The nursery has very strange little alcoves at each end. One side is setup as a closet, but the other side is just open. It looked like this when we moved in:
I had painted the woodwork white and sewn white curtains to close the space off when we had the room setup as a guest room. It looked much better, but there was still no purpose.
When we talked to the girl that grew up in this house, she mentioned that she had kept her bed down there. We thought that was a good idea for a kid’s room (what kid doesn’t like sleeping in a fort?), but we still wouldn’t be able to use it for several years. Then I started thinking about how well the TROFAST system from IKEA would fit, and I realized that the area would be great for toy storage.
I was lucky enough to have a toy closet as a kid for a few years, and I remember spending hours in there playing. It would get hot and stuffy, but I didn’t care because it was my secret little world.
I carpeted with FLOR tiles, but I could see adding a fluffy little rug and a bean bag chair down there for comfort. I had planned to close off the left half of the opening and build shallow shelves for books, similar to the Catalina Magazine Rack.
Now that we’ve built the crib though, it blocks that whole side. Maybe we should still do it and just leave the shelves empty for now?
I know we won’t be able to use it much at first and we’ll have to put up a child safety gate, but I hope our daughter will eventually love her little play area.
That’s just so cute! I can imagine the little Pottery Barn Kids kitchen set and baby doll in there one day too. :0)
So cozy & cute!!
freakin’ adorable! yes, she’s gonna love it. see, you’re already a great mommy!
i so want you as my decorating mommy!!! too, too cute!
The room looks great so far! Cant wait to see the finished product! I always wanted a “secret spot” as a kid- and I usually squeezed under a desk or something- but this is much better! She’ll love it.
Oh my gosh, I want to play in there!!!!
This is amazing and your daughter will absolutely love it!!
When she gets older that would be an awesome space to fill with rubber balls. A big ball pit in her room. Awesome!
I would love to see a floor plan of this room. It has a very unusual shape. The toy area looks like a great idea. Oh! The other day I was at a friends house who had the coolest lamp that reminded me of you. It was a big clear (mason style) jar filled with those wooden ABC blocks that then had been turned into a lamp, it sound crazy, but it was really cute.
Wow! I’m jealous! I would have died for something like that when I was a kid. And my little girls would absolutely flip over it. This is why I love old houses. They just don’t make cool, charming places like this anymore!
How very sweet! I grew up in a log home in Northern Minnesota and my bedroom was in the “loft” (I felt like Heidi for sure). This little play closet reminds me of my own closet in my childhood bedroom. I also spend HOURS in there with all my stuffed animal friends and toys and books. Your daughter will LOVE this little space of her own!
Toy storage makes very good use of the space! I would use it for a reading nook in addition to the toy storage. As she gets older there won’t be much room to play in the space but sitting in there to read will be perfect! You should buy her a plush chair such as the ones they used to sell at Pottery Barn (we bought my daughter the pink bunny one). You can see what I am talking about here:
http://mommatobug.blogspot.com/2008/10/do-you-see-resemeblance.html
Good luck!
-Desiree
That is going to be such a fun little play area for your little girl! And I love the pink owl. :)
Wow, I never would have guessed that it was that big from the “before” photos. Good use of the space! Little nooks and crannies are so fun for little kids.
So cute! Way to take advantage of the extra space. Those odd little spaces become so charming when they are used in such a clever way. I have seen old shutters used as a magazine rack in a similar way, painted white they might bring in some of the neat texture from the ceiling boards!
this is sooo adorable!
you know…everything happens for a reason..this house is/will be perfect for the three of you! i remember you saying how weird the space was before! LOOK HOW GREAT IT HAS TURNED OUT!
I adore this area! like everyone else..i wished i had something like this as well..but i would OF COURSE need your expertise in designing it for my son!
love it!
Nice one! This space is great for storage and fun! The wall openings on the left look like they’d be perfect for one of those doorway puppet show curtains like this…
http://cupofcoco.squarespace.com/blog/2008/12/12/puppet-show-curtain-final-images.html
This could be a fun sewing project and a lot easier if the curtain is hung from a spring-loaded (removable) curtain rod!
What a lucky girl she’ll be!
Adorable! I have two questions:
1) Have you thought about painting the Ikea shelving unit?
2) When you painted the ceiling, did you sand it then prime it before painting it? I have a similar pitched roof and want to paint the ceiling wood. Did you use a brush or a roller?
Wow this looks great! I had a clubhouse under the stairs that I loved spending time in with my toys. Luckily my hideaway was cool in the summer since it was in the basement.
Did you put the flor tiles in the whole room or just in that section? Your going to be crawling all over that room with your little one before too long!
I was just looking in a storage closet off of my “tween”‘s bedroom and she so wants a fort in there- complete with bean bag chair and lava lamp! Thanks for the inspiration- her closet is very similar and I am off to hunt through my IKEA catalog. Yet another thing on my project list!
FYI-Check out my website: http://www.girlzdealz.com- I just posted a cute plastic tote from Stacks and Stacks for $2.49. Perfect for moveable small toy storage! Great colors also.
What a neat little space! We got the Catalina Mag rack for our daughter’s room when she was a baby and we love it! (She is now 6!) We actually bought 1 for a cousin when she had her first baby and another to install in a yet to be determined place in our home – will probably paint it a different color. Also purchased the Anywhere Chair (removeable cover!), a wooden ironing board w/iron and stand mixer toys. All very good investments which have stood the test of time. Your nursery looks so lovely and I am happy for you and Brandon and baby girl!
So much fun! I would have killed for a little space like that when I was a youngin’. What a lucky little girl :)
that space would be SO cool for a bed! I would’ve loved that. Your little girl will have so much in that room. I love little girl things…don’t know what I’ll do if I have a boy…(when I’m ready to have kids)
That space is really beautiful. I’m sure your luckylittle girl will love it.
Oh, it’s beautiful! I absolutely love it! It’s perfect! And how ingenious to do those little drawer-shelf things in that triangle space (…that made sense in my head).
That’s a cute idea! I would sleep there and have so much fun.
I can’t help but to keep thinking you are putting your baby in the attic, though.
Oh, what a sweet little spot! I’m sure it will be a very fun place to play!
Oh, she will love it!! And it will be quick, you’ll see, all of a sudden she’ll be playing in it!! So cute!
Oh my gosh it looks so great! She will love it!
Oh what a wonderful place for a child! Over the years that will be so many things – a ship, a gingerbread house, a secret cave – as well as being a gorgeous little place to hide and read and relax! Lovely use of space…again!
I *LOVE* it. Is absolutely beautiful :)
Lovely little hide out! I’m so excited for you!
You make everything so pretty.
A little cubby house, that’s so great!
Like mother, like daughter. You spent oh so many hours in your toy closet – your little one will do the same I’m sure of it! A reading nook/play area is such a great idea for this space. As she grows the space will morph too – but it will always be her own secret hide-a-way!
Your nursery looks great so far! I think it would be really neat to do an abacus on the bottom levels of the openings, using the same dowel idea as the Catalina bookshelf; maybe skewer some wood blocks and pretty beads too so your little one could play with them from the other side too. This way you can transform it into the bookshelf later, but it acts as a nice barrier and educational toy for now.
sowee, me again. saw the picture of what your studio looked like before. eek, scary! my first thought: the previous people were Chinese! i’m Chinese…traditionally, they like dragons. my family has never been into that. mum always told us it was not biblical. ok, will stop stalking you now…
Very cute! I Love it!
What a cute little play area!! :D I’m sure she’ll absolutely love it – who wouldn’t???
Also, have you thought about putting some sort of translucent panel in between the frame on the left? Could be a great solution!
I love your blog and you are consistently doing innovative and stylish things with your space, but this is one of the most clever decisions you’ve made in your home. You’ve turned lemons into a tall glass of the sweetest lemonade. That toy nook ROCKS.
P.S. The beanbag chair would be perfect!!!
P.P.S. Your lemonade is cooler than cool. It’s ice cold.
It’s beautiful! Just painting it white really transformed it, but I love how you added that soft pink. You two will have such fun playing there!
i can assure you that she will love it come 1- 1 1/2yr old. My two year old loves to put herself in little spaces. like our kitchen cabinets.
Kids LOVE little cubby spaces like that! I remember having a little space like that at my grandparents’ beach house. Your little one will be using it for play time before you you know it!
hi nicole! i was just wondering if/where you went to college and what you studied. i am very into arts and crafts and decorating, but my parents wont fund art school. i’m currently in a four year university but a little lost as to a major. thank you!
What a great space for a girl! I would love to see outside of the Ikea storage unit wallpapered like the lining in that gorgeous pink dresser you painted!!
Get the little rug and beanbag chair for sure!!
Your site is a great inspiration to me – thanks!
I’ve been a regular reader of your luvly blog for guite some time now, and finally took this moment to send you my congratulations and good wishes for a happy pregnancy. :) The nursery is looking so sweet!
your daughter will LOVE this! heck, I love this! something about cozy, enclosed spaces allows the imagination to run wild….
SOOO Adorable!
Can you put the shallow shelves inside the cubby area??