OK - - just a quick post tonight - -probably with lots of pictures! I have finally finished Cameron’s room. I think boys rooms are tough. Not so much when they are babies, or even toddlers, it’s that 9 year old, going on 10 that I have found tough. I had lots of ideas of what I wanted to do, but Cameron is now developing his own creative ideas and opinions. That’s hard for me. One, it tells me he is growing up, and I really don’t like the thought of that and two, it means I need to allow him to express his ideas and not just do what I want to do!
I learned that Cameron is a very neutral guy. We must have gone shopping 10 times looking for a comforter. I would point out something I liked - - he would hate it every time. You know what he wanted? Plain brown - - he let me choose between a lighter or a darker brown! I learned that he doesn’t like color - -except blue. He doesn’t like patterns. And he doesn’t like my idea of organization. He is a no nonsense, either it’s right or it’s wrong, no frills kind of guy!
He wanted an adventure room. I’m still not sure exactly what an adventure room entails, because every time I would suggest something he would, in his sweetest, most kind manner tell me, “I don’t want to hurt your feelings Mom, but that’s not what I was thinking of having in my room.” He was so concerned about hurting my decorating feelings - - it was so sweet! Finally I told him to just start pointing out things he liked and we would make it all work.
I don’t know if it all really works together, but it was a process and really, it was more of a process of a mom letting her son grow up and express himself, and a son learning how to voice his opinions and not worry about disappointing his mother. Does the room have things I would change if I were just decorating it myself? Yes, of course. It’s hard working a frog habitat, legos, rock rugs, and all brown into a room. But he loves it and really, that is what it is all about. A room for my little man to love hanging out in, a room to bring his friends to, a room to feel comfortable in!
See these mini cloches? They were Christmas bell ornaments that I bought on clearance after Christmas. I took the bells out and they turned into perfect small cloches to “highlight” the bug collection. The picture on the right is what is under the cloche on the right!
Nothing helps set the theme of the room like an Adventure pillow with the definition of adventure embroidered on it! I used zipper edging to trim it out and a pieced together back to give it a very “adventurous” feel!
If you look closely, you can see his two fire belly frogs hanging out in their habitat!
The wall next to Cameron’s bed it like an ever growing bulletin board. We put up “invention” pictures and shelves to hold treasures. And of course pictures of him with his favorite people!!
*In non decorating news, we are so close to Handsome Hubby coming home for R&R -- - I think I will only have one more post before he gets here, we’ll see!! I have been super busy finishing up orders - - in fact, in the past two days I have made 18 pillows and I have 11 more to finish up by tomorrow night. I still have our bedroom to finish, and in a perfect world, I would have a whole week of posts showcasing the bedroom all pre-written and ready to post while Handsome Hubby is home. But who am I kidding? That would be a perfect world! - - I certainly don’t live in one of those!!
9 comments:
Welcome to my world! I have 3 of them. All sort of plain and neutral kind of guys. I wanted to do up my 16yr old room when we moved here. Everything kept getting nixed. I had to at least get sheets since he was taking over the queen bed. And what did he choose? Brown. I mentioned painting the other day. That didn't go over well. Its getting paint! He better come up with a color!
I have an 8 1/2 year old boy - and a 6 year old coming up behind. The oldest wants a "Canadian Sports" room. I am not sure what that entails much like your "adventure" room. I like your advice about just asking him to point out what he likes -'cause he tends to worry about hurting my feelings too. I really like how your room turned out. Thanks for sharing.
Really cute and creative room. So happy you & hubby will get some time together soon. Enjoy!
If you are interested, I read a Real Simple article about maps you can buy from the government for under $10-http://www.usgs.gov/-and they're great. I own six. I used two beach ones in my living room because the colors match and I have some in the office/my husband's room. Depending on where the map is from, you can get sage greens, ocean blues, white. Really cool stuff. I frame them in poster frames from Hobby Lobby for $10. Might fit into the adventure theme-which I think sounds cool.
you hit it right on the nose. You let your son let tell you what is adventure to him. I think the room looks great. It is a reflection of his personality.
so excited that your chair is at the top of the top 10 picks at CSI project!!!!
I have 2 boys - 11 and 8 - and I have let go of the details for their rooms. They are NOT neutral kids. We painted 11 yo's room last year - he want the whole thing lime green. We compromised on pale gray with lime, orange and turquoise stripes. He chose all fabrics in those 3 colors. Everything else is just framework - a wire display system with clips, small open shelves, PVC creation for the curtain rod, etc. - and I let him put out whatever he wants. He prefers Lego creations and "recycled" stuff (I call it trash but whatever!). We put a cork strip all the way around the 8 yo's room and he just changes it around all the time. I occasionally find something I think they will enjoy in their rooms but for the most part just let them use their own "treasures" to decorate.
It turned out great! The pillow is amazing. My favorites are the sketches and the (is that a) rub on of a light bulb. Love the poster, what a fun piece of your lives. We are x-military too. ;0
This is awesome... The room in neutral colours looks gorgeous..
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