Lea Carolina Retreat Bunkbed Transforms Room

Ever since those bunkbeds arrived 3 days ago, the girls' room has been THE stompin' grounds. THE happenin' place. THE absolute place to be. Everyone who is anyone is hanging out in that room, at least in this house! They are in that room more now than they ever used to be. I like to think they are smitten by the beauty of the new beds, just as I am. However, more than likely, they probably just like it because it is new and different. And that top bunk is about as close to heaven as you can get in this house! So, I thought I would show you what all the fuss is about! I told you about our dilemma in finding nice white wooden bunkbeds over here, which was when we actually ordered them. So, the wait was long but so worth it. The bunks are absolutely beautiful! The detailing. The femininity. The color. The quality. All of it combine to create a gorgeous sleeping arrangement. Here is the photo of the bunk from the Cymax website, though whom we ordered them. The name of them is Lea Carolina Retreat.

And this is the same set of bunks in my girls room. Aren't they just great?

They definately emphasis just how small their room actually is (9' x 9.5')but there is absolutely nothing we can do about that. The disappointing part is that the beautiful detailing is mostly hidden when you look at the beds from the door. But, I know these beds will eventually make their way to our new house where the floor plan will be completely different. Hopefully, the beds can be used separately there. However, for now, this is how it will be. So, here is what the end panel, the headboard, of each bed looks like. Isn't it just gorgeous?

I just love the curve of the headboard. It adds such charm. What you cannot properly see in the pictures is the bun feet on the bottom bed. I love bun feet. And I love that these beds have them.

Jay and I, with help from all the kids, put the beds together ourselves (talk about an environmental nightmare with all the styrofoam packing pieces!). It was not hard at all. In fact, it was very easy. So few pieces. But you can tell they are quality. The headboards and footboards are heavy! Actually, the Lea company is a La-Z-Boy company so I was confident in the quality of the furniture as I know La-Z-Boy has a good reputation.

Anyway, here is a picture of the girls' room with the cribs.

And here it is with the new beds. Oh, so pretty!

Finally, to make the room complete, I need to refinish this cabinet. It was given to us by some friends when they were moving a few provinces away. It is just perfect for this room. Plus, it has bun feet! A total winner. However, it needs to be painted. It is currently just pine wood with a clear finish on it. My intention is to add some picture frame molding to it, paint it to match the beds and add new silver knobs. Should make this really functional piece really beautiful as well!

So there you have it. The new room. And, in case you were wondering, our baby also sleeps in this room. Yup, she came down to join the girls. Her playpen fits between the end of the bunkbeds and the wall, right beside the cabinet shown above, with about 3 inches to spare. But I knew it would work. After all, I graphed it out! Eventually, when she outgrows her playpen, we will slide a crib mattress under the lower bunk and use that as a trundle bed. And then, before she outgrows that, we will move and have more rooms! But for now, this is the new and cozy girl's room! Now to beautify our own!

Just a Part of Life

I thought I would fill you in on what is going on around here not related to decorating. Or home improvement. Or projects. Well, I may mention them but no tutorials or anything.

First of all, you should know that when you are 5 years old and thin as a stick - and I mean really skinny - life is so stressful trying to find a pair of pants that fit. Most mornings I hear whines and complaints about the pants falling off. So, we tighten the adjustable waist A LOT and then all the bunches from being tightened hurt. And if you add a belt then the big bump in the front is bothersome. Sweats. That is the answer. And apparently he needs more!

Last night I received that magic phone call that told me the bunk beds were coming today! YIPPEE!! So it's been a long, loooooong wait but at least they are here. And we weren't scammed. I am waiting for that second call to give me a better idea of what time they will arrive but tonight I will sleep without a baby in the room!! 9+ months later and she has her room back! Oh, the celebrations that will occur (and that will not necessarily mean what you think it means ☺). UPDATE: He just called - between 1 and 3pm! I cannot wait to put it together. I love putting things together. I would be very disappointed if it was all assembled. Did I mention I love to assemble things??!!

I am not above bribing my children. Pepe has a somewhat significant speaking role in the Sunday School Christmas program this year and he is stressed just thinking about it. AJ has a smaller role, 4 short lines, but still broke down in tears with wailing and gnashing of teeth when we tried to practice in the safety of our own home. So, what does any good mother do? Bribe them. And bribe them well! Both boys will get to choose their very own mini-Lego set if they speak their lines well for everyone to hear without breaking down in tears. Talk about incentive for 2 little Lego-loving boys!

I stayed up until 2am last night trying to sew a hat for RJ. Her sister has one and her mom has a few but she has none. I am trying to make her one for Christmas but I am not so sure I am winning. However, if anyone knows me well, I will succeed. It may frustrate me and cause me to say some unnesessary things but I will do it. And then I will wonder why I didn't just go buy one!!

I was driving to the city to do some shopping the other day and an advent calendar idea smacked me right in the center of my head! Don't you just love it when that happens? I have refrained from buying those cheapy ones you can find but it never occurred to me to just make one. Then I read online in a place or 2 about making your own. I have been mulling it over and then - BAM!! I now have all the supplies, I just have to find time. Which always seems to disappear around here . . .

Speaking of supplies, I also intend to make a fabric-covered headboard for our room. I have all the supplies, except the wood, for that, too. It, also, just requires some time. Once the girls are all settled in maybe I can work on it. Of course, I should finish all the sewing first. But, we will see. I know it could be done quickly (that's what I say now!). And the difference it would make!

School marches along just wonderfully. When I say that, I mean that I haven't gotten too impatient or upset with them. Which makes school a lovely experience, wouldn't you say? ☺

Finally, in the very back of my mind, is the desire to decorate for Christmas. I started with my table but there is so much more that can, and will, be done. First, I need my hero-husband to grab the decor boxes from the shelves in the garage and then I need a real tree. I cannot stand the fake ones. There is something so magical about that smell of fresh evergreen. Mmmmm. I can almost smell it now! However, I did tell Jay, that if we got a fake tree, it would be noticeably fake, like black or white or red or hot pink or something! And that would not only be a tree, it would be a statement. So, anyway, maybe this week we will get our tree and the real decorating can begin!

That is our life in a nutshell right now. Things are going well. Really, they are. In my heart and in my life. I hope your life is going well, too! Have a great Wednesday - I know I sure will!

Graph Paper Magic

Although I should be moments away from teaching the boys (even though the rest of the school division has an inservice day, we will still do our own), they had a sleep-over at Grandma & Grandpa's house, along with a few of their cousins, so I thought I would quickly blog before they arrive home in 1 1/2 hours. Hopefully, hooooooooopefully (fingers crossed) this is the week the girl's new bed arrives. With that in mind, I need to figure out where everything will go. In the past, long before I ever read this blog, I was already plotting things out on graph paper to figure out what would fit where in a room. Seeing as Dusty has already detailed it for you, head on over there for all the particulars. I am not into moving big huge bunkbeds around in a small room, plus various other pieces of furniture, to figure out what configuration would be best. Graph paper is the most logical answer plus it saves a lot of backbreaking work, not to mention the floors. So, that is my goal for today, graphing the girl's room, along with cleaning it up! I cannot wait for that magic phone call that asks me when they can bring that bed on over!

White Bunkbeds . . . So Hard To Find!

As I mentioned earlier, the master bedroom should be a retreat. A getaway from the chaos that envelopes the rest of the house. A getaway from the kids. Kinda hard when the youngest kid is sharing that space with you. Eventually we will send her downstairs to share her sisters room but for now she sleeps in our room. Don't get me wrong, I love to look at her sleeping or see her smiling face. It's the snoring that keeps me awake or the babbling I hear that reminds me I have no retreat, no place of my own. In order for her to join her sisters, a different bedding arrangement will need to happen. We already have 2 cribs in that room - adding a playpen just wouldn't work. Too little space. So, we are on the hunt for bunkbeds with a trundle bed. White ones, to be exact. And they are proving to be harder to find than I had thought. Everything white in store is metal. And I don't want metal. I have looked on line. Everything on line is in the USA and won't ship to Canada. Or they will ship if you pay some astronomical price. Finally, last night, Jay found this website and a number of beautiful white bunkbeds. Not exactly cheap but cheaper than the white ones you can custom order at the furniture store. I am also a little particular. No spindles. I want pretty. Feminine. These are some of my favorites:

"Lea Getaway Bunkbed"
I wish the picture showed the footboard or headboard a little better. It looks really lovely but I think the angle is bad. Plus they state that the newest design of these has changed the finials to flat rather than rounded. Do they mean the whole headboard/footboard? Still very lovely.

"Lea Freetime Bunk Bed"
I am not as keen on the squareness of it but still find it charming!

"Lea Caroline Retreat Bunkbed"
Still square but a bit softer looking.

"Tradewins The Hampton Bunkbed"
Really like this one! Is feminine, pretty and has a softness to it!

UPDATE: We decided to order this one. I love the curves, the bun feet, the finials, the wainscot look - RJ saw it and said she wanted to sleep in this bed because it looked cozy!

UPDATED . . . AGAIN: A few days after we ordered this bed, we got an email saying that it is discontinued and not available to ship! Hmmpf! So, we ordered the Lea Carolina Retreat instead. Still has the wainscot look, the bun feet and some curves. Still very pretty. And they gave us a 5% discount for the hassle.

"Lea My Style Bunkbed"
This is gorgeous in black but also comes in a white finish. The headboard and footboard aren't quite as solid as the Tradewins but still beautiful.

Turns out Lea is a Lay Z Boy company and some of these are actually made out of hardwoods. Most of them have other color choices as well. So, at least now we have options. I only have to figure out which one I like best. Which is your favorite?

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF WWW.CYMAXSTORES.CA