Designing and building this room over the past 6 weeks with Chris has been a lot of hard work and late nights but most of all, a complete pleasure and an experience we’ll remember forever. But even before Linda asked us to be a part of the One Room Challenge (we’re so grateful!), we thought about creating a shared room for our girls one day. Truthfully, we’ve been dreaming about this room for 6 years. The 4 years we struggled with secondary infertility, I wondered if Greta would ever get the chance to share a room with a sibling like I did with my sisters growing up. And when Faye was born, she asked the first week if they could share a room, and I said, “One day.” And now, 2.5 more years later, that day is today. And that room is this room.
This room that used to look like this:
We used the room for the past couple years as a guest room. In the other direction, the 9×12 room had a wall of closets that we tore out in favor of built-in Ikea PAX closets in week 4 of the ORC, one for each girl.
Although it’s a room on the smaller side, with standard 8 ft ceilings, we knew we could maximize the space by building bunkbeds and decided on a slim set of stairs instead of a ladder (it is the only way to do bunkbeds as far as this momma heart is concerned.)
To the right of the bunkbeds, nestled in next to the window, we had just enough room for a reading nook. It actually started as a solution to combat the bunkbeds intersecting the window if they were built up to the frame, but now we can’t imagine the room without this sweet nook.
We ended up dressing the two beds identically, but with a great variety of texture, pattern and color. You can’t go wrong with stripes, fawn print and buffalo check (all the sources are at the bottom!). The pale green blanket and super textured throw add another layer of texture that makes the beds extra cozy and inviting. Right after I took the pictures, Faye came in, laid on her bed, closed her eyes and with the biggest grin said, “Night night!”
Since most of the walls were filled with bunkbeds, wallpaper (that wallpaper! <3) or wardrobes, we were able to keep the art minimal but impactful. I commissioned my sister (her Etsy shop is here!) to do a painting of two little girls (that look strikingly similar to ours) getting dressed.
I couldn’t hold back the tears when it arrived framed in Framebridge’s Valencia floating frame. On the wall behind the door, I hung two prints that lived in Greta’s old room that are still favorites.
The former room lacked light, so we replaced the singular overhead light with 9 lights scattered throughout the room to maximize brightness (and Chris put them all on a dimmer switch, too) and we replaced this rarely used room in our home with one that brings our girls (and us) so much happiness.
To say they love it is probably an understatement, but it’s also the only thing that matters. It was emotional seeing their faces see their room for the first time. And although it will probably be a few more weeks until Faye is completely transitioned to this room (she’s still sleeping in her crib),we’re so excited to watch them grow up together in here. (Now we just need more kids so we can keep on designing kids’ rooms–I’m convinced there’s nothing more fun!) I know this is the 6th and final official week of the One Room Challenge, we still have so much to talk about. So we’ll likely spill more details about challenges, design decisions, and answer any questions you may have in the coming weeks.
Week 1: Befores and the Plan
Week 2: DIY Bunkbeds for around $700
Week 3: The Book Nook
Week 4: Building the Wardrobes
Week 5: Painting the room
SOURCES
Wall Color/Bunk Color-Farrow & Ball Wimborne White; Carpet-Stainmaster; Ceiling Light by Visual Comfort-ATG Stores; Wallpaper-Forest Floor by Hygge & West; Light Pink Blackout Curtains-Martha & Ash; Ceiling curtain rod; Bamboo blinds; Reading Nook light-ATG Stores; PAX Wardrobes-Ikea; Faux Marble Wardrobe Knobs; Coral Striped Square Storage bins-Fresh American; Bunkbed Sconce-West Elm; Wardrobe Sconce-West Elm; Striped Sheets; Fawn Pillow-Chairish (similar); Pink Gingham pillow; Green Cotton Blanket-Pine Cone Hill; Bordered Duvet cover-Pine Cone Hill; Textured Ivory Throw-Pine Cone Hill; Wooden Stool-All Modern; Unicorn; Hamper; Girls Getting Dressed Painting–ArtbyVBM; Be Happy Print; Pink Balloon print; Starburst pillow; Blush Pink Velvet Pillow with Gold Piping-Arianna Bell; Black and white floor pillow; Folkland Fabric for small blue pillow; Whale bookends, Gold Gem sculpture; Giant bug sculpture; Piggy bank; Mirror-Rejuvenation; Twin XL mattresses-LeesaÂ
See how the other One Room Challenge Participants finished their spaces in the links below!
Jana Bek | Chris Loves Julia | Shannon Claire | Coco.Kelley | The Curated House
Driven by Décor | The English Room | From the Right Bank | Sherry Hart
Hi Sugarplum | House of Jade | Hunted Interior | The Makerista | Making it Lovely
Marcus Design | Pencil & Paper Co. | Megan Pflug | Place of My Taste | Suburban B’s
Waiting on Martha  Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by CIH
We’re honored and humbled to have been a part of the One Room Challenge this season and have the opportunity to create a happy and safe space for our girls to grow up in. And we’re beyond grateful so many brands wanted to be involved in that including:
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Hi! Would you happen to have an updated link for the light in the book nook?
You can see all of my favorite picture lights on this post!
Have you come across a good bunk bed reading light that is hardwired but also includes a switch on the fixture?
Hi Chris & Julia! Big fan here, but my first comment : ). So we are building these bunk beds for my 2 youngest daughters currently (we have 3 girls too!) and the only question I have is regarding the depth of those 2 face pieces that cover the sides of the mattresses. I guess I’m trying to understand that & what your reveal is for the mattresses, I understand your mattresses are 10″ deep, curious how much of that 10″ sticks out if that makes sense. Thank you in advance & Happy Holidays!
Facing pieces are about 10in tall, giving a 4in reveal of the mattress.
Oh wow – this came out so beautifully. I like everything about it! I have a question. On the top shelf of th ebook nook, there is a box/book (?) titled “15 magic tricks” and I was wondering if you cold share where that is from? My little one is all into magic these days and I think that be fun for her (and it looks great too).
Thank you!
I believe we found that at TJ Maxx.
Question, I realize it’s been awhile since you used these sources. Is there any chance you know the name of the mirror featured, it is no longer on the rejuvenation site and I wonder if it’s anywhere else out there. Thank you!
I feel like I saw a similar one on Target’s site–not sure of the name though.