Welcome to no man’s land, and but an area that has SO MUCH potential. We’ve solely had “hallways” on the prime of stairs earlier than, not landings which are nearly as massive as a room. It’s such a beautiful, inviting, gracious area to “land” (in idea) earlier than you head into one of many three bedrooms, the child’s shared toilet, or the laundry closet. It’s a fairly darn massive area (with a brand new enormous Velux skylight that did wonders) that has grow to be the upstairs “drop zone”. And also you all know what which means – she is MESSY, unorganized, and presently purposeless. Right here is the place we’re in the home:
It’s sufficiently big to have a variety of operate, however we have to dwell in the home lengthy sufficient to know what that operate actually is. Our youngsters are 7 and 9 and all dad and mom know that pursuits and subsequently practical wants change as quick as they age, actually preserving us on our toes and requiring most issues to be versatile and in a position to work in different places ought to they not work right here. It’s a problem however one I don’t wish to rush fixing (and sure, we’re capturing the home in Could so rush I’ll :))
Three Years In the past…
As you may see the touchdown had this 90s flooring (the bedrooms had dangerous carpet with no hardwood flooring beneath) and we determined early on that that is the place we’d “save” cash. We’d paint the touchdown ground and stairs, add a harlequin sample or stencil sooner or later, and never spend the cash to re-floor the second ground in any respect. What we didn’t notice is that this ground was in dangerous form, so as a substitute of portray it they really changed it with reasonably priced 2″ Douglas fir flooring (what was initially applicable to the age of the home). That is nice as a result of we had a greater product and we accepted it rapidly over the telephone. However had we thought of it extra we’d have both A. Stained the brand new but generic wooden ground a wooden tone, B. Painted the OG dangerous flooring with none prep work so that you noticed the cracks, and so on which is a selected look that we like, or C. Put in additional of our lovely Zena flooring from downstairs. We initially made the choice to color it as a result of we hated this explicit “earlier than” wooden flooring, not as a result of we actually needed painted wooden flooring if that makes any sense. Every part has a domino impact and people of you who’ve reworked know that making a decision, it impacts different choices. One thing simply at all times comes up and modifications the opposite choice or the unique choice, and but you usually don’t return and rethink each choice alongside the way in which since you are overwhelmed with newer, extra rapid choices. So mainly if we might return in time with the data that we needed to change the dangerous wooden flooring we’d have changed it with wooden that we beloved, not wooden simply to then paint it. It’s all high quality, actually, and there are a ton of options for this area – however I simply needed to clarify why it’s only a shiny wooden ground (versus that extra rustic painted patterned wooden ground that we had initially deliberate on).
Every part you see at present (moreover the doorways, trim work, lighting fixtures, and light-weight switches) is up for grabs design-wise. However we would have liked time to dwell right here to determine what to do with it.
Beneath you may see what it seemed like in progress – the unique doorways and the salvaged doorways have been each rehabbed to operate completely for us.
The Touchdown At the moment (Effectively, Proper Earlier than Christmas)
Here’s what is occurring now. We’ve got a bookshelf I obtained at a storage sale for $20, the IKEA pedestal desk I’ve had ceaselessly, an inexpensive rug that I purchased for our rental that I instantly regretted however by no means returned, and a white ground that’s begging for its painted second. So presently I’m stumped on easy methods to design this area the very best for our household and having a tough time prioritizing such an interim area when different areas really feel extra rapid.
Effectively, What Do We Do In This Room Proper Now?
Uh, I largely clear it….and we fold laundry on the ground (as a result of nobody actually folds laundry on their laundry counter, FYI). Right here’s a enjoyable reality about youngsters – they don’t prefer to play in their very own messes (or others’ messes). Certain, in the event that they make a multitude they may play in it for the remainder of that messy session, however then they’ll keep away from that area or simply discover it “boring” – actually my least favourite response to their very own disasters. When you clear it up swiftly they’re participating with it once more. I completely get it – I hate cooking in a messy kitchen regardless if I’m about to make a brand new mess. You don’t wish to inherit an older mess, you wish to deal with the brand new mess you can also make. So if it’s clear they legit use the stitching machine and the brand new 3D printer they obtained for Christmas, but when it’s messy they’re “SO BORED”.
One other enjoyable reality that may make you rethink having youngsters – a few of their mates will do that monstrously baffling factor and take each single field/sport/puzzle out of the bookshelf and dump it on the ground, one after the other. Not all youngsters do that, (I hope to god my youngsters don’t do that at different folks’s houses, however I concern they’ve) however I’ve seen it sufficient occasions. It’s a factor. Now to be truthful, I do know that different youngsters’ toys are these mysterious magical bins and it seems like Christmas to the brand new youngsters. And TBH we go away them unattended for hours so we shouldn’t be so shocked after we come up and it seems to be like we’ve been robbed. However that offers you extra context on what “function” this room has proper now – a big shelf of temptation and future mess.
We’re additionally in these in-between ages the place they don’t love “toys” as a lot as they did however aren’t fairly into the subsequent stage but (Birdie likes to do arts and crafts, Charlie likes to make issues and play video video games or play with nerf weapons). So sure, there are such a lot of bins of NIB craft kits or board video games that I’m uncertain we’ll by no means actually use once more.
Typically I really feel like I don’t interact with these downside areas till I’m actually writing the weblog put up about it and seeing it with extra goal, contemporary eyes. Do I believe this might be a candy little studying space with a desk? Certain. However what we’re actually lacking on this home is the room they will destroy with craft stuff. They each love to stitch and make issues, however we aren’t arrange for it. We might put all of the board video games in one among their closets (to be taken out when dedicated to enjoying with them after which we might have a hutch or armoire that’s cuter for all of the craft provides, a spot to correctly retailer the stitching machine and the 3D printer, after which wall area to show all of it (or shelving for jars of provides). However on the identical time, they’re 7 and 9 and might be 11 and 13 very quickly. Will they even prefer to nonetheless craft/make issues? Ought to I customise some desks and bookshelves for future homework? A YouTube studio for his or her future social media channels? (JK, y’all, JAY KAY).
To Craft Or Not To Craft?
We’ve got two warring colleges of thought in our home – mine is that in the event you curate an evergreen crafting/artwork space with organized provides the youngsters will craft extra on their very own, with out steerage or immediate. That is VERY, VERY TRUE. The quantity of occasions we’ve been like, “I ponder what the youngsters are doing” and they’re upstairs doing an enormous craft collectively for hours is numerous. Nevertheless it turns into a catastrophe that all of us have to assist clear up, nearly each day. The opposite college of thought is to maintain the provides in a field that we pull out after we wish to have a extra organized “crafting session,” thus placing the duty extra on us (me) to have a “challenge” with the appropriate provides, and lead the challenge. However then afterward we pack it up and put it away. That is why the crafting attic was so fantastic on the mountain home – they might destroy it and we’d clear it collectively each couple of weeks, however didn’t have to take a look at the mess each time we got here up the steps…
If we have been to do “the crafting touchdown” then I believe a rectangle desk could be higher, positioned in opposition to the wall with a crafting board above it, and provides alongside the again.
Or Ought to I Simply Make This Fairly With A Chair/Ottoman, Bookshelf, A Fairly Rug, And Some Artwork?
I imply, I might try this in my sleep. So sure, a part of me needs to color a harlequin sample on the ground (elongated diamond in blue and white), purchase a easy oval or spherical jute or braided rug, get a dope chair and ottoman, and hold a gallery wall. It writes itself. Nevertheless it’s simply not as practical for our household and seems like a missed alternative to examine a field. That’s except I discover area in both of their bedrooms or the visitor room for my fantasy crafting/artwork studio bonanza…
And sure, we’ve additionally thought of making this a mini-den for them with a TV/video video games and two bean baggage which continues to be on the desk, however kinda depresses me (we’ve got simply launched video video games and one among our youngsters has taken QUITE the liking to them – if you realize what I imply).
Are We Going To Paint The Partitions? Set up Wallpaper?
Uncertain. I do know that is so boring in pictures, however belief me that in individual the white supplies detrimental area to your eye, particularly when you may have Birdie’s wallpaper and the pink visitor room (and contemplate a sample painted on the ground). I do know we’re going to paint the flooring however unsure in regards to the partitions. Additionally, do not forget that it comes up from the steps so that you’d nearly have to color the partitions alongside the steps too which isn’t out of the query however you see the steps prominently in the lounge so it turns into a factor. Every part is a factor (I say this like 19 occasions a day). Nothing is only a selection with out affecting different previous selections or future selections. Every part. Is. A. Factor.
Now that I give it some thought possibly a DIY L-shaped desk with storage drawers + cabinets for books/crafting provides would have essentially the most longevity for crafting now and homework later…
If I sound burdened by this area, I’m actually not. I do know nearly for a proven fact that if I don’t dedicate some thought to this area this yr it might keep like this 6 years. So these sorts of posts at all times pressure me to consider these much less vital areas, creating some compelled ahead momentum. So thanks for listening 🙂
*Images by Kaitlin Inexperienced
