colorful teen girl’s room

If you’ve been following along for a while, then you know that this has been a very long journey for us. One where the little things are big deals because it’s been such a process. And while we love creating spaces for our awesome clients, we’re thrilled to finally pull these rooms together for our own kiddos! Just in time for back to school, it was the summer of musical bedrooms. These spaces have been designed with heart, nostalgia, and one of a kind pieces for my toughest clients ever… I guess they get it honestly. Today, we’re sharing Emerson’s space: A colorful teen girl’s room!

If you’re not familiar with our story, we fell in love with, and moved into a 1976 fixer upper split level home in 2016. We always joke that we purchased this house for the yard and school system and location in general. But it’s true. The layout, happened over time. We’ve literally poured our hearts into this place and made it our dream home.

We took on the spaces in phases, and for a while, we didn’t know if we would be allowed to tackle the grand idea we had planned: the primary suite of our own. {Yay septic systems and local codes-they can be a real beast.} We were patient and persistent and we are now all moved in. Almost 6 years later. Just in time to move back out this summer due to a leak that happened last February. Though we still have some polishing touches we can’t wait to share with all of you for the primary suite and main living spaces, we’re basically just happy to be here-it will be a slow burn while we focus on our day jobs. We’ve taken this house from 1650 square feet to over 3700 and it’s perfect for our family.

In the meantime, while we wait on all things product, we’re thrilled to share our kiddos’ rooms. First up: A colorful teen girl’s room!

I really feel like this is an extension of her first space in our old home. Emerson was leaning towards neutrals in theory when it came to the design, but ended up falling in love with a more colorful aesthetic. I feel like the room just looks like her.

Side note: I felt totally validated when her friends were complimenting her room the other night. Positive peer feedback is always a good feeling when it comes to them young folks and design. #Imacoolmom

We couldn’t help but give a nod back to her original Funny Girl art. I feel like she’s been waiting for 6 years to hang this.

When we moved from our old house, she was so sad to part with her original chandelier that we promised her we would have it in her new room. So immediately upon moving into this one, even though it was our room first, it was the first thing that we did.

She also inherited our old dresser, which gives her plenty of great storage space. She’s thrilled to spread out from her brothers and have more room! They all are. Even Aiden scored more closet space now that the other two have moved into their own rooms.

This curio cabinet is a sentimental piece… and it was once upon a time in Aiden’s original nursery. Then, in hers. It’s the perfect piece now where she can display some of her favorite items, without taking up too much space.

The cork boards {sources are all linked below!} were basically half off when I scored them, and she loves having her own space to create whatever she wants!

I think this is my favorite piece that we’ve created, in the history of ever. Whenever we are in the near vicinity of a flea market, it’s a thing with us to find more brooches to add here.

After all the craziness of moving and storage and everything else, I finally found my own grandmother’s brooch to add to the collection, stuffed safely inside my old tea set. Because that’s a perfectly rational place to hide such a piece. I think it was the driving factor behind this whole idea… but I couldn’t be more thrilled to add it. It’s the one thing I chose from her jewelry when she passed. The little colorful one above the three white flowers, below. But you should have seen my excitement when it fell into my hand. The entire family thought I’d gone mad.

I love this simple view of our stained glass window into her closet and the hallway and Aiden’s room beyond. These were more pieces once found at the local flea market. We worked them into our kitchen design, and here.

I have to say, the curtains with tassels were a fun add. The entire thing just felt eclectic and fun next to her big painting.

About that painting: Available in our shop, here.
– To celebrate its new release {and more to come!} I’m offering a discount. Take 30% off with the code Fortune22 at checkout! {Code good for one week! 8.15.22}

It’s a replica of old fortune telling cards circa 1908, and when I spied it, I knew this is what should go large and in charge, over her bed. I changed a little of the wording, since some of the old cards were a bit doomsday. They have more positive messages. But the colors and scale were just perfect with the headboard and shape of her bed. Available in multiple sizes!

I adore the way the fringe and globe-shaped lights play with the whole feel, as well.

Here’s another view from this side of the room!

This was my tea set growing up. It was fun to bust it out of it’s box from where it has been sitting in storage for quite a few years now. She was thrilled to add so many meaningful pieces to her space, and I love that she’s so excited about it.

This was a sweet embroidered piece by a friend of mine from years ago. She doesn’t even remember it from her childhood but as soon as she spied it, it went in the cabinet. She couldn’t believe someone had made this for her. I was thrilled to tell my friend all about it!

This candy dish was my parents’ – a gift to them when they were married. It’s perfect for holding her jewelry. I paired it with some recent flea market finds that I grabbed up this past spring for both kids’ spaces. They love old books as much as I do. Again, the colors are just perfect.

It felt so good to resurrect so many cherished pieces from storage, and pair them with new finds. Once upon a time, I sewed everything for them. This time their bedding is a hodgepodge of Target, Amazon, Etsy, and more. Aintnobodygottimeforthat, but also I don’t have to worry if there’s a spill or accident because teenagers.

At the flea market this summer, she purchased this old radio with her own money. Delighted to find her name at the top, we used it as inspiration for the entire space. I paired it all with a small abstract by me, for some fun color.

We just couldn’t be happier with how it all feels. Something that will grow with her.

Here are our sources for this space.

We stayed pretty true to the original board, but here they are again.

• Bed + Nightstands + Sconces:

Bed: True story, I actually saved this bed design years ago, and then circled back around later. I had no idea that I’d actually saved it, until I found it in an old Pinterest board a few weeks ago. It’s funny how we’re repeatedly drawn to the same things that we love. I scored a very affordable find here.

Nightstands: I mean who doesn’t need a little pink in their lives.

Sconces: I love the idea of keeping nightstands free for other things – these were a Facebook marketplace score.

• Chandelier: If you remember her old room… this was one comforting thing to her that we could basically bring with us/replace when we moved.

• Dresser: We’re handing this one down. It was ours from forever ago. Yes, it goes way back.

• Curtains: We thought it would definitely be great to spruce up the windows with something fun. I scored these on sale.

• Art: Another throw back to her old space, painting by me available to purchase soon. Funny Girl poster here. Check out how we made the frame here.

• Bust: We’re collecting old brooches and pins together – at our last flea market adventure we scored a few more! Check out the entire post here. We’re also incorporating some fun vintage finds like this cute little portable radio. She saw this one at the flea market and HAD to have it… I couldn’t argue. It has her name, after all. ;}

• Paint colors: SW Tidewater on the ceilings + Egret White on the walls for soft, classic finishes.

• Shelf + Boards: This shelf has actually been sitting in storage the ENTIRE TIME waiting to make its debut once again. A throwback from her original nursery, I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring it back. Yes, I tend to be a creative hoarder since I’m an artist who also runs and business and stoplookingatmeswan. It’s a great, classic piece. I plan to flank it with these two ridiculously large bulletin boards {scored on major sale} so that she has control over a fun area that she cans switch up, often.

Bedding + Rug: Chenille bedspread {with fringe for the win!} / quilt / tiger pillow / Moroccan pillow + yellow / sheets / rug