Hi guys, I hope everyone is enjoying the most fantastic summer! Here in Calgary we are having one of the HOTTEST (if not the hottest) seasons that I can recall and I am not complaining about it!! A few months ago I alluded to the fact that I had a lot of "kid spaces" on the go and I am so happy to announce that one of them is officially complete! So grab an iced coffee, a cold glass of rose or a beverage of choice, and let's dig into Ben's Big Boy Room!
Upon first glance at this space, it probably comes as no surprise that Ben likes dinosaurs. A lot. OK, that may the understatement of the year. I've known this kid since he was born and I truly can't think of the last time I saw him dressed in a shirt without dinos on it. He knows all the different species, and at 18 months, he could barely string together a full sentence, but he could pronounce "brachiosaurus" (a word that I just had to google to make sure I had the proper spelling, ha!). So needless to say, when it came time to transition him from his nursery to his big boy room, dinosaurs were going to be a part of the plan.
Typically, I'm not a huge fan of overly theme-y spaces. I find that they can be overwhelming and that they run the risk of dating themselves very quickly. The last thing I want is for a client to have to completely re-decorate again in a very short time, because let's be serious - ain't nobody got time (or extra dispensable income laying around) for that! That being said, we wanted a space for Ben that he would be excited about, and nothing gets him excited like - you guessed it - dinosaurs.
So our goal became to integrate dinosaurs in a way that could be swapped out easily and affordably in a few years time, and avoid the feeling of being trapped in Jurassic Park. We did this by keeping the large furniture, and anything "built-in" (i.e. shelves and curtains) neutral, and playing with accessories. Displaying Ben's dino figurines on the shelves served double-duty: not only does it keep his toys organized, but they act as decor pieces in a way that can be simply replaced one day. We also strategically added some non-dinosaur, more timeless accessories into the mix, such a plants and storage bins. Instead of investing in a dinosaur duvet, I suggested a dinosaur pillow only. These small moves keep the room's theme from being over the top, as well as make for a much easier and wallet-friendly transition in a few years time when "dinosaurs are for babies" and "xyz is all the rage". I have no idea what "xyz" might be for little Benny when he's no longer quite so little, but I'm hopeful that we've created a great spatial foundation for him to adapt and grow for many years to come!
