I'm in no rush so I hope you don't mind me blabbering on about this project for a while. I did a quick sketch about layout a few months ago but I've already changed my mind on a few of the elements - most notably I'm thinking a black + white color scheme with and hand drawn mural on the far wall would be a fun way to keep the room whimsical without going too crazy with the kid stuff.
I've gotten a little obsessed with having a Jenny Lind bed. I figured it would be easy enough to find something vintage but it turns out that all of the old turned spindle beds are no longer a standard size (requiring a custom mattress and bedding which I'm so not interested in bothering with). The only place I've spotted a new one is at Land of Nod but I'm hemming and hawing about whether its worth the splurge. Has anyone seen a cheaper version of this bed or should I just make the investment on a solid piece of furniture?
Other than that I plan on leaving some open play space and some storage/display but don't want to overwhelm the room with much else. That way it can change as she grows and has her own preferences.
Ok so been there done that moms - any other suggestions on what I should be thinking building into a little girls room?
I would just splurge and go for it. I think the style is timeless and can carry her into her tweens for sure so price per use will be low :-) PLUS there is something nice about just buying new once in a while. I know that as I have two jenny lind antique beds sitting in my garage and all I can think about is the sanding the scraping the painting and the filling. Sigh. Honestly if we had Land of Nod here in Canada, I'd probably have done the splurge too.
ReplyDeleteOh you just reminded me how awful sanding and painting spindles are. I had blocked out the memory of doing stair railings. Good point - maybe vintage isn't worth the time?
DeleteI think it is worth the splurge. We haven't been matched our our adopted child yet so I don't know if we are having a boy or girl but the one thing I know about the room for our toddler is there will be a Jenny Lind bed. I think they have such a classic look and children can grow with the bed. It will be adorable what you do and I can't wait to see. Basically I am saying go for it!!
ReplyDeleteHaving nothing to do with this room I'm super excited for you! It must be torture to wait.
DeleteWalmart has Jenny Lind toddler beds for around $100. Maybe worth considering?
ReplyDeleteThanks khb. I must have totally missed the toddler bed version they sold. I will need a twin eventually but I think I might be getting one of those toddler beds for the transition. Thanks for pointing it out.
Deletetarget sell a headboard online - not sure about the footboard.
ReplyDeleteThanks nancy. How did I miss the headboard? I think I want the whole bed with the side rails but this price is pretty hard to pass up. Maybe just a headboard will do?
DeleteI just purchased two of the headboards for a shared bedroom for my two little guys. LOVE the teal color! I had also been looking at the land of nod version but COULD NOT pull the trigger on TWO.
DeleteI will let you know the quality when they come later this week!
Julie
http://foodlaughterandhappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/
I was wondering if the headboard from Target only fits with a bed and mattress with a box spring. I want my daughter's bed to be low, so I was hoping to somehow do it without a box spring, but then would the headboard be too tall?
DeleteI was wondering if the headboard from Target only fits with a bed and mattress with a box spring. I want my daughter's bed to be low, so I was hoping to somehow do it without a box spring, but then would the headboard be too tall?
DeleteOne of the things I did in both my kids rooms, and it lasted through elementary school, was to put up a display space for all of their artwork. I just did a simple clothesline with cute pins. But it was a wonderful way to let them see all of the lovely artwork they did without having my fridge plastered :) What kid doesn't love looking at their own handiwork?
ReplyDeleteSmart! Great idea.
DeleteI went with the Target headboards, full size for my two oldest rooms. Plenty of room! I was so impressed when they arrived with the quality. They are solid and beautiful in person. We went with Turquoise. I prefer no foot boards, as it seems more spacious to me, so that wasn't a negative to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. Thats very good to know. So tempting! Do you mind sharing a photo?
DeleteI would go for it... Do get a full size if you can... Although it's a lot of years off a full size is a must for future sleepovers, both our girls have full Sz beds and they double for guest rooms on occasion also! Also great for bedtime book reading sick days etc!
ReplyDeleteWe already have a full in here so it would be a big save to just reuse it but I think it eats up too much of the playspace (which is sort of the whole point of moving her into this room). Not as practical for sleepovers so maybe we need the trundle too?
DeleteWe started with a twin too and then switched to a double bed because we needed a bed for when guests are in town - and little girl gets an air mattress on the floor in our room....
DeleteMy daughter is about the same age as your gal (she turned 2 on Halloween) and we are in the same mindset about twin beds right now. I actually found a spinal headboard and footboard on the curb this week and plan on using those with a plain ole metal bedframe (and covering that with a bedskirt). I've given into the trend and fell in love with chalk-finish paints, as they require no stripping OR sanding prior to painting, so I will paint right over the finish with a burnt-orange color. We live in a Victorian so things in her room will be simple with a dash of whimsy.
ReplyDeleteOh Im sure a burnt orange color on that bed looks gorgeous. Totally with you on the chalk paints for a project like this. Saves a ton of time.
DeleteMy friend bought a jenny Lind bed for her daughter from JC Penney a few years ago. Not sure if they still sell it though. Otherwise I would splurge, it's a timeless bed for sure!
ReplyDeleteI could have swore I saw one a few years back so I'm kicking myself now!
DeleteGo for the Land of Nod bed - we did, in red, and it's fantastic. Pictures here:http://www.thirdstoryies.com/2012/08/14/we-pulled-it-off/
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we got the full - my daughter was 9 in these pictures, and I swear she's doubled in size at age 11.5 years. Man, it goes fast.
And yes, I would not want to refinish and paint all those spindles. Ugh.
Make sure you design their personality into the space! Before I had kids I knew for sure their rooms were going to look like a Restoration Hardware catalogue with calm muted colors and everything so precious and sweet. But when they actually came along and by age 4 you start to see their unique personalities and their own opinions, I realized they wouldn't be happy any other way than to have BRIGHT pink and purple ( I HATE purple!) and horses and butterflies and their own artwork all over the walls. And once I gave in, we couldn't be happier.
ReplyDeleteI am obsessed with Jenny Lind beds too. I am sure you could find some on Craigslist if you are patient. I live in Arizona (land of the new and crappy furniture... seriously all the "junk" bloggers find on the side of the road back east would be sold right away for hundreds of dollars out here. Gah.)
ReplyDeleteI found a full for a really fair price and just have the head board in big kids room. I spray painted it and it took no time at all and has held up perfectly. I took a huge nail and hammered it into a foot long section of 2 x 4 (with a little pilot hole). I made a couple of those stands and stood the bed up on the nails (mine just had a little decorative metal foot I could pop in and out) and spray painted the whole thing. I could walk around and get it all and it looks perfect.
In my little girls' room, I have a Jenny Lind crib and a Jenny Lind Twin. I found they both on Craigslist after tons of scouring and painted them a custom pink. It was a much bigger pain because I used a sprayer. They have held up great though with some high gloss poly on them. I have the head and footboard on the twin and it's darling and happy and doesn't feel like too much (saying a lot for a tiny room and two super tall parents). I looked into going the Target route (Land of Nod is out of my budget) but I love that these beds feel special and have a history. I hope my kids like them forever because I think I will!
The room with the white beds and brown wall paper is one of my all time favorites. I have a bunch on my kids pin board. I love the classic white but the color is so happy and doesn't feel heavy with all the spindles and blank space. https://www.pinterest.com/annestrawberry/kids-rooms/
I can't wait to see what you'll do!! Kids rooms are the very best.
I've raised 3 kids. Here are my thoughts:
ReplyDelete1. Do what you want now. She really doesn't care that much now but will greatly in
The future.
2, when she gets into Dora and all the character yuck, just buy the sheets. She'll
Be happy and you won't have to have a character bedding extravaganza.
3. Teach her to pick up now.
I also had my heart set on jenny lind beds....I am a criaglist junkie, so I KNOW that if you are patient, you can find it. My little one is still in JL crib and i was just about to order the twin JL bed from walmart for my 3 year, when I SCORED TWO vintage sets (yes, footboards too!) for $150 at a thrift store. So lucky. they are really thick awesome spindles and of course, solid wood. I sprayed one so far using a several THIN coats of rustoluem 2x paint/primer in white. it was not a pain in the a$$, really easy actually. i hope you can find a good deal!! since aggie is still in crib you have some time!!! do everything BUT the bed...you can always order the LON in the end.
ReplyDeletebeautiful. http://obatherbalanemiaakutpalingampuh33.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so glad you asked if anyplace besides Land of Nod carried Jenny Lind beds, I was just wondering that last night! There used to be an old Jenny Lind bed in my Grandma's attic, my uncle bought her house last year, and I've been wondering if it was still there. I didn't even think about the pain of sanding the spindles or it not being a standard bed size though. Yuck. I'm glad some of your readers have already offered some other stores that have Jenny Lind headboards, off to check them out now! Can't wait to see A's big girl room! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a beautiful bed, but as soon as she has a mind of her own (that day IS coming!) she will "hate" it because YOU picked it and she will want to do something, ANYTHING else, than what you chose! You've got about 10 years, I'd say. So, if you decide to splurge make sure it's with that understanding and hopefully you'll have a good second home for it. I vote for getting the less expensive alternative to appease you now. Who knows what the little one will want, and you'll have fun choices then too decorating her 'new' room together! Advice? These are the best times and they just get better, with intermittent and without warning episodes of pulling ones hair out, said the mother of a 23 year old! Girls are great women in training!
ReplyDeleteThankfully my MIL purchased our Jenny Lind beds from Land of Nod - we got two twins that our daughter will have until she goes to college. LOL They are a splurge, but I can definitely attest to their sturdiness and fantastic construction. Plus they are a platform, so you at least only have to buy a mattress and no box spring!
ReplyDeleteThey are quality beds - my daughter has one. I'd purchase it again.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the look of those!
ReplyDeletei have two authentic antique jenny lind twin beds (i know they're real because they were in my great-grandparents house forever), if you want to make a run to minneapolis to pick them up. ;)
ReplyDeletewhat size are they?
Deletewhat size and how much do you want for them? Thanks
DeleteLook on Etsythere are some great full size and twins
ReplyDeleteLook on Etsy
ReplyDelete