thing has a domino impact and people of you who’ve transformed know that you decide, it impacts different choices. One thing simply at all times comes up and modifications the opposite choice or the unique choice, and but you typically don’t return and rethink each choice alongside the way in which since you are overwhelmed with newer, extra rapid choices. So mainly if we might return in time with the data that we needed to change the unhealthy wooden flooring we might have changed it with wooden that we liked, not wooden simply to then paint it. It’s all fantastic, actually, and there are a ton of options for this area – however I simply wished to clarify why it’s only a vivid wooden flooring (versus that extra rustic painted patterned wooden flooring that we had initially deliberate on).
Every little thing you see right this moment (moreover the doorways, trim work, lighting fixtures, and light-weight switches) is up for grabs design-wise. However we would have liked time to reside right here to determine what to do with it.
Beneath you’ll be able to see what it appeared like in progress – the unique doorways and the salvaged doorways had been each rehabbed to perform completely for us.
The Touchdown At present (Nicely, Proper Earlier than Christmas)
Here’s what is going on now. We have now a bookshelf I bought at a storage sale for $20, the IKEA pedestal desk I’ve had ceaselessly, an inexpensive rug that I purchased for our rental that I instantly regretted however by no means returned, and a white flooring that’s begging for its painted second. So presently I’m stumped on the right way to design this area one of the best for our household and having a tough time prioritizing such an interim area when different areas really feel extra rapid.
Nicely, What Do We Do In This Room Proper Now?
Uh, I largely clear it….and we fold laundry on the ground (as a result of nobody actually folds laundry on their laundry counter, FYI). Right here’s a enjoyable truth about youngsters – they don’t wish to play in their very own messes (or others’ messes). Certain, in the event that they make a multitude they’ll play in it for the remainder of that messy session, however then they’ll keep away from that area or simply discover it “boring” – really my least favourite response to their very own disasters. When you clear it up abruptly they’re participating with it once more. I completely get it – I hate cooking in a messy kitchen regardless if I’m about to make a brand new mess. You don’t wish to inherit an older mess, you wish to deal with the brand new mess you may make. So if it’s clear they legit use the stitching machine and the brand new 3D printer they bought for Christmas, but when it’s messy they’re “SO BORED”.
One other enjoyable truth that can make you rethink having kids – a few of their pals will do that monstrously baffling factor and take each single field/sport/puzzle out of the bookshelf and dump it on the ground, one after the other. Not all youngsters do that, (I hope to god my youngsters don’t do that at different folks’s properties, however I worry they’ve) however I’ve seen it sufficient occasions. It’s a factor. Now to be honest, I do know that different youngsters’ toys are these mysterious magical packing containers and it looks like Christmas to the brand new youngsters. And TBH we go away them unattended for hours so we shouldn’t be so shocked once we come up and it appears like we’ve been robbed. However that offers you extra context on what “goal” this room has proper now – a big shelf of temptation and future mess.
We’re additionally in these in-between ages the place they don’t love “toys” as a lot as they did however aren’t fairly into the subsequent stage but (Birdie likes to do arts and crafts, Charlie likes to make issues and play video video games or play with nerf weapons). So sure, there are such a lot of packing containers of NIB craft kits or board video games that I’m uncertain we’ll by no means actually use once more.
Generally I really feel like I don’t have interaction with these drawback areas till I’m actually writing the weblog submit about it and seeing it with extra goal, contemporary eyes. Do I feel this might be a candy little studying space with a desk? Certain. However what we’re actually lacking on this home is the room they will destroy with craft stuff. They each love to stitch and make issues, however we aren’t arrange for it. We might put all of the board video games in certainly one of their closets (to be taken out when dedicated to enjoying with them after which we might have a hutch or armoire that’s cuter for all of the craft provides, a spot to correctly retailer the stitching machine and the 3D printer, after which wall area to show all of it (or shelving for jars of provides). However on the similar time, they’re 7 and 9 and can be 11 and 13 very quickly. Will they even wish to nonetheless craft/make issues? Ought to I customise some desks and bookshelves for future homework? A YouTube studio for his or her future social media channels? (JK, y’all, JAY KAY).
To Craft Or Not To Craft?
We have now two warring colleges of thought in our home – mine is that if you happen to curate an evergreen crafting/artwork space with organized provides the youngsters will craft extra on their very own, with out steering or immediate. That is VERY, VERY TRUE. The quantity of occasions we’ve been like, “I ponder what the youngsters are doing” and they’re upstairs doing an enormous craft collectively for hours is numerous. However it turns into a catastrophe that all of us have to assist clear up, nearly day by day. The opposite faculty of thought is to maintain the provides in a field that we pull out once we wish to have a extra organized “crafting session,” thus placing the accountability extra on us (me) to have a “venture” with the fitting provides, and lead the venture. However then afterward we pack it up and put it away. Because of this the crafting attic was so great on the mountain home – they’d destroy it and we’d clear it collectively each couple of weeks, however didn’t have to have a look at the mess each time we got here up the steps…
If we had been to do “the crafting touchdown” then I feel a rectangle desk can be higher, positioned in opposition to the wall with a crafting board above it, and provides alongside the again.
Or Ought to I Simply Make This Fairly With A Chair/Ottoman, Bookshelf, A Fairly Rug, And Some Artwork?
I imply, I might do this in my sleep. So sure, a part of me desires to color a harlequin sample on the ground (elongated diamond in blue and white), purchase a easy oval or spherical jute or braided rug, get a dope chair and ottoman, and dangle a gallery wall. It writes itself. However it’s simply not as practical for our household and looks like a missed alternative to verify a field. That’s except I discover area in both of their bedrooms or the visitor room for my fantasy crafting/artwork studio bonanza…
And sure, we’ve additionally thought of making this a mini-den for them with a TV/video video games and two bean luggage which continues to be on the desk, however kinda depresses me (we’ve simply launched video video games and certainly one of our kids has taken QUITE the liking to them – if you understand what I imply).
Are We Going To Paint The Partitions? Set up Wallpaper?
Not sure. I do know that is so boring in pictures, however belief me that in particular person the white gives unfavourable area in your eye, particularly when you’ve gotten Birdie’s wallpaper and the pink visitor room (and contemplate a sample painted on the ground). I do know we’re going to paint the flooring however unsure concerning the partitions. Additionally, do not forget that it comes up from the steps so that you’d nearly have to color the partitions alongside the steps too which isn’t out of the query however you see the steps prominently in the lounge so it turns into a factor. Every little thing is a factor (I say this like 19 occasions a day). Nothing is only a selection with out affecting different previous selections or future selections. Every little thing. Is. A. Factor.
Now that I give it some thought perhaps a DIY L-shaped desk with storage drawers + cabinets for books/crafting provides would have probably the most longevity for crafting now and homework later…
If I sound harassed by this area, I’m actually not. I do know nearly for a indisputable fact that if I don’t dedicate some thought to this area this yr it might keep like this 6 years. So these sorts of posts at all times power me to consider these much less necessary areas, creating some pressured ahead momentum. So thanks for listening 🙂
*Pictures by Kaitlin Inexperienced
The submit The Challenges Of Our Upstairs Touchdown (AKA Our Youngsters Rubbish Storage Room/Play House) + How To Design Lengthy Time period For Quickly Rising Youngsters appeared first on Emily Henderson.
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