My, with two holidays in the middle of the last two weeks, I’m all off schedule and feeling like today should be Sunday. But, it’s only Thursday, and a good one at that. I hope you all had a wonderful start to 2014. I spent it going to dinner with Jon and Ruby at an amazing new Mexican restaurant called Alamexo (you must get the fresh guac!), then watching a movie and sipping Martinelli’s with Jon after Ruby went to sleep. It was quite perfect.
I’m excited to get back on track with posts now that the holidays are behind us. And today I’m sharing a project that consumed me during the month of December– Ruby’s playroom. Next to our kitchen, we have a previously empty formal dining room. Ruby’s toys were starting to take over our family room, they were disorganized, and I found myself always with the TV on in the background. Solution: turn our dining room into a playroom, just for her.
It was tricky to set up, as we had to wait until Christmas Eve to put anything together. I’m so glad it came together how I envisioned it because there was no time to change it. We wanted it to be a surprise for our girl, and her reaction was all I had hoped. I shot this video on Christmas morning, showing the room and Ruby seeing it for the first time, then James edited it together (thank you James!). Hope you love it!
This room is exactly what we needed– a place just for her. A place she can play in without any restrictions. A place where she can dream and imagine and grow and learn. And I love that the TV isn’t constantly running in the background anymore. I love that we find ourselves hanging out in there together as a family. I love that she is giddy to go run into her teepee the moment we get home. And I love that she can let loose, have fun, and just play in this space!
Pardon my Christmas morning just-crawled-out-of-bed-after-too-little-sleep look:)
Much of what you see in the room are DIY’s and projects. Get ready for a flood of tutorials! I can’t wait to share it all with you. And tomorrow I’ve got a great giveaway. Until then, here is a source list of items for the playroom:
Toy organizers and baskets: Target here, here, here, here, and here (all on sale!)
Stag Head (similar)
Check back tomorrow for a great giveaway to celebrate the New Year!
xx,
I’ll be honest this touched my heat and made me cry! What a priceless reaction!!
Oh you are so sweet! Thank you so much!
[…] you for your sweet responses about Ruby’s Christmas surprise playroom and video. It was a fun morning and that room is getting lived. in. Can’t find Ruby? I […]
Wow this is absolutely touching. Such a beautiful memory for your family to cherish forever.
Thank you so much, Janel! I love it. xx
Ruby is adorable, and so is her playroom! My sister-in-law has a teepee in her nursery and I just love it.
If you’re looking for more ideas in the future, you should check out this blog: http://bit.ly/1a4Ha0Z
I feel like some of those projects could work in this room. 🙂
Thank you, Alayna! xx
[…] Monday, friends! Today I’m launching into how I made Ruby’s playroom and sharing the first of many DIY tutorials: the DIY magnet […]
I love this playroom! You did an amazing job! So much work and love out into it. Wonderful job! Where did you buy the teepee?
Hi Tanelle! It’s actually homemade. This is probably the closest to the design and pattern. And it’s great quality: http://rstyle.me/n/eddhfse6e Thanks for readying! xx
What an awesome idea! It’s so cute and Ruby’s reaction…priceless! Love it!
[…] and teepees, they just go together, don’t you think? When I was putting together Ruby’s playroom design, I spotted this dreamcatcher and thought it would be perfect for her teepee. But before […]
Jennifer, I found your website via Stacey Ann Blake and what I loved is how you’ve taken the “old & unused dining room” and turned it into a very useful playroom for your daughter. As this is something I promote on my website, http://www.hometipsforwomen.com … I would love to share your story with photos on my site. Please let me know if this is okay & your daughter is a real cutie!
Hi Tina, Thank you so much for your kind words! Could you email me at jen(@)withheart.com and you can tell me more? Thank you!
[…] to the kitchen/living area made me immediately think it would be the playroom. We miss our playroom made out of our formal dining space in our last home so so much– our rental just doesn’t have the space for it– so I’m sure this […]
[…] Read more about this room here. […]