Oh Jensen! Our big personalitied oldest son, every last bit of him squeals fun! At 4 years old, Jensen James Weldon has flooded our world FULL of joy (along with a few dashes of mischief).
The nursery I set up for him in our last house was everything I wanted it to be. Moody-dramatic- masculine and yet refined. I loved that space. It was the perfect place for kids to play or for us all to pile onto the tufted leather chair for one last book of the day. Thanks to the huge windows- it was also great for photographing, better lighting than any other room in the house. All in all, everyone who got to spend time in there really seemed to enjoy the aesthetic as well as function.
Little did I know how much it meant to our little boy.
The weekend we moved into our new home, Jensen (Jentz) turned 3. Daniel & I were thrilled with how much space the kids would have. Each of their rooms are bigger now. Everyone has windows galore. Higher ceilings. Better views. Their playroom is to die for! One of the kids even has a balcony. D&I couldn’t wait to watch the kids as they discovered their favorite nooks & crannies of our new home. We were especially excited to watch them fall in love with our new space as much as the two of us have.
Jensen really surprised us with his reaction. He didn’t like our new and improved place. He acted out much more than usual and it took us a long while to understand what was really going on. Eventually (through tears and many convos with the barely 3 year old), we realized he wanted his old room back. He especially liked the rich navy wall color. That’s what he missed the most but the décor and photos were other elements he wanted back.
Ommmmgoodness! At last we understood the tsunami of big emotions. Once we figured that out- I got to work. I know I can create a space that he will love.
I’ve interviewed Jentz several times about what he likes. In so many words- he wants an awesome space that matches his personality. He’d like it to look similar to his last room but new and improved.
Like every space I design, I use something that inspires me and go from there. I typically don’t have all the details figured out because I like to see how everything fits together as I go. Also, on a practical note- many of our items I purchase are used or re-purposed from around the house so it’s also a matter of what is available while I am decorating.
The main look in Jensen’s new space is going to be masculine with pops of bold accents. Certainly, a room he can grow with and I’ll tweak it as he ages. Also, I plan to move Maximus (14 months) in when he is a little older so the boys will share.
Since we have had a lot on our plate from the time we moved until now- we didn’t want Jentz to be without a room he enjoys. It was Daniel’s idea to buy bunk beds sooner than later instead of when the baby moves in. This way Jensen has a new element in his room that is exciting and fun (slash dangerous – I pray this bed doesn’t equate to our first family trip to the ER! I digress.).
The navy from the old house is a color I came up with myself and we really loved it. I was pregnant with Jensen while I was mixing about a thousand paints (give or take) to create just the right look for his space. If I had more time, I would have adjusted it ever so slightly. This go-round, the navy will be freshened up. I plan to add a touch of violet as a subtle undertone that nobody will really notice but me. Certainly not enough to look purple but just enough to richen up the color which will grow well with him.
Once I get the paint up on the walls the rest will go lightening speed! I have saved most of the elements from Jensen’s last room and have a few new items to sprinkle in. I know this little man is ultra excited for this process- but there’s a good chance his mama is even more thrilled to tackle such a fun space!
The plan is dashes of white to offset the dark walls. The gigantic moose head from his last room. I’m thinking about finding a vintage dresser that adds character to the new space. Possibly adding a geometric rug. And of course, hanging his fab federal mirror (oh how I’d love another dozen of these for every room in the house)!
I compiled a quick mood board that shows of the general feel I’m going for. There are 100 more ideas swirling in my head but the basics are represented well. If I come across a little something unexpected or I can’t pass up- it’s going in!
I don’t know what I’m more excited about~ actually getting this thing rolling OR the look on Jentz’ face when he sees his new digs! Either way this is going to be such a fun project with an awesome Before & After. I’ll keep you posted!
