Downstairs Room and Half Bath

Executive summary: The downstairs “study” is currently the kids’ playroom (lucky ducks), and the half bath is simple and functional, which works for me.

We have this “study” downstairs, which is technically not a bedroom but is big enough to be one if we chose (sans closet). In the future, perhaps this will be the guest bedroom (or a shared guest bedroom + teen/tween hangout room?), but right now, we’re using it for the kids’ playroom. We’ve never had such a thing before — we only have it now because this house is the size of our previous condo and apartment combined, and I don’t have any other uses for this spare room. I figured it might be helpful to give the kids a space downstairs to contain their toys, and it’ll perhaps make it easier for them to have friends over. They won’t need to run up and down the stairs to play — everything will be in one place, and close to where the adults will be hanging out (in the living room/dining room/kitchen). As with most of this house, I used what I already had, starting with our favorite “moon light” that graced the dining room of our last home. Here, we already have a sufficiently-stylish dining light fixture, so I decided that our moon light would make a big statement in this room instead. I can keep the walls more minimal as a result.

*Scalloped chair: Wayfair* | *Cube storage unit: Target* | *Animal bins: 3 Sprouts* | *Wall art: DIY with contact paper* | *Play kitchen: IKEA* | *Rug: IKEA* | *Curtain rod: Rejuvenation* | *Curtains and rings: IKEA* | *Pendant light: CB2*

IMO, the kids have everything they could need in here, plus some. Desks for activities/drawing/crafts/impromptu tea parties (although my daughter is more a fan of “picnics” on the floor). A rolling cart to corral art supplies, activity books, assorted games and puzzles. A cushy chair to curl up in. A cube storage unit to hold books, Legos, toys. A pretend kitchen for all food-related play. A play rug for driving cars. As a bonus, I hung whimsical hooks along the empty wall opposite the window as a “costume rack” for capes, masks, hats, etc. The kids also each get a “craptainer” under their desks to store every random doodad that doesn’t have a clear home (e.g., party favor junk, happy meal junk, stacks of popsicle sticks, paper airplanes, you get the idea). If the bin overflows, it means they need to make some decisions. Kids are not minimalists by nature (my 3yo daughter particularly seems to exhibit hoarding tendencies, which we politely call “collecting” within earshot), but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn some basic principles about organization and letting go of things that no longer suit them.

*Desks: IKEA (LACK side tables)* | *Chairs: Melissa & Doug* | *Poster: Paper Source, with magnetic frame from Michael’s* | *Rolling cart: Target* | *Wall hooks (not pictured): Umbra*

Gosh, talking about the playroom is fun. But let’s move on to the downstairs half bath that’s across the hallway. This is not a boldly painted or wallpapered “jewel box” of a room; it’s all standard “renter-friendly” tweaks in here. I replaced the subjectively-ugly sconces with ones more to my liking to flank the mirror (that I’m not allowed to swap out). Then I hung up my big DIY picture (see full post here) to dominate the wall above the toilet — notice how the black of the picture frame is reflected in the black sconces and the vanity drawer pulls, and balances out the chrome and nickel finishes peppered around the room. Lastly, I threw down a fun rug to add some softness and color to the hard tile floor. Our downstairs setup might’ve been more functional with a shower/tub in here, in case we ever wanted to make the current playroom room a guest bedroom, but I guess I’m a minimalist who does not actually want anything additional inside this house. Any guest who cannot make it up the stairs will need to take up sponge-bathing out of a basin, like in the pre-indoor plumbing days. =D

Dining Room and Kitchen

Primary Bedroom and Bath