Well, hello there. Sorry for the unexpected hiatus in our little corner of blog-land. What can I say, summer is almost upon us and things are busy, busy, busy - between end of school, never ending sickness, client work and birthdays my head has been spinning!

Speaking of birthdays, a special someone in our family just turned 8!

After one too many close encounters with her bedding (during her bout with the stomach flu recently), we decided to update her room as part of her birthday celebration. Out with the ancient little girl sheets and in with some more transitional items.

I snapped a couple of pics before the big reveal on her birthday ... see how it all came together:

A couple of weeks ago I bribed her into letting me switch her beds around and remove the chaise lounge to make more space for "play". This left an obvious lack of designated reading space, which soon became my top priority for the makeover. By shifting the vintage dresser and mirror over about 12 inches to the center of the wall I was able to create a cozy niche for reading in the corner of her room - complete with hanging chandelier, obviously. Because that's what 8 year olds really want.

The bedding is mostly the same, minus new sheets and throw pillows because her favorite color is turquoise, not hot pink anymore. Of course. I'm so happy I pushed for the multi colored floral shams 3 years ago, they make adding additional colors to our scheme a lot easier. Yeah, for small victories! And forward thinking.

In our previous arrangement we used her desk between the beds, with the new configuration we we're able to utilize this sweet table (that had been sitting in storage) and give her desk it's own space. Bonus!

I made the monogrammed lamp shade a million and a half years ago and just switched it onto a lamp base that used to live in her sister's room. News flash: someone likes turquoise. Oh wait, it's me! And now her, apparently :)

In the limited available wall space I added my old DIY jewelry display board. Lucky for her (and me) the colors worked.

I love to mix old and new, expensive and inexpensive, vintage and modern pieces in my spaces, kid room's included. Fun turquoise stool paired with my childhood desk being a great example.

Good art is so important to any space, it truly can elevate any room. I'm thankful my parents gifted her with this original painting when they were moving house last year. Something to grow on.

Finishing the tour with the nook, where it all started. I'm calling it a success after we found her curled up an hour after bedtime enjoying a favorite chapter book.

Amazing what a handful of pillows, a set of new sheets and a chandelier can do for a space - it looks and feels different, more grown up (sniff, sniff). And most importantly, she loves it! Now that's a deal.

Bedroom Before