Client Project: Jack’s Room

I recently met with a client who wanted to update her  6 year old son’s room.  Here is how the room currently looks.  He loves baseball, hence the bedding and baseball bat lamp.


The above photos show 3 of the four walls.  The 4th wall is the window wall with the blue drapes you can see on the left side of the photo with the bookcase.

The closet will have an organizer with drawers or baskets so the dresser is no longer needed.  This leaves room for a desk with a lamp eliminating the need for the side table as well.  The room isn’t very big and having three pieces of furniture on that wall makes the room seem even smaller.

Using Olioboard,  I did a mock-up of how the room can look with a few simple changes based on the client’s needs and likes. 

• painting the bookcase black and bringing in the Paterson desk from Crate and Barrel in a black finish.  The bed will stay with its current stain in an orange tone.  At 42”, the desk is the perfect size for the space (not too big.)
• the client wants to keep the Pottery Barn bedding for now but I can see it being replaced with bedding similar to the Restoration Hardware bedding I have shown.  An alternative would be to have a duvet cover made from the striped fabric from Ikea.  For some reason ticking and stripes remind me of baseball – although I asked Mr. Decor Happy (aka Mr. Baseball) if he thought the same thing and all I got was a blank look.  So, I could be completely mistaken but I’ll go with it anyway because stripes and ticking are fresh and appropriate for any age.
• bringing in some fresh green tones like the chevron fabric from Tonic Living (attached to a corkboard) and the basket from West Elm will enliven the room.
• replacing the three prints over the bed with a black and white photo of Jack playing baseball in an inexpensive Ikea frame.
• replacing the current light fixture with one similar to this one found at Restoration Hardware.
• the clock would go on the wall to the left of the closet and a framed Blue Jays poster (go Jays!) would go on the wall to the right of the bookcase.

These changes will update the room making it less juvenile but with a nod to Jack’s interests.   The room will grow with him through his teen years or until he leaves home!

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If you need decorating advice, please contact me at vanessa@vanessafrancis.com.