Name: Meg Duerksen and her five children, ages ranging from 13 to 4.
Location: Kansas
You may remember Meg's room from our recent Kids' Colors Contest. Many of you requested a complete room tour, as three teaser photos weren't enough to get the complete scope of this gorgeous room. Meg was gracious enough to comply and we have to say the rest of the room is as lovely, well thought out and colorful as we knew it would be.
The playroom, which serves double-duty as a guestroom, serves her five children. The design is warm and inviting. Of it, Meg says…
My design style is...Pottery Barn meets flea market? I don't really know. I love looking at new things but I tend to buy something that is used or has a vintage feel. Having five children I need and want my home to feel cozy and comfortable. I try to make everything kid friendly. I am pretty relaxed person so scratches and dings on furniture is usually not a big deal to me.
This room had been so busy and dark before…I wanted to use a lot of color in my decor and white and off-white walls would make that easy. The lighter paint keeps it bright and filled with light. I had the 'Where the Wild Things Are' print before I started and wanted to find a way to work that into the room. This is a guest room and also our children's playroom. I wanted a spot where we could all read together, so we created one.
Over the years, Meg has picked up pieces she's loved and pulled them together nicely, and she adds, "I would say that's how I have done every room in our home. Slowly over time filling my home with things that I love - not things I bought to sit in that one spot for 10 years."
As for the specific items in the room, the duvet was sewn together using 2 sheet sets from Target; the pink Chenille spread is a flea market find and all the pillows were sewn a vintage baby quilt, old scraps Meg already had and even her old red faux fur coat. Being the handy DIY-er that she is, Meg also made all of the curtains and the lampshade. The lamp itself was found at a local antique store and purchased for only $7. The eye catching red READ letters are from Hobby Lobby and were originally gold leafed. Meg spray painted them with Kilz followed by red spray paint.
And several items in the room have been repurposed or recycled, as well. The bed’s headboard is actually the gate of the family’s first garden. The chairs in the room were found in the trash a few blocks down from Meg’s house and the white cabinet under the map belonged to her 85-year-old neighbor who wanted to throw it away.
Finally, we asked Meg to give us advice on how approach the nursery/playroom process and she replied,
"Having five children I know how quickly their tastes change from what YOU like to what THEY like. When decorating their bedrooms, even when they are very young I try to include them in many of the choices. They feel important and a proud of their room. It also keeps them from wanting to change everything after a year. Acknowledge that kids are going to jump on beds or have pillow fights and make heir rooms flexible and comfortable to let that happen.Storage. Storage. Storage. If kids have a specific place for their toys they will be able and more willing (I think) to keep it cleaned up. Making your home child friendly makes everyone who comes in feel cozy and welcome."
Thank you for sharing, Meg!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
This is stunning... and I love a reading spot... we really need a cosy spot to read... our couch doesn't fit us all... And I was thinking storage when we got our kids loft beds, but they aren't great for snuggling.
view se7en's profile
Beautiful. I love how you've customized your pillows and utilized the chenille coverlet as curtains.
view racheloncegentry's profile
Hey, I have a pillow I made in that same Noah's Ark fabric as the one at the bottom!
view SisterRae's profile
perfect, I love it! you did a great job of combining fabrics.
view lcg's profile
I absolutely love this room! Right up my alley. Meg, could you share your source for the awesome polka dot fabric used in the curtains etc.? It's exactly, EXACTLY what I've been looking for and I am dying to make it mine. Beautiful job.
view adriennep's profile
This is a lovely room-looks comfy and unpretentious. I like how the curtain looks open and exposing the tv rather than closed.
view Kibian's profile
This was my pic for the color contest - what a great, comfy place to be. Love it.
view momnipotent's profile
I love love love this room. Beautiful, comfortable, charming, unique, organic, and self-assured. And for ohdeedoh, there's a refreshing lack of sterile, high-concept design pieces, as well. Awesome job.
view hyzen's profile
Fabulous Room! Does anyone know who makes that Noah's Ark fabric and/or where I can find it?
view ElissaB's profile
This is sweet! Everything looks so well loved. Of course the photography is fabulous too.
Alina
shopoliveandbean.com
view Alina@OliveandBean's profile
Meg's taste is impeccable- full of vintage charm...just like the rest of her gorgeous home. You picked a good one!
Linda
view linda@restyledhome's profile
Maybe it's just me but I really don't feel like I've seen any more of the room than before.
Meg, your pictures are great... but I would have loved more than [basically] just detail shots. Maybe you'll do a few more wide angle shots for your blog??
view dolly's profile
thank you for all your kind words. it is a very happy room to be in.
answers to questions....
1. the polka dot fabric is by Mag & Mimi Designs for Timeless Treasures. ???
2. i don't have any idea where the noah's ark fabric is from i have had it for almost 10 years.
3. and for dolly...you aren't really missing much more. you can see 3 sides of the room and the fourth wall is all windows from end to end so they are covered in curtains and don't photo well. but my blog does have some other shots i think....in october? maybe.
thanks for loving the room as much as we do. i can't tell you how comfy our reading and movie times are in that bed! i can barely stay awake every time!
thanks ohdeedoh!
-meg
view meg duerksen's profile
Since Hobby Lobby was mentioned, I just thought I'd point out for those who aren't aware...the company is privately held, and each year donates millions of dollars to homophobic causes. Be aware that this is where your money is going if you choose to shop there.
view eeka's profile
Hi,
I love this room! I am using it for inspiration for the nursery I am putting together. I was hoping you could tell me the wall color. I have been going bonkers over all the shades of white. They all seem to be too pink or too yellow. The one in Meg's room seems just right. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
view lizzymov's profile
Love the bold use of color in the space. The room exudes fun.I am really impressed and as a designer of children's rooms in NYC, I wish more kids had a great place to be just a kid.
charmgirl
view charmgirl's profile
I love the use of the vintage childrens books. A great room. Totally charming and fun looking. I want to bounce in there as well!
view Josephina's profile
Love this room. I keep returning to look at. The walls in my future nursery are painted Parisian Taupe from Behr, so I'm glad to see that this room is bright and colorful even with the neutral background. I'm totally inspired.
view alsweetgum's profile
Hi
As a reading teacher--your READ and book covers certainly caught my eye. I love the way you have furnished this room. It is colorful and so approachable. As an onlooker, it makes me just want to curl up with a great book on that great scarlet bed. Your repurposing of the room's items is refreshing and inspiring!
Thanks for the motivation!
view gotbooks's profile
I love this room..One of my favs on this site. Where did she get the map? Sorry if that has already been mentioned. Thanks!
view debbied4l's profile
Love it. And I was lucky enough to have this cross my path just as we're redoing our daughter's room. She and I had been negotiating a direction - showing these shots to her won her over to where I wanted to take the room in the first place. I have the same question as lizzymov - what wall paint did you use? And have you been happy with how it registers (i.e., not too pink or yellow, etc.) in all sources of light? Well done.
view suzka's profile
I love the red and the chartreuse together. that or an orangey pink and chartruese together are my favorite for a girls room.
view jessroo's profile
LOVE this room!
view LittleLovables's profile
I love the idea of having a map displayed in the house, especially in a kids room. Color, function, and art all in one piece.
view mjs7640's profile
FUN!! :)
so happy to see a fellow kansas resident here on at!! what city in kansas?
i'm in lawrence!
kindly,
vintagedress
www.vintagedress.etsy.com
view vintagedress's profile
Who wouldn't have fun here?! Design and style have nothing to do with spending money, what a special room.
view kkdm's profile