Concrete bedroom Part 1

The concrete bedroom, well not 100% concrete but headboard...concrete, storage bench top...concrete and makeup/desk top...concrete, did not start out to be that way.

Kay's room Purple and Concrete, a bedroom transformation

The concrete desk and storage bench started off basically with the same design and construction.  It is basically a concrete slab.  So we measured out out area and I molded their forms for the concrete to be  poured.

Next I had to find some legs for the desk and a storage unit for the bench.

The legs were easy to find, unfinished table legs or stair railings you can find in any hardware store.  We cut them to size, spray painted them black and done.  The storage bench was not so easy.  We had to find something to fit an already fixed size and shape.  We had the concrete top made for it, we had the location for it, but we just could not find anything to fit the area the way we needed to.  We were very close to making our own, until we took a look at Walmart.  We found a great little storage unit that was the perfect measurements we needed...and when I say perfect I mean not even a cm off.  So, yes, there was a little concern there!

make table/desk form

storage bench form

Forms filled with concrete

 The desk is supported by two things.  First it is held up by the 2 front legs that we cut down to size and spray painted black, same as the mural border and screwed into the floor to make sure no one is able to knock down/out the legs causing the desk to fall.  Secondly, it is also supported by a  2x4 sill running the length of the wall.  We drilled into the wall studs and glued down the concrete top.

The storage bench, like I said, fit perfectly and it took a lot of work and force to make this happen.

The box

The pieces

We first had to put the pieces together to build this shelf that we picked up at Wal-Mart.  We turned it on it's side to make a bench that fit a little too perfectly into the space we measured for.
As you see, in the picture below we put a hole in the wall trying to force the bench into place.  We also cut out the trim on the wall...in the end it fit!! and so did the concrete top.

See the hole in the wall on the right hand side...but it fits :)

and btw the pillow are NOT hiding the holes.  We did fix it.

A Wall mural

Here is the breakdown of Kailyn's wall mural that we hung in her room above her bed. Check out the post Purple and Concrete, a room transformation   to see the whole post and pictures.

We wanted to add something with texture, that made a statement and something that said THIS IS KAILYN'S ROOM.  I looked all around for different types of wall paper and just could not find anything that suited her.

One day I was watching Steven and Chris on CBC and they did a segment where their guest used InkShuffle to make custom wall paper for a room she had designed.  And the idea was born...I will surprise Kailyn with a wonderful wall mural of all the things she loves.

So I went to work, my husband not to keen on the idea that I was working on this all on my own, knowing full well that my 15 year old was NOT going to like ANYTHING that I added to this mural.  He talked me into showing her my finished product...and he was RIGHT!

She LOVED the idea HATED what I had done.

After I healed my broken heart, I finally came to terms with the fact that this was HER room and it was for her.  This mural was not going to be coming down for awhile so LETS make it just what she wants.

For the next two days Kailyn and I went through images that she and I liked.  I shredded the ones "not appropriate" and she nixed the ones "to babyish"

In the end we ended up with THIS:

•  I first edited each photo to make them a cohesive black and white. I used Picmonkey to do so.
• Then with the help of Picasa I was able to upload my images and use their collage feature which arranged the images for the size and shape that I needed.
• Once that was done I uploaded my saved image that I had made from Picasa to InkShuffle input the size I needed to make my mural. The only problem was the total came to over $300.  Sorry Kay, that is NOT going to happen.  The mural that once was made to go behind the full wall (length and width) behind her bed got shrunken down to a more manageable size, money wise on her wall behind her bed.  

After I painted we had to measure out to find center. 

 Next step was to follow the instructions.  InkShuffle makes it very easy to install your wallpaper.  All sheets are numbered (I believe we had 5 sheets to put up) as well as where to overlap your sheets to make one seamless piece of art.  You wet it for 15 sec just like your usually wall paper and apply it to the wall and smooth out all air bubbles.
 

Finished and ready for the border.  Since we had to make our image smaller then the wall due to the cost we decided to frame our mural/art work with a homemade frame.

 We took door/window casing spray painted it a glossy black...

 and done!

As much as I would have liked to have been able to mural the whole wall I like what we had come up with.

Purple and Concrete, a bedroom transformation

BEFORE

Kailyn's bedroom "before" is not very appealing.  From the moment we moved into this house we knew Kailyn's room was on our list of rooms TO DO.  She had a bed mattress in the middle of her room, no paint colour on her walls and an old broken down dresser.

It was actually quiet embarrassing.

We wanted to give her a room that she could hang out in with friends, do her makeup and homework in, find some peace among her siblings...her own little oasis that any 15 year old would love to have.

Of course she picked her own wall colour Exclusive Plum  Click HERE for the painting post.

Kailyn and I worked on a wall mural that in the begging was meant to cover the entire wall behind her bed however do to the cost we had to shrink that idea down a wee bit.

The mural

 A new dresser was a must!!  I found a set on kijiji I took the tall piece for her room and I'm using the long piece for her sisters room. (that was a score) Click the link to see the before and after HERE http://buyahousecreateahome.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-dresserbefore-and-after.html

She knew I was working on some concrete pieces for her room but really that was all she knew.  She had no idea what we were up to!

Concrete headboard

Concrete desk/makeup table

Concrete storage table

some of the little extra's

And of course with any bedroom transformation we added a few other items to finish the look.

• 2 new table legs
• 2 new door knobs for her closet doors
• new ceiling fan
• cork boards (for her to fill with things she loves)
• full length mirror
• decor basket
• new bedding and pillows
• new hamper
• new window treatments

When it was all said and done I think she is pretty darn happy with it!!

For a how to wall mural click the link HERE http://buyahousecreateahome.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-wall-mural.html

Painting OUT OF THE BOX (or closet in this case)

We have been working on some really fun projects for Kailyn's room.

Of course it is not all cute rainbows, bright colours and butterflies when painting and decorating a very stubborn, very independent and mature 15 year old's bedroom.

Picking the paint colour was a little more difficult, but after much debate we found one we both could agree on.

  
Once I started painting I really liked the colour especially against the white trim in her room, so much so, I got a crazy idea.  I thought the more the merrier and I started to paint out her closet doors.

Directly across from her closet wall we have a mural and a very fun headboard, makeup table and side table made of concrete going in.  SOOO we wanted that wall to be the focus in the room.  We are also placing a tall dresser on the same wall of the closet and I just did not like the look, it was too broken up for my liking with the white doors on the closet.  

So I went for it...

BEFORE: As you can see my before is a little after the fact but it was a millisecond thought and I just went with it.  I don't like to over think things most times.

STARTING: Truth be told, I was freaking out a bit at this point!  However the great thing about paint is that it is ONLY PAINT and you can repaint if needed.

Really freaking out at this point.

BUT, VERY HAPPY with the end result and most importantly Kailyn liked it too.

As you see I left her baseboards white.  I just painted the moldings around the closet and the doors.

TIPS TO PAINTING OUT A CLOSET:

Tip #1.
If you have carpet on the floor use a clear piece of packing tape. I first tried painters tape, it was too thin and flimsy and was not sticking good to the carpet.  A drop cloth will not do.  With the thick packing tape you are able to push down into the carpet and tape into the small space between the carpet and the molding.  This allows you to paint the molding right past the carpet without getting any paint on the carpet. 

 Perfectly done...no paint on the carpet.

Tip #2
When painting the closet doors don't forget the space in between the doors or at the end of the doors.  You don't want it to look unfinished when someone opens the door.

 Much better and finished!

Tip #3
I really like to paint doors with the small foam rollers for projects like this. I first trace out the squares with a paint brush and then finish painting with the foam roller.  They are easy to roll, they get into all the the groves and it is a little more fun...I think!

A couple of really cool door knobs and walla, a closet fit for a very stubborn, very independent and mature 15 year old's bedroom.    

I can't wait until this room is finished!!